Chapter 8

Alpha Hades pov

Sitting in the back of the car, I couldn’t help but feel a certain tension lingering in the air. As Anita and Damian handed me the documents and the bouquet they had retrieved from the ground, I placed the flowers carefully on my left lap while the files were arranged neatly on my right. The beautiful petals brushed against my fingers, but my mind was elsewhere, focusing on the papers before me.

I began flipping through the contents of the folders absentmindedly. Standard documents. Legal agreements. Financial reports. The usual.

Then something unusual caught my eye—a contract tucked between the pages. I paused for a moment, then pulled it out, my gaze immediately landing on the title:

Marriage Contract.

A slow, deliberate breath escaped me. I hadn't recalled placing this in here, so it piqued my interest. My eyes quickly scanned down to the line where the bride’s name was written.

Anita.

The world seemed to narrow in that instant. The name on the contract matched perfectly with hers, the woman I had been obsessing over. My mind raced, trying to piece together what this meant. I glanced at the contract again, almost as if I expected the name to change, but no, it was still the same.

Anita.

Her name sat there, mocking me with its simplicity and significance. It could have been a coincidence. It had to be a coincidence, right? But deep down, something quickly stirred within me. My wolf, Haddy, silent for most of the day, perked up instantly.

“She’s your mate,” he growled softly in the back of my mind. “It’s a sign.”

The idea settled heavily on my chest. Could this be the answer I had been seeking? Was this contract, this name, somehow fated? It felt too perfect to be mere chance.

Smiling, I tucked the contract back into the folder, deciding to hold onto it. My wolf was growing more restless with each passing second, sensing something I hadn’t fully realised yet. The contract wasn’t just a piece of paper; it was an indication. A confirmation, perhaps.

My mate, Anita. The woman I had been searching for.

“Why are you so happy?” my wolf questioned, curious about my sudden change in coduct.

I couldn’t suppress the grin spreading across my face as I responded, “Because her name is Anita. It’s a good name. And I know, deep down, she must be a good woman.”

My wolf huffed in agreement, though I could sense a bit of amusement in his tone. “You’re nervous,” he said.

I scoffed internally, though he wasn’t wrong. I was nervous, though I didn’t want to admit it. It was the first time I had ever taken a woman this seriously. There had been plenty of women before, but none of them had ever sparked this feeling inside me. None of them had made me feel like this. Like everything could either fall into place perfectly or crumble into chaos depending on what I did next.

Tonight would be the night. I would finally meet her, my mate. And I had to be prepared.

The flowers on my lap suddenly felt heavier, more symbolic than I had realized before. They weren’t just flowers anymore; they were part of my plan to win her over, to let her know that I was serious. I glanced down at the beautiful petals, thinking of the woman who had come into my life so unexpectedly, and yet, it felt like she had always been meant for me.

As the car sped down the road, I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to quiet the chaos in my mind. The rumble of the engine faded into the background as I focused inward, rehearsing the words over and over. This was the moment I had been waiting for. The moment I would tell her the truth, the moment she would know that she was mine.

But how? How could I explain something as complex as a mate bond? How could I make her understand that this wasn’t just some crush, but something sacred, something forged by the Moon Goddess herself?

I inhaled deeply and let the words form in my mind.

"Anita," I would say, my voice steady but gentle. "There’s something important I need to tell you. Something I should have told you from the start."

I could already picture her, not her face though because right now, i still can't remember how she looks like. So she would be most likely sitting across from me, her dark eyes wide with curiosity, maybe even confusion. Her head would tilt slightly, the way we do when trying to figure something out. There would be a pause, a stillness between us, and then, I would tell her.

"You’re my mate."

The words sounded simple in my head, but I knew they carried the weight of the world with them. I’d watch her expression carefully, looking for the slightest sign of recognition, of understanding. Would she feel it too? The pull? The undeniable connection that was like a string binding us together, even though she didn’t know it yet?

I imagined her reaction.

At first, she might laugh, a nervous, disbelieving chuckle, thinking it was some sort of joke. I’d see the doubt flash across her face, her brows furrowing as if trying to make sense of what I had just said.

"Your mate? What do you mean?" she’d ask, her voice shaky with uncertainty.

I could almost feel my chest tighten just thinking about that moment. I’d need to stay calm, to not let her fear or confusion unsettle me.

"It means that we were destined for each other. Chosen by the Moon Goddess herself. It’s a bond that’s deeper than anything you’ve ever known. You might not feel it yet, but it’s there."

Would she believe me? I didn’t know. The rational part of me kept insisting that she would, that she’d feel the same pull I did. But there was that sense of doubt, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. What if she didn’t believe in fate? What if she rejected the very idea of being bound to me?

I could feel my hands clenching and unclenching in my lap, the anxiety creeping in. I shook my head slightly, forcing myself to focus. This had to go right. I needed to be convincing, confident.

"I know it sounds unbelievable," I’d continue, my voice calm but firm, "but there’s no denying it. I’ve felt it from the moment I met you, and I know you’ve felt something too. A connection, something you can’t explain."

And then I imagined her looking at me, her eyes softening, maybe her hand instinctively reaching up to touch her chest as if the bond would suddenly make itself known. Her lips would part, and she’d say something like,

"I did feel…something. But I don’t understand. How can you be so sure?"

In that moment, I’d feel a surge of relief, the hope I had been clinging to finally becoming real. I would lean forward, reaching for her hand, desperate to make her see.

"Because you’re my mate, Anita. I know it with every part of me. My wolf knows it. It’s more than just love, it’s destiny. And I will protect you, care for you, be everything you need."

I could almost feel the tension in the air in that imaginary moment. My heart would be racing, and I knew hers would too. But what if she wasn’t ready? What if all of this was too much for her?

“What if she pulls away and rejects you?” my wolf,  Haddy asked, his voice suddenly filled with doubt.

I tried to push the thought aside, but the possibility lingered. She might stand up, backing away from me as if I had said something completely insane.

But that sliver of doubt still lingered at the back of my mind, gnawing at my confidence. I was Hades, Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in the region. Women were never an issue for me. But this—this was different. She was different.

The car’s steady rhythm brought me back to the present for a moment, but my mind quickly wandered back to her.

The weight of my responsibilities as an Alpha added to the pressure. I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes, not when it came to my mate. Finding a mate was rare enough, but finding one blessed by the Moon Goddess? That was a gift beyond measure. She wasn’t just a woman I could claim; she was my destined partner, someone who would stand by my side and make me stronger.

My wolf growled in agreement, his voice firm and commanding. “The Moon Goddess has chosen her for you. This is more than just fate; it’s a blessing. Together, you’ll be unstoppable.”

I knew he was right. Choosing a mate blessed by the Moon Goddess would enhance my strength, solidify my position, and bring countless Zachefits to the pack. It would be more than just a personal victory; it would be a strategic move, one that would elevate us all.

But first, I had to convince her.