Her Mates Fates

Chapter One

Six Years Later

Freya POV

“Thank you, ma’am.” I thanked the madam as I grabbed the cup from beside my cot and took a long sip of the hot liquid.

It was odd that Madam was in my quarters, especially since she was being nice. She had brought me some warm tea with honey for my throat. The guards must have told her of my screams throughout the night. Why would she even care? Usually, she would send them in to beat me into silence.

She was an evil woman who got her jollies off by torturing anything that she saw as less than her. Which was anybody who wasn’t affiliated with a group, or who didn’t have money.

I had never revealed my real name or what I was. I was always cautious of my markings too and lied to everyone about my wolf. I claimed to have lost my wolf when my family was murdered. It was easier that way. Only one guard, Daniel, knew about my wolf.

He caught me in mid-shift one night as I was gaining back control of my body. Luckily it was dark, and he did not see many of my features. I begged him to secrecy, and I think he took pity on me. He and I both knew that if he told Madam I was not wolf-less that she would send me to the breeding house.

Daniel is the closest thing I have had to a friend in six years.

“You will be bathed, groomed, and dressed this morning. After that, you will head to the market. Happy twentieth birthday, girl.” She snickers before slamming the iron-bared door behind her.

“What the f**k,” I whisper. How could I forget my birthday?

Before I could have a complete panic attack, Jeanette struts into my room with three maids. “Jeanette.” I greet her with clenched teeth.

“Well good morning maggot” she spits with venom. Her words meant to cut me to the core but they only remind me how much I hate her. “You are to be sold to the highest bidder today, and I get the pleasure of making sure you go to someone worthy.” She flicks her hair over her shoulder and laughs like the evil witch that she is.

Jeanette is Madam Louise’s only daughter. She is half she-wolf and half-witch. She never received a wolf and the other witches in her community will not let her practice magic due to her not being a full-blooded witch. Since she is such a misfit and so unhappy, she takes it out on others to make herself feel better. Madam sometimes calls her a “waste of space”, and she is extra vindictive those days. I think that there is space for her, in hell.

“Now get the hell up Marcy, don’t ruin my day”. She mocks.

I stare at her with hate in my eyes before I obey. I will kill her eventually, and I make sure that the threat is painted on my face each time she looks my way. When I get the chance, I will kill her, and it will be bloody.

Six years ago, after my pack was ambushed, I woke up in this room. I had been cleaned up and was given some luxury items for comfort. Madam had entered my room and introduced herself. She told me that I had nothing to fear and that she was going to help me find my family. That all I had to do was tell her who I was and where I belonged.

My father had drilled into me since I was born that my identity was my most precious secret. I told her that my name was Marcy and that I was a servant in the house of the Crescent Moon pack. I told her that my parents were rouges who were taken in by the pack when the pack wars died down several years back.

Luckily, she believed me. Marcy was a real person who lived in our pack house. I remember seeing her laying on the ground dead as I was being swept away to safety the night my family was ambushed.

She claimed to have sent for any remaining pack members to retrieve me, and that there were none left to do so. I already knew that there wouldn’t be any survivors. I remember the horror and the carnage of my pack lands the night that I lost everything. I remember the sound of my people being ripped to pieces as I faded into darkness.

I don’t know how I survived, but I wish I hadn’t. I wish I would have died along with my family.

Madam told me I was a guest in these quarters, but that didn’t last long. After a week they stripped me of everything nice and made me a servant in their compound. When I displeased her, she would lock me in my room for days without food or warmth. Often, she would send strange creatures into my room to do tests on me.

The worst days though were the days Jeanette made me feed the vampires. They would drink me nearly dry. Take almost all of my blood until I passed out, and then my wolf would regenerate the blood and I would wake up the next morning. That is the worst feeling.

__

Two dreadful hours later I was dressed like a Greek goddess in a thin white toga dress, and on my way to market.

This market trip is not like the few that I have been on before. For one, we are heading 6 hours away to the pack territory that I believe is responsible for my family’s death, and this time, they are not selling normal goods, they are selling me.

We arrive at the market quicker than I expected and pull up to a potion and herb stand. Just next to the stand is a wooden X with metal chains already doused in something wet.

Wolfsbane most likely, just for me.

