THE FORBIDDEN BOND

Chapter 1

Nathan’s Pov

I walked towards the room where the meeting was being held. Making my way through the dimly lit hallways, I let my thoughts wander back to that painful incident that happened exactly today 10 years ago when a group of humans killed my parents called hunters.

I could remember my 12-year-old self, holding the hands of my dead parents and being surrounded by what was left of my pack and making a solemn promise to seek revenge and put an end to the hunters responsible for the loss of my parents, their beloved Alpha and Luna and other pack members. But 10 years later, they still roam around free. I couldn’t help but wonder if I was a failure.

Approaching the door to the meeting room, I took a moment to school my features, plastering a bored-like expression, I walked into the room, and immediately the noise quietened.

“Alpha.” they all greeted standing but I ignored them.

“Are you okay?” Alexander, my best friend and Beta, asked through the mind link,

“I’m fine,” I replied, my tone leaving no room for further questions.

From the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me unconvincingly.

On a typical day, he would have disturbed me for an answer but knowing what day it was and the kind of effect it usually had on me, he shook his head and remained silent.

I took my seat and waited for everyone else to sit before beginning.

“What’s our progress on the hunters' location?” I asked, my gaze darting across the room and finally settling on my gama.

“The last lead we were following went cold. But we are chasing another, and three trackers have been sent to Scout the Northern border, but we are yet to hear from them,” Fidel, my gamma, replied.

“How is it that each time we manage to get a lead on them, they suddenly disappear without a trace?” I growled in frustration. My wolf growled beneath the surface.

“The only people who knew about the search are those of us inside this room, no one else,” Alexander said. “Or do we have a traitor amongst us?” he said, gazing at the three Elders present.

Alexander has always harbored a hatred for the elders since they were against him being my beta, so I wasn’t surprised when he looked at them accusingly.

“Are you accusing us, the elders?” Elder Sabastian said, gesturing to the two other elders sitting beside him.

“You made that assumption yourself,” Alexander said, resting his hands behind his head nonchalantly.

“How dare you?" Elder Sabastian replied, slamming his hands on the table angrily as he got up. His wolf is already on the surface.

“Watch your tone, Sabastian,” Alexander replied. “You might be an elder, but I’m your beta and outrank you; as such, I demand your respect.”.

I remained seated, a lazy expression on my face as I watched the two of them argue among themselves like kids. I was used to the two of them constantly being on each other's throats over every little thing. I might not like the elder, but he has been around for a long time, since my father, and was one of the people who helped raise me after my parents' deaths; as such, I respected him.

“You might be the beta of this pack, but you are still a pub, boy.”. Sabastian retorted.

Calling a high-ranking Wolf a pub was considered disrespectful. Alexander growled in anger, ready to shift and attack the elder.

I let out a loud growl, which had all of them stopping and bowing their heads in submission.

“Enough, both of you,” I said. “Alexander, control your wolf, and you elder Sabastian, show some respect. You are an elder in this pack, and you rank below him, and as such, you should treat him with respect just as you do me. “Is that understood?” I said, staring at him.

“It’s funny how you think you still have the respect of me or the pack,” Elder Sabastian said, chuckling.

I was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a response, but I quickly composed myself. “Is that so?” I asked calmly, staring at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes!” he answered, looking straight at me.

I was angry; my wolf was boiling under the surface, ready to come out. “Please enlighten me,” I said.

“It’s been 10 years since your parents died, and you made that vow in front of the whole pack, and yet you haven’t made good on your promise.”. He replied.

“Don’t you think I know that?” I said, my gaze still fixed on him.

“I know you do," he said. “But the pack is beginning to think those are merely empty promises. They are beginning to see you as weak and think you are not capable of leading them.”

I growled in anger as my wolf suddenly took over; I’m sure my eyes were glowing like liquid gold.

"You've crossed a line, Sabastian," I said, my tone calm.

Standing up from my seat, I approached him slowly but purposefully, like a wolf after its prey.

He began to tremble, realizing he had gone too far.

The room became silent as others watched in awe and fear, knowing the extent of their Alpha's power.

Reaching him, I placed my hand on the back of his chair and leaned in close. I could smell the fear rolling off him in waves. "Pathetic, I thought.”.

"What do you think of me, Elder?" I whispered in his ear. my voice firm and demanding, daring him to lie.

"A-a-Alpha," he stammered nervously; I’m sure he could feel my breath on his neck. One wrong word and he's gone. "Y-y-you're a s-s-strong leader, and I-I r-r-respect you." He said.

“If you think so, why did you disrespect me earlier?” I asked. “You thought I was weak,” I said, dragging a claw down the side of his neck, leaving blood in its trail.

“I’m sorry, Alpha; I-I-id didn't mean to call you weak," he replied. Shaking uncontrollably.

"Ace," Alexander called.

“It’s Alpha to you, best friend or not.”. My wolf growled out, his eyes still trained on the elder.

“Please, you need to give control back to Nathan,” Alexander said.

Just as Ace was about to reply, two warriors brought in one of the trackers sent to scout the area for the hunters.

“Alpha, we found him bleeding at the edge of the territory while on patrol; we wanted to take him to the pack doctor, but he said he has something to tell you urgently,” one of the warriors replied nervously, his eyes trained on the ground.

I turned to the scout, my wolf still very much present. “What do you want to tell me?” I asked.

“We have their location,” he replied breathlessly. “But we need to move in quickly before they change locations.”

A wicked grin twisted across my face, my thoughts consumed by a single, merciless desire for "revenge.”.