CH3 - Cedric's POV

I can’t believe that pack is yet again hounding my scouts! I had them merely monitoring the smaller pack along the southern border, more to judge if they were still going to be a threat to me and my pack now that I’m forced to take over, but no. They have to interrupt my scouts like the pests they are!

As soon as I arrive at the battlefield, I can see just how chaotic they’ve made it. Their beta has someone cornered against a large tree and, from what I can tell, he is also a beta, or perhaps an alpha?

My warriors continue into battle without me, giving me time to judge the fighting with my own eyes. I rarely bring myself into the middle of a fight, as my warriors usually disperse a crowd quickly.

This time, however, it might not be so simple. With three packs here, it is harder to tell which wolves belong to which rival pack. I’m not even sure they know who is who, either.

The smell of blood assaults my nose, but something sweet lingers in the air. I can’t quite tell what it is, but it has my heart racing. I try to ignore it at first, but then a gust of wind wafts the smell in my direction fully.

Citrus, though to be more specific, lemon? All I know is what that scent means. My mate is among these wolves, but I can’t see where she might be. From what I can see in the chaos, there aren’t many females here. You’d think that made this easier. It doesn’t.

I slowly stalk around the fighting, focusing on locating that scent above all the blood and sweat that masks almost everything else. No one is paying me any attention because of how involved they are in the fighting, but my warriors are handling things nicely, so I don’t have to worry yet. They know not to kill unless I give the order.

“Alpha!”

I quickly gazed back at the pinned wolf, but whoever cried out for their alpha wasn’t worried about that one. He seems to have regained the upper hand, or teeth, as it were. That answers my question of who he is. I once more study each wolf for my mate.

That’s when I catch sight of them. Only, it’s not a girl. They’re not even an omega! No, I have to be mistaken. Why would the Moon give me a man, let alone one I couldn’t breed with? Is that right?

Studying the wolf before me fighting, he is mostly a brownish-grey but his head fades into almost white. Despite the cute colouration, I can tell easily enough what he is.

An alpha.

My heart is pounding against my chest, and his scent is almost overpowering the smell of blood. I want to claim him already, but he hasn’t seemed to notice me at all. Even with me as close as I can get without joining in. This means he must be under the age of twenty.

Although we’re adults at eighteen, it isn’t until we reach twenty that we notice the signs of our mate being near us or not. Still, to be an alpha so young is unheard of. Even though I am a little on the younger side, I am still within the right age range to be ready for the ascent.

Now that I have my mate within my sights, I know what I must do. Get rid of these foolish interlopers and claim him as mine. I can’t have some stupid mutt killing or harming my mate, even if he is an odd choice for the Moon to give me.

This means I must dirty my claws personally. Though for my mate, I’ll do whatever must be done. He may not need my protection, but he has it.

With that thought in mind, I charge at the two wolves at his heels and easily overpower them until they cower and flee from my sight. I turn to face my mate, but the look he gives me is one of disgust and hate.

I know he does not know who I am, but that still hurts.

Now that I have him up close, I can see that he is smaller than me. Though truth be told, I am way above average. He is probably normal for an alpha.

What strikes me most is not his size or even the lovely fur pattern of his - which is charming in and of itself, but those big, soulful brown eyes of his. They’re so expressive and full of emotion.

The way he suddenly looks away from my gaze and lowers his ears, makes me realise my size is intimidating to him. I can’t help but crack a small chuckle, though whatever fear he has of me quickly vanishes as he suddenly lunges at me.

I easily avoid his teeth and he skids along the ground before turning back around to snap at my heels. Whatever plan he is trying to pull off really isn’t working for him, though. He is far too slow. Still, the challenge has been made and mate or no mate; I accept.

“Alpha Kai!”

“Don’t come closer!” Kai shouts back at whoever it was who had called him. Kai? So that is who he is. I had heard of the name but never had the chance to see him. The alpha of Moonstone Pride pack.

I open my maw in a grin as I say, “a wise choice to make, little alpha.” My tone is a little mocking, but only because this whole situation amuses me far too much. He is brave to come after me like this, though he probably assumed I had come for his life.

One of my warriors is quick to return to my side before Kai attacks again, but I quickly stop him in silence. I don’t need any help with Kai, but I need the other pack out of my way.

“Alpha Cedric?” He questions me without needing to question it out loud.

I shoot him a blunt look as I order, “remove the filth from my lands. We will deal with that pack another day. This one is mine.”

“Yes, alpha!”

With my warrior carrying out my order, I return my attention to my oblivious mate. He has that frightened look in his eyes again, even though his stance is that of an aggressor.

As I slowly circle him and he follows my actions cautiously, I know exactly what I must do. He would never believe me if I told him we were mates. It has never happened in any history they have taught me.

Two alphas just never pair up. Why would he trust my word?

Instead, I’ll have a little fun with him. I would never hurt my mate in reality, but I am curious to see what skill he has. If the Moon picked him to be mine, then he must have some qualities that I will find useful. She never makes a mistake.

With each step forward, I can see the panic in his eyes, but he doesn’t back down. He knows he can’t flee or else his life is forfeit and his pack would be at my mercy.

He hasn’t even noticed the other pack has almost been completely driven away now, leaving him and what few pack members he brought here at my benevolence already.

Not that any of them can help him. My warriors have pinned them down to prevent them from interfering in our fight.

“Let’s see what you got, little alpha,” I tease him, still finding my destiny highly amusing. I wonder what he will do when he finally finds out who I am?