The Ruthless Alpha

Chapter 1: The Ruthless Alpha. 

Zoey

Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of gossip, but when I heard what today’s topic was about, it was quite interesting. The ladies were gathering and talking about our pack’s ruler: Alpha Lyon.

He wasn’t originally our pack ruler. There was a battle, and he had won it and taken over our pack. We didn’t see him often except when it was time to take taxes and pay our homages. I remember my first encounter with him so well; he had ordered his guards to make me carry all the homages from my district because, in his words, I was “too slow.”

I hated him from then, and I prayed our paths wouldn’t cross again. But today, while I was training my wolf, I stumbled upon gossip about him.

“I heard he killed 100 men on one battlefield—all by himself. He is not to be joked with,” one of the girls said.

“Hmm… One time, when he came to take taxes from my district, he ordered his guards to cut off a man’s ear because the poor man had nothing to give,” another said.

“No wonder he isn’t married! No woman would want a husband like that. His handsome face is no match for his ruthless character,” one of the girls who had always admired him said.

“You’re right. I heard a total of 25 girls had been brought for him to court, and yet none of them made it past 72 hours with him. He’s that bad!”

“25 girls?!” I gasped, finally speaking out. I didn’t want the girls to notice me because, to be honest, I had no friends here, but they eventually did.

“Zoey, tell us—what did he do to you that day?” one of them asked me, and I totally went blank. I remember how I almost died out of fear because my grandmother always told me how deadly he was.

“He punished me, that’s all…” I managed to voice out.

“Poor you. It was your fault for always acting slow and sluggish all the time,” one of them pitched, and the rest burst into laughter. That was the sign I needed to leave.

I hissed, tied my hair into a bun, and walked out. I said a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess that I wouldn’t cross paths with Alpha Lyon again. 

Lyon’s POV: 

The council hall reeked of judgment. My father’s glare bore into me, as sharp and relentless as his words. “You’ve been Alpha for a year, Lyon. A year without a Luna by your side.”

I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. “I don’t need a Luna to run Skywood Pack.”

My mother, seated beside him, sighed in exasperation. Her voice was softer but no less pressing. “It’s not just about you, Lyon. It’s about the pack. Tradition dictates you must marry. You’ve turned away every suitable match we’ve brought to you.”

“And for good reason,” I snapped. “Those women were weak. They couldn’t handle this life. They would crumble at the first sign of trouble.”

Father’s fists slammed on the table, the sound echoing through the hall. “Then find one who won’t! Enough of this nonsense. By the end of the month, you will be married. You’ve left us no choice but to leave it in your hands. Choose your wife—or we will.”

His words hung in the air as they stood, their exit as swift as their frustration.

The silence that followed was brief. It was broken by my best friend, Darian, who entered as soon as my parents left. His smirk was infuriatingly casual. “Looks like the great Alpha Lyon is being domesticated.”

I shot him a glare. “Shut up, Darian.”

“Easy,” he said, throwing himself into a chair across from me. “So, what’s the plan? Want me to scour the villages for a bride? Maybe I’ll find you someone who doesn’t faint at your charming personality.”

“I don’t need you to find me a wife,” I said coldly. “I’ll handle it myself.”

Darian raised an eyebrow. “Handle it how? You’ve made it clear you’re not interested in any of the options brought to you.”

“I’ll find her on my terms,” I said, standing. “I’m going hunting tomorrow. When I return in four days, I’ll have a wife.”

He blinked, then burst into laughter. “A wife? From where? The woods?”

“From wherever I decide,” I said, my voice firm. “The council wants me married? Fine. But it’ll be my choice, not theirs. And she’ll know her place.”

Darian’s laughter died down, replaced by a look of curiosity. “You’re serious.”

“Deadly,” I replied, turning to leave.

“Alright, Alpha,” he said, leaning back with a grin. “Let’s see what you bring back. Don’t forget—she has to survive you first.”

I didn’t dignify his comment with a response. Instead, I walked out of the hall, my thoughts already fixed on the hunt ahead. I would find someone strong enough to endure my world.

I didn’t care if she came willingly or not.

In four days, Skywood Pack would have its Luna.