Chapter 5

"What! I do not desire your presence," she exclaimed vehemently. Verity bared her teeth in a fierce snarl as the lycan compelled her.

A low, menacing growl emanated from the lycan's throat. Little did Verity expect that on her way home, she would be followed.

"You are fortunate that I have selected you as my mate," he declared. "We must now depart. I shall take you to my abode!" The aggressive lycan let out a fierce shout.

With a fierce expression, Verity fixed her gaze upon it. The young woman was indifferent to whether the creature before her was a lycan or not.

"I must remind you that I never consented to be your mate, and such an act of coercion is in direct violation of our established regulations," Verity presented her argument with conviction.

The gaze of the lycan contorted into one of fury. Verity remained steadfast despite his flustered reaction.

The young woman appeared indifferent to the manner in which she mistreated the lycan in question. It was her inaugural experience, yet her resolution was not given due regard.

"I selected you, notwithstanding your past! If you do not select me at this moment," he said with a hint of desperation in his voice. "I shall ensure that your existence becomes a living inferno," he snarled.

Verity is threatened by the looming presence of the lycan. With a fierce determination, the woman gritted her teeth and swiftly slapped away the lycan's hands that had been tightly gripping her delicate wrist.

"Do it! At this point, I'm used to it. Have you scared me yet?!" the girl snorted with anger.

Little did Verity expect that her quest for another person to revel in the joys of life would unfold in such an unexpected manner.

Verity yearns for a lover who will hold her in high regard, esteeming her as an equal. Such a disposition is paramount in her quest for a life partner.

"You possess a negative demeanor. The question of why one would opt for an individual who lacks regard for the choices of others remains a pertinent one. I would prefer to wed a beggar than to be joined in matrimony with you!" Verity's insult stung the lycan deeply.

With a fierce snarl, the lycan seized her wrist and pulled it sharply. Verity let out a pitiful whimper as she writhed in agony, her voice rising in a desperate plea as she repeated the same words she had uttered earlier.

Verity was taken aback by the sudden eruption of an irate baritone voice emanating from the vicinity behind the lycan.

Verity was struck by the commanding timbre of the voice, so powerful and compelling that it stirred within her an instinctual urge to kneel before its owner.

"Give up her. Now!" A shiver ran down Verity's spine as the voice reached her ears, causing her to recoil. She dared not turn her head to identify the person who was speaking.

The lycan, who had been holding her captive, turned his attention towards the source of the voice.

"You should choose a different woman." The lycan let out a low growl, asserting his claim on the object in question. Little did he know that the individual endeavoring to impede his progress was none other than the very person he ought to steer clear of.

The man standing behind the lycan holding Verity growled, "Are you absolutely certain about what you're saying?!"

Verity's throat tightened as she felt the weight of the man's commanding presence. The lycan, who had been gripping his hand with great force, was taken aback by what he saw.

Verity traversed the dark road earlier, with only the moon to guide her way. The young woman summoned the courage to meet the gaze of the the person speaking, and a gasp escaped her lips as she realized the identity of the man before her.

As their gazes locked, a familiar sensation coursed through Verity's body - a subtle yet undeniable electric current that seemed to connect her to Nero on a deeper level. And yet, she couldn't help but wonder if he too was experiencing the same sensation.

"Are you certain that you will not release the woman's hands?" The man echoed the words that had been spoken.

As the moonlight shone upon the face of the lycan clutching Verity, he let out a sharp gasp and swiftly fell to his knees.

"I beg your pardon, Alpha. It has nothing to do with you," he said firmly, "that I have chosen this woman as my mate." Verity nibbles on her lower lip.

At the mere mention of the term "Alpha," the woman's eyes grew wider, as if she had just been struck by a bolt of lightning. Unbeknownst to her, the gentleman who had captured her attention was, in fact, an Alpha.

The formidable lycan exuded strength, yet a discerning observer could detect a simmering anger in the Alpha's piercing gaze. With measured steps, the Alpha drew near to the lycan.

"Who says she's yours?" Verity's spine shivered as the Alpha snarled, his words piercing through the air. Surprise overtook the lycan.

She appeared to have an innate desire to extend her hand towards the Alpha, gently caressing his broad shoulders in an attempt to pacify him. Verity's throat tightened as she watched the Alpha's measured steps towards the lycan, who knelt before him.

Verity found herself momentarily stunned by the swiftness of the incident, unable to respond right away.

With a mere blink of her eye, the lycan who had been coercing her into accepting him as her mate found himself gasping for air as the Alpha's powerful hands closed around his throat.

The lycan writhed in agony as Alpha's powerful grip lifted it off the ground. Verity's eyes grew wide with shock, and her entire body became rigid as she beheld what lay before her.

A shout escaped their lips as she struggled to comprehend the situation before her. Verity's thoughts tormented her, and she couldn't bear it any longer.

With a sudden burst of emotion, she let out a piercing yell, hoping to silence the chaos in her mind. Her heart raced as she bore witness to what was unfolding before her.

The Alpha emits a low, menacing growl, while the lycan struggles to breathe as if being choked. Verity found herself in a state of confusion, unsure of how to proceed.

