Forbidden Mate, Bound by Fate

Chapter 6

ALPHA GRAY

I stood tall, my eyes fixed on the guard who had interrupted the punishment. "What do you mean the Beta of the rival pack is here?" I growled, my voice low and menacing.

The guard swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously to the side. "He just arrived, Alpha. He says he has a message for you."

I shot him a deadly glare before I asked a question. “Where is he?”

“At the pack border, Alpha,” my Beta replied.

I felt a surge of anger and frustration. What could the rival pack possibly want now? We had been at odds for years, and I had no interest in hearing their empty words.

"Imprison Sydney. No one will touch her until I come back!" My voice was firm as I gave the order to my trusted pack guard.

My guards nodded, their faces expressionless as they moved to carry out my command. Sydney's protests were drowned out by the sound of footsteps and murmurs as the crowd dispersed.

As I turned to leave, my mate's firm grasp on my arm halted me, drawing my attention back to her.

"Alpha, are you really going to leave without doing something about that insolent woman?" she asked, her voice filled with concern and annoyance.

I looked at her calmly and replied, "Don't worry, I'll deal with her when I return. She'll get the punishment she deserves."

A hint of a smile played on Alexis's lips as she leaned in close. She pressed a soft, gentle kiss on my lips.

"I'm waiting for that, Alpha," she whispered, her voice barely audible, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

After giving my mate a nod, I stepped out of the pack house, the cool morning air hitting me as I made my way to the open grounds. Without hesitation, I shifted into my wolf form, feeling the familiar rush of power and freedom.

My warriors followed my lead, their bodies transforming into sleek, powerful wolves. As soon as the last of us had shifted, we set off at a swift pace, our paws pounding the earth as we ran toward the woods, bound for the pack's border.

As we reached the border, I raised my head and sniffed the air. I could smell the unfamiliar scent all over the place, indicating that we had another company here and unwanted visitors.

My eyes scanned the surroundings before settling on the Beta of my rival pack. I saw him standing there, his eyes fixed on me with a calculating gaze. Parker, the Beta of the Red Claw pack, was a tall, imposing figure with a scar above his left eyebrow. He was known for his cunning and ruthlessness, and I had no doubt that he was here to cause trouble.

"Parker," I said, my voice cold and unfriendly. "What brings you to my pack?"

Parker smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I come bearing a message from my Alpha," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "A message that I think you'll find... enlightening."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. What could the rival pack possibly have to say that would be of interest to me?

But as Parker began to speak, I felt a sense of unease growing inside me. This was not going to be good.

"What does Alpha Devon want, Parker?" I asked, my voice dripping with arrogance.

Parker's eyes locked onto mine, his expression neutral. "He's aware of your Luna identity, Alpha Gray. He's willing to call off his attack if you agree to his terms.”

My jaw clenched. Speculation flooded my mind as I tried to guess what Alpha Devon wanted from me. And what would be the cost of refusing his demands?

"Tell me more," I said, my voice firm as I took a step closer to Parker.

Parker's expression remained neutral, but his eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of malice. "My Alpha wants you to stop claiming the land near our pack's border and cease your attacks on his pack. If you refuse, he'll retaliate and take... collateral.”

My anger erupted as I realized what Parker was implying. "You mean Luna," I growled, my voice barely above a whisper but radiating with anger.

Parker's gaze met mine, his eyes piercing and unyielding. "Yes, Alpha. Alpha Devon will take Luna as collateral to ensure your cooperation."

Fury coursed through my veins as I struggled to maintain control. My wolf growled, sensing danger to our Luna.

I felt my anger surge like a wildfire, consuming me whole. "How dare he!" I roared, slamming my fist on the nearest surface. The sound echoed through the air, making Parker take a step back.

My eyes blazed with fury as I turned to Parker. "You tell Alpha Devon that I'll never back down. I'll never surrender Luna or our land to him."

Parker's expression remained calm, but I could sense a hint of wariness behind his eyes. "Alpha, consider the life of your Luna—”

I cut him off, my voice a low growl. "Consider? You think I should consider surrendering the woman I love to that monster? Never."

