Chapter 2: We Leave Now

[Cole]

Cole wanted to throw his second in command over a cliff.

Apparently, some low-level werewolf in a neighboring pack had insulted him. It didn't bother him but the news started rumors about the Whispering Moon Pack, and he needed to settle that - a leader must protect his pack and its pride.

He called in his two fiercest and most trusted warriors, and the Gamma, the younger of the two, immediately suggested a confrontation.

But the fearsome leader of the Whispering Moon Pack was hesitant. "We have great numbers and strength." He rubbed his nose, looking down. "It won't be a fair fight and it will look bad on us."

"A tribute then." The Beta, a ladies' man, breathed coolly. Before Cole could stop him, he suggested his favorite grand scheme. "Let them pay you a tribute, Cole. A bride."

Before Cole could react, the Gamma beamed at him, oblivious to the true intention. "That's brilliant! What do you think, Cole? Brilliant, right?"

Cole was speechless. He didn't see it coming.

But he should have. The Beta - that smiling idiot of his childhood friend - has always been the smart*ss. His brain works the fastest in the pack.

"I'm sure Cole agrees," His Beta continued in a charming voice, ignoring his leader's warning stare. "A marriage pact is the highest form of apology. It'll be their allegiance to us." He smiled innocently at Cole's murderous glare. "Right, Cole?"

Cole felt a wink in the smile and almost went up in flames. But he stayed in his seat, sulking like a cub who had just lost his first fight.

Despite strangling all his brain cells, Cole couldn't beat the brilliance of the idea. It made too much sense to say no.

The following day, he set off to get his bride.

His head shook with disgust each time the word came up. Bride. Worse yet if that bride was a mate. A mate had turned his fiercest warrior into the world's dumbest fool overnight. He would smile too much, agree too much and be late for everything. Cole was losing his best warriors, one after another, to mates, and he was helpless about it.

Who the hell invented mates anyway?

Ah… Her.

He wasn't surprised. She has the worst ideas. Moonstones. Mates. He gave a cold chuckle. What next? Cole refused to give in to some ancient dumb tricks. He is not just another werewolf. He, Cole Grey, does not - and will not - succumb to an invented nature by a bored goddess. He will stay strong - if not become stronger - for his pack. He vowed that they will not suffer past pain again.

He will accept the tribute. But she will just be another useless piece in the treasury.

*****

Cole looked down at the oval faced creature peering at him through her lashes. Her silvery white hair fell in stark contrast to the rosy tint of her plush lips. He was mentally searching the highest cliff for his second in command.

With her dark round eyes, she was the image of a full moon in the blackest night. She reminded him of Her. That good-for-nothing goddess. And her scent made it worse. Sweet orange and salty sea breeze… how did she know to wear such an intoxicating scent?

It made him feel light and a strange scene burned his mind. Sweaty bare skin, golden brown and pale white, crashing against each other. He realized what was happening and it made his blood boil.

"Fuck." He let out a snarl, not caring if anyone heard it or not.

Immediately, those dark round eyes fired up. Don't mess with me, they warned with a fiery sparkle. She is one feisty werewoman. Cole lifted a corner of his lips at the thought, and the woman frowned harder.

"Who are you? What business do you have here?" An airy squeaky voice boomed into his ears. Cole looked up and finally saw the Alpha of this small and careless pack. No one was standing guard at the entrance when he zoomed past. He remembered shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

Looking at the Alpha sitting there like a pompous emperor who had just eaten a feast, Cole knew he was looking at the source of this pack's weakness. A vicious outsider who had just barged in unannounced and no one was on their toes, ready to take him down. Worse, they opened up an aisle for Cole towards their leader, as if inviting Cole to kill him. Cole was shocked beyond words.

But it was not his place to say anything. So he said nothing and returned to the frowning woman.

"Cole Grey." He glared at her and then looked up at the Alpha. "From the Whispering Moon Pack."

The leader's eyes widened with shock and bounced from his seat. "Cole! Dear Moon Goddess!" Cole knitted his brows tightly at the name. "Bring a chair! Where are your manners?!"

Two werewolves sprang into action when Cole held up a hand. Everything paused.

"I'm not here to chat. Is this your tribute?" Cole faced the frowning woman again. She now looked annoyed. He thought he saw a twinkle in her dark eyes.

The leader slowly sat with a smirk. Wearing the most political smile Cole has ever seen, the werewolf said, "Yes. This is our tribute to the Whispering Moon Pack. With this marriage, we pay our allegiance to you, Cole. This is the daughter of the werewolf who had insulted you. As an apology, she will serve you as your wife from now on."

Cole waited for the unnecessary speech to end, then returned to the pale-skinned creature. "Name?"

"Dove." Her voice felt like a warm summer breeze caressing his cheek.

"Your father's name?"

Surprised but calm, she slowly answered, "Dan Summers."

Cole gave one last scan of her face and returned to her leader, who had been observing like one of those clowns in a mime show. "Tell Dan Summers, his daughter will leave with me tonight."

"What?" Dove was ready to claw his face. "This is absurd! Why can't we leave the next day?"

Ignoring her protests, the flood of nosy whisperings, and the irritating smug grin on the lazy Alpha's face, Cole continued on in his do-or-die-now commanding voice. "I have until midnight to return to my pack or they'll send out a search party."

Cole fixed his gaze on the angry woman, her hair now shining in the brightest moonglow he'd ever seen and lowered his voice in a deep growl. "You know what I mean, cub."

He heard her soft snarl amidst the frenzy of the nosey crowd, and the same corner of his lips lifted. After throwing a nasty glare in his direction, she turned from him.

Cole couldn't take his eyes off the lonely figure moving calmly through the sea of cold and hostile looks, unfazed and unfaltering. Her boldness is admirable. But the more she hates him the better.