Chapter 2

ATLAS’S POV

“Alpha, everything is in place. My father made a few calls to his old alpha friends, and they agreed to the alliance. 

They’ll help protect each other's borders from rogue attacks and greedy packs,” my best friend, Axel, who’s acting as my beta, reported to me.

“Buddy, you know I hate it when you call me Alpha,” I said with a hint of annoyance and he chuckled.

“You’re my Alpha, Atlas, and I have to give you the respect you deserve,” he replied.

I shook my head, disagreeing. “You’re my equal, Axel you are an alpha too. This formality is unnecessary.” 

“We’re getting late for training,” he said, smoothly changing the subject. 

I respected his need to avoid talking about his past, which always made him uncomfortable. 

As soon as my wolf heard the word "training," he started pacing excitedly. 

He wasn’t thrilled about the training itself but about seeing our mate, the only woman destined for us. But sadly, she couldn’t feel the mate bond yet because she wasn’t of age. 

The moment we reached the training ground, her scent hit me, fresh and intoxicating.

 I looked over to see her laughing as she took down one of our best warriors. Kaida was an incredible fighter and had a kind heart. 

Everyone in the pack adored her, and seeing her in a good mood made me happy. 

What didn’t make me happy was the way the male wolves were staring at her. Her body, toned and graceful, drew their attention, and my wolf growled in frustration. 

Jason, one of her closest male friends, was the worst of them. “Hey, baby girl, how about taking on the three best warriors of the pack?” he challenged, a smirk on his face. 

She was about to accept the challenge when my wolf surged forward, growling in Jason's direction.

 My wolf couldn’t stand the thought of any other man touching her, even in a fight. She was ours, even if she didn’t know it yet.

“Who upset the Alpha now?” Jason whispered to Kaida, though I could still hear him. 

“Maybe one of his girls,” Kaida replied casually. Her words stung more than I cared to admit. 

The only impression she had of me was that I was a womanizer. And to be fair, that wasn’t entirely wrong. I had been, up until the moment I realized she was my mate. 

Yes, I used to sleep with any woman who made herself available, but since Kaida came into my life, that had changed. Not that anyone knew that, least of all her.

Our eyes met across the field, and I knew she had heard my growl. 

After giving instructions to the others, I called her to fight me instead of the other men. Fighting her wasn’t the smartest idea, given the mate bond, but I couldn’t resist. I needed to be close to her, to feel her energy.

“Hurt by one of my girls, huh? Are you jealous?” I whispered in her ear as we circled each other. 

I saw her tense up at my words. She responded quickly, “Why would I be?” She was tough, but her punches felt fiercer than I had expected. 

I barely defended myself, letting her get in a few hits, one on my jaw, another to my side. She was powerful, but my wolf wouldn’t allow me to hurt her, even in training. 

Despite my efforts to hide it, some of the pack noticed I was holding back. 

After the session, Axel approached me, clearly irritated. “What’s going on with you and my sister, man?” he demanded.

“Nothing, Axel,” tI lied, brushing him off and heading to my chambers. I couldn’t tell him what was happening, he wouldn’t understand.

Later, after a quick shower, I was drying off when Akira barged into my room With tears in her eyes.

My gaze locked onto Akira. A hint of warmth softened my expression.

"Akira, what brings you here?"

She drifted closer, her hips swaying. "I'm concerned about Kaida. She's been... problematic."

My brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Akira's voice dripped with malice. "She's been challenging the authority, questioning your decisions. I fear she's becoming a threat to pack stability."

"Heard her and her friends talking about your training methods," she said

My expression darkened. "are you sure?"

"yes, alpha." 

"I will talk to her," I said.

Akira's smile grew wider. "I think it's more than just a conversation, Alpha. Kaida needs to be reminded of her place."

Akira looked at me as if I was a piece of meat, She tried to remove the towel wrapped around my waist.

"What are you doing?" I snapped, The last thing I needed was Akira in my room, especially with Kaida on my mind.

“I came to see my man,” she said, her eyes lingering on my body. She licked her lips, making it clear what she wanted.

I immediately regretted getting myself entangled with her. I used to like her, and we've had sex a couple of times but not anymore; ever since I found my mate, I no longer want to have anything to do with her.

Even though her parents and my grandmother, one of the two surviving blood relatives I have, made an agreement to choose her as my Luna, I began to have a change of mind the moment I found my mate.

“Correction. I’m not your man, and you’re not my mate. Now get out of my room,” I said firmly

“Whether I am your mate or not you agreed to the arrangement to make me the Luna of this pack or should I inform my dad?”

 Instead of leaving, she wrapped her arms around my waist, refusing to let go. I pushed her hands away, and in response, she began to undress, right there in front of me.

At that exact moment, the door swung open, and Kaida walked in.

The hurt and surprise in her eyes tore me apart. My heart shattered at the thought of her misunderstanding this.

“Kaida, this isn’t what it looks like!” I rushed toward her, desperate to explain. But she kept her composure. 

“I'm Sorry, Alpha. Dad sent me to call you for dinner,” she said, her voice calm but distant.

Kaida’s father had helped in raising me after my parents were killed in an attack. He helped me take over the pack at a young age, and we often had family dinners together. But Kaida’s eyes gave her away, she was hurt.

She left immediately after delivering the message, and I stood there, helpless. 

I wanted to go after her, to explain everything, but I realized I was still only in a towel. 

Fuming, I turned to Akira. “Get out. And don’t ever come near my room again,” I growled, grabbing her arm and dragging her toward the door.

“Is this because of that slut, Kaida?” she spat venomously. 

I grabbed her by the jaw, forcing her to look me in the eyes. 

“Call her that again, and you’ll see why they call me a monster,” I warned her, my voice low and deadly. I shoved her out of my room without another word.

This wasn’t the first time Kaida had caught me with a woman, and I feared it wouldn’t be the last because of my past. But this time, it was different. 

She was my mate, and if she ever found out, there was a chance she’d reject me. 

I was caught between my mate and Akira, the girl I agreed to make my Luna in exchange for having an alliance with her father’s pack.

That thought terrified me more than anything else. I needed to talk to her before it was too late.