The alpha's forbidden mate

The full moon hung heavy in the sky, it's silver light washing over the Black Winter territory as stars burned bright above the gathered pack. Tonight, Ralf was crowned Alpha. The ceremony had barely ended when the next ritual loomed - one he had dreaded for weeks. The mating ceremony. Tradition demanded it. Every Alpha before him had followed the same path : crowned at dusk, bonded by dawn. Whoever bears my bite before sunrise becomes my mate. Ralf clenched his jaw as he stood beside the ancient stone throne, the weight of his new title pressing down on his chest. He had ruled the pack for only minutes, yet already felt trapped by it's laws. "I don't want this" he muttered, turning towards his father. "My mate isn't among this pack. Can't we stall the ceremony? Just this once?" The former Alpha's expression hardened. "You will complete the ritual. Whether you like it or not." "I'm only twenty-four," Ralf snapped. "Do you plan to tie me down next?" A low hiss escaped his father's clenched teeth. "Defy tradition and I'll drag you through the woods myself." The ceremony spokesperson raised his voice, cutting through the tension. "Let us welcome our Alpha who will claim his destined mate. There can only be one. By dawn, the Alpha's mark will seal fate." Cheers erupted. Ralf rose to his feet, heart pounding as he stepped onto the forest path. Wolves howled in anticipation. Father's shouted their daughters' name. Mothers whispered hopeful prayers. Others murmured among themselves, praising his looks, already imagining their bloodline crowned. "I hope he chooses my daughter", one women breathed as he passed. Ralf barely heard them. No one decided my fate - not even my father. As he reached the tree line, a sudden sound cut through the celebration. "Let go of me!" Ralf froze. The voice was soft. Desperate. Wrong. Humans knew better than to wonder these woods at night - especially under a full moon. His instinct flared. Without hesitation, Ralf tore the ceremonial sash from his chest and plunged into the forest. The scent of lavender hit him first - sweet and sharp, tangled with blood. He shifted mid - stride, bones snapping as his wolf burst free. The forest rushed past as he followed the sound east, abandoning his mating ceremony without a second thought. When he arrived, two men hovered over a motionless figure, laughing like scavengers over fresh meat. Ralf stayed hidden, inhaling deeply. Human, he realized. Both of them. But the one on the ground - Not human. He shifted back, stepping back from the shadows. "What do we have here?" his voice rumbled. The men spin around, eyes widening at the sight of his naked form. "Get lost!" the taller one snapped. "This doesn't concern you." Ralf laughed - a low, dangerous sound. "You dare speak to the Alpha that way?" "Alpha?" the shorter one mocked. "Yeah right." "I should thank you," Ralf said calmly. "You've saved me the trouble of attending my mating ritual." They laughed. They shouldn't have. Ralf shifted again, letting his true form rise. Fear exploded off them as they bolted - but he was faster. He pinned them to the earth with ease, claws digging deep. Just as he prepared to tear them apart, a weak voice cried out - "Stop... Please." Ralf stilled. He turned. The injured male lay curled in the dirt, long brown hair tangled with blood and leaves, skin unnaturally pale. Blue eyes met Ralf's - fearless despite everything. Something twisted violently in Ralf's chest. Those eyes... Why do they feel familiar? "You'd spare them?" Ralf asked softly, kneeling beside him. The stranger nodded, refusing to meet his gaze. "I couldn't live with myself if you killed them because of me." Ralf dismissed the men with a growl, watching them flee before returning his attention to the wounded figure. That's when it happened. He coughed - and blood spilled from his lips. Ralf caught him just as his body went limp. Without thinking, instinct took over. He lowered his mouth to the stranger's neck- And bit. The mark burned into pale skin, glowing faintly against the moonlight. A single scream tore through the forest before silence fell. Ralf staggered back, horror crashing through him. What have I done? Cradling him against his chest, Ralf ran - toward the palace, toward fate, toward a bond that could never be undone. Everyone attending the ceremony soon gathered at the gate eager to witness their Alpha claim his mate. The moment Ralf appeared the murmurs died. Confusion swept through the crowd. He carried no bride. Only an unconscious stranger cradled against his chest. Ralf ignored them all. Their stares, their questions, their judgment- non of it mattered. The only thing that did was the weight in his arms and the violent pull in his chest urging him to move faster. He burst through the estate doors. "Get a doctor to my bedroom. Now!" The staff scattered. Ralf took the stairs two at a time, his hold tightening instinctly as if the slightest looseness might steal the injured male from him. The doctor arrived just as he reached his room. "Master you're bleeding-" "Him. First." He layed the young man carefully on the bed, his touch lingering a moment too long before he ripped his own shirt open, barely acknowledging the stab wound in his side. "But Alpha-" "That's an order." The doctor obeyed. Ralf remained seated nearby, eyes never leaving the pale face before him. Every swallow breath the stranger took eased the crushing pain in Ralf's chest , piece by piece. Then the door opened. His father entered, taking in the scene in one sharp glence. "What is this?" He demanded. "I found him in the woods." Ralf replied his voice low. "He was attacked. I brought him here" "And you thought that was acceptable?" His father stepped closer. "A human in our estate?" Ralf's jaw clenched. "I don' t even know if he's human." "What I do know," his father snapped "is that you marked him." The blow came without warning. Ralf barely moved as his father's hand struck his face. The sting registered, but it meant nothing compared to the furious surge flooding his veins. "Get rid of it," his father ordered coldly. Ralf was on his feet in an instant. "Touch him," he growled, "and I'll kill you." Silence crashed over the room. The doctor hesitated before speaking. "The imprint has already taken hold. There's no undoing unless the bond breaks... Or he dies." "He did what!" His father roared. Ralf looked at the motionless figure on the bed, understanding sewing heavily in his chest. Mine. His mother's words echoed in his mind- about imprinting, devotion that ignored logic and demanded obedience. Protect. Claim. Defend. His father laughed harsly. "An Alpha bonded to a human. Do you have any idea what the other packs will do?" "He'll be your weakness," his father continued. "Your downfall. I won't allow it- even if I have to kill him myself ." He moved towards the bed. Ralf shifted instantly. Fur and bone tore through skin as his wolf surged forward, placing himself between the bed and his father, teeth bared, a low, deadly snarl rumbling from his chest. His father stumbled back, shocked. "My son..." He whispered. The doctor seized the moment. "This is new to him. Give him time to think." After a long, furious stare, his father turned and stormed out. The door slammed. Ralf shifted back slowly, his gaze locked on the young man's face. He stepped closer to the bed, his fingers curling into the sheets beside him. "No one touches you," he murmured, voice rough with promise. "No one takes you from me." The stranger stirred- just slightly. And then his eyes began to open.