FORCEFULLY MARKED BY THE ALPHA

Chapter 2:The Weight Of Expectations

The crisp autumn air brushed across Emma Williams’ skin as she stepped into the Red Moon Park. Despite the steady chill of the approaching night, a warm, electric current surged through her, leaving her on edge. She adjusted her jacket, feeling the familiar prickle of being watched. Her eyes darted toward the towering trees that lined the park’s paths, but there was no one there—at least, no one she could see.

It wasn’t unusual for her to feel like this, especially with Alexander Matteo constantly on her mind. The invisible thread connecting them was always taut, pulling at her even when he wasn’t physically near. She had begun to recognize that feeling—the subtle hum of his presence, as if he were watching from somewhere beyond the physical world. It wasn’t a comforting sensation, though. Emma felt like she was being dragged toward something bigger than she could handle.

"Emma, you alright?" Sadisa Rodriguez’s voice snapped her back to the present.

Emma blinked, nodding quickly. "Yeah, just… distracted."

Sadisa gave her a skeptical look but didn’t push the issue. The two had been friends long enough for Sadisa to know when something was up. "You’ve been off for days. You want to talk about it?"

Emma sighed, glancing back toward the dense woods. "It’s Alexander. It’s the pack. I don’t know… everything feels like it’s building up, and I’m just standing in the middle of it, waiting for something to happen."

Sadisa smirked. "Yeah, that sounds about right. It’s the wolf world, Em. Everything feels bigger, scarier, and way more intense than it should. Trust me, I know."

"But you haven’t—" Emma paused, not wanting to insult her friend.

"Haven’t shifted? Yeah, I know," Sadisa finished for her. "It doesn’t mean I can’t feel it. The tension, the power… especially from the Alpha. It’s in the air, and I’m pretty sure it’s making everyone a little on edge."

Emma wrapped her arms around herself as they continued to walk through the park. She could feel that tension growing, not just within the pack, but inside her. Something inside her was stirring, waiting for the right moment to break free. She just didn’t know when, or what would happen when it did.

---

Back at the packhouse, Alexander sat at the large oak desk in his office, papers and reports strewn across its surface. His brow furrowed as he skimmed through the latest updates on the pack’s status. Financials, security, training schedules—it was all routine work, the kind of thing he could do in his sleep. But tonight, his focus was elsewhere.

Emma.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Every second she wasn’t near him felt like a part of him was missing. His wolf was restless, pacing inside him, wanting nothing more than to be close to her, to claim her, to mark her as his. But he held back. The bond was strong, undeniable, but Emma wasn’t ready.

There was an unsettling thought that had been nagging at him lately—what if she never was? What if she never awakened her wolf? Could the bond still hold? Could she still be his mate if she remained in her human form? The uncertainty gnawed at him, and for someone like Alexander, who was used to being in control, it was unbearable.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

"Come in," he called, his voice deeper than usual, laced with the frustration he’d been holding back.

The door creaked open, and Sebastian Dante, his Beta and closest friend, stepped inside. His sharp eyes quickly assessed the situation, his lips quirking in a knowing smile.

"You look like someone who’s been thinking too much," Sebastian said, taking a seat across from Alexander.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "I can’t help it. The pack is running smoothly, but Emma… she’s still out there, living half in this world, half in the human world. She still doesn’t have her wolf, and it’s making me crazy."

Sebastian nodded, crossing his arms. "I get it. The bond’s pulling you two closer, but she’s not ready for what that means. Not yet, anyway."

"And what if she never is?" Alexander asked, his frustration finally spilling over. "What if the Moon Goddess doesn’t give her a wolf? Can I still claim her as my mate?"

Sebastian studied him for a long moment before answering. "The bond between you two is already there. You can feel it, right? You don’t need to force anything. If she’s meant to be your mate, she will be, wolf or no wolf. But pushing her now… it’ll only make things worse."

Alexander clenched his jaw, knowing his friend was right. "It’s not just about the bond. It’s the pack. They expect her to be like us. If she doesn’t shift, they’ll start to question her, question me."

Sebastian shrugged. "You’re the Alpha, Alex. No one’s going to question your authority."

Alexander let out a low growl. "That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about what it’ll do to her. The pressure, the expectations… she’s already feeling it, and I don’t want her to think she’s not enough."

Sebastian leaned forward, his expression serious. "Then give her time. Be there for her, but let her figure things out at her own pace. You can’t protect her from everything, and you can’t control the Moon Goddess. All you can do is wait."

Alexander’s hands curled into fists, his wolf snarling in frustration. Waiting wasn’t something he was good at. But for Emma, he’d do it. He’d wait as long as it took.

---

Emma and Sadisa reached the park’s clearing, where a small group of pack members had gathered. The pack was always tight-knit, especially during times like this when the full moon was approaching. Emma could feel the energy in the air, thick with anticipation and power. Even though she hadn’t shifted, she could sense the way the other wolves’ energy vibrated around her, like a storm waiting to break.

Sadisa nudged her. "You see him?"

Emma’s eyes scanned the crowd, and sure enough, Alexander stood near the edge of the clearing, talking with a few of the senior pack members. His presence was impossible to ignore, even from a distance. Tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding raw power, Alexander was every bit the Alpha—dominant, commanding, and fiercely protective. Emma felt the pull between them, the bond that tied her to him tightening as her heart rate picked up.

"I don’t have to see him to know he’s here," Emma muttered, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

Sadisa grinned. "That’s the bond talking. You’re practically glowing whenever he’s around."

Emma rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. She couldn’t deny the effect Alexander had on her. It was more than just physical attraction—it was something deeper, something primal. But it was also terrifying. The closer she got to him, the more she felt like she was being drawn into a world she didn’t fully understand.

As they approached the group, Alexander’s gaze locked onto Emma, his eyes darkening with intensity. The conversation around him seemed to fade away as he made his way toward her, his long strides purposeful and confident.

"Emma," he greeted, his voice deep and smooth as always, but there was an underlying tension there that only she could hear.

"Alexander," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the way her heart pounded in her chest.

Sadisa made herself scarce, leaving them alone, though the other pack members cast curious glances their way. It wasn’t a secret that Emma was Alexander’s mate, but the fact that she hadn’t shifted yet made her stand out in a way she wasn’t entirely comfortable with.

"You’ve been avoiding me," Alexander said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Emma swallowed, unsure how to respond. "I’ve just been… busy with school."

He raised an eyebrow. "That’s not the real reason, and we both know it."

She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, feeling the weight of his words. He always had a way of seeing right through her, of cutting to the heart of things even when she wasn’t ready to face them.

"I don’t know what you want from me, Alexander," she admitted, her voice quiet but steady. "I don’t know how to be what you need."

His expression softened, though the intensity in his eyes remained. "I don’t want you to be anything other than who you are. But I need you to trust me. Trust that the bond between us is real, even if you haven’t shifted yet."

Emma looked away, her fingers brushing the faint crescent-shaped mark on her wrist. "It’s hard. Everyone expects so much from me, and I don’t even know if I’ll ever get my wolf. What if I’m not meant to be part of this world?"

Alexander stepped closer, his hand gently cupping her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You’re already part of this world, Emma. You’re my mate, whether you shift or not. The bond between us is stronger than anything else."

She felt her breath catch in her throat as his touch sent a wave of warmth through her. His closeness, the way his eyes seemed to pierce through her defenses—it was overwhelming. But at the same time, it was comforting. He made her feel safe, even when everything else felt uncertain.