Chapter 4

RIFTAN POV

This had to be a joke.

It had to be one cruel joke.

There was no way Eden Noles was my mate.

I fucking didn’t do mates. This whole damn world knew I had no strength in me to abide by all the rules of the mate bond and whatever crap it came carrying on its back because…

I fucking didn’t ask for this.

Eden Noles was supposed to be a docile Luna who would sit on the throne with me and shield me from all the drama. Not a fucking…

“Alpha…” The door to my office suddenly burst open, revealing Kylek who seemed even more rattled by my reaction.

“Is Miss Noles…” He let the words trail to the background, but everything he wanted to say to me was written bolder than HOLLYWOOD on Mount Lee.

“Kylek… She can’t be here. She has to go back. You know I can’t…”

“Can't what, Alpha Hawk?” Ethan Noles stepped into the room, followed by none but one who was surely going to send me to an early grave.

That silver hair, the one scent that seemed to fill the whole house… I wanted to sink my fangs in her throat and rip it out.

She couldn’t be here.

“Ethan Noles, I wish to speak with you.” My eyes drifted to the black orbs that looked like a galaxy at night. Too much was said in that stare alone, too much that made my heartbeat flutter and my Adrenalin pump harder in my veins. And I couldn't do it.

Only a few minutes since she stepped on these grounds and she was already flipping my world upside down.

“Alone.” I finished the sentence with an unmistakable roar, channeling the alpha in me on the surface. And yes, she just had to defy the little order I gave because Eden did nothing but scoff and stepped further into the room.

I almost clamped a hand around my mouth when the scent became too intoxicating, too heady on my senses that I couldn’t breathe anything other than the damn roses and waterfalls.

“I think it would be highly unfair of you to dismiss me, Riftan. After all, the matters at hand concern none but me.” With that, she dropped onto the cream leather couch before crossing her feet, then pinned her eyes at me.

I looked at her like I wanted to murder her. Of course, I wanted to.

Heck, I was this close. It was the only thing that was going to take me out of this dilemma. This… I didn’t plan for any of this.

Not the sassy way she carried herself, or how she acted as though she wasn’t affected by my presence even though the sound of her heartbeat was louder than any drums I’d heard. Not her damn existence.

She was not part of the plan. At least not the way things turned out.

“I think what my sister says is just. After all, we all wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the marriage between the two of you.” Ethan added up stepping further into the room, and I wanted nothing more than to chop his head and bury him in the same grave I was going to bury Eden.

“Anyone wants something to drink? I think we all could use some liquor.” Chase. Goddamn Chase and always saving the day!

“I would love that,” I said through gritted teeth. “Please come in.” I motioned to the meek lady who was still perched by the door, her whole focus and concern pinned on Eden.

I couldn’t help but steal a glance her way, only for my eyes to linger on the silver strands and the way she looked so beautiful in jean shorts and a bloody t-shirt.

Who fucking knew that a jean shorts and a T-shirt would be THAT arousing?

Worse, who showed up in damn jeans to her soon-to-be alpha and husband?

Eden fucking Noles.

“Alpha?” Chase who was suddenly in front of me nodded to the glass of whiskey in his hands before giving me a knowing smirk.

I yanked the thing before chugging the whole liquor down, then pushed the glass into his waiting hands before going around the desk and perching myself onto my high chair.

My fists found their stance under my chin as nerves chaffed me slowly beneath the surface of my skin.

Eden had to leave.

Silver yankable hair or not, I couldn't let her stay here.

"You seem to be quite unsettled, Alpha. Is everything alright?" and she had to speak! With the head tilted to the side and inquisitive stare that would fool you. If it weren't for the rapid thumping of her heart and that concentrated musky scent brewing hot and intoxicating, I would have thought she wasn't aware of the turn of events.

Or she was? Come to think of it, Eden was wolfless. So maybe she wasn't even aware that I was her mate. Maybe I still had a shot at flipping the tables.

"Well...." I commenced, hating how my voice came out clipped as I'd just swallowed hot coal. Clearing my throat, I continued

"There is something I may have forgotten to mention, Ethan." this was no time for formalities. This was going to be gruesome but she chose it. She wanted it this way. I wanted to save her some face. But she had to be stubborn.

"I am all ears." Ethan proceeded with a curt nod. Against my better judgment, my eyes found the black orbs, and the stares collided like waves crashing against the rocks forcefully, fucking cruel. Yet so dang sweet it made me weak in the knees.

She arched a curious brow, her heartbeat skyrocketing just in time as she parted her lips for calculated breaths.

Dang it.

