Caden sat in his chamber, his fists clenched on the armrests of his chair, his face twisted with frustration. "An omega," he muttered to himself, disbelief and anger bubbling inside him. "Of all the women in this pack, the Moon Goddess chose an omega for me?"
He could still hear Elder Thorne’s words echoing in his mind, his father’s stern expression, his mother’s insistent nod. They had already accepted this ridiculous fate, leaving him no choice.
The door opened, and his parents stepped in, their faces serious. His father, tall and imposing, crossed his arms and gave him a pointed look.
"We’ve decided," his father began, his tone brooking no argument. "Aria will be your mate. The ceremony will proceed as planned."
Caden’s jaw tightened. "No," he growled, "I will not mate with her. She’s not fit to stand by my side. She’s weak."
His mother’s eyes narrowed. "The pack needs a Luna," she said sharply. "And the Goddess has chosen her. You don’t have the luxury of choice, Caden. We need this to secure our future, especially with the rogue Alpha threatening our territory."
Caden felt the heat rise in his chest, a burning anger that threatened to explode. But he knew he couldn’t defy them outright—not now. He had to be smart. "Fine," he muttered through gritted teeth. "I’ll call for her and settle this myself."
Aria was in the healer’s chamber, her mind still reeling from the strange sensations in her body. She tried to steady her breath, to calm the fire that seemed to burn within her. Just as she began to feel a little more in control, a guard arrived at the doorway.
"Aria," the guard announced, his expression unreadable. "Alpha Caden wants to see you. Now."
Her heart skipped a beat, a rush of fear coursing through her veins. "What does he want?" she thought, anxiety clawing at her. "I have nothing to say to him." But she had no choice. She followed the guard, each step feeling heavier than the last.
When she entered Caden’s chamber, she kept her eyes on the floor, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. Caden stood near the window, his back to her, his posture tense.
"You wanted to see me, Alpha?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
He turned, his expression hard and unforgiving. "Yes, Aria," he said coldly. "I want to make one thing clear. I do not want you as my mate. I never have, and I never will."
Aria flinched, her heart tightening. "I… I understand," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I don’t want this either… I never wanted this." She risked a quick glance up at him, but her eyes darted over to Kiernan, who stood near the door, his face a mask of concern.
Caden’s gaze followed hers, and he caught the look she gave his Beta. His eyes darkened, a cruel smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Oh," he murmured, stepping closer to her. "You think you’re clever, don’t you? Looking at him like that… you think you can play games with me?"
Aria’s face flushed red, and she quickly looked away, her heart racing. "N-no, Alpha, I didn’t mean—"
"Silence!" Caden snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "If you think for a second I would let you embarrass me, you’re mistaken." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "But you know what? I’ve changed my mind."
Aria blinked, confused. "Changed your mind?" she whispered.
Caden nodded, his expression shifting to one of false sweetness. "Yes," he said, a hint of mockery in his tone. "I’ll mate with you, Aria. We’ll go ahead with the ceremony."
Aria’s breath caught in her throat. "What is he planning?" she thought, a chill running down her spine. She could sense something sinister behind his sudden change of heart, but she couldn’t figure out what.
Kiernan's eyes widened slightly, and he stepped forward. "Caden," he began cautiously, "Are you sure about this?"
Caden shot him a sharp look, his smile never reaching his eyes. "Absolutely," he replied. "It’s what the pack needs, after all."
The next day, the pack gathered under the full moon. The ceremony space was lit with torches, their flames flickering in the night breeze. The air was thick with anticipation and tension, whispers spreading like wildfire among the crowd.
Aria stood to the side, her heart pounding. She felt a strange mix of dread and disbelief. She glanced around, catching Kiernan’s eye for a brief moment. He gave her a small, reassuring nod, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Caden stood at the front, dressed in ceremonial robes, his face calm and composed. His parents stood beside him, their expressions stern and expectant. The pack members murmured among themselves, some hopeful, others skeptical.
The pack's priest, Elder Thorne, stood ready to begin the bonding ceremony, but another priest, Elric, a man with narrow, calculating eyes and a shifty demeanor, had joined him.
