THE ALPHA'S FORBIDDEN MATE

Chapter 2: The Alpha's Captive

I didn't sleep that night.

The chains never loosened. The cold stone never warmed. And Draven's words echoed in my skull like a curse.

*"You're mine, Sera. Whether you like it or not."*

I hated him. I hated the Moon Goddess for cursing me with this bond. And I hated myself for the tiny, traitorous flutter in my chest when his steel-gray eyes had burned into mine.

*No. I will not feel anything for him. He is my enemy. He is the man who slaughtered my pack mates and captured my brother.*

I clung to my hatred like a lifeline.

The iron door creaked open again. I braced myself for Draven's cold gaze, but instead, a young female wolf stepped inside. She was small, with mousy brown hair and nervous eyes. She carried a tray of food and a change of clothes.

"The Alpha sent me," she whispered, avoiding my gaze. "He said to clean you up and bring you to the main hall."

I snarled at her. "I'm not going anywhere."

She flinched but held her ground. "Please... don't make this harder than it has to be. If I fail, he'll punish me."

I studied her trembling hands. She was just a servant, a pawn in Draven's game. Killing her would change nothing.

"Fine," I muttered. "But if you try anything, I'll snap your neck."

She nodded frantically and rushed to unlock my chains. The moment the iron fell away, I collapsed to my knees, my body screaming in protest. I had been chained for hours. My muscles were stiff, my wrists raw and bleeding.

The servant helped me stand, guiding me to a small basin of water. She washed the blood from my skin, dressed my wounds, and handed me a simple black dress.

"I'm not wearing that," I said flatly.

"Please," she begged. "The Alpha insisted."

I snorted but took the dress. It was better than my torn, blood-soaked battle leathers. I changed quickly, hating every second of it.

When I was ready, the servant led me through the dungeon corridors, up a winding stone staircase, and into the main hall of the Darkclaw fortress.

My breath caught.

The hall was massive — soaring ceilings of black stone, chandeliers made of enchanted crystal that glowed with silver light, and walls adorned with ancient tapestries depicting werewolf battles. At the far end of the hall sat a grand throne carved from obsidian.

And on that throne sat Draven Blackthorn.

He had changed into a tailored black suit that hugged his powerful frame. His dark hair was swept back, his steel-gray eyes sharp and watchful. He looked every inch the king he was.

Flanking him were his warriors — a dozen brutal-looking wolves with scars and cold eyes. And beside the throne stood a woman I didn't recognize.

She was stunning. Raven-black hair cascaded down her back. Flawless pale skin. Eyes the color of blood-red rubies. She wore a crimson gown that hugged every curve, and she looked at Draven with blatant hunger.

*Who is she?*

Draven's eyes found me the moment I entered. He rose from his throne and walked toward me, his warriors parting like the sea before a storm.

"Ah, there she is," he said, his voice dripping with false warmth. "My guest of honor."

I glared at him. "Your prisoner."

"Guest," he repeated, reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinched away. "Prisoner. Same thing in the end."

"Don't touch me."

He lowered his hand, his expression unreadable. "You'll find that I'm not in the habit of being disobeyed."

"And you'll find that I'm not in the habit of obeying murderers."

A ripple of murmurs spread through the hall. I had just insulted the Alpha in front of his entire pack. I was either brave or suicidal.

Draven's warriors tensed, ready to attack. But Draven simply laughed — a warm, genuine sound that caught me off guard.

"Brave," he said, almost admiringly. "Stupid, but brave."

The red-eyed woman stepped forward, her ruby lips curling into a smirk. "So this is the little Beta who's been causing so much trouble? She doesn't look like much."

I met her gaze coldly. "And you look like a snake in a dress."

Her smirk vanished. "How dare you —"

"Enough, Ravenna," Draven said sharply. "Sera is my guest. You will treat her with respect."

Ravenna's eyes blazed with jealousy. "Respect? She's a Silvermoon dog! She killed our warriors!"

"She killed our warriors in battle," Draven said calmly. "I respect a warrior who fights well. Even if she is my enemy."