Trepidation coursed through her veins as she contemplated interposing herself between two towering lycanthropes, each possessing a formidable physical prowess that dwarfed her own.

The thought crossed his mind that it would have been preferable had she arrived with her trusty shotgun in tow.

"The warning was clear and stern: never, under any circumstances, lay a hand on her. One should never make the mistake of claiming her as their own. With a sense of pride and ownership, I declared, she is all mine! It's all mine!" the Alpha exclaimed triumphantly.

The Alpha's pupil dilated. Black was the only one who could perceive the turmoil brewing inside his eyes. Simultaneously, the lycan let out a gasp and began to choke.

A cough escaped the lips of the lycan. Verity stood there, utterly stunned by the turn of events. Little did she know, the unexpected was about to happen. The timid voice quivered as the lycan addressed the leader of the pack.

"W-What do you mean, Alpha?" Does this lycan truly seek the sensation of pain within their physical form? He provokes the merciless Alpha Nero Astadel.

With a fierce snarl, Alpha Nero's hands closed tightly around the lycan's neck. "She is my soul mate!" Totally mine! The eyes of the lycan expanded in surprise.

"That's not true, Alpha. I will choose her." Once more, the lycan adamantly asserts his claim over Verity.

Verity was taken aback as she witnessed the Alpha hurl the lycan into the tree with great force. Her eyes widened in astonishment at the display of raw power.

She possessed a wealth of knowledge regarding the lycan's claims, yet she remained skeptical of their veracity, particularly given her own involvement in the matter.

"Do you believe that I am not serious? Me? Alpha Nero Astadel?!" exclaimed by the Alpha, his heart racing with anticipation. The Alpha's voice reverberated through the forest as he let out a fierce yell.

Verity's world came to a halt at the sound of the man's scream. She recalls the words of wisdom that her mother had instilled in her.

'He is A-Alpha Nero Astadel?! Oh my god!' Verity thought to herself.

With a subtle movement, Verity retreated a pace. Her presence had caught the Alpha's attention, his gaze instinctively drawn to her. Her lips remained sealed, unable to utter a single word.

She was taken aback. "Stay put and do not budge, woman," the Alpha commanded with a tone that suggested familiarity, causing Verity to furrow her brows. Her throat tightened as Verity forced herself to swallow.

As Verity's thoughts drifted back, she couldn't help but recall all the wise words her mother had imparted to her, particularly on this very subject. Alpha Nero Astadel was a ruthless killer, known for his merciless ways. His reputation preceded him as a killer who showed no mercy.

Verity appeared to lose consciousness upon discovering the information. She stood there, uncertain and lost, her mind racing with indecision. As her mother had warned, the Alpha standing before her was truly terrifying.

She was certain that he, too, possessed an unpredictable nature. Her eyes were fixed on him, her lips curled back in a menacing snarl as she glared at the lycan.

Verity's heart nearly leaped out of her chest as Alpha Nero Astadel snapped the lycan's neck right before her eyes.

Verity was startled by the sound of Alpha Nero snapping the neck of his fellow lycan. Verity's knees gave way beneath her, and she crumpled to the ground. Her lips parted in astonishment.

Verity had witnessed violence on numerous occasions, both from humans and lycans. However, the level of brutality she had just witnessed was beyond anything she had ever seen before.

With a swift motion, the Alpha seized the lycan's head in its powerful grip. Verity possessed a certain degree of courage, yet it was not the type of valor that could be summoned when confronted with the sight of Alpha Nero ruthlessly taking another's life.

With trembling limbs, she slowly retreated from Alpha's menacing presence. Despite the challenge it presented, she persevered and accomplished the task at hand. The day had been anticipated as a source of solace, a chance to escape the clutches of sorrow.

However, it appeared that the events that unfolded would instead leave a lasting mark of distress upon her psyche.

The young woman pressed her teeth into her lower lip. Despite her mother's request, she hoped that she wouldn't have to attend the ball if it meant succumbing to such conditions.

Verity's heart skipped a beat as Alpha Nero's gaze fell upon her, just after he had released the lifeless lycan.

Verity was acutely aware of the sound of her own heart pounding in her chest. With an intense gaze, the Alpha fixed his eyes upon her. The fierce countenance that had been etched on his face vanished.

He began to stride purposefully in her direction. "No! Stay back!" she warned, her voice trembling with fear. Her voice echoed through the room as she let out a sharp and forceful cry.

Although she sensed a strong bond between them, she couldn't resist the urge to shield herself. Her defense mechanism kicks in whenever she senses a potential threat to her very existence.

The man paused momentarily, but then continued his stride towards her. Verity was convinced that she had lost her hearing due to the incessant pounding of her own heart.

The Alpha loomed before her, its massive form mere inches from her face.

Verity's eyes grew wide with surprise as she sensed the Alpha's breath brushing against her cheek. As Alpha Nero's fingers brushed against her skin, a jolt of electricity surged through her body, causing her to tremble with excitement.

Her body yearns for it, yet her mind resists. She succumbed to her fear and fainted in his arms, even though his touch had made her feel safe.