Roman's pov
A few hours earlier.....
"You're being silly Roman."
My father paces behind his desk.
"Think of the pack, the wolves you have to protect. Are you going to leave them without an heir!"
"I'll do what I want Father."
My anger gets the best of me and I squeeze the pen in my grip, keeping a hold on the frustration I'm feeling right now and reining my emotions in once more.
"I won't be forced to go on blind dates with someone I barely even know. I'll do what is best for me when I'm ready."
My father is quiet and I know he's assessing me.
We come from a long line of Alphas and even at sixty-two, I can still see evident traces of the man he once was. The man he forever is though the title he once held is now mine. He turns to look at me and I can see the stubbornness in his eyes.
"This can't go on for much longer, Roman. A pack needs a Luna as much as it needs an Alpha and there's nothing holding onto the past will do for you except cause you more pain. The blind dates are being arranged because you don't look twice at any female who approaches you."
"That's because I still love her father! I can't stop loving her! I don't care if she isn't here right now. I don't care if she's been missing for the past five years, five years is nothing compared to the amount of love I have for her!"
Alpha Kai of the Ironclaw pack glares at me but I meet his stare with all the ferocity I can muster. His aura retreats immediately.
I lead the Ironclaw pack now.
I am the Alpha. I have been for seven years now and not once have we clashed like this. Elara was my life!
She was my reason for living and even if she's gone now, I still can't get over her.
Rogues took her from me. Filthy disgusting wolves who attacked us when we were at our weakest. They attacked my pack, killed my mother, and fled with my mate.
It's been five years since the attack and I haven't forgotten her for a second. I have felt the mate bond weaken over these five years, I have felt hope slip from my fingers bit by bit and I have seen my pack rely even more on me as their Alpha since then. They need me.
All of me.
So maybe I should get another Luna then.
Exhaustion and despair drape over me like a cloak and my shoulders slump as I look at the picture of my mate in my hands. Elara was prettier than a sunset.
My father's hand is on my shoulder the moment I feel tears start to fog up my eyes and he lets out one of his sighs. The sorrow in that sound surprises me.
"I know you loved her son, and I know she meant the world to you. You aren't the only one who lost a mate that day, I lost mine too. Your mother was the best thing that ever happened to me, was and still is even though she's not with us. I know if she was here, she would want you to be happy, and Elara would too. She would want you to keep her in your heart always, but also know that the memories you shared together will always mean something, no matter if you find someone else or not. She would want to see you smile again and she would want to see the pack stand strong. The pack needs a Luna Roman. We aren't a complete pack without one, and you need someone to love you again, the way Elara did."
With those words, my father squeezes my shoulder lightly. It takes me some time to realize once more that this is my office. It was my desk my father had been pacing behind just now and he's been filling in for me now even more than ever.
It's been five years but I'm still not over the loss of her. Elara was my mate.
We promised to grow old together.
She isn't with me anymore now and it has ruined me.
"Alpha Roman, Beta Fen is on the phone for you."
I raise my head to see my father's personal assistant waiting at the entrance to my office. I'm sure he told her we were not to be disturbed hence the fact that she's just informing me about this call now.
I stretch to grab the landline on my table and the call picks up immediately.
"What's up, Fen?"
"We have intruders."
My hand stills and a frown crosses my face.
"Be frank with me, what do you mean by intruders?"
I can hear Fen hesitate, I can almost feel him wanting to not say the word, but he relents with a sigh and soon the word is tumbling out of his mouth.
"Rogues, Alpha Roman. We have two rogue wolves here at Joe's diner. I'll make an attempt to approach but..." I cut the call before he can continue and get up from the seat with a start. The chair tumbles backward and falls but I'm already out of the office, making my way down the stairs and out of the mansion.
My car is still warm and it starts up immediately.
Rogues! In my pack!
Joe's diner is only a few blocks away but I still drive like a madman on the peaceful streets. I get down, slam my car door shut, and march toward the small diner.
