Bound To The Armored Alpha

Chapter 2

SOLENNE

Solenne became a black veil bride, covering her face and dressing in black–from head to toe, because she was grieving the old life she had with Roman.

The life she had, even before Dilara came into the family as Roland's wife!

Solenne was married to Roman for almost two years and Dilara just celebrated her one year anniversary with Roland before he died fatally.

Roman and Dilara had no shame! They constantly had public displays of affection. They made love with each other and Dilara screamed so loudly, the whole pack could hear. They rubbed all of this Solenne's face and because of the Alpha command, Solenne could not complain.

When the doctor would complain because of the wounds it would leave, Roman would say, “we are fated mates. What do you expect us to do? Can't Solenne be grateful she is still Luna? Do you want her to go back to Border Wood pack? Where she would scavenge for food and quality shelter?”

Everybody would become mute immediately. They all begged for Roman to reject her and he refused!

Solenne's body held so many scars. Scars that the Moon's curse had given to her. The moon was punishing Solenne because she had not rejected Roman. He was making love to his mate and his mark was still on her body.

“My lady, stay strong!!” Ilya, Solenne's handmaiden, comforted, while she and others tried to treat her with potions–potions made out of herbs. Potions that were meant to act like tranquilizers, calming her down and numbing the pain, while her mate continued to betray her.

With time, Roman became a menace. Solenne was denied quality treatment from the pack's doctors. They would always say the doctors were attending to Dilara. Nursing and attending to her mental health.

Dilara was even given her own permanent quarters, fully furnished!

At first, Dilara was humble and meek. She tried to come close to Solenne. Hugging Solenne, tell her not to worry, that she would stay out of her way.

She said that she was shocked when she found out that she and Roman were chosen mates and she had asked Roman to reject her. All of which were lies. Dilara kept on with the facade…till she began to show her true colors.

*****

While I was taking a walk in the garden, Dilara approached me. “I'm so sorry, Solenne. You look really pale. It's not my fault that Rowan and I get into it. It's the mate pull. It's too strong.”

I would ignore her and she would keep pushing. Till I scolded her one day! “

Roman happened to appear there immediately after I scolded her. She scowled and buried herself in Romans arms. “I was just trying to ask her to get a little sunlight. I was just worried!!” Dilara lied.

Roman spat at me. “You're so evil, Solenne. You should be thanking Dilara, for letting you stay in her mate's pack. Do you know what I have to sacrifice for refusing to mark my mate?”

And slowly, Dilara started to form an army. She gathered widows and young girls from around the pack, claiming to form an NGO for women's mental health. I suspected this was all a ploy–an evil ploy to get people on her side.

Alpha Ian, Dilara's father, came to the pack on an unofficial invite. Dilara had invited him.

During the unofficial visit, Solenne watched from where she was seated, how a truck load that contained a lot of goods, with a big bow, came inside the pack.

On the truck was written, “Surprise!! For Baby Roman.” Solenne was short of words. Alpha Ian laughed in delight. It was a truck filled with designer baby items and expensive gifts for Dilara.

Then, Dilara hugged and kissed Roman, making sure the whole pack could see.

“How does it feel to have your first pup? From your fated mate? Our babies are going to be so strong!!” Dilara mused.

“I'm grateful to Selene,” Roman happily replied.

Dilara even said, “the moon goddess knows what she's doing. My late husband could not make me a mother. I almost thought I was barren until I found my own mate and this happened so soon. It seemed as if she planned it. I know Roland is proud of us. He's probably watching from heaven, offering us his blessings.”

What a shameless slut! Did she have to include the late Roland into this? May his soul rest in peace!

Alpha Ian was happy and I could see that he constantly glared at me with dangerous eyes. “I would love for my daughter to be treated with more honour,” he said. “When are you going to change her official car? And I want her wardrobe changed too. Don't you think she's worthy of wearing original silk?”

Alpha Ian and Dilara began to request frivolous things, putting the pack's finances at risk.