Next to it is a big sign that reads “Bids Start Soon.” I would rather die than be auctioned off to the highest bidder. My wolf whimpers in my head at the thought of the wolfsbane.

Jeanette opens my door and yanks me to my feet. “The wolfsbane is for precautionary reasons. Wouldn’t want you to try and escape.” Jeanette smirks and sends me a wink.

One of the warlocks next to her grabs me by the throat and throws me toward the chains. His magic sweeps over my body paralyzing me as he lifts me against the wooden x. I try my hardest to mind-link him, to tell him I’m going to kill him, despite knowing that he won’t receive my threat. He’s not a werewolf he’s a warlock, but I still try.

I am chained up on display like a thanksgiving turkey. All kinds of people have their eyes on me. A man with rumpled grey skin has been making his way up the line to feast his eyes on the ‘new goods’. His eyes are black, and he reeks of liquor and cheap cologne. I think he’s just an average human but I can’t tell. The wolfsbane and his party stench are enabling me to smell his kind of species.

I close my eyes and pray to the Goddess to please help me. If she does exist and cares about the werewolves at all, to get me out of here.

My eyes pop open when I feel a slimy cold hand running up my calf. Dark dead eyes look back at me.

“You will belong to me, pet,” he utters in a slinky voice. He runs his hand up my knee and towards my inner thigh. I whip my head down and split his nose with my forehead. Laughter and cheers erupted throughout the large crowd.

Jeanette slams into my stomach with a knife. “You little bitch!” she scolds and then pulls the knife from my gut.

I bite my lip so that the words I want to say more than anything do not fly out. The burning pain from the cut is well worth breaking the ghoulish man's nose though. As he shouts profanities at Jeanette, I smirk at her while saying everything I want with my eyes. I don’t show her any reaction to the pain in my gut, although I want to apply pressure, but the restraints prevent that.

“She will be sold for half price for my troubles” he tries to negotiate while he pinches his gushing nose with his thumb and pointer finger.

“You know she is worth far more than that Mr. Stagger. I will give you a healing potion for your nose. On the house.” Jeanette Scowls at me handing the man a small vile from her bra.

“WITCH!” I hear an unpleased voice booming behind me. Everyone around us halts. I can feel a natural pull to the owner of the voice, almost as if it's familiar. I try to turn and catch a look his way but one of the wooden posts is blocking my view.

“Yes, Alpha,” Jeanette answers with her chest puffed out in confidence.

Most people respect rather than fear the Alphas. But not every Alpha has a reputation as the Alpha of the Blue Moon pack. Rumer’s claim that a few years ago the Bluemoons Alpha, Luna, Beta, Gamma, and their mates were brutally slaughtered by their Current Alpha and his army. He then took over the title of Alpha of the Bluemoon pack and grew a massive army. A very respected army, I might add. The pack's territory has grown 10 times the size it was 4 years ago. Rumors say that the Alpha is Ruthless beyond measure.

“I do not allow the sale of wolves in my territory.” His voice booms.

“Alpha sir, this is not a wolf. This is an unmated wolf-less orphaned girl, which I own and should be able to sell when I deem fit.”

I whip my head up to look at the witch. “I’m going to kill you witch you don’t own me,” I utter in her direction. She does not react to my comment and stares proudly at the Alpha.

“I do not allow the sale or mistreatment of any living being on my territory. Nor do I allow defiance.” he hisses.

“Then I’ll give her to Mr. Stagger, Sir, no sale no crime!” She puffs out her chest like she has the answers to all her problems.

Snarky b**ch. I will NOT be given to that foul man!

I thrash around trying to free my arms or limbs. Recognizing that I cannot get free, nor can I shift due to the wolfsbane, I spit in her face in anger.

“B**ch!” she screams lunging forward and plunging the knife deep into my thigh with an evil laugh. Pain radiates up my leg as warm liquid oozes out of the wound.

I feel a gust of wind past my ear and watch as a tomahawk divides Jeanette's face. Blood splatters the potion bottles on the shop’s table. Jeanette's lifeless body tumbles to the ground and the crowd gasps in horror. The onlookers revert their eyes as though they have seen nothing in fear of being next.

I hear the clanking of metal and my knees meet the dirt beneath me.