The door is right in front of me when my wolf makes me halt.
A scent wafts into my nose.
My nostrils flare and my heart races, on instinct I close my eyes and when I take a big whiff of the air around me, my wolf howls loud and clear.
She smells like honey and Jasmine. The scent is like candy on my tongue, like wine down my throat. It fills me with the urge to find her and protect her. Mark her and make her mine.
The door to the diner is just in front of me and I open it, but someone bumps into me instead.
A female with green eyes like jade and who bears the smell of honey and Jasmine.
Fenrir howls in my head again and his declaration rings through my soul.
"Mate! Mate!"
She looks up at me and our eyes lock, an electric current passing between us.
~Are you sure of this Fenrir?~
I can barely ask the question because I'm so lost in the green of her eyes. My second chance mate.
The only answer I get from my wolf is his frenzy declaration.
"Mate! Mate!!"
She takes a step back and my eyes catch the silver band around her finger. My second chance mate is already married.
An ugly scowl settles on my face.
Scarlett's pov Why is he looking at me so much? I can barely pull my eyes away from his but if he had pulled his away from mine then we wouldn't be here, would we? What startles me the most about him is how huge he is. He's as large as Hunter, maybe even larger. I probably look like a younger sister next to him. "Who are you?" His voice sends a shiver down my spine and the pleasure that rocks through my brain is unexpected. I don't know what to say. "I... I... Actually..." "If I wanted you to stutter I wouldn't have asked a question at all. What the hell are you doing in my pack, Rogue?" The way his voice is dripping with disgust and hate snaps me out of my reverie. I take a step back before stealing a glance at everything around me and clearing my throat. "I am not a Rogue." "What are you then? I don't have too much patience and the little I have is already running out." Okay, who is this prick? Annoyance flares alive in my bones and I want to lash out at him. Ask him
"What is your name?" "Scarlett Johansen." "What pack are you coming from?" "The Greenwoods pack." The sound of his pen as he writes on the jotter in front of him, does nothing to quell my fear. "How old are you?" "Forty-two." At this, he raises an eyebrow. Like I haven't been lying to him all along and he's just noticed that I have. "Is there any reason why you're in my territory?" I avert my eyes from his and look around. There's something strange that happens whenever he looks at me. Something in my stomach becomes liquid and my mind can't stop bringing up disturbing images. It's shameful. If I blush, I'm going to slap myself right here and right now. "Well...... we were driving, and Maya said she was hungry so I drove to the diner to get her something to eat. I didn't know this land belonged to the Ironclaw pack." Alpha Roman chuckles and stands up so he can walk out from behind his table. "Now that you know it belongs to the Ironclaw pack, and you know I am the Alpha of
Roman's pov What am I doing? Scarlett's eyes are wide with fear and she's moving back, away from me. Fuck. ~I told you you'd hurt her~ I growl and push my wolf's voice out of my head. What the fucking hell am I doing? My word is a command that cuts through the air and stops her right in her tracks. I have to be more controlled than this. I need to get a hold of myself. But how can I when she's standing right in front of me? My second mate, totally oblivious to that fact because she didn't break the mate bond with her first mate. She’s running away from him and has somehow managed to get to me, and now she’s planning to run away from me too. How can I watch that happen? "Are.... you feeling okay, Alpha Roman?" Scarlett takes one step closer to me and I growl at her while stepping back to put some space between us. I'm acting like an irritable wolf who hasn't seen a female in years. When she says she wants to flee far enough that no wolf will ever get to her, I panic and re
