Chapter 02

Alpha Farrell's POV

When that blazing fire gutted my home, a storm of vengeful emotions raged inside me. I watched as it burned the flesh of my wife and baby and melted their bones to ashes and I couldn't do anything to save them from the rage of flame that swept quickly through the house.

Their cries still shrill through my mind in my sleep and I feel guilty, guilty for not saving them, for not jumping into that fire and cloistering them out to safety. I doubt if I'll ever recover from it.

Dark crest pack had rampaged and attacked us unaware, raiding and destroying everything within sight. My people had been murdered in cold blood and their body sprawled across the entire pack.

It was cowardly of them to attack us behind our backs, we would have torn their flesh and devoured them if they’d challenged us upfront. I swore to exact my revenge in the same spiteful manner.

  I decided to prowl under the bush and wait for the right time to strike, to do to them exactly what they did to us. And that day was now. I had waited for the perfect time and season to exact my long overdue revenge.

As we stormed their village, I made my way to the dungeon to capture prisoners. I found a sentinel I took pleasure in slaughtering, but what I found next, I never expected.

As I ripped the dungeon’s bar open, a sharp scent filled my nostrils. It reeked of the sore smell of dirt and feminine sweat with a squirt of hyacinth. It was her. Another mate?

After my queen and son – my only heir died in that fire, I lost control of my humanity and the emotions that came along with it. I vowed to never take another mate, as I was irresponsible and undeserving of one.

“Please, don't hurt me. I beg of you.” She cried. Her voice had reached out to me in a low and touching manner that I couldn't ignore even though I desperately wanted to.

I had wanted to end the life of every one of them in the pack just the way their alpha had done to my people.

I held one of her shackled hands and raised my other hand in a bid to salvage her to death, but something held me back. There was no explanation for what held me back and neither could I understand it.

She forced her eyes open and they met mine. They were flooded with tears and shimmered like the waves of an ocean. They rippled a feeling inside me.

They softened me. I felt myself slowly regaining my human form which I had lost after the death of my mate – my wife and queen, but I suppressed it as soon as Sir Edric – my right-hand man walked it.

“My lord,” he bowed. "Our raid operation is a big success, we've killed them all including the Alpha king Donovan.” I felt my heart jump in glee as soon as he uttered those words.

I released her hands and took a deep breath before turning to face Edric who stood right behind me with a serious look.

“Very well then,” I spoke. "We will burn the whole village to ashes as we leave. And bring the prisoner along, she’s our hostage now.”

As I walked past him, I noticed his eyes pop with suspicion. I was sure he already knew.  A Lycan is sure to know when his fellow has found his matching mate.

My lips curled to a satisfyingly vengeful smirk as I dallied past savaged corpses, dissected body parts, splattered blood, and of course, the head of the Alpha king Donovan on a spike. Now my late family can rest in peace.

He was the one that ordered the rampage on my village and the fire that consumed my palace and family. Revenge had been served on a silver platter that appealed so much to me.

I marched onto the top of the concrete steps, his spiked head beside me. I drew the attention of my pack and addressed them.

“Lycans!! Lycans of Blood Moon pack!! I beckoned, tightening my jaw and raising my balled fist in the air. The sight of them in a spiteful mood appealed to me.

All eyes were drawn to me as they watched most attentively. I let down my arm and clasped them both behind my lower. I paced around, stone-faced with my eyes frisking viciously.

“The moon goddess has smiled at us. Our victory has shone brightly like the full moon. We’ve trampled down our enemies and stamped our feet on their pathetic carcasses.

Now our brothers, wives, children, and all our loved ones will finally rest in peace. Our victory hasn't tasted any better, but we still need to do the final… let's burn this place to the ground!!”

I screamed at the top of my voice, my breath rustling in sync with the heaving of my chest.

Their howl thundered across the forest as they doused the entire village with paraffin and set it ablaze with a joy they hadn't known in a long time.

•••

“My lord, what do you suggest we do with our new prisoner?” Edric asked after a slight bow, locking his gaze in mine just the way he does whenever we've got something important to talk about.

I took a sip from my cup and grazed my mouth with my teeth, tapping gently at the tail of the mug.

“Take her to the dungeon, lock her up till I figure something out.” I hurled out the orders without thinking twice.

“Yes, my lord.” He bowed in reverence before making his way to the door.

“Edric,” I called.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I'm aware that you already know she’s my mate,” I began.

"But after the death of Sheila, I vowed to never take another mate, much less a weak wolfless girl from our enemy's side. She’s past eighteen and she hasn't even wolfed.”

He let out a huff of breath and cradled his hands to his upper abdomen.

"My lord, if the moon goddess dared give you another mate then it's for a reason. Remember that everything good comes from her. All because of that girl, you have regained your humanity and lately,

I have noticed how peaceful and softened you've become inside.” he spoke, words that I already knew. I didn't need anyone to tell me those again but I didn't stop him anyways.

“Maybe you should go visit her, she’s been sulking ever since we arrived.” He concluded before making his way to the door.

The evening slowly drifted to nightfall and I began to think it was never going to fall. I sprung from my chair and trod to the balcony of my chamber, my hands clasped to my back.

My eyes flickered recklessly as I made my way through. The night was pitch black and peaceful with chirping crickets hovering in the bushes. I placed my hand on the steel rail and patiently watched the rise of the moon. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Moonlight shone in my eyes as my inquisitive mouth parted continuously to mutter; "Why have you chosen to give me another mate after everything that happened? I am undeserving of one, I’m not responsible enough for one, please let it not be true.

"The guilt I felt managed to simmer itself to my lips all over again

The bushes rustled and a cold wind swept against my deep brown fur. A wave of nervous energy flowed through me and I caught a glimpse of her image in the dungeon.

Her head was bowed low in fear and her legs were wobbly. She was crying. Her image was erased the moment she looked up like she noticed something.