03

Aiden

I had always known that I would someday become the Alpha of the Night Walker pack. I had trained tirelessly for it, honing my skills in hunting, tracking, and combat. I was a born leader, feared by my pack mates and admired by my peers.

But what i had not expected was the condition that my father, the current Alpha, had set for me to inherit my title as his heir.

He called me to inform me of his decision. In order to become the next Alpha, I would have to marry Cynthia Julian, the daughter of the Beta.

I was taken aback and before I could process the new information, father had already mounted the stage to announce the development.

I fumed while the crowd erupted in a standing ovation. Father and the Beta grinned as they looked on with pride.

Cynthia Julian stood on the far end of the stage, beside her mother. She had an alluring appearance.

Her long, flowing hair cascaded down her back in waves of shimmering red. Her eyes were an intense shade of gold, with a hypnotic gaze that seemed to draw people in. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, with a subtle glow that radiated an otherworldly aura.

Her figure was slender, but not delicate, with lean muscles that rippled beneath her skin. She stood tall and regal, with a commanding presence that demanded respect and fear. Her movements were fluid and graceful.

One of the most striking features of Cynthia was her sharp, pointed teeth. When she smiled at the crowd, they glinted in the moonlight. Her long nails were well trimmed.

I had never had any personal encounters with Cynthia Julian before now, let alone considered marrying her. She was not my type and definitely not my mate.

I was still reeling from the shock of the announcement when Father took Cynthia Julian’s hand and placed it in mine. The contact lacked the spark in my mate’s palm. I withdrew my hand immediately. I could not go ahead with this.

“You should get to know your bride to be, Aiden. Congratulations, you two.” Father patted my back and made to leave but I held onto his shoulder.

“I need to talk to you, Father.” I whispered to his hearing alone.

“We have the whole time at home to talk. But you have tonight to start up a relationship with your fiancée.” Father nodded at Cynthia Julian who beamed at us from where she stood.

I pulled my dad away from the ceremony to the back stage. Father had always been a stern man, with sharp features and a no-nonsense attitude. I had always felt intimidated by him, but this time, I tried not to show it.

“Why did you do that, Father? We talked about this before. I intend to get married to my mate. Not some random stranger,” I delved straight for the bull’s horn.

"Aiden," the alpha spoke up. “This is very important. I spoke to the Beta yesterday," he continued. "He expressed interest in extending our relationship."

I frowned. "What do you mean, 'extending our relationship'?"

Father leaned forward. "The Beta proposed that we enter into a union. Since his family is a descendant of the Lycans, we could benefit greatly from the partnership."

My mind raced. I had heard of these kinds of unions before, but I had never considered the possibility that my father would want to be involved in one.

"What kind of benefits are we talking about?" I asked cautiously.

"Access to resources, protection from enemies, and potential allies. It could be very advantageous for us."

I felt uneasy. I had always been taught that loyalty to my own pack came first before my interest, but it did not stop me from asking. "What if we refuse?"

Father's eyes flashed. "Then we risk being cut off from resources and potentially dividing the pack in two. It is not a position we want to be in."

I sighed. I did not like this idea one bit.

“Just remember, Aiden, we have to do what is best for our pack. That is what being an alpha is all about." Father added.

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. I had made up my mind. This was not going to be an easy conversation, but I knew I had to do it.

"Father," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

My father looked up and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, son?"

I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I will not get married to Cynthia . I have found my mate already."

My father's expression changed from one of mild interest to shock. "Your mate?" he repeated, incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath and explained to my father, without revealing her identity to him of course. The old man would flip.

The alpha looked around the crowded room, searching for my mate.

“I will get married to this mate of mine in due time and that is final, father.”

My father, who was a usually verbose and confident man, was left speechless. Before he could say anything else, I stormed off, nudging a confused Cynthia Julian out of the way.

It was a rare occurrence for me and father to clash in such a public setting, but I was tired of holding back my feelings. I had to speak this truth, no matter the consequences, especially since it concerned me.

I took a deep breath and looked around the crowd, searching for my mate, Kayla. But she was nowhere to be found.

Feeling a pang of disappointment, I realized that she must have slipped away during the announcement. I had been looking forward to talking to her some more, and now she is gone.

Kayla was unlike anyone I had ever met. She was beautiful beyond words. Her green eyes sparkled when she smiled. Her facial features were delicate and angular, with high cheekbones and full lips. I was sure her skin would be smooth and flawless to touch. It had a natural glow that seemed to emanate from within.

She had a fierce independent streak that I found fascinating, and I could not help but be drawn to her.

But my happiness was short-lived with my father's newest condition that if I wanted to become Alpha, I would have to marry Cynthia , regardless of my feelings for Kayla. The thought of betraying my mate was unbearable.

I made my way through the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of Kayla's distinctive black hair. But she was nowhere to be seen.

I had always prided himself on being a lone wolf. I had never been the type to settle down with one person, preferring instead to move from one fling to the next, never staying in one place for too long.

But all that changed the moment I met Kayla. From the moment I saw her, my wolf howled with recognition, telling me that she was our mate.

I had never experienced anything like it before. I found myself drawn to her in a way that I could not explain, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to be committed to one person. She was the only one for me.

It was not just my wolf that wanted to be committed to Kayla; it was Aiden himself. I had never felt this way before, and as much as it scared him, it excited me too. I knew that i could not deny the pull that I felt towards her. I wanted to be with her, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make her mine forever.

And so, I made the decision there and then to commit to Kayla. It was not going to be easy, but I knew that it would be worth it. I had found my mate, and I was not going to let her go. Together, we would build a life filled with love and devotion, and I would finally know what it meant to be truly happy.

My heart was pounding as I tried to think of where Kayla could have gone. Had she left the party because of the announcement? Or had something more serious happened to her?

Just then, Sam, my childhood best friend, approached me. He held two glasses in his hands and handed me one.

“Man, this ceremony is lit. Have you seen the girls??” He chugged his drink and wiped his mouth with the back of his palm.

Usually, Sam and I handpicked ladies we were going to fuck with after every gathering. But today, no other woman has caught my interest since Kayla.

“Hey man. Are you good?” I felt Sam’s stare on me.

I turned to him. “Ummm…yeah. Sure.” After a beat, I asked the one thing that had been bugging me. “Have you seen her? The lady I was talking to?”

Sam cocked his head. “Her who?”

“The mute girl? The stealer?”

It hurt me to describe her with these words but it seemed it was the only way people knew her. And I was right because Sam’s face lit up in recognition.

“Oh the girl that claimed to be raped. Why will you even be talking to her?” He asked.

“"The girl that claimed to be raped?" I repeated, my voice heavy with concern.