Elder Thorne raised his arms to silence the crowd. "Tonight, we witness the bonding of our Alpha, Caden, and his chosen mate, Aria," he announced. "By the will of the Moon Goddess, let this union bring strength and unity to our pack."
Just as the ceremony was about to begin, Caden raised his hand. "Wait," he said, his voice loud and clear, echoing across the gathering. "Before we proceed, there is something I must say."
A murmur of confusion rippled through the crowd. Aria felt her stomach twist with anxiety. "What is he doing?" she thought, fear creeping into her mind.
Caden turned to face the pack, his expression serious. "I reject this mate bond," he declared. "I reject Aria as my mate."
A gasp swept through the pack, stunned silence following his words. Aria’s eyes widened, shock and confusion coursing through her. "What… what does he mean?"
Elder Thorne looked bewildered, but Elric quickly stepped forward, a sly smile on his lips. "This is for the best," he announced, his voice carrying over the stunned crowd. "For I have seen signs that Aria is a bad omen, a danger to us all."
Caden nodded, a cruel satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Yes," he agreed, his voice louder now. "Look at her! Even now, she is heating up, her eyes turning blue. She is not just an omega; she is a witch, a curse on this pack!"
The pack members began to murmur, fear and suspicion spreading among them. Aria felt her body grow hot, just as before, the strange sensation building inside her. She tried to suppress it, but the heat spread like wildfire, her eyes beginning to glow a deep, unnatural blue.
"No… no, not now," she thought desperately, panic rising in her chest. She tried to back away, but the crowd was closing in, their whispers turning into shouts.
Elric seized the moment. "There! There is the proof!" he cried, pointing at Aria. "See her eyes, the glow of a witch! The Moon Goddess rejects her, and so should we!"
Caden’s expression was triumphant, his plan unfolding perfectly. "I, Alpha Caden, reject Aria as my mate," he repeated, his voice full of authority and disdain. "She is not worthy."
Aria’s heart pounded in her chest, her body trembling with fear and confusion. "What is happening to me?" she thought, her vision blurring. She felt the heat intensify, threatening to consume her.
Just then, a loud, commanding voice cut through the chaos. The rogue Alpha appeared at the edge of the crowd, flanked by his warriors, his presence sending a wave of fear through the pack.
"Well, well," he sneered, a wicked grin on his face. "It seems your Alpha is unable to fulfill the terms. Shall we see what happens next?"
The rogue Alpha’s warriors moved forward, weapons drawn, their eyes gleaming with malice. The pack members backed away, their fear palpable.
Caden’s heart raced. "No… this can’t be happening," he thought, panic beginning to creep in.
The rogue Alpha raised his hand, his smile widening. "I believe it’s time for a new leader," he declared, his voice booming. "And so, here is my decision..."
The pack held its breath, waiting for what would come next, the air thick with tension.
“Wait”, Caden growled with panic and fear rising in his heart. His voice quivering and his hands trembling “We.. we can do something about this”, he muttered. His heart pounding fast as he thought about what would become of his fate if the rogue alpha takes over his pack Seeing the fear and distrust in the packs faces, he knew this is not the time to let them down. Silence and fear filled the whole place. Every mother drawing their pups closer to their arms. Caden's parents stood still, speechless with their eyes filled with disappointment. With the fear of not wanting to give up his power and territory to the rogue alpha, Caden decided to brace himself and protect his pack by all means “I can't let this happen. I'm the strongest werewolf and that is why I am the leader of this pack.” “I will not back down now, no… I have to do something. My pack can't see me as a weak Alpha.” He looked at his Father, ready to bring back his father's trust and hope in him as his son, he de
Caden, now fully transformed into his wolf form, faces the rogue alpha at the center of the Arena. The crowd's murmurs immediately turned into a tense silence as they watched.The moon, shining bright, exposed his eyes glowing and his fur shimmering with a deep metallic shin. The rogue alpha ready to start the fight, let out a loud growl, making the atmosphere more tense and engaging. His body muscles large and really built up in a way that it could intimidate his opponent."I can't let my fear show." Caden said to himself almost whispering, as he took his stance, his fist giving him a good balance and ready to go attack form.The weight of his pack's expectation continually weighed him down, but he had to stay strong and not show his weakness.Just then, the words of his father to him resounded in his mind, "a true alpha stays strong to the end, without showing weakness. You are the real son of your father."He tried being motivated by these words but the reality of what was about t
