Chapter 4: The Ultimatum

Asher

"Alpha we've something important to tell you,"

I raised an eyebrow, looked up, and gazed at the elders who were seated in their respective chairs. 

"What is it?"I asked, feeling a little bit impatient as I stroked my hand on my chin. 

"You know, we've been talking about this same issue and we'll continue to talk about it until you do something about it," the first elder paused and turned to me. 

"May I know what it is, elder Raphael? I've other pending work to do in my office," I said impatiently, uninterested in whatever they had to say. 

I placed my hand under my clenched jaw as I turned my cold gaze at him. He gulped down into nothing and cleared his throat. 

"It's about your mate. The Luna of the pack, " I bit my bottom lips and stopped myself from groaning so I wouldn't show how frustrated I was. 

"Do you have to bring up this issue?" I asked with a raised eyebrow as I stroked my chin gently. 

"Yes we have to, Alpha,"

"A king, ruler, or Alpha leading a group of people should have a strong woman as their supporter," one of the elders cut in, and I shook my head with a sigh. 

"I understand what you all are saying, and I appreciate your effort over me. I hope you all know that there's nothing I can do since I'm yet to find my mate," I said with a sigh, trying to make them understand my point the same way I understood theirs. 

I can't possibly go against them because they're the backbone of the pack. An Alpha isn't complete without his or her elders. 

"There are many things we can do about it, Alpha, "I cocked an eyebrow, and looked up, confused by Elder Ezekiel's comment. 

"What is it?"I asked in a low tone, uninterested. 

Why can't they try to understand me? I've been trying to look for my mate in different ways but I couldn't find her. I've visited a lot of packs, even opposition packs, just in search of my mate. Even at that, I haven't been relenting in searching for my mate. 

I've given up on finding my mate because I don't think the moon goddess wants me to have a mate. 

I've been praying to her to grant my wish and let me find my mate in one or the other but still, it was all abortive. 

And I've made up my mind not to make anyone the Luna of my pack except my mate. 

"You can make Jessica the Luna of the pack,"

"Yes, you're right, Ezekiel. I was about to talk about her,"

I watched as the other elders agreed within themselves as though they'd already planned it. 

I don't care if they do but I'm going to make my intention known. 

"No. I don't agree with your opinion, elder Ezekiel, " I growled, slammed my fist on the table, and silent fell into the hall. 

"Why, Alpha? I think she's the best option for you. She has a very good background in the pack, she's strong and competent. Why are you hesitating on making her Luna?"

"She's your girlfriend, right?" he asked, and I scoffed inwardly. 

"My decision remains the same, Raphael. Jessica can't become my Luna,"

"And the reason being that I only want my mate to become the Luna of the pack, " I sneered gently, trying not to show how angry and frustrated I was.

"But where is your mate, Alpha?" He raised his voice, and I shook my head with a sigh. 

"I'll find my mate. And no one should try any means to go against my world, " I ordered, and they obliged. 

"Since you decided not to make Jessica the Luna of the pack. We, the elders, have concluded, Alpha," he paused. 

"That?"I asked and shrugged my shoulders. 

"We're giving you the ultimatum of 3 days to find your mate, and if you can't find her you'll no longer be the Alpha of the Crystal Moon pack," he announced sternly, and a soft gasp escaped from my lips. 

"What!? Three days? That's too small," I complained, and he scoffed. 

"That's the only thing we can do, Alpha. You can still change your mind to make Jessica the Luna. Or bring your mate and make her the Luna of the pack within three days,"

Do they have to go this far? I didn't bother to argue with them because it won't change their mind. They stand by their words the same as me. 

I clenched my fist under the table and gritted my teeth. 

"Fine, I'm going to find my mate," I said with determination as I stood up from the chair in an instant. 

I didn't know where the determination came from but I had a feeling that I was going to find my mate. 

"Are you sure about…" I cut him off abruptly. 

"I think that's all for today. I'll take my leave," I muttered, walked out of the conference room, and slammed the door shut behind me. 

***

"What is it?" I snapped at Jessica, who rubbed her hand gently against my hard chest which sent an electric spark within me. 

I held her hand and pushed it away. 

"What's wrong, Asher? Why are you doing this?" she complained, and I scoffed inwardly. 

"I'm not in the mood to do anything at the moment," I said in a low tone which came out as a growl. 

"But why? You've changed after the meeting you had with the elders," she whined, and I scoffed. 

I'm not myself at the moment. How could I be fine when I'm supposed to look for my mate within the ultimatum of 3 days?

Today will make it the second day out of the three days, and I'm yet to find my mate. I've only one day left.

I have gone to different parties and occasions just in the quest to find her but all my efforts were fruitless, I couldn't find her. 

I don't know what to do. I don't want to lose the Alpha title, and at the same time, I don't want to make Jessica or anyone except my mate the Luna of the pack. 

"Why can't you just try to understand that I'm not in the mood?"

"Why are you doing this to me? You're hurting my feelings, Asher," she complained. 

"Why can't you…" she interrupted, and cut me off abruptly. 

"I can't possibly understand anything. You're doing this because of the issue you have with your elders,"

"Why can't you make me the Luna of the pack? Or am I not enough for you?"

I pushed her hand away and growled at her. 

"I wonder how you manage to know about my conversation with the elders but it's right,"

"Do you have to stress yourself because of your mate who might not be alive?" she asked, and my eyes flashed crimson red. 

I dashed at her, gripped her neck, and pinned her to the wall. I leaned closer to her ear, with anger seeping through me. 

"Don't ever talk about my mate in such a manner again," I warned and released my grip from her neck. 

She coughed uncontrollably and caressed her neck. 

"You're nothing to me. Finding my mate is my priority right now so don't make me angrier than this, "I said, picked up a black hoodie, and walked toward the door. 

I stopped midway, my hand on the knob when she called me. 

"Asher,"

"Then what am I to you? What does the three-year relationship mean to you?"

I remained silent until she was done. 

I twisted the knob of the door, and walked out of the house, ignoring her scream. 

"Asher!" she yelled out angrily. 

***

"Ahh…" I screamed out angrily in the forest with an angry look on my face. I punched the tree continuously, my fist bled but I didn't want to stop. 

Why!? Why do you've to make things hard for me, moon goddess? Why do I've to go through all this to find my mate?

I wish she could hear and answer me. 

I slumped hard on the floor with a weak and faint look on my face. I stared at the moon for a while and sighed deeply. 

If I can't find my mate tonight, I would either excel from the pack or I would have to make Jessica my Luna. 

I ruffled my hair with a frustrated look on my face. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up as I heard a feminine tiny and faint voice from afar. 

"Help!" I jerked up from the floor, arched an eyebrow, and turned around as I heard the voice again, louder and clearer this time. 

Tracking the sound of the voice, I followed the west direction. I ran through thick bushes as the noise increased.

Getting closer to the voice, I suddenly stopped as a vanilla mixed lavender whiff of scent hit my nose. My body reacted to the scent strangely and weirdly. 

I felt so attracted to the scent that I couldn't stop myself from sniffing the air to get more of the enchanting scent. I followed the scent which also led me to the direction I heard the faint voice from. 

I pushed the bushes aside and walked close to another place. 

"Mate," my wolf, Adolph, growled happily in my head as my eyes darted to the beautiful lady lying weakly on the floor surrounded by four guards. 

My eyes lit with excitement as the word of my mate resounded heavily in my head. 

I've finally found my mate. 

"Leave my mate. Now!"

I ordered in a cold and authoritative voice as I walked closer to them, who were trying to have their way with my mate.