“Leave her and get off my territory, now!” he demands Jeanette's clan. “Tell your leader that her people are not welcome here!” He barks loud enough for the whole market to hear. Nobody says anything. They stare at Jeanette’s lifeless body in shock.

I hear bones snapping and the crowd sets off in a frantic withdrawal. I look up in hopes to see the Alpha, but he has already shifted into wolf form. He is a burly black wolf with eyes of emerald green.

“Mate!” my wolf howls in the back of my mind. “Mate! Mate!” she urges.

I cock my head to the side as I stare into his hypnotic eyes… My mate?

“Hop on my back, I will take you to our packhouse.” a husky voice invades my mind. I nod my head but hesitate and look down at my leg spilling blood.

“I am bleeding Alpha, and I do not wish to get blood on you,” I whisper for only him to hear. He watches the blood drip down my leg for a moment. I see his eyes haze over.

“This will sting.” his voice invades my mind once more. I watch him as he stares into my eyes. His tongue darts out and he laps away at the wound on my thigh. Tingling pleasure radiates through my body. The warmth of his mouth sends a thrill through my body like I’m on a rollercoaster. I have to bite my lip to suppress the shrills of excitement. Without meaning to I place my hand on his head to hold myself up, and his eyes darken from my touch.

Oh my goddess, what is this feeling?

“On my back, now!” he enters my mind, demanding, as he stoops down for me. He takes off in a second barely giving me time to grasp onto him. Wolves follow closely behind retreating with their Alpha.

“We’re here.”

He links just a few minutes later. I look up to see an impressive estate. The packhouse is breathtaking. It’s made of white stone and has a dark blue metal roof. It reminds me of a modernized farmhouse with white pillars and vast French doors at its entry. It is at least three stories high and has a barn and a pond off in the distance. It is surrounded by a forest and has the greenest grass I have ever seen. Its beauty is not something you would expect from a pack that goes around murdering other packs. This house looks peaceful, like a resort.

“Down.” he barks in my head.

I hurry down and revert my eyes as he shifts. It is disrespectful to look at an Alpha who is not yours. Out of the corner of my vision, I see one of his men throw him a change of clothes.

“Leave us!” he orders them as he pulls on his clothes.

“Yes Alpha!” they respond in unison. They all take off towards the house. One of the wolves stops before he gets to the house staying close by, just out of hearing range. I’m assuming he is part of the leadership in this pack, like his Beta or Gama.

A familiarity blossoms in my soul when I catch a whiff of his campfire and sandalwood scent. I snap my head up in his direction and see the Alpha’s face just inches from mine.

His eyes are the deepest green I have ever seen in my life. They have pools of gold swimming and intertwining with the emerald hue. His face is young, and his hair has long light brown locks that fall to his shoulders. He is built like he could be the son of Zeus. He is so handsome I want to bite my knuckles. His strong jawline makes me want to run my tongue along it, and his strong stature urges me to climb him.

My wolf is dancing in my head. “Mate!” she urges me again. I want to believe her. I want to act on my impulses and mark him, claiming him as mine right here…. But there is a tiny voice in the back of my mind telling me this isn’t right. My intuition.

Alpha studies my face and inhales slowly. “You smell divine Darlin.”

“Umm, what?” I ask, a little shaken by his comment. Who says that to someone?

“Your scent.” He explains.

“Mate likes our scent!” My wolf says as she does backflips.

I want to melt from his compliment but I cannot shake that little voice telling me to run. When I was small my mother told me that when I met my mate, from the first look in his eyes that I would know with every fiber in my body, that he was mine. I’m torn with this man. Why would my mate feel forbidden?

“You smell like you taste. It reminds me of apples.” He steps closer and takes my scent in again with a deep breath. As if we could be any closer, he inches forward more. Our bodies are almost flush together.

“Taste?” I question lifting my eyebrow and stepping back trying to gain some space. Did anybody ever teach this guy about personal space?

“When I healed you back at the market, you tasted of apples.” He searches my face for a reaction.

What does he want me to say? How am I supposed to react to this man? He just killed a woman for back-talking him without even flinching. With a freaking tomahawk at that! No warning or anything just threw the sucker right in between her eyes. If I talk, I may offend him, and I don’t want to die today. He’s an Alpha and my mate. If I were to tell him that our bond feels forbidden, he may kill me. I have to play this safe.