The arena was blood soaked, silence filled the whole place. Indeed the pack of Darkwood territory just witnessed a kind of fight that has never happened in the whole history of darkwood.The rogue alpha laid lifeless, he had just barely survived. Blood gushed out of his face, sides and claws.The crowd couldn't believe that the rogue alpha had been defeated. They looked at him like a fallen Goliath.Caden, now satisfied that he had won, staggered and was headed back to his chamber.His vision was very blurry, his fur soaked with blood, his legs shaky and some of his claws broken. His injuries and wounds were so much that one could tell that he had narrowly escaped death.As he was staggering back to his Chamber, faced down, and silent his legs were beginning to fail him.The tension and panic in the air kept reducing, the pack began to whisper and murmur.Some still had doubts lingering in their heart, while some said silent prayers of relief for their wounded alpha.Though the rogu
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the arena as Caden stood in the center, every muscle in his body taut, eyes fixed on the beast before him. The pack had gathered around, murmurs of anticipation rippling through the crowd. His parents sat at the front, watching closely—his father with an expression of expectation, his mother with the same cool, unreadable gaze she always wore.The beast, a monstrous creature with matted fur and razor-sharp claws, snarled, circling him slowly. Caden could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy. "Focus, Caden," he thought, keeping his eyes locked on the creature. "Everyone's watching. You can't afford to slip up."The beast lunged suddenly, teeth bared, claws outstretched. Caden dodged, just barely, feeling the wind of its swipe graze his skin. His heart pounded in his chest. “Too close,” he muttered under his breath. He could hear his father’s voice in his head: "Show them what it means to be an Alpha, son."He clenched
Aria stood outside the chamber, her heart hammering in her chest. She had been waiting for a few minutes now, rehearsing what she would say, trying to steady her breath. Her hands fidgeted with the edge of her apron, wringing it nervously. Finally, the door swung open, and Kiernan, the pack's Beta and commander, stepped out. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair tousled from the earlier confrontation, his expression thoughtful.Aria immediately felt a blush creeping up her cheeks as she looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you… for standing up for me," she said, forcing herself to meet his eyes.Kiernan glanced at her, his gaze calm but distant. "It was nothing," he replied shortly, his tone polite but dismissive. "Just be more careful next time, Aria. You don’t want to be on the Alpha’s bad side."Her heart sank a little at his response, but she nodded quickly, not wanting to seem ungrateful. "I will," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I’m sorry
Caden stood in the center of the pack’s gathering ground, his chest still heaving with anger from his confrontation with the rogue Alpha. His mind raced with the conditions set before him—Mate, or lose the pack. The words echoed in his head like a relentless drumbeat, mocking him, taunting him with their simplicity and brutality.He could feel the weight of his pack’s fear pressing down on him. The usual lively buzz of conversation was muted; their eyes, wide and worried, darted around like they expected an attack at any moment. Mothers clutched their children closer, warriors whispered among themselves, and the older pack members shook their heads with grim expressions."They’re scared," Caden realized, his jaw tightening. "They don’t think I can protect them."He knew he had to act fast, do something to restore their faith in him, something to reignite their spirit and make them believe in their Alpha again. His eyes flicked to the dueling ground, where his Beta, Kiernan, was prepar
Aria lay still on the cold stone floor of Caden’s chamber, every part of her body throbbing with pain. The sharp sting between her thighs reminded her of what had just happened, a cruel, painful reminder that she couldn’t escape. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her chest tight with a mixture of fear, shame, and anger."Get up," she told herself, her mind racing. "Just get up… move."She forced her body to obey, pushing herself up with trembling arms. Her legs felt weak, barely able to support her weight, but she managed to stand. Her clothes were torn, her hair a tangled mess. She brushed a strand away from her tear-stained face, wincing at the sharp pain that flared with the movement. She had to get out of here, away from this chamber, away from him.Her eyes darted to the door. She stumbled towards it, every step a painful reminder of the violence she had just endured. She opened the door, stepping out into the corridor, where several pack members loitered. They turned to look at