My anger boiled over, and I paced back and forth, trying to contain my emotions. I knew I had to think clearly, but the thought of Luna being taken by Alpha Devon was unbearable.

My temper flared, anger boiling over as I fixed Parker with a fierce glare. "You're using Luna as leverage to control me?" I growled, my voice low and menacing.

Parker took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. "Alpha, you have a choice—"

But I was beyond reason. My rage consumed me, and I felt my body begin to shift. My muscles tensed, my senses heightened, and my vision blurred.

I lunged at Parker, my jaws snapping wildly as I tried to contain my fury. I wanted to rip him apart, to make him pay for daring to use Luna as a pawn in his game.

Parker dodged and weaved, trying to avoid my snapping jaws. "Alpha, stop! I'm just the messenger!”

But I was deaf to his words. My anger and fear for Luna's safety drove me, and I continued to chase Parker, determined to make him pay for his perceived transgression.

“Kill me, and Alpha Devon will kill Elder Winston the moment you lay your fingers on me, Alpha!” A challenging word came from Beta Parker.

His words cut through my rage. I paused, but my jaws were still snapping wildly. "What did you just say?" I growled angrily.

Parker took a cautious step forward, his eyes locked onto mine. "If you kill me, Alpha Devon will kill the elder... your grandfather."

My anger faltered, replaced by a cold dread. I remembered my grandfather, who had always been a symbol of wisdom and strength in our pack.

Parker continued, his voice steady. "Alpha Devon is holding him hostage, waiting for me to return with your answer. If I don't return on time, he'll... he'll kill him."

My gaze locked onto Parker's, and I saw the truth in his eyes. I knew I had to make a choice: save my grandfather or give in to my anger and kill Parker.

My warriors, sensing my anger, moved to attack Parker. They formed a semicircle around him, their eyes fixed on me, waiting for the signal to strike.

"Wait," I growled, my voice serious and commanding.

The warriors froze, their eyes locked onto mine, but their bodies remained tense, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

Parker, sensing the danger, took a step back, his eyes darting between me and my warriors. "Alpha, think properly and be wise—"

I silenced him with a raised hand. "You have something I want, Beta," I said, my voice cold and calculated. "Tell me the location of Alpha Devon's hideout, and you can go back to your pack alive."

Parker's allies, a group of seasoned warriors, emerged from the woods, their eyes fixed intently on me and my pack. They formed a tight circle around Parker, their bodies tense and ready to defend their Beta.

The air was thick with tension as the two groups faced off, each waiting for the other to make the first move. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of heavy breathing and the distant howling of wolves.

Parker stood tall while looking at me intently, a look of determination etched on his face. "I won't betray Alpha Devon, even if it means my death," he declared, his voice firm and resolute.

I raised an eyebrow, impressed by Parker's loyalty. "You're willing to die for him?" I asked, my voice laced with curiosity.

Parker nodded, his jaw set. "Yes, Alpha. I will not betray my Alpha's trust.”

My warriors eyes fixed on Parker and his allies. They were itching for a fight, and I could sense their frustration. But I held them back, intrigued by Parker's defiance. How far would he go to protect Alpha Devon?

The trees seemed to part like a curtain as another set of Beta Parker warriors emerged. They held their ground and were ready to attack. Their eyes scanned the surroundings with a mix of caution and hostility. The air was tense, heavy with unspoken threats.

Parker's warriors formed a tight circle around him, their bodies tense and ready to defend their Beta. My own warriors mirrored their movements, forming a protective barrier around me.

The standoff was palpable, with both groups eyeing each other warily. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the sound of heavy breathing and the distant howling of wolves.

Parker's voice cut through the tension, his words clear and resolute. "We stand by our Alpha, no matter the cost."

His warriors echoed his sentiment, their voices rising in a chorus of loyalty and defiance. "We will not back down!"

The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation, as if the very forest itself were holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

And then, a twig snapped.

The sound was like a spark to dry kindling, igniting a chain reaction of movement. Parker's warriors growled, their hackles raised, as my own pack responded in kind. The air was filled with the sounds of snarling and snapping jaws as the two packs faced off in a fierce standoff…