CHAPTER 2: HUNTER. 

~HUNTER

"You have to calm down, Alpha," my Beta, Liam, begged as I stormed into my office. Trying to stay calm, I ran my fingers through my hair, yet the flaming anger in my chest still lingered.

I couldn't bring myself to stay calm.

“Damn the goddess,” I loudly cursed, sending every item on my desk to the ground.

How can I stay calm when the moon goddess just paired me with a worthless trash, a convict, and a slave? So unworthy of my status!

I am still yet to live a normal life since she placed a curse on me, thwarted my efforts to find a solution to stop the curse, and now this?!

Is this some kind of joke? I reasoned, clenching my hands into fists.

I don't remember asking her for a mate because I have always been content with my fiance. To make matters worse, she wasn't even that beautiful compared to Nadia. She looked skinny, malnourished, and barely had enough flesh covering up her bones. If not for the mate bond I felt towards her, I'd mistake her for an underage.

God damn it!

I angrily thumped the desk, realizing I would become a laughing stock once the news of my mate being a slave omega crossed the four walls of my pack. I would be ridiculed by my peers and definitely lose my respect in the city. That's the last thing I would ever want to happen.

“What are you gonna do, Alpha? Are you still pushing through with her execution?” Liam asked, interrupting my thoughts.

I angrily scoffed. “Are you that dumb? Isn't it obvious enough that I don't want her in my pack?”

“I'm sorry, I just thought maybe—"

“Shut up and put the pack hospital on call then get out," I ordered. He picked up the landline I had earlier thrown to the floor. Following my orders, he placed the call and handed it over to me, then walked out.

At this moment, I wanted to be alone or I might rip out the heart of whoever tries to infuriate me further. Earlier in the darkroom when we felt the mate pull, she suddenly fainted, denying the opportunity to instantly reject her, and then, I had to order my men to take her to the pack's hospital.

I need to get this shit over once and for all. I don't care if it is over the phone, I need to reject her this instant before the news goes flying around. And of course, I haven't forgotten about her execution, it will be next in line after my rejection.

I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to calm the erupting anger in my chest as the call was yet to be answered at the other end.

“God damn it, what took you so long to pick up the call?” I fired immediately after the call connected.

“I'm sorry, Alpha. I was busy with the lady—”

“I need to speak with her, give her the phone,” I impatiently cut him off.

“She is still unconscious and in critical condition right now, she sustained several cuts, and we also observe she has internal bleeding…”

“Do I sound like I am concerned about her health?” I asked, stopping him.

“Am sorry—"

“Just shut up your mouth and do your job well, inject her with something to snap her back from her slumber.”

"I will be calling back in the next five minutes, and don't you dare report she is still unconscious, or else count yourself dead with her,” I threatened with a growl and disconnected the call.

My wolf whimpered as I sank into my seat. He is obviously hurt by my nonchalant attitude towards our mate's condition, but I don't give a damn; this was my choice and not his. Nevertheless, I will make it up to him.

Taking a deep breath, I fixedly gazed at the clock. It was now almost five minutes, and it doesn't look like any call will be coming soon. Well, if that is the case, I will just execute her while she is still unconscious and forget about the whole rejection shit.

A knock sounded on the door, and I tore my gaze to the entrance. Didn't I order to be alone a minute ago?

“Alpha, Elias is here to see you.” Liam mindlinked me as I refused to approve of his presence.

Elias? I frowned.

I don't remember summoning Elias, my pack wizard. It's quite odd for him to be here without my orders to see him; however, I replied through the mind-link. “Let him in."

The door opened, and they entered. Elias took a deep bow before taking the seat before me.

“Why are you here, Elias?”

"The moon is fully out, and you're yet to do the needful,” he said. Panic shot down my spine as I quickly swirled my chair in the direction of the window. The sight of the moon fully out in the dark sky caused my eyes to widen in horror.

I was so carried away by the mate thingy, making me forget today was a full moon, and my sanity was in line; The moment the moon fully appears in the sky, I lose my sane self, and something unexplainable savagely takes control of me, making me kill anything with life that I cross paths with.

