Chapter two:

Alpha Ryder scurried towards his pack house which was just a few miles away from where he had met Karen.

He was just ten years old when he had to live in these woods alone, he was captured and brutally tortured on several occasions by the wolf hunters, but his zeal to survive kept him going

Right outside the large gate of his pack house stood a feminine figure, one he would recognize even in the darkness of the night.

“ Carmel? Why are you still outside? I instructed everyone to retire and take a rest”. He barked, They just returned from hunting in the woods when he had heard the roar of his mate and had to find his way back to the woods.

“ You weren't back and it got me worried, who is she? ”. Her deep brown eyes slowly darted onto the girl in his arm, she let out a tight-lipped smile.

“ I found her in the woods, she was attacked by the hunters,” he said, striding inside the pack house while some wolves who were on duty stood at the gate.

“ What were you doing in the woods? ”.

“ She called out to me! ”.

“ What! Carmel expressed as she furrowed her brows.

“ She is my mate” He replied and slowly plunged inside with the girl still cuddled in his arms.

Carmel stood there for a minute with her mouth wide open, not sure what to say nor how to react.

“Your mate? Are you sure?” She hastily followed behind me, carefully observing him as he carefully placed the girl on the bed in his chamber.

It was an average-sized room with a large bed by the side, there were luxurious paintings of wolves and an artwork of his parents.

By the other side of his room were mostly weapons, for he thought that he should always be ready for war at all times.

“ She is going to sleep in your room? ”.

“Didn't you just hear what I said, she is my MATE! Now hurry and get Serena to come tend to her injuries”.

“ Yes Alpha” She curtly bowed her head and departed from his room, arriving back after a few minutes with Serena the pack physician.

Serena, who was a midwife in her previous pack, was ruled after which he took over the territory and everyone else in it.

Serena was in her early forties, physically small with tan skin types, and her short curly hair was said to enhance her beauty more.

She was rejected by her mate when she was nineteen years old, and the moon goddess never paired her with anyone else.

“ Serena! Come over, she was attacked by the hunters, I think an excessive amount of wolfsbane was given to her”.

“ I will examine her and see, I think you need to leave”.

“ No, I can't, she is my mate! ”.

“ Has she accepted the mate bond? ”. She asked and he was mute.

“ I am sorry Alpha, but you can't be here while I undress her, I promise to take good care of her! ”.

He could see the assurance in her dark blue eyes, Ryder's eyes darted over to Carmel who gave him a reassuring nod before he stepped out of the room.

Carmel carefully shut the door the moment he was out, Serena tore the part that covered her thigh where her wound was most fatal.

“ What are you going to do? Serena asked Carmel who was assisting her while she cleaned up the wound that was burning red with wolfsbane

“ What are you talking about? ”.

“ You understand fully well what I am talking about, he has found his mate, what are you going to do about it? ”.

“ Nothing is certain yet, he just met her and knows nothing about her”.

“Don't you think that it is time you accept reality”.

“ I can't! Alpha Ryder is my reality and nothing can reverse that”.

“ You are going to be eighteen next year and will find your mate. What are you going to do when you meet him? ”.

“ I will reject him and make Alpha Ryder reject his mate, if the moon goddess sees how persistent I am, perhaps she will pair the both of us”.

Serena drifted her eyes away from Karen to stare at Carmel as she let out a long sigh.

“ Stop being delusional, Alpha Ryder will never be yours”.

“ He will be mine! I have the power to shape my fate, perhaps if his mate dies right here on this bed, he can look at me with longing”.

“ Do not try anything stupid with the girl else, you will have to face years of terror. I hope that once you find your mate, and feel that intense sensation that comes with the mate bond, then maybe you can let go of the Alpha”.

Serenity wrapped up the wounds before turning back to her.

“ Dress her up, I will inform the Alpha of her condition”.

Carmel nods as she watches Serena step out of the room.

“How is she? ”. Ryder asked the moment the door opened, he had just met his mate, but he was feeling anxious about it.

“ She is fine, she is a fierce one, she should be awake soon”.

“ You are dismissed! ” He ordered with a blank expression and hurried inside. Despite how much Ryder had looked forward to preparing himself for the mate bond, he had never expected it to have such an intense effect on him.

“ How is she? ”. He asked Carmel who stood there staring blankly at her.

“ She is fine now, and as you can hear, her breathing is consistent”.

“ You can leave now”. He commanded but she stood still, Her gaze trailed over to Ryder as she bit her lips.

“ I said, you can leave now! ”. He ordered again, this time his voice was more profound.

“ Alpha, I do not think that it is proper for the both of you to share the same room, She might freak out when she wakes up and sees you by her bedside, besides, we know nothing about her yet”.

“ Carmel! Leave now! ” He roared, his eyes flickering Sliver, she shrieked to a corner, before slowly striding away from the room.

Ryder took the sofa close to the bed, his eyes not drifting away from Her, She had scars on her arms which he could tell were as a result of previous contact with wolfsbane, making him curious about the life she's lived.

Holding her hands for a while, he could hear Kai's mind link him, hurriedly, he stormed out to the hall.

“ Alpha! ”. His beta. Kai Roman bowed and stepped in, his long black hair lingering around his shoulder.

“ Has everyone settled down? ”.

“ Yes Alpha, but it seems like we might have some issues with the new territory”.

“ What is going on? ”.

“ Alpha Magnus of Darkmoon pack has his men scouted around the territory, theyve had eyes on that factory for a while now but didn't have the balls to challenge the council”.

“ And he thinks because we are a rogue pack, he can go up against us”.

“ The council has been looking for a way to get hold of you for a while, and he knows that he has the full support of the council on this one”.

“ They are trying to lure me out ” Ryder expressed

He exhales loudly as he lets his rift into a blank space.

“What are you going to do Alpha”.

“ I fought the battle, I lost my men in this battle, and I am not letting him get the territory, prepare those who are still fit, we will scurry over there tomorrow”.

“ I am sorry Alpha, but I do not think that is a good idea, we just came back from war, some of our men dead, some injured and the rest wounded, we will be fighting a lost cause”.

“ And you advise that we let him have the territory we have struggled to occupy for long, I need to attack the crystal moon pack, and the only way that I can do it is if I gain more power and the only way through that is more territory! ”.

He grew, pacing around the room.

“ Calm down Alpha, I know how badly you want to get your revenge on the Crystal Moon pack, but you need to be patient, so you do not make a mistake”.

“ I have been patient for thirteen years, I am steering out of patience! ”. A loud growl escaped his lips, his fist smashing a glass into the wall, and his heart filled with rage that he could barely breathe.

But just when he felt like he was going to explode, Serena hurried in with the best news that could calm me down at that moment.

“ Alpha!! ”. She screamed rushing in, her heartbeat loud enough from miles away.

“ The girl… Your mate, she is awake and throwing a fist”. Serena explained planting hard

“ Your mate? ” Kai twitched his brows as he looked at Ryder, perplexed.

“ What is going on? ”. Ryder could tell that the question was directed at him, but he had his eyes pinned on Serena.

“ Alpha Ryder found his mate today, but I must say, she is a feisty one”. Serena replied, still trying to catch her breath.

“ Alpha Ryder, are you certain that she is your mate? ”. Kai let his gaze drift over to Ryder, but he was in no mood to answer any of his questions as he dashed out of the hall and they both followed behind.