Forbidden Mate, Bound by Fate

Chapter 8

SYDNEY

The guard's grip on my arm was like a steel trap, his fingers digging deep as he dragged me away from the main hall. The silver collar around my neck pulsed with debilitating energy, draining my strength and leaving me stumbling to keep pace. My feet faltered, but the guard's relentless pull kept me moving. The pain of his rough handling was a distant second to the anguish tearing at my heart.

The pack guard threw me into the dungeon. The iron bars clanged shut behind me. I landed hard on the cold stone floor, but I didn't make a noise as I didn't want them to see me in pain.

The impact jolted through my already battered body, but I remained silent. One of the guards, a burly man with a scar on his cheek, looked at me with a mixture of pity and duty.

"You're lucky that Alpha Gray didn't order a worse punishment for you, Sydney," he said gruffly.

I glared at him while wincing in pain. "Lucky?" I spat, my voice shaking with anger and hurt. "Really? You call this lucky?"

The guard shrugged. "You should be grateful he didn't order your death. Fifty lashes and a silver collar are a small price to pay for drugging and manipulating the Alpha.”

I gritted my teeth and sat up. A sharp pain shooting through my body as my battered muscles screamed in protest. Despite the agony and weakness, I managed to stand up straight, and faced the pack guard with a determined gaze.

"I didn't drug him," I protested, but the guard just raised an eyebrow.

"Save your explanations for Alpha Gray," he said coldly. "We'll bring you food and water, but don't expect any special treatment."

As the guards turned to leave, I called out to them, "What will happen to me now? Where's the alpha?"

The scar-faced guard's gaze locked onto me, his expression unreadable, but the cold calculation in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. His eyes seemed to bore into my very marrow, as if plotting the most agonizing ways to break me.

"That depends on Alpha Gray's mood," he said. "But for now, you're a prisoner, and you'll stay here until he comes back and orders your punishment."

The guards walked away, leaving me alone in the darkness. I slumped back against the wall, my body aching and my heart heavy with despair.

The air was musty and dank, filled with the scent of mold and decay. I could hear the faint sound of dripping water somewhere in the distance, and the darkness seemed to press in around me.

A wave of sadness washed over me, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. I had no idea what fate had in store for me at the hands of Alpha Gray, but I knew he would surely hurt me when he returned. Given his ruthless reputation, I was certain I'd face brutal punishment at his hands.

I have so many questions in my mind right now, but no answers. All I know is that I am trapped, alone, and at the mercy of the alpha who seems to hate me.

I wrap my arms around my knees and let out a soft sob, the sound echoing off the stone walls. Now that I was alone, I finally let the tears flow freely—the ones I'd been holding back earlier because I didn't want the pack members to see me cry.

Suddenly, a gentle voice whispered in my mind, "Sydney, don't cry."

I froze, my heart pounding in surprise. The voice was soft and melodious, and it seemed to come from within me. Two years late, but I'd finally get to meet my wolf. I'd been waiting since I was 16, and now, at 18, she was finally emerging.

For two years, I had begun to lose hope, wondering if I was wolf-less or if something was wrong with me. And yet, here in this dark, damp dungeon, I finally heard the voice.

"Who are you?" I thought, trying to communicate with the voice.

"I'm Katrina," the voice replied. "Your wolf. I've been waiting for this moment since we were young to finally meet you, Sydney.”

Tears of joy pricked at the corners of my eyes as I realized that I finally had my wolf. I felt a sense of wonder and excitement, mixed with a dash of trepidation.

"Hello, Katrina," I thought, feeling a sense of connection to this gentle voice. "I'm so glad you're here."

"I'm delighted that I finally meet you, Sydney,” Katrina's gentle voice replied. "I've been with you since birth, watching and waiting. You just couldn't notice me."

I thought back to all the times I felt like something was missing, like a part of me was dormant.

"Why couldn't I notice you?" I asked Katrina.

"It's a curse," Katrina explained. "The Moon Goddess bound me, preventing me from emerging until we mated with our mate. Now that we're bonded to Alpha Gray, the curse is broken, and I'm free.”

I felt a mix of emotions: relief, excitement, and a hint of fear. Finally, I have my wolf, and now, I know who my mate is, but he hates me. He loves my sister, and I'm sure he will choose her and reject me.

"Now, what will happen to us?" I asked Katrina because I know our mate will surely reject us.