In the coming days, Roman became very cold towards Solenne. He asked for her belongings to be moved to the widow's cottage across the packhouse. It wasn't bad, but it was a place unfit for a Luna.

Some of her luxurious meals, flower deliveries and allowances were reduced or stripped away. She was only allowed to continue working and supervising the trade route of the pack and the industries that she built. Of course, industries that would bring more money to Roman and Dilara!

Once, Solenne had fainted while working. The doctors complained that Roman's frequent lovemaking with Dilara prevented Solenne from concentrating. Roman told the doctors that it was Dilara's pregnancy cravings and if he was required to bed her ten times daily to make her happy, he would do just that!

Solenne begged for tranquilizers from the clinic and Roman accused her of wanting to run off and cheat.

The potions she was given for pain did not work any longer and eventually, her wolf became weak as a mouse.

“Luna, we must do something. This does not have to continue,” Ilya, my handmaiden said. “The Alpha has turned everyone against you. She attacks everyone that tries to speak up for you. But this is not a life. We have to do something. You cannot end up like this?”

‘Poor girl!’ Solenne thought. ‘She had a point. I had to think fast.’

Desperate, Solenne wrote to her best friend, Luna Constance. Luna Constance was not allowed to visit Solenne anymore. Ilya had sworn that she would deliver the news to her.

Roman had guards securing every perimeter of the pack. The borders had even been loaded with twice as many soldiers. Why he did this, Solenne did not understand.

She suspected Roman feared that she would make away with many supplies or money someday, and move on to hide in the human world.

It was almost impossible to escape. Even if she wanted to, Alpha Roman's Alpha power would detect the moment she left the borders. She would be branded a rogue, or his wolves would chase after her. He could do even much more harm. That was a risk she couldn't take.

Ilya returned with the news.

“Luna Constance has asked you not to worry. She says she thinks about you everyday and is trying to reach the Queen Regent.”

The Queen Regent was a hybrid she-wolf who ruled a big pack far off north. She too, had gone through domestic and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband, so she understood what some Lunas went through. He was brought to order but sadly, he died and she took over the pack.

“No…” Solenne groaned, beginning to sob because she knew it could take months.

“She also said she would table it to the elders. She promises. She says you should be strong and she misses you.”

Solenne wished she had joined Constance to her pack the day after Dilara and Roman claimed themselves on Roman's late mother’s remembrance. Someday, she would get back her power and she swore she would take revenge!

******

Solenne was with Ilya, trying to take a walk one blessed evening, her black veil on her head, when the mindlink became distressed. She could hear so many incoherent voices. Roman's activities made the mindlink weak but she managed to hear one of the guards say they were being attacked.

“Run!! Run, Luna Solenne,” Beta Levi screamed his voice shaky. “Our pack is under attack!”

“What?!” Solenne screamed, as she struggled to process what he just said.

“Luna, let's go to the cottage. I think there's a secret room. Let us hide!! I don't want you to die!”

The pack members on hearing this, scrambled and yelled. Panic was everywhere. The guards began to lead some people away. Children carried, mothers screamed and fathers tried to be brave.

“No, I cannot run. I built this pack. I must defend it too.”

Solenne was ready to fight. Hearing about this attack, her wolf, Mari, became alert. Although she was weak and feeble because of Roman. She was prepared.

Ilya and other omegas were asked to go inside and the few alpha and beta wolves along with some elders. They were going to hide in an underground war bunker.

Roman came out of the house like a drunkard. Solenne was pretty sure he was making love to Dilara.

“Where is my Gamma? And have the arrows laced with Wolfsbane been prepared?” Roman asked Levi, ignoring me.

“Yes! Yes, Alpha.”

Roman turned into his wolf and proceeded to the border.

Levi was shaking. This enemy seemed formidable. “Are you okay, Levi?” I asked, trying to comfort him.

“It’s the Armored Alpha. He's the one attacking us. He's coming, he's coming with his army.”

Solenne was stunned. “The Armored Alpha? The one who has the curse of the sun, moon and stars?”