"I know the contract is signed and that you have absolutely no reason to revise the terms, and I get that. And what I am about to say doesn't have to change anything. If it is merely protection you want, I will send more of my warriors to your pack, anything you want. We can sign a treaty if you want me to, but I'm afraid I can't accept what you offered." I put everything on the table, causing a depressing wave of confusion to settle in the room. The temperatures dropped by a few degrees, and voices got louder in my head, but it was all out.

"I don't think I get what you mean." Ethan intoned with crossed legs and clenched fists on his lap.

"What I am saying is, I cannot accept your end of the deal, which is having Eden as my Luna." I dropped the bombshell, and instead of debris and cinder, coldness crept into the room through the cracks.

"You have to be joking, Riftan Hawk." He resounded, a stern look on his face. His voice was on the edge of a roar, and I totally understood his anger. But...

"You wanted this. I came to you, asking for a simple treaty, means of trade if I would say, but you proposed taking my sister's hand in marriage. I was against it at first, even told you one thing I was dead sure would make you reconsider marrying her. But then you insisted. And now you are telling me that you cannot marry her?" Ethan threw the shade, and once again, I found myself staring into the black pools. This time, sheer surprise and confusion were bolder.

"I know. And I promise to keep my end of the deal as long as..."

"Eden doesn't stay." he finished the words for me. I wanted to bash his head for thinking he had the damn right to interrupt me, but one look at Eden had me swallowing a single word.

"But why? I thought everything was final. One hundred and fifty wolves were flying to the Isle of Man as we speak because things were okay. What changed?" Ethan whined, causing me to pinch the bridge of my nose

He didn't get it, did he? And here I thought he was smarter. Brighter.

"The thing is..."

"I could think of two reasons why Alpha Hawk doesn't want me brother." the sweet, silk-soft voice rattled, causing the icy finger to rake the length of my spine.

Chills broke out in every inch of me, my wolf whimpered in trepidation of what was going to come of that sweet mouth, yet the excitement of hearing the voice was what kept it alive!

“One…” She got up from her seat and walked to a vast window opposite my desk, facing outside. I made a grave mistake by letting my eyes wander the length of her body. My mouth dried at the sight of the soft, caramel skin begging to be caressed and kissed, the hips and curves at the right places, and the dips where they all should be.

Eden Noles was the epitome of a woman beauty in every way, and she was my mate.

‘And you’re going to reject her!’

“As the most powerful leader in the South and the world of course…” She spun around, her gaze finding mine. Spiders crawled my back and my face contorted at the pain resonating from the thought of rejecting her. “-it would be more than humiliating for his Luna to be wolfless. Or as we call it back home, ruined!” She paused for a brief moment, her eyes never leaving mine as though she enjoyed watching the torment on my face. On my damn soul.

“Two…” She looked to where her brother was seated, side-eying her like she was the most precious thing in his world.

“The rumors are all true. Alpha Riftan Hawk is not a big fan of mates.”

She dropped the bombshell in front of everyone, causing all eyes to snap at me. I pinched my eyes closed, balls clenching and blood running wild.

She had to be the smart-assed one.

Dismissing the slicing pain that was piercing through my heart, my eyes snapped open and I stared at everyone with blank expression.

“You mean…” Ethan left the words hanging between all of us, letting the room chill with icicle silence.

“She is right. I have never been the one to believe in mate bonds and shit. So to save everyone heartbreaks and complications, please catch the jet home, I will have everything arranged.” I deadpanned, leaving no room for further discussion.

She did know. Wolfless or not, she knew she was my mate, and she knew how I felt. So there was no point dragging this anything further.

“Gamma…”

“Yes, alpha.” Chase leaped forward before bowing by the side of my table.

“Ready the jet and escort our guests back to the airport. Kylek, have more of the powerful pack warriors ready to leave for Crescent Island Pack. Our business is done here.” I stood up and took hurried steps to the door, only to be stopped by that damn voice.

“Ahhhhm, Alpha Hawk, can I say something?” Fuck no. It would kill me if you were to tell me I hurt you. So shut the hell up.

“Of course.” Fucking stupid.

“You see… I am a bit jet-lagged. It was an emotional flight from home to Heathrow, and that drive here, well, it exhausted me. So why don’t you tell your gamma or beta to show me to our bed chambers?” Surprise leaked into my stream like a hot gooey liquid. I spun around with evident shock plastered on my face and glared at the feisty little thing that stood with her arms crossed, eyes glaring at me like she could take me on some good beating, but importantly, with one question in mind.

What the hell did she mean?

“Oh, what I mean to say is, I am not going anywhere, Riftan."