A MATE'S BETRAYAL

Duty and Destiny

Clarity washed over Hilda’s mind as the purpose of the meeting she was hauled to early that morning came to light. Her parent’s speech, the questions by the representatives and Pack leaders all replayed in mind as she took the seat next to her, her knees losing strength. She lined up the facts;

1. Peace came at a price.

2. She was that price.

“Do I have a say in it?” Hilda asked, her throat drying up, no one replied, that was the answer.

“What about my true mate? my soulmate what- how? Hilda asked again, this time her mother cleared her voice and replied.

“ As a Luna , you are bonded by either duty or destiny, in this case, it's both, you are my Heiress, the whole clan will look up to you and it's only best that you are bonded to the strongest Pack, Hilda. That way the Luna crest will continue to exist. ” Her mother replied.

“What about me? What about my existence? My happiness? ” Hilda continued to ask , ignoring the members that were shuffling out of the meeting room, no one- it seemed- wanted to witness her breaking heart.

“Don't be ridiculous, it is you who controls your wolf, not the other way round.” Iris no longer showed care that her only daughter would be whisked away to live with another Alpha. Not just any Alpha, their enemy. But that was a small price to pay. War was expensive.

“And if I reject him? If I run away? right now ” Hilda was pushing her luck, she just couldn’t imagine not being with some random alpha, she wanted nothing more than to find River and run away.

“And go where, Hilda? You couldn't make it one day without a Pack, When was the last time you hunted?or led a hunting pack?” Her mother asked.

“When would I? Every night I am barricaded behind the Pack like some helpless rabbit because of those savages! The same savages you are selling me to!” Hilda countered, her voice shaky with an unreleased sob.

“ Enough of your childish questions, for once I want you to act like the Luna you will soon be. No one likes a bitching mate.Now come here, Alden, Make the call.” Iris completely ignored Hilda, tears rolled down her face, reality had hit home like a slap in the face. She spared a look towards her father, begging him to see reason and mediate on her behest but all he did was furiously type on the computer and positioned it to face them.

“Wipe the snot off your Hilda,you are no longer a child. ” Alden’s words were cold as the look he gave his daughter seconds before he faced the computer screen. The family of three waited, Hilda with bated breath as the call went through. The dancing phone icon reminded her that destiny and duty waited on the other side. Another solo tear fell from her eyes as the realization that she would probably never see River again flashed before her as the call connected, movement from the other side gave her the time she needed to dry her tears before the face of a man came into view.

Hilda’s gaze was on the computer, the face of a man who had usurped her life displaying on the computer screen. For a man so mad , she was surprised that he had a decent face. Nothing about his face betrayed his age, or madness. Beside him sat his younger replica, only difference was in hair length and where the older Alpha had a thin line for lips, his replica was blessed with luscious and kissable lips. Ugh! Hilda hated that he noticed that of the younger wolf. Other than that, they were one and the same moon shadow Alpha’s.

“To what do I owe this call, I haven't even had my morning dump, Alden.” The older Alpha’s voice was calm, carrying a hint of amusement.

“You know why , Chance. Let’s cut to the f*****g chase. ” Alden replied and motioned for Iris to speak.

“We are here to give you what you wanted, just as we had agreed. ” Iris said and Hilda couldn’t help but wonder when and where this agreement had taken place.

“That was rather quick of you Iris, I was beginning to enjoy our… shenanigans. ” Alpha Chance replied and he leaned forward in his chair.

“Right. So as we agreed, remove your troops from our borders, and release my shipments too, we will discuss the other things after the initial bonding. ” Alden took over the speaking when he noticed Iris was nearly breaking the handle of the chair from how tight she grasped it.

“What about the other arrangement, when is my daughter in-law coming? Ah she doesn't know? ” Chance said and smirked as Hilda stiffened in her seat, where was she going? Certainly it wasn’t over to Moon Shadow territories.

“Is she my future Luna? ” Chance’s son spoke and Hilda had to switch back her gaze towards him. his voice was deep and rumbling, an air of command surrounding it. Hilda couldn’t look away afterwards, their eyes meeting through the computer screen and something about his eyes told her they were sharper in person.

“Yes this is Hilda. She turned 19 a few months ago, she is yet to wake her wolf -”

“I am mated to a child wolf , father? ” Chance’s son asked in shock. It seemed he too was not in the loop.

“She is no child, once her wolf awakens she will be ready for you. "Don’t worry, I will keep my word and they will have their mating bond once she is 20, if that is what she wants. ” Chance replied and his son just rolled his eyes.

“You better keep your end of the deal or I will forget we have an agreement. ” Alden said, the veins in his neck popping as he leered into the screen, challenging the other Alpha.

“Introductions are done. Remove your troops so my clans can attend the Crimson moon gathering. Set a date for our own gathering , I need to put this behind us as soon as possible.” Iris finally found her voice and just as she was about to end the call, Chance spoke again.

“Wait, Your daughter can’t attend the gathering, I won’t have some random wolf claiming my mate, bring her here, tomorrow. ” Chance’s son spoke, his eyes never leaving Hilda’s . A funny feeling developed in her chest, she wasn’t sure whether to be happy, thankful or slightly hopeful that her new mate actually wanted her.

“That isn’t what we agreed on- ” Iris interjected.

“I don’t care, we don’t want a repeat of what happened decades ago now do we? ” Bradley, Chance's son said as rudely as he could manage.

“You heard Bradley, and worry not, my troops, soon to be yours as well, are no-longer there. We shall meet tomorrow, when you deliver my son's mate. I will notify my council and elders, do the same with your courts, let this union begin, Great Mother as witness. ” Chance said and Iris did not wait to reply to him. She nearly broke the screen as she ended the call.

“So that’s it? I am shipped off to Moonshadow without so much as a notice? When did you guys agree on this? ” Hilda was beginning to get worked up, angry to be exact.

“Like I said, destiny, duty. ” Iris replied.

“ This… all this is not what I want! ” Hilda was now using her inside voice, outside.

“The sooner you accept your fate, the sooner you will realize what you want cannot change your duty as Luna Crest’s first daughter, ” Alden said, trying to reach out for Iris’ hand in comfort.

“If you are done ranting, it’s best you Pack up. Say your goodbyes, time is not on our side. Now if you will excuse me, I have council elders to gather, ” Iris said and left the meeting room. Alden lingered for a minute before he too followed his mate.

Hilda sat back on the chair that she had been sitting in. Her mind was a web of questions this hadn’t been what she was expecting. To be mated to another mate was one thing, but to be mated to the enemy?

Destiny and duty had won tonight, but she would change her fate, one way or another.