From Outcast To Alpha's Mate

Chapter 2

“I hereby reject Hanna Acwulf as my mate,” the words rang through Hanna’s ears and she froze. There was silence and everyone stared at her. She stared at Theron as if questioning him but he just looked back at her with indifference.

“She is dormant as we all know,” he continued and it felt like a stab to her chest. “Therefore she cannot be my mate. I require a strong Luna. A real wolf. And I have recognized Naomi Adolph as my one true mate.”

Hanna’s eyes widened at the last statement. Naomi? Her Naomi? She glanced at her and Naomi looked away in shame. So that was what was happening. He spoke again.

“Seeing as she is not my mate and not a full wolf, she is a liability to this pack and its resources. Therefore I must release her from this pack.”

Hanna stared. It felt like her whole life was crashing down. And it was. How did this happen? Where did it all go wrong? Where was she going to go? The world outside of a pack was unsafe.

Tears stung her eyes as she realised. Theron had used her. He used her as the final push to become the Alpha. And now that he had succeeded he no longer needed her. But she didn’t think her best friend would be involved in such betrayal. She looked to her father to see if he would object but he just looked away. Did he really hate her that much?

She looked pleadingly at her pack members but none of them protested. How would they? No one cared about dormant wolves. In tears she ran out of the cave, not knowing where to go or what to do.

*****

Hanna walked in the cold, leaving many footsteps in the snow. It had been two days since she had eaten and many days since she left home. She didn’t bother to count the days. Her pace was especially slow. She was weak and could only walk.

The area wolves stayed in had quick shifting climates and before she knew it, snow fell. She was cold, hungry but somehow not lost. She didn’t know where she was going but her instincts told her she was going the right way. Hopefully to a new pack that would help her.

Suddenly, she heard snapped twigs and she spun around, her heart beating fast. She was lucky enough to not encounter any rogue wolves up until that point. They were very dangerous and unpredictable. When she saw nothing she kept walking. She could have sworn she saw something moving in the trees. She walked faster. Whatever it was, it was getting closer.

She heard low growls behind her and turned around to see four wolves gathering around her. Their eyes glowed red indicating that these were rogues. Run!

Hanna spun and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew she was no match for their speed but she had to try. Two wolves ran at both of her sides. They seemed to be toying with her slow speed. Her legs eventually gave out and she fell, backing up to the nearest tree. They stalked dangerously close to her and Hanna swallowed, her hands shaking at her side.

Suddenly, a large wolf leaped in between them. He faced the four rogues and growled at them. He was far bigger than them. Only Betas and Alphas were that big. Still, the rogues decided to try their luck and use their number against him. They lunged at him.

He threw the first rogue that dared to come close across the snow with ease and bit another. Before long they ran off, visibly battered and bruised. The wolf turned to her. It was then she saw his eyes. They glowed in amber. She inhaled sharply. This was an alpha. Alphas and Lunas had amber eyes in their wolf forms, Betas had yellow, rogues had red, elders had green and the rest had grey.

The wolf walked closer to her but for some reason she wasn’t afraid. He had a majestic wolf form, only one befitting an Alpha. With deep brown fur. They kept eye contact for a while. His eyes changed from amber to forest green. His human eyes. She had never seen the wolf form with their human eyes. It meant they were letting their guard down. Although, he didn’t have much to be afraid of admittedly. He came closer, staring with curiosity and sniffed at her slightly. Another wolf growled a short distance from them, calling him. His eyes turned amber again and he ran off. But not before one last glance at her.

Hanna exhaled. What had just happened? Everything was happening at once and she couldn’t explain it. Her stomach grumbled. She needed to get food soon. She survived the wolves, hunger wouldn’t take their place. She sighed and continued on her journey.

She eventually found food and water. Just small animals she could catch. Not so different from what she ate back at home. She shook her head. It was time to stop calling that place home. A pack with uncaring members, a nonchalant father, cruel Alpha and a betraying friend. She should have left a long time ago.

She had no direction but somehow she felt she was going to the right place. And eventually she found a huge stone fortress some distance away. This was where her instincts had brought her. She sighed in relief and almost ran to the gates. It was much larger and intimidating up close. She had never seen such a huge wolf den. Most packs just stuck to huge caves and caverns. This was basically a castle made in stone. On the gates were written “Moonstone” in what looked like claw scratches. She swallowed. She heard that Moonstone was the biggest and most powerful pack among the wolves. They weren’t kind to strangers.

Nevertheless, she found herself walking into the entrance. She took one more step and two guards leaped in front of her, growling. Hanna shook. They were in their human forms but their eyes glowed yellow. Two Betas as gate guards? Hanna thought. Only gammas and deltas were used as guards. Betas were too few and resourceful to be used as guards. Except… in a quite big and powerful pack. And Moonstone happened to be one.

“Who are you? And why have you come?” one of the guards growled at her.

“I-I’m a lost wolf. I’ve come to seek refuge from your clan,” Hanna stuttered. She was slightly ashamed that she had to beg for a home. She hadn’t thought this through.

The guards looked at each other, slightly confused. Not many strangers went to Moonstone of all places to seek refuge. They turned back to her.

“Strangers are not welcome here. Go back to where you came from or we will make you,” the other guard threatened. Unfortunately going back was not an option. She fell to the ground, pleading.

“Please, I have nowhere else to go,” she begged.

“Do not make me repeat myself!” he yelled.

“What is all the commotion about?” a female voice said from behind.