Chapter 4

“Arghhh…” I let out a hoarse groan, my thighs aching with soreness from the brutal night I had endured with the general.

I sat in the cool river, trying to wash away the remnants of him from my body. My nipples stood hard against the cold water, and my skin was marked with red bruises from his lips and hands his claim still on me.

Kaida swam towards me , her expression was one  of surprise and curiosity. “I must say, I am shocked you survived the night with General Darion. That man is a beasst literally. Most she-wolves can’t handle him, especially given his size and how rough he is in bed.” She smirked, nudging me playfully. “But someone as delicate as you made it through. So, what’s your secret?”

“I don’t know,” I muttered, my voice weak. I hesitated, debating whether I should say it aloud. Finally, I whispered, “Maybe... the mate bond?”

“Mate bond?” Kaida’s brow shot up in disbelief. “You’re mated to the general? A Venari mated to a Lupari? What’s the Moon Goddess up to?” Her voice carried shock, her expression mirroring it.

I didn’t know how to respond, so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

“And you’re a virgin too,” she added, her tone now laced with regret. “I should have asked before taking you to him. General Darion is not a fan of virgins.”

“Yes, clearly…” I muttered, my thoughts flashing back to this morning. I could still see the anger in his face when he noticed the blood staining the sheets. It was clear he hadn’t expected me to be untouched. Virgins were too fragile for him, or so it seemed.

For a moment, I thought he might have regretted taking me so roughly. Could he have felt bad? Or was I imagining things?

“There you are, Kaida! Hurry, there’s trouble! Alpha Malrik has suddenly made an appearance!” A woman burst onto the riverbank, one of the camp mistresses, her voice filled  with urgency.

Kaida’s face turned pale with fear. She looked at me briefly before rushing out of the water. “Alpha Malrik is here? The Alpha of the Lupari? The ultimate ruler of Moonsdawn? What is he doing here?” I asked

“Hurry, let’s go see what’s going on!” she urged. I quickly threw on my clothes and followed her, my curiosity mixing with unease.

As we walked towards the camp, the scene before us was nothing short of intimidating. At least a hundred new soldiers had gathered, mounted on sleek black horses. Their big  frames and cold expressions gave  power and danger.

In the center of it all stood General Darion, his broad shoulders squared as he faced off against another man. This man was equally intimidating , with features strikingly similar to Darion’s. Their tension between them was obvious, like two storm clouds about to collide.

“That’s Alpha Malrik,” Kaida whispered urgently in my ear. “General Darion’s brother. They don’t get along.”

Her words made everything click into place—the resemblance, the hostility between them. I wanted to ask why they didn’t see eye to eye, but the heavy atmosphere around me wasn’t exactly welcoming for questions.

“Pardon me for interrupting your military operation, brother,” Alpha Malrik drawled, his deep voice carrying a mocking edge. “But I was taking a stroll near the borders when I caught a scent—an interesting scent. It compelled me to make this unannounced visit.”

His piercing gaze swept over the camp, and I couldn’t help but shiver. What had he smelled? What had drawn him here?

I could tell that, even though Alpha Malrik’s tone seemed polite, there was a thick layer of hatred simmering beneath it.

“And what might this thing be, your majesty?” General Darion asked, raising an eyebrow. He was respectful, but his voice held no friendliness. What was going on between them? And how had I never known that General Darion and Malrik were brothers? It seemed like nobody outside the Lupari knew that secret.

My wolf stirred again, just like she always did when General Darion was near. I still couldn’t stop wondering what he would do about the mate bond. I knew rejection was probably the most likely outcome, and I had prepared myself for it, no matter how much it hurt.

“The thing I am looking for, brother, is...” Alpha Malrik paused before finishing, “... my mate.”

Murmurs rippled through the gathered crowd. Kaida and I exchanged confused glances, both of us trying to make sense of what was happening. A mate? Malrik had a mate, and she was in this camp?

“A mate?” Darion asked, lifting his brow. “What do you mean, a mate?”

“I know it must be surprising,” Malrik continued, his voice calm but filled with certainty. “It’s rare for a Lupari to find a mate. When I sensed her, I couldn’t ignore it. I followed her scent here, and now I know she’s in this camp. I am here for her, and I’m taking her away. You know the importance of a mate to a lupari alpha, don’t you?”

“Sorry to say, Alpha,” Commander Kael suddenly spoke. “The only things we have here are whores and slaves. Maybe your wolf is wrong—your mate can’t be here.”

Malrik shot Kael a glare that made the commander stumble back, fear in his eyes. I didn’t even know Azreal was capable of looking afraid.

“My wolf is never wrong,” Malrik growled, his eyes scanning the crowd, searching for something or  someone.

“What do you think he’s doing?” I whispered to Kaida. She looked just as confused as I felt.

“Looking for this mate of his it seems”

He scanned the crowd, his eyes searching for something. Then, suddenly, they landed on me. The moment our eyes met, I felt a fear  that made me lower my head immediately. My wolf inside me started clawing, restless and desperate.  

“You there!” I heard him call. It couldn’t be me, not at all. I kept my eyes on the ground, hoping it wasn’t me.  

“Bring her here,” he commanded the guards.  

Strong hands grabbed my arms, pulling me forward. I could feel every pair of eyes on me as the guards shoved me along. My knees buckled, and I fell to the ground in front of the Alpha.  

I kept my head low, trying to make sense of what was happening.  

“Lift your head,” he ordered. “And rise to your feet.”  

My body shook uncontrollably, my wolf growing even more furious inside. But I forced myself to stand, keeping my head lowered, afraid to face this giant man, as if I haven’t been brave enough to spend  the night with someone as big as him if not slightly bigger.  

“Raise your head,” he repeated, his voice harder now.  

Slowly, I lifted my head. His eyes were ocean blue. Malrik had golden-brown hair to match his striking blue eyes, making him look almost too good looking , as if he didn’t belong in this world.  

His features were sharp, defined—his face a work of art. My eyes shifted to Darion, who stood behind, watching us both with curiosity, his expression unreadable.  

Malrik’s hands reached out, fingers brushing against my face. The moment he touched me, my wolf inside me surged, as if she was desperate to break free.

“This...” he started, his voice soft yet filled with power. He paused before continuing, “This is my mate.”