Chapter 7

Alpha Hades's POV

"Thank you, Alpha Hades. I am so grateful," Anita said with a deep bow before me, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

I scoffed inwardly at her politeness, though I couldn't deny that it pleased me. It was rare to find someone who could express such simple gratitude without a trace of entitlement. Many others in her position wouldn’t dare to bow like this, especially not in such a respectful manner. Most of them were too full of themselves, feeling too important to acknowledge even the smallest favor with humility.

I had learned long ago that people who judged based on appearances or qualifications were often the most ungrateful. They felt they were owed something more, that whatever you gave them wasn’t enough to match what they believed they deserved. It’s why I never made the mistake of trusting people at face value. Their words might say one thing, but their hearts? Another matter entirely.

My eyes softened a little as I looked at Anita. Unlike the others, she knew her place. I appreciated that in people. She wasn’t like the many arrogant souls who thought too highly of themselves, never able to say those simple words 'thank you' without an edge of resentment.

She lifted her head and met my gaze, her eyes wide and earnest. Just then, I caught the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. They were sharp, precise, and unmistakably familiar.

I turned my attention towards the sound, snapping my gaze in its direction. There he was, Damian, my Beta, approaching with a smile that stretched from ear to ear, his enthusiasm radiating off him. I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicion lacing my stare. His grin quickly weakened, replaced by a more serious expression as he felt the weight of my gaze.

Damian was always one to carry good news, but sometimes his pranks were less than amusing. And that smile? It made me uneasy.

I shifted my gaze back to Anita, who was still standing before me. There was something about her presence that always calmed me, a strange warmth that settled deep in my chest when she was near. She wasn’t just my personal assistant. There was a lightness around her, an unspoken comfort I couldn’t quite explain.

Her lips curled into a playful smile, a soft chuckle escaping her as she fiddled with the small bag in her hands like a child playing with a toy. That smile, it was contagious, unassuming, and somehow, it brought an odd sense of peace.

But before I could get lost in that feeling, Damian’s voice cut through the air, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Alpha Hades," he called, his tone now serious.

I turned back to him, my focus shifting entirely. "Yes, what’s up?"

Before Damian could respond, Anita interrupted suddenly, her soft voice breaking the moment.

"Please, Alpha, can I go get one more thing?" she asked. Her eyes were wide with innocence as she explained further. "I feel like we should get a flower as well, something we can present since the bag is now mine."

Her suggestion made sense. A flower was a simple, elegant gesture, and it would smooth things over in the absence of the bag.

"Alright," I said, giving her a small nod of approval. She smiled and quickly turned on her heel, heading off to complete her task.

I looked back at Damian, who was standing there, fidgeting slightly as if holding back something big. His hesitation only fueled my suspicions, and I arched an eyebrow at him.

"Well?" I asked, my tone impatient. "What is it?"

He smiled again, but this time it wasn’t his usual playful grin. This was something different, something weightier. "I bring good news, Alpha Hades."

"Good news?" I repeated, my expression hardening with curiosity. I wasn’t in the mood for one of his pranks, and I silently warned him with a look not to try anything foolish.

Damian took a deep breath, clearly enjoying the suspense before he finally delivered the words I’d been waiting to hear for so long.

"We’ve found her," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We’ve finally found the real house of your mate."

Time seemed to freeze around me as his words sank in. My heart skipped a beat, and my eyes widened in disbelief.

"You’ve found it?" I repeated, still processing what he had just said.

Damian nodded, his smile growing wider. "Yes, Alpha. We’ve located her. The real address."

The surge of emotions that rushed through me was almost overwhelming. After all this time, after all the searching, the uncertainty—now, it was time. My mate, the one whom I thought had lost, was finally within reach.

I could hardly contain my excitement. The anticipation that had been building for years now burst forth. "It’s time," I muttered, more to myself than to Damian. "It’s time to meet her."

A grin stretched across my face as I imagined the reunion. She had claimed she didn’t recognize me before, but now, that would change. She would see me for who I really was. And I had changed since the last time. Stronger, more powerful, more... irresistible. She wouldn’t be able to deny me now.

