Five: Surrender.

RAFAEL.

I lifted my face to the shower as the heated water flowed like a soothing cascade. My fingers swept through my hair and it was like I could finally breathe again—whenever I was close to Kayla, I was usually compelled to mark her. My wolf seemed to be troubled unless I did.

I knew she was my mate but I doubted she had an idea. Kayla was an omega in the Blood Moon Pack and I was well aware she was yet to find her wolf. Other than that, it was also weird that she was fated to me by the moon goddess. It mattered not because she was the very least in the hierarchy but because she was the daughter of my father's nemesis, Archer.

I dreaded taking her back to meet my family but it needed to be done at some point.

But right now, all I focused on was calming my raging senses before pulling out of the shower in a robe. I dressed in my custom royal attire and when I looked to Kayla, she was fast asleep on the couch. She was mesmerizing, even with her eyes closed and my heart was tethered to hers. I could hear it pump slowly and steadily—she was calm.

She felt safe.

I stayed the whole night until the sun came up watching over her that I was the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes. “Did you have any sleep at all?” She asked and I arose from across the room. “I’m glad you’re awake. I need to finally speak with your father” I croaked.

There was a stint of uneasiness that filled her eyes but she trailed behind me.

I opened the doors to the dungeon and we made our way down the stairs. I made sure my warriors were at every post and corner of this pack and it was almost like we’d taken over.

It resonated an idea in me.

“Archer!” I firmly called and my beta lifted his head to face me. Kayla was troubled and a shaky breath escaped her lips. “You have two options. You can either die or—“

“But you said” She immediately grasped my hands but I turned away from her.

“You can die or fully surrender to us. My men are everywhere in your chambers. You might as well give up and let the two packs merge into one. I take over as Alpha of both and you step down” I was livid with my words but Archer with his expected ego shook his head.

“Over my dead body!” He exclaimed and Rose cried out next to him.

“Well it’s not just your life at stake here. The whole Blood Moon pack could be made history by tomorrow and I’d have them know it was because of you Archer” I snarled back at him and he fell into a brief silence. A tear fell from Rose’s eyes as he turned back to her. And there were Kayla’s step siblings who whimpered in the corner.

“It’s over” Rose shook her head. “It’s already over” She whispered.

Archer cupped his chin, firmly clenching his jaws. I could hear Kayla’s heartbeat pick up momentum as everyone waited for his response. To her, I must seem like a terrible person but she had no idea that everything I did including coming back here was to protect her.

“I won’t strip you of all your responsibilities, Archer” I leveraged and after a few more seconds, he finally obliged. All he needed to do was take off his Aegean ring and place it against the grounds in surrender. In that ring held the Alpha’s true strength and identity and it commanded respect as the leader of a pack.

I leaned forward to scrape it from there.

“I’ll have Gerald in charge until I come back.” I said.

“In the meantime, they remain here under close supervision” I ordered and my Beta, Gerald obliged with a salute. I treaded up the staircase and Kayla dutily followed me. “Where are you going now?” She questioned.

I grabbed a bag from the top shelf and handed it back to her.

“You’re following me to my pack” I replied her firmly and she was taken aback for a few moment. “What?” She batted her lashes. “You heard me, Kayla. I can’t leave you back here” My mind was mind up and she could see that through my willed eyes.

“I can’t just give up everything and follow you, Rafael” There was a fear instilled in her voice. “I won’t know anyone but you and I’ll have no friends and most importantly, how am I supposed to leave my family and ensure they’re safe?” She raised her voice and i ascertained her a glare.

“You asked whether I trusted you before and I said yes.”

“Now I ask you Kayla, do you trust me?” I inched closer to her and a shaky breath escaped her lips. “It’s different now. You’re different now” She whispered and there was a sharp pain that rippled through my chest.

“It’s a simple yes or no answer.”

“You attacked my family. How am I supposed to trust you?” She asked. “But you’re still alive” I answered. “Which doesn’t make any sense how you could be the most ruthless of men to everyone else but be kind to me.

I know I saved your life but I can’t shake off this feeling that you’re still hiding something from me Rafael.” She muttered, a little gibberish.

I closed in another step towards her and now her back was against the wall. My eyes darkened in a desire for her that I hoped she could see. “I’m the daughter of your father’s enemy, how do you think he would react if I followed you back home” Her voice was low but her eyes fell to my lips.

“I don’t care about that” I mouthed.

“I don’t care about anything else but you, Kayla. You should know that by now.”

“I may be different from the man that you saved but never will I ever lay a hand to strike you or allow such to happen. I would spend my whole life trying to protect you whether or not you like it because you, Kayla—“ He took a pause.

“You are my mate.”

My words struck her like a blow and her eyes widened in shock.

I had no idea when it slipped out but it did.

My hands immediately fell around her waist to rope her in for a kiss. She wasn’t the least resistant and Kayla surrendered into my arms. Her lips were plump and just as soft as I’d imagined and her whole body pressing against mine was warm.

Her heart pounded through her chest as my hands grazed around her neck. I bit into her lower lip and then pulled away. “I’ve known from the very first moment I saw you” I whispered beneath my breath and there was a sparkle in her emerald green eyes.

“I’m mated to the Lycan King” She replied in a dawning realization and I nodded with a finger sliding away a strand of hair from her face.

“And i’m mated to the perfect Omega” I culled her self-doubt and there was a faint smile that appeared across her lips.

“Will you come home with me?” I asked her again.

But just as she was about to speak, she jolted forward with her temperature risen to the skies. Her face went crimson and she groaned like she was in a burning pain.

Kayla’s hands struck out to mine and I asked. “Are you okay?” There was a visible vein along her forehead and she began to gasp for much needed air.

Was this all because of the kiss?

“Help me!” Was her wolf finally awoken by my kiss?