And the needful I was supposed to do was to run through the woods. I do this to prevent myself from killing any of my pack members. Most times, I run throughout the night because until the moon disappears, I will never get back to my normalcy. The moon's disappearance automatically quenched my primal instinct to kill.

I am definitely not scared of anything, but you see the full moon, the appearance of it gives me a shiver. It compels a strange dangerous side of me to either hurt people or hurt myself.

But as an Alpha, I need to put my pack's safety first; however, the pain that comes whenever I refuse to give in to the primal urge to kill someone is excruciating, and the aftermath leaves me with nothing but eyesore wounds that take up to three good days to heal.

It might sound insane and unbelievable to others, but this is how my life has been every time the curse kicks in. The full moon was practically my nightmare. The fear that comes with it was the only fear that could unnerve me.

“Then you should all leave." I said, standing up. “Liam, make sure no one comes out, keep everyone indoors tonight." I added, hastily heading for the door.

“Wait, wait Alpha.” Elias' voice made me stop in my tracks. I turned to him with a frown.” I bet you don't want to be my first meal?"

He shook his head.

“Then why are you stopping me?" I angrily asked.

“You don't have to run."

I raised my brow. My expression demanding an explanation as I was totally lost by what he just said. 'Running' has always been the solution.

“I guess you didn't notice the moon has been out for some time."

"And?” I asked, still not getting his point.

“You should have lost control over yourself before now, but you're still normal, right?”

I do feel normal somehow since the primal urge hasn't started kicking in, but the moon was already in the sky. Realizing it was odd, I frowned.

No, it's impossible. The urge is always triggered by the appearance of the moon.

I looked up at Elias with wide eyes.

“Impossible!"

"I thought as much. But her presence caused it.”

The confusion coated in Elias' words caused my frown to deepen. Giving him my full attention, I let go of the doorknob and sank them into my pant's pocket.

“Who is her?" I asked.

He sighed and then sent a cursory look at Liam; this gesture gave me a feeling that his response wouldn't sit well with me.

“I asked a question, who is her?" I retorted, feeling uneasy by Elias’ silence.

“Your mate."

My eyes narrowed as I tried piecing together the news I just heard. And then I shook my head upon realizing what he meant.”You must be kidding me!"

“I will never dare, Alpha. She is the only way to stop the goddess curse…”

"You know nothing about the curse!” I stopped him with a yell."That thing can't possibly be the solution to my curse because she is a slave and convict!”

“But you've always wanted a solution to stop the mess. If you haven't noticed, the pack members are getting worried about your sanity, and it's best you take this solution”.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do, I'm gonna reject her, and that's final-”

"If you reject her, then the curse will be doubled. This time you won't be able to hold back from killing us all.” He cut in, sounding a bit annoyed by my reluctance, but I was more vexed. For goodness sake, why her of all people!

I badly didn't want to believe him, but Elias has always been right and never jokes around with his words because they were powerful. I remember a time when I didn't give ears to his words, and a day after, my pack was attacked. The attack was massive, and a lot of people died.

“You've given too many sacrifices to earn the goddess's attention for a solution. This is it. You have to accept it or face more wrath”.

“And also, if you finally decide to accept her, then you must take good care of her. Like you always do to your girlfriend…”

"I can never treat her as well as I treat Nadia.” I firmly rebuked.

"Fine, but you must make sure she is comfortable and happy, more specifically, make her trust you.”

This is crazy.

I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated by the whole situation as I walked back to my desk. Plopping down on my seat, I let out a sharp breath.

“I will take my leave now; I hope you make the right decision." He muttered and walked out.

Liam's gaze lingered on me. I could tell from his expression that he wanted to know my decision, but I was yet to sink in Elias’ words.

The buzzing sound from the landline broke the silence in the room. Liam picked up the call, knowing fully well I wasn't in the mood to talk.

“Hello?" Liam said. Since my wolf was at the surface, my earshot was clear enough to hear the voice from the other end of the call.

“I want to speak with the Alpha." The voice answered; I remembered it belonged to the doctor I had earlier threatened.

Liam looked at me. Seeing I didn't make any move to take the call, he went on to say. “The Alpha wishes not to be disturbed; you can tell me whatever you have to say."

“Fine. The lady is having a seizure, and I don't think she will make it.”