I catch a glimpse of a young man jogging our way from the house. “Alpha, a word please?” Alpha pulls him to the side to speak.

“Alpha Peter and his daughter Raven will be here in one hour sir.” He tells the Alpha.

Alpha peers at me for a moment before nodding his head and shooing him away. “Thank you, Jasper, please show them to the guest rooms on the second floor.”

Jasper looks puzzled for a moment. “You do not want the she-wolf in the room across from you, sir?”

Alpha stares at me and utters, “She won’t be staying long Jasper, please arrange for their return flights for tomorrow evening.” He dismisses jasper and walks back toward me.

Jasper treads away slowly, baffled at their exchange.

“What is your name, Darlin.” He questions me in a hard tone.

“My name is Marcy, sir.”

I can’t give him my real name… not until I know his intent.

“Marcy, you will be staying under my watch.” He gestures to his mansion in the distance. “I know you have a wolf; I can smell her.” He winks at me.

He grabs me by the arm and pulls me in the direction of the house. A wave of comfort run up my arm and through my body. But he shouldn’t be touching me; the little voices yell for me to keep my distance. It takes all of the willpower I have not to pull my arm from him.

“I lied to the witches about my wolf to prevent myself from being sent to the breeding house,” I explained to the Alpha.

A rumble comes from his chest and I’m not sure if I should be scared. I don’t want the alpha to distrust me. I have been away from wolves for six years and if being here gives me a chance at a real-life then I will take what I can get.

“I was a servant there and am exceptionally good in the kitchen. I could be of use to you in the packhouse.”

He stops and turns towards me. “Oh, you will be of use to me Darlin, but not in the kitchen.” A sly smile crosses his face.

I pull my arm from his grip and physically adjust myself for a fight. “I will not be your sex slave.” I bark out. I refuse to be put in the same, if not worse, situation than I was in at madams.

“I’m joking Darlin. I do not have sex slaves.” He laughs. He motions for me to walk beside him and this time he keeps his hands to himself. “You will be staying in the room adjacent to mine. I am Alpha and have a pack to protect and don’t know if I can trust you yet. I would like to keep a close eye on you.” He continues as we walk in the front door and up the stairs.

“Normally, I would have my Beta, or his mate show you to your room, but they are dealing with something at the moment. Please clean yourself up and meet me in my office in an hour.” He opens a door for me as he urges me inside.

“Yes, Alpha.” The words are unfamiliar when they roll off my tongue, but it makes me smile to know that I am finally getting to say it again. I am out of the witch compound, and on-pack land.

Alpha’s POV

Leaving such a beautiful creature alone after minutes of just meeting her makes my wolf want to tare out of my skin and run to her. This complicates things. I am not supposed to have a mate; she died many years ago. Her eyes, her scent, her hair, everything about her is so familiar to me. It’s like my wolf has known her all along. He keeps screaming that he has found his mate, that he knew he would find her…

What am I going to tell Layla? She has been such a good leader for my pack, but now I have a mate. My second chance mate at that. Not everyone gets a second chance mate.

I know that Layla would understand, but I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to disappoint my pack, they love Layla. I was going to make Layla my mate…

Mate’s smell is intoxicating, her wolf is strong – very strong. I can smell her from my office, her room is just too close for the fog to leave my brain, so I can work. I am going to go insane. I want to know more about her. I wanted to touch her, but she was hesitant. She must have been through a lot being a servant in a witch compound, but you would think she would be happy to find refugees and find her mate. Surely she knows that I will stop at nothing to protect her.

“Damon, I need you.” I try to hide the stress in my tone but I do a poor job of it.

It’s not even minutes before Damon appears at my door. The look in his eyes indicates that he knows I am fighting a battle.

“Alpha, how may I help you?”

“Your sources were right; the witches did have a wolf who they were trying to sell this morning. I rescued her and brought her back here. She should be here in about an hour to answer some questions about her past. I planned to locate her original pack and get her back to them safely.”

Damon raises his brow. “But?” he questions.

Leave it to Damon to know me better than anybody.

“But she is my mate.” My wolf tells him with a roar.