"Leave our fate with the Moon Goddess, Sydney. For now, we're not fully free yet," Katrina cautioned. "The curse may be broken, but we haven't gained our full power.”

I nodded and agreed with my wolf. This was just the beginning of our journey together. With Katrina by my side, I felt a sense of hope and determination. We would face whatever challenges came our way together.

Alpha Gray is our mate, but the realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt a wave of sadness wash over me.

I thought about all the times Alpha Gray had treated me harshly and the way he despised me. He didn't like me, and I doubted he ever would because he loves my sister, and that will never change, even if he finds out that I am his true mate.

But I wonder why he was telling everyone that my sister was his mate?

The confusion swirled in my mind like a storm. Did he not know about our bond, or was he just pretending for some reason?

"Katrina, why would Alpha Gray claim Alexis as his mate if we're his true mates?" I asked, feeling a mix of emotions.

Katrina's voice was gentle but firm. "I don't know, Sydney. But we'll have to be careful. Our bond is still new, and we don't know how Alpha Gray will react when he finds out."

I nodded, though Katrina couldn't see me. I was scared, but I knew I had to face the truth. Alpha Gray was my mate, and our bond would change everything now that we were mated.

"Sydney, we need to keep this a secret," Katrina's voice urged, a sense of caution underlying her words.

I felt a surge of confusion. "Why?” I asked Katrina.

This is my chance to prove to everyone that I'm not wolf-less. I have a wolf now, and I can finally shift in front of everyone in this pack. I've been waiting for so long to show them all that I'm worthy, but I don't understand why Katrina asked me to keep this secret.

"Sydney, I'm very weak, and I can't protect you,” Katrina's response was firm. “The danger is lurking around every corner, waiting for us to shift. If they find out about us, it could mean disaster. We can't trust anyone right now.”

I understood Katrina's concern, but a part of me still wanted to shout it from the rooftops. I was no longer wolf-less and I had her.

"When will you come out?" I asked Katrina, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation.

"When the time is right," Katrina replied, her voice mysterious. "We'll know when the moment is perfect. Until then, let's keep our secret safe.”

I nodded and agreed to keep our secret for now, but I couldn't help feeling a sense of anticipation, knowing that Katrina would emerge when the time was right.

As I sat in the cold, damp dungeon, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Despite the pain and heartache of knowing my mate didn't want me, I had Katrina now. She was my wolf, my companion, and my friend.

For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel alone. Katrina's presence was a warm comfort, a reminder that I wasn't just a wolf-less reject. I was a werewolf, with a wolf who cared about me.

The dungeon might be cold and dirty, but with Katrina by my side, it didn't feel so dark. I wrapped my arms around my knees and smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over me.

I may not have Alpha Gray's love, but I finally have my wolf, and that's all that matters right now.

The silence was interrupted by the guard's footsteps echoing outside my cell, followed by the sound of my sister Alexis's voice.

"Let me in!" Alexis commands the pack guard.

Her tone was laced with entitlement, and as everyone knows she is the Alpha's mate, her whims were never questioned.

The guard hesitated, but ultimately, Alexis's status granted her access. She stepped into the cell, her eyes gleaming with malice.

"You seem to be enjoying this place, Sydney," she cooed, her voice like venom. "I see you're enjoying your little stay in the dungeon."

I glared at her, my anger simmering just below the surface. "What do you want, Alexis?"

"Oh, I just wanted to see how my dear sister was doing,” Alexis responded. “I'm thrilled to be here, celebrating your misfortune.”

Even though it was dark, I clearly saw that her eyes roamed over the cell, taking in the cold stone walls and the silver collar around my neck.

"You're really in quite the predicament, aren't you?" she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “Well you deserve that for seducing my mate.”

I seethed with anger, but I kept my cool. "Are you sure he's your real mate, Alexis?" I asked, my voice low and even.

“Who are you to question my good fate, Sydney?” Alexis laughed and started talking about me being jealous of her.

“You know the truth, Alexis, don't you?” I asked my sister angrily.

Alexis just laughed, her eyes glinting with malice. "Oh, don't accuse me," she said, turning to leave. "Don't worry, you won't stay here long, because I'm telling you, you'll be nothing but a distant memory."

As she walked out of the cell, I felt a surge of determination. I would not let Alexis win. And with Katrina by my side, I knew I had the strength to fight back.

But little did I know, Alexis's visit was just the beginning of a new chapter in my life—one that would change everything forever.