Ravenna opened her mouth to argue, but Draven silenced her with a look. She stepped back, her hands clenched into fists.

Draven turned to me. "You must be hungry. Join me for dinner."

"I'd rather starve."

"Suit yourself." He shrugged and walked back to his throne. "But I have information about your brother. If you want to hear it, you'll sit and eat."

My heart stopped. "Orion? What do you know about Orion?"

"Eat first. Talk after."

I hated him. I hated him so much I could barely breathe. But I needed to know about Orion.

"Fine," I spat.

I sat at the long dining table, as far from Draven as possible. Servants brought plates of roasted meat, fresh bread, and wine. My stomach growled, betraying my hunger. I hadn't eaten in over a day.

I ate slowly, watching Draven as he observed me like a hawk.

Ravenna sat on his other side, glaring at me with murderous intent. She leaned close to Draven, whispering in his ear. He didn't react.

When the meal was over, Draven dismissed everyone except Ravenna and his Beta, a scarred wolf named Kael.

"Now," Draven said, leaning back in his throne. "About your brother."

I leaned forward, my heart pounding. "Is he alive?"

"For now," Draven said. "He is injured but alive. My healers are tending to him."

Relief flooded through me, followed by suspicion. "Why would you heal him? You're our enemy."

Draven's expression flickered. "Because I'm not a monster. Despite what you believe."

"You murdered my pack mates," I hissed. "You captured me. You —"

"I did what was necessary," he cut me off, his voice hardening. "Your pack crossed into my territory. Your warriors attacked my people. What was I supposed to do? Let them kill us all?"

"You could have let us retreat," I shot back. "You could have shown mercy."

"Mercy is a weakness," Draven said coldly. "And I am not weak."

I stood, my chair scraping against the stone floor. "Then we have nothing more to discuss."

"Sit down, Sera."

"I said we're done." I turned to leave.

The next thing I knew, Draven was in front of me, his hand gripping my arm with bruising force.

"I said sit down," he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "You are in my territory, under my protection. You will respect my authority."

I met his gaze, my hatred burning like wildfire. "Or what? You'll kill me? Go ahead. I'd rather die than bow to you."

Something flickered in his eyes. Pain? Hurt? I couldn't tell.

"I don't want to kill you," he said quietly. "I don't want to hurt you. But I will not let you walk away from me. Not when you're my mate."

The word hung in the air between us, heavy and impossible.

"I am not your mate," I said coldly. "I reject you. I reject this bond."

"You can't reject fate," Draven said. "You can try, but the bond will always pull us together."

"Then I'll fight it every single day."

"Fight all you want," he said, stepping closer until his chest nearly touched mine. "But I'm not letting you go. Ever."

Ravenna's voice cut through the tension. "Draven, this is absurd. She's your enemy! You can't possibly —"

"Silence, Ravenna," Draven snapped. "This doesn't concern you."

"It concerns me when you're making a fool of yourself over a Silvermoon w***e!" Ravenna shrieked.

The room went deathly quiet.

Draven's eyes darkened. "What did you call her?"

"You heard me," Ravenna snarled. "She's nothing. She's a —"

"Get out."

Ravenna's face went pale. "Draven —"

"I said get out!" His voice boomed through the hall, shaking the chandeliers. "If you ever speak about her like that again, I will banish you from this pack."

Ravenna's eyes filled with tears—of rage, not sadness. She shot me a venomous glare and stormed out of the hall.

I watched her go, a strange sense of satisfaction warming my chest.

Draven turned back to me, his expression softening slightly. "You should get some rest. Kael will take you to your room."

"I don't have a room. I'm a prisoner."

"Guest," he corrected. "And guests have rooms."

He gestured to his Beta, a scarred wolf with kind eyes despite his brutal appearance. Kael stepped forward and bowed.

"Follow me, Beta Sera," he said.

I hesitated. Something in Draven's eyes made my skin prickle.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "Why are you treating me like a guest when you should be treating me like an enemy?"

Draven looked at me for a long moment. Then he said something I didn't expect:

"Because you're my mate. And I've been waiting for you my entire life."

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**End of Chapter 2**