The Prime's Forbidden Mate

Chapter 3

Ava's POV

"You brought an army to my territory?" Michael Blackstone's voice was deadly quiet.

Michael Winters shrugged. "Insurance. Ava's father is worried about her. He sent warriors to ensure her safe return."

My father. Who hadn't spoken to me in weeks. Who looked at me with disappointment every single day. Now he was worried?

"This is ridiculous," I said. "I'm nineteen. I can make my own choices."

"Not when you're unmated and still part of our pack," Luna said. "Pack law says—"

"Pack law says an omega can seek sanctuary with another Alpha if she feels unsafe in her current pack," Michael Blackstone interrupted. "Are you seeking sanctuary, Ava?"

All eyes turned to me. If I said yes, it would be a declaration that my own pack had failed to protect me. It would be a scandal. But if I said no...

"She doesn't need sanctuary," Michael Winters said before I could answer. "She's just confused. Overwhelmed. Ava, come here."

The command in his voice hit me like a physical force. The old bond, even rejected, still had some power. My feet moved without my permission, taking one step toward him.

"Stop." Michael Blackstone's command was stronger, and I froze mid-step. "You're using the forced bond on her. In front of witnesses."

"There's no forced bond," Michael Winters said, but I saw the flash of panic in his eyes. "We were true mates."

"Then you won't mind if we test that." Blackstone pulled out his phone. "I'm calling Elder Marcus. He can verify true bonds."

"That won't be necessary," Luna said quickly. Too quickly. "We're leaving. Ava, now."

"She's not going anywhere until the Elder arrives," Blackstone said.

"You can't keep her here against her will!"

"I'm not." He looked at me. "Ava, would you like to leave?"

I looked at Michael Winters, the man I'd loved for two years. The man I'd thought was my everything. Then I looked at Luna, my sister who had treated me like dirt my entire life. Finally, I looked at Michael Blackstone, this dangerous stranger who was offering me protection.

"I want to stay until the Elder arrives," I said quietly. "I want to know the truth."

Michael Winters's face darkened. "Ava, you're making a mistake."

"The only mistake she made was believing you were her mate," Blackstone said. "How long have you been using dark magic, Winters? Did you force the bond when she turned eighteen? Or did you plan it even earlier?"

"You're insane."

"Am I? Then explain why her wolf is responding to me." Blackstone took a step closer to me, and my whole body leaned toward him instinctively. "Explain why she can feel the real mate bond now."

"There's no bond between you two!" Luna shrieked. "Stop trying to steal her!"

"Steal her?" Blackstone laughed, but there was no humor in it. "She was never yours to keep."

The elevator dinged, and an elderly man walked out, leaning on a carved wooden staff. Elder Marcus. I'd only seen him once before, at a pack gathering years ago. He was ancient, maybe the oldest wolf alive, and his power filled the room like a physical presence.

"Well," he said, his voice creaky but strong. "This is interesting."

"Elder," both Michaels said at the same time, bowing slightly.

Elder Marcus ignored them, walking straight to me. His cloudy eyes studied my face. "Child, may I?"

I didn't know what he was asking, but I nodded. He placed one gnarled hand on my forehead, and suddenly I was falling, falling, falling into darkness.

Images flashed through my mind. Michael Winters approaching me at my eighteenth birthday party, his mother's necklace hidden in his pocket, glowing with dark magic. Him touching me for the first time, the forced bond snapping into place like a chain around my neck. Years of feeling wrong, incomplete, my wolf getting weaker and weaker as the false bond drained me.

Then another image. Michael Blackstone, standing in a forest somewhere, his wolf howling in pain. Looking for something. Looking for... me?

I gasped, coming back to myself. Elder Marcus steadied me with surprising strength.

"A forced bond," he announced. "Created through dark magic on the girl's eighteenth birthday. The boy carries his mother's talisman even now."

"That's a lie!" Michael Winters snarled, but his hand went instinctively to his pocket.

"Empty your pockets," Elder Marcus commanded.

"I don't have to—"

"Empty them, or I'll have you arrested for practicing dark magic."

Slowly, reluctantly, Michael Winters pulled out a small silver necklace. It was beautiful, delicate, with a black stone in the center. The moment it was visible, I felt sick. My wolf whimpered, trying to hide.

"Destroy it," Elder Marcus said.

"No!" Michael Winters clutched it tighter. "It was my mother's!"

"It's an abomination." The Elder's voice was firm. "Destroy it, or I will."

Michael Winters looked at Luna, who had gone pale. Then he looked at me, and for a moment, I saw something like regret in his eyes.

Then he threw the necklace on the ground and stomped on it.

The moment it shattered, I screamed. Pain like nothing I'd ever felt ripped through me as the false bond tore away. I was falling, but strong arms caught me. Not Michael Winters—he was on his knees, also gasping in pain. Michael Blackstone held me against his chest, his presence soothing the agony.

"Breathe," he murmured. "It's almost over."

When the pain finally stopped, I felt... different. Lighter. Like I'd been carrying weights I didn't know were there. And my wolf—my wolf was singing.

"The forced bond is broken," Elder Marcus announced. "The girl is free."

"This isn't over," Michael Winters said, struggling to his feet. Luna helped him, shooting me a venomous look.

"Yes, it is," Elder Marcus said. "You practiced dark magic. You forced a bond with an innocent girl. By rights, I should have you executed."

"Elder, please," Luna begged. "He didn't know what he was doing. His mother—"

"His mother is dead because she practiced the same dark arts," the Elder said coldly. "The son will be banished. He has one hour to leave pack territory."

"What? No!" Michael Winters looked panicked now. "My father is Beta! I'm supposed to be Alpha!"

"Not anymore." Elder Marcus turned to me. "Child, do you wish to press charges? What he did to you is assault of the highest order."

I looked at Michael Winters, the man who had stolen two years of my life. Who had made me believe I was weak, worthless, rejected.

"I just want him gone," I said quietly.

"Then gone he shall be." Elder Marcus waved his hand. "Take him."

Michael Blackstone's men moved forward, grabbing Michael Winters by the arms.

"This is your fault!" Luna screamed at me as they dragged her fiancé away. "You ruined everything! Just like you killed Mom! You destroy everything you touch!"

Her words hit me like a slap, but before I could respond, Michael Blackstone was there, standing between us.

"Say one more word to her," he said quietly, "and you'll join your boyfriend in exile."

Luna's mouth snapped shut. She glared at me one more time, then ran after Michael Winters.

"Well," Elder Marcus said, looking between me and Michael Blackstone. "This is unexpected."

"What is?" I asked.

The Elder smiled, and for the first time, he looked almost kind. "You'll see, child. The Moon Goddess has plans for you." He looked at Blackstone. "Both of you."