This house is huge. That's the first thing I notice about it. Alpha Roman's beta takes us through wide hallways and past beautifully furnished rooms. The sunlight streaming in through the windows and the obvious wolf design incorporated into almost everything makes me feel a sense of awe. I pull Maya closer to me and I notice she's actually focused on something else, or rather someone else. The blond-haired man Roman says is his beta walks in front of us, but I notice the way he always turns back after a few minutes to shoot Maya a silly look. Sometimes he sticks his tongue out, other times he makes a silly face. Maya's look is neutral and I don't know if he's trying to make her laugh or loosen up a little. I'm pretty sure Maya's more on guard than I am, and that's scary. "Here are your living quarters, princess." I frown and open my mouth to correct him that my name is Scarlett, not beautiful or princess, but Maya beats me to it with a very uncharacteristic scoff. "My name's M
~You can come to me Scarlett, I won't hurt you.~The voice sounds so far but it feels so near.~You're my mate, Scarlett. I could never hurt my mate.~My eyes snap open and I notice it all at once.Maya's gone!I get up and a second later I'm bolting out of the door.I'll kill them!I'll kill every person that has laid a hand on my daughter!"Maya? Maya, where are you!"A lady comes out from one of the rooms in the large hallway and I rush to her, grabbing her by the shoulders."My daughter! They have my daughter! Where have they taken her?"Maya's scream is like an electric shock when it wafts into my ears and I jolt away from the bewildered lady. My ears follow the sound of Maya's screams and my legs spur me on faster than they have ever. I take the stairs four at a time, slipping more than once on the tiles but running like my life depends on it."No! Cockroaches are gross! Arghhh get them away from me!"I see Maya, in her nightshirt and pants, her hair loose and unruly but running
Roman's pov.My father is livid."What is the meaning of all this, Roman!"My eyes snap up to meet his and I can see the rage he's trying to control. I reply calmly."Of all what?"The rest of the council is behind him, and soon they all come into view. My father and his beta remain the tallest amongst them, and even though they're all aged now, the black ensembles and fitted suits give them looks of potent danger and power.I direct my gaze back to my father and I see the anger behind his glowing blue eyes."I heard you brought a Rogue into the pack, Roman. You're sheltering a rogue in our pack!"I lean back in my seat and place my clasped hands on the table."The issue of the female werewolf and pup now taking residence in the pack will be addressed accordingly, that isn't the only thing we have to cover today. And lest you forget, Mr. Kai, this is now my pack. I am the Alpha and I will handle the pack in whatever way I think is best."My father recoils into himself so fast that I w
Hunter's pov. The sound of moans fill the air. "Ah, fuck me harder Alpha!" A cruel smile lights up my face when I hear those words. There are three ladies in the room with me and they're all stark naked. The scent of female pheromones is heavy in the air and each whiff of it sends a fresh dose of blood to my cock. I love that feeling, being so hard that your cock feels like a rock. The bitch who moaned is riding me. This is the first time I'm having sex since that bitch ran away. This is the sort of sex she could never give me. These whores will bear children for me. Strong sons that will carry on my name and put a smile on my face. I look into the pleasure filled eyes of the redhead riding me and I smirk as I drag her head down to kiss me. A knock comes from the door. "Alpha Hunter, Beta Knoxx is here to see you." The guard's words are rushed but Knoxx doesn't wait for him to finish talking before he barges in. His eyes scan the expanse of the room and upon realizing what
Scarlett's pov. What in hell am I doing right now? I try to move and am restricted yet again because the huge arm around my waist won't let me. Alpha Roman has me in his hold, and I'm embarrassed at how much I like it. Hells, why am I acting this way? I'm supposed to be freaking out right now, trying to push him away in fear and screaming at him to leave me alone. Hunter has wounded a part of my spirit and that wound is still pink and raw, but the man whose body I'm resting on isn't Hunter, and my spirit seems to be fully aware of that. But still, this isn't appropriate. I clear my throat and try again. "I'm fine now, Alpha Roman. I promise. My chest doesn't hurt anymore and I can breathe properly." I don't get any response but I'm dead sure he heard me. "Alpha Roman?" No response. "Alpha Roman?" Cold fear rushes through me this time and I gulp. Is he dead? "Roman?" "I can hear you very well Scarlett, and I'm glad we're now on a first-name basis. Is there anything you wa