Ch. 7 - Mine

Gabe POV

I cursed myself the whole journey to the North for bumping into that little minx. I knew the moment I caught her scent, she was mine, but I didn't want her. I was here for one reason: one person. I left my home and grueling days of torture and deceit to complete my true destiny.

First, I needed to kill the Queen. That bitch had it coming for the scraps she threw our way while her pack bathed in glory. The houses these people lived in were ridiculously beautiful. Beds of colorful flowers, bright paint on the siding, smooth roads to play on. It was sickening comparing all this to what little we were given.

Then, I needed to find my true other half, the one who would complete my soul and grant us the power to rule this world as it was meant to be ruled.

But the moment I arrived in the North, her scent hit me again, sending my wolf into a frenzy. I was at some elaborate, frivolous celebration for their so-called prince. A prince in a land of werewolves? What a joke. We were Alphas, or we weren't. The strongest ruled, and that was the end of it.

The concept of an "Alpha of Alphas" was absurd. The more I mingled with these people, the more ridiculous they seemed. What bothered me most, though, was the persistent itch to seek out my mate. I didn't have time for such pointless distractions.

While trying my hardest to ignore how Ruby ran about with some Alpha, I finally spotted the Queen. She seemed unremarkable, with long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and nothing special.

I checked my gun, loaded with three-inch silver bullets, and cocked the pistol, ready to fire. I got into position, a perfect shot lined up to put a bullet right between the Queen's eyes. But then, my mate caught my attention again. She was standing by a table filled with cupcakes, staring at the so-called Prince. I knew who he really was, the infamous Sebastian, and he was no prince. Yet my little mate seemed to be drooling over him, and that was something I couldn't tolerate.

My wolf no longer cared about our original mission; we knew our destiny was inevitable. But this little wolf wasn't guaranteed. If I let her slip away now, I might never see her again. Against my better judgment, I moved toward her, my body irresistibly drawn to her velvety tan skin. She was incredibly sexy, and her eyes should be on me. I had just arrived this morning, and killing the Queen the same day seemed a bit anticlimactic anyway.

The moment my canines sank deep into Ruby's neck, I felt that long-told story of the fated bond snap into place. It was exhilarating, her magic flowing through me, becoming a part of me. She was a powerful creature, and I doubted she knew the first thing about wielding such magics.

I left her in the alley, alone and scared of what this now meant, but it was necessary. I couldn't afford to show her an ounce of kindness. Claiming her had formed a bond between us, one that would only draw me closer to her, but I didn't have time to comfort a mate. After I claimed the North and South and broke the walls this so-called Queen constructed, maybe then I could consider giving her a little affection.

As I walked down the streets, a smirk played wildly on my face as I pictured her body molded to mine. She felt incredible, to be inside her, to fill her with every ounce of my seed. Then I growled, realizing I had fucking marked her. A mate was bad enough, but a child would be life-changing. I made a mental note to ensure she was on birth control; I couldn't have pups running around while I was busy taking over the world.

But the idea of children suddenly appealed to me. Did I want children? Of course, I did. I was an Alpha; I needed my pack and heirs.

"Fuck!" I roared, slamming my fists against my head, trying to shake off the thoughts that were already latching onto her. I was getting attached to that damn woman, and it infuriated me. She wasn't the one I needed.

Despite my anger, my body betrayed me, wanting to turn back, to run to her, to take her again and again until we had a hundred little pups biting at our ankles. The thought alone made me pause, my instincts warring with my logic.

I forced myself to stop and listen, ears straining through the chaos of the night. A fight had broken out nearby; no, it was more than that. Someone was beating the life out of another, and the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the streets.

I chuckled darkly, closing my eyes and letting the darkness wash over me. The evil this man was spewing was potent, pure, and untainted. I could practically taste it on my tongue. I had to see for myself who wielded such raw power.

Completely forgetting my internal struggle about my mate, I raced down the street, surprised to see the beloved prince beating a poor old man to a pulp.

I smirked at the sight, feeding off the power he radiated. It was beautiful, yet unsettling. I didn't know Sebastian, but somehow, I knew this would ruin him. I glanced around to see if anyone else had witnessed the commotion before lunging forward and tackling the beast to the ground. He thrashed in my grip, fury burning bright within him.

"Calm down, demon wolf!" I ordered, my power matching his. He paused, recognizing the likeness we shared. His black eyes met mine, and we both smiled, satisfied at having found our other half. We weren't bound by the goddess, though. Our connection was far more profound. A god of true power had forged our souls to be the greatest destruction this world had ever seen, and we would rebuild it together.

Sebastian slowly rose, watching me carefully, trying to piece together what this meant. I turned to the bloodied man on the street and ordered him to go home and never speak of what had happened. I had to protect Sebastian from the shame and ridicule of his pack. I didn't care what anyone thought of me, but I instinctively knew it would matter to him.

"I think we need to talk," I smirked at him, sensing that this might work out even better than I'd originally planned. We could bond, become close friends, and then, when his mother was assassinated and the rest of his family fell into despair, he'd be lost, looking for someone to lean on.

"You! You took her from me!" He roared, catching me off guard as he bum-rushed me to the ground. His fists wailed on me, shattering my cheekbones into a thousand pieces. I screamed in pain, completely helpless against his overwhelming power. We were supposed to be equal! How the hell was he forcing me down like this?

Luckily, others heard my growls and screams of agony. Three men pulled Sebastian off me, redirecting his rage onto them. Right there, in the middle of an abandoned street, the Kings and their prince clashed. I sat up slowly, groaning in pain, and watched, hoping that Sebastian would take one of them down. I'd prefer to kill the Queen with my own hands, but seeing her wither away in despair would be just as satisfying.

Then, a vision flashed through my mind: Sebastian was utterly lost in the world, his soul destroyed from the loss of his parents by his own hands. I never knew a kind hand growing up, but he had been bathed in love. I cursed myself for what I was about to do but had no choice.

"Enough!" I commanded, my voice echoing with a force that vibrated through the air. It wouldn't hold long against an Alpha like Sebastian, but it was enough to give him pause. "Are you trying to kill everyone you love?" I shouted, the words spilling out before I could think, but somehow, I knew that was exactly what I needed to say.

Sebastian stumbled backward, his eyes locked onto his bloody knuckles. "No, no, no, no." He began chanting, his mind unraveling before my eyes. This boy had completely lost his grip on reality. I needed a powerful ally, not a mumbling idiot. I sighed, realizing that this was going to be much harder than I had anticipated.

New plan: First, I'll become Sebastian's friend, earning his trust and reliance. Then I'll use something dark and twisted to turn him against his parents, maybe with a bit of magic to sever their bond. Once his parents are out of the way, I'll be the one he turns to for guidance. From there, we'll take over the world together. It's a long game, more complex than I'd hoped, but I can be a patient man. This was world domination after all.