Chapter 2:The Alpha Who Walked Away
1117 Words
Eight years later.
"Blossom, are you even listening?"
I blinked and looked up from the report in front of me.
"What?"
My team leader, Gideon, sighed. "I asked if you're joining us for the council meeting."
"No."
"You've skipped the last three."
"I had work."
"You always have work."
I offered him a small smile that didn't reach my eyes.
Work was easier.
Work didn't ask questions.
Work didn't remind me of the night my life fell apart.
For eight years, I had built a new life one careful step at a time. I worked harder than everyone else. I stayed out of pack politics. I kept my head down. People respected me because I earned it, not because of my family name.
The name Hart meant nothing now.
It had been buried the same night my father disappeared.
"You can't hide behind work forever," Gideon said gently.
"I'm not hiding."
He gave me a look that said he didn't believe me.
Before I could answer, the office doors burst open.
A young warrior stood there, breathing hard.
"The Moon Council has arrived."
The room fell silent.
Council visits were never good news.
"What do they want?" Gideon asked.
"They've summoned every ranking member to the Great Hall."
My stomach tightened.
The Moon Council had ignored me for years.
Why now?
Ten minutes later, the Great Hall was packed.
Leaders.
Warriors.
Elders.
Everyone stood in uneasy silence.
Lila slipped through the crowd until she reached my side.
She squeezed my hand.
"This feels wrong."
"I know."
She had grown into a strong young woman, but whenever the Council appeared, I still saw the frightened girl clinging to me in the middle of a burning village.
The heavy doors opened.
Council guards entered first.
Then the Elders.
Finally, one man walked in behind them.
Time stopped.
He looked older.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
His black shirt fit broad shoulders that carried quiet power. His gray eyes swept across the room without emotion.
Until they found me.
Demas.
Eight years.
Eight long years, and I still remembered every second of the night he turned his back on me.
My wolf stirred restlessly.
I forced her down.
Not him.
Never him.
One of the Council Elders stepped forward.
"Today marks a new chapter for both territories."
Nobody spoke.
"The Moon Council has approved the union of Ashmoor Territory and Black Ridge."
Whispers spread across the hall.
The Elder continued.
"To prevent future conflict, Ashmoor will now operate under the protection and leadership of Supreme Alpha Demas."
"No."
The word left my mouth before I could stop it.
Every head turned toward me.
The Elder frowned.
"Do you object?"
"I do."
Lila grabbed my arm.
"Blossom..."
I pulled away and stepped into the open.
"My family lost everything because of Black Ridge. You're asking us to kneel to the very Alpha who destroyed us."
The room became painfully quiet.
Demas watched me without speaking.
His face gave nothing away.
The silence only made my anger worse.
"You don't get to stand there like none of this happened," I snapped.
"You took my father."
"You took our home."
"You took everything."
Several warriors shifted uneasily.
No one interrupted me.
I walked until only a few steps separated us.
"I should hate myself for even breathing the same air as you."
His expression never changed.
"I remember you."
Three simple words.
They hit harder than I expected.
"You remember me?" I laughed bitterly. "Good. Then remember what you did."
"I never forgot."
Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten.
I hated that reaction.
I hated that my wolf had gone completely still, listening to his voice.
The Elder cleared his throat.
"This is not the time."
"No," I said without looking away from Demas. "This is exactly the time."
I pointed at him.
"You expect me to follow him?"
"I would rather live among rogues."
A few gasps came from the crowd.
Lila closed her eyes.
She knew I had gone too far.
Or maybe not far enough.
Demas finally spoke.
"Are you finished?"
His calm voice only fueled my anger.
"Not even close."
"You've had eight years to say this."
"I've had eight years to survive what you did."
His eyes darkened.
"I know."
"No, you don't."
"I do."
"You don't know what it's like to watch your family lose everything."
For the first time, something flickered across his face.
Pain.
It was gone so quickly I almost believed I imagined it.
"I know exactly what that's like."
I stared at him.
For one brief moment, I wondered what he meant.
Then I remembered who he was.
A powerful Alpha.
A man who had everything.
He didn't deserve my sympathy.
The Elder raised his voice.
"Enough."
He unrolled a scroll.
"By order of the Moon Council, Alpha Demas will personally oversee the transition between both territories."
My heart sank.
Then came the next sentence.
"Blossom Hart has been assigned to serve on the Supreme Alpha's Inner Alliance Council."
I froze.
"What?"
The Elder repeated it.
"You will report directly to Alpha Demas."
"No."
"This decision is final."
"I refuse."
"You cannot."
"I won't work for him."
The Elder looked at Demas.
"Alpha?"
He stepped forward.
His gaze never left mine.
"I requested her."
The words echoed through the hall.
Requested me?
A cold feeling spread through my chest.
"What did you say?"
"I specifically requested that Blossom Hart join my council."
"Why?"
His answer came without hesitation.
"Because she's the best strategist this territory has."
The compliment only made me angrier.
"You expect me to believe that's the reason?"
"You can believe whatever you want."
I took another step closer until only inches separated us.
"I would rather die than stand beside you."
His jaw tightened.
"You're still as stubborn as I remember."
"You don't know me."
"I know enough."
"You know nothing."
For a long second, neither of us moved.
The room seemed to disappear.
Only the two of us remained.
Enemies.
Mates.
Strangers connected by something neither of us wanted.
"I'll never forgive you," I whispered.
His eyes searched mine.
"I know."
There was no anger in his voice.
Only quiet certainty.
It confused me more than shouting ever could.
The Elder broke the silence.
"The meeting is over."
People slowly began leaving.
No one dared speak to either of us.
Lila hurried to my side.
"Blossom."
"I need air."
I turned toward the doors.
Before I could take another step, Demas's deep voice stopped me.
"We begin tomorrow."
I looked back over my shoulder.
"I won't be there."
"You will."
"You don't control me."
His gray eyes held mine.
"No."
A pause.
"But fate already tried."
- Writer