I cast a quick glance around the mall, noticing the women who passed by, their eyes lingering on me longer than necessary. They flaunted their looks, swayed their hips, trying to catch my attention. But they were nothing more than distractions. I wasn’t here for them. I had one goal in mind, and nothing else mattered.

I turned back to Damian, the excitement now coursing through my veins. "Let’s make haste while the sun still shines. Is the car ready?"

Damian nodded, his posture straightening. "Yes, Alpha. There’s a car waiting for you outside."

"Good," I said, the thrill of the chase making my pulse quicken. "Let’s go."

I beckoned to Anita as we started moving towards the exit. She had gotten the flower and handed it over to me. The plan was set in motion. But as we moved through the mall, someone stepped into our path. Elder Mike.

He was one of the elders of the Silverwood pack, an old ally of my father’s. His presence usually meant something important, but I wasn’t in the mood for delays. Not today.

He bowed respectfully, as was customary, and then stood upright, his face unreadable. His eyes flicked between me, Damian, and Anita before settling on me.

"Alpha Hades," he said in a low voice, "I apologize for interrupting. But I must speak with you privately, if you’d allow it."

I felt a flicker of annoyance but nodded, motioning for him to speak. He led me a few steps away from Damian and Anita, though not far enough that they couldn’t overhear.

"I’ll make this quick," he said, his tone urgent but controlled. "The elders have grown concerned. It’s been three years now, and you’ve yet to claim a mate."

I narrowed my eyes at him, my patience thinning. "And?"

"We respect your position, Alpha Hades," he continued, his voice growing firmer, "but the pack needs stability. That’s why we brought Rachel to you. She’s strong, capable, and she accepted the offer. Why not take her as your mate and reject this... mystery woman, the one none of us have ever seen?"

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I had expected resistance from the elders, but not this level of disrespect. To suggest that I cast aside my fated mate? To choose someone else? someone they had picked for me? My anger began to simmer, growing hotter with every word he spoke.

I took a step towards him, my fists clenching at my sides. "How dare you?" I growled, my voice low and menacing.

Elder Mike’s eyes widened in fear, his body trembling as I advanced on him. He took several steps back, retreating until his back was pressed against the wall. His hands shook as he held them up in a gesture of surrender, his face pale with terror.

"I-I meant no offense, Alpha," he stammered, his voice quivering. "Please... forgive me."

"Forgive you?" I repeated, my voice dripping with venom. "You come here, questioning my choices, meddling in my affairs, and you expect forgiveness?"

The room seemed to close in on him as I stood just inches away, my gaze locked on his. I could feel the tension radiating from him, his fear palpable as sweat dripped down his face.

"Listen to me," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "I, Alpha Hades of the Silverwood pack, will not and never reject my mate. Is that clear?"

He nodded frantically, his lips quivering as he struggled to form words.

"This should be the last time you ever bring this up," I continued, my voice now a growl. "The next time you or anyone else tries to interfere in this matter, it will be your end. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, Alpha," he stammered, barely able to speak.

I threw the flowers and contract files which Damian had given to me at him then turned sharply, fury still burning in my chest as I stormed out of the mall. Damian and Anita scrambled after me, opening the car door as I climbed into the back seat.

As the car pulled away, I stared out of the window, my mind still racing with thoughts of my mate, of the reunion that awaited us. Nothing—no one—would stand in my way.

From the front seat, I heard Damian and Anita whispering. They thought I couldn’t hear, but my heightened senses caught every word.

"Do you know why Alpha Hades' mate isn’t here?" Anita asked in a hush. "Why is he so angry?"

"It’s a long story," Damian replied in a low voice. "His mate... she’s mysterious. I’ve never even seen her. They met once, briefly, before he went to New York on business. Since then, they haven’t spoken or seen each other."

Anita frowned, her curiosity piqued. "So this is like... a reunion?"

Damian nodded. "Yes. Alpha Hades has been searching for her ever since."

Anita leaned back in her seat, her mind racing as she processed the story.