Her defiance His curse

Chapter 3: Mate

Elara's pov

I ran in my wolf form, the wind bit through sapphire coat as her paw met with the coldness of the ground with a heavy thud. Every sense in my body screamed danger and every muscle in my body ached, I seriously don't know how long I've been running but I can't seem to get my paws to stop. It was getting dark but the thought of them being on my tail made me keep running.

I found a small lake, decided I'll rest here for the night. As I leaned over to drink some water I heard a twig snap, I immediately shot my head up while crunching down snarling barring my canines ready to attack whoever it was. I felt sapphire restlessness.

"Riara, I think I just trespassed into someone's territory" she says.

"s**t sapphire you did" I replied in panic

"Sorry Riara, I wasn't paying attention" She sighed

"There's something making me jumpy and on edge" she added.

A low growl rumbled from behind the trees

Not sapphire

Not my imagination which I silently prayed it was.

A man with a blonde hair stepped out from the shadows, his eyes locked onto mine, cold, calculating and dominant. I'm guessing his a beta from the power emitting from him but he's not as strong as an alpha, I can totally take him if I wasn't sore and weak from all the running.

"What are you doing on our land rogue?" The beta spat the word rogue in disgust. I just shake my head and flashed a wolfy smirk trying my best to hide my fear the best way I can.

"I don't like repeating myself rogue" he says stepping closer as his shadow stretched over me.

"Shift!" He commanded with a snarl and sapphire growled barring her canines not liking the disrespect thrown at us, but inside me I felt her recoiled. I felt her weakness, the last fight had nearly torn us apart, she hadn't fully recovered yet. I could feel the dull ache in her limbs but she stood her grounds growling eager to prove dominance.

"Shift" he repeated louder this time like his daring me to defy his orders making sapphire growl preparing for a fight.

" Not tonight" I whispered

"You're not strong enough" I told her firmly.

She struggled against me, it's instinct , his challenging us. She paces restlessly.

"Shift now" The word slams into us with pack dominance behind it but sapphire didn't back down, she barred her teeth.

"We have to" I said to her, I can't believe I'm doing this but I've to keep sapphire safe she's all I have now.

I felt my bones cracking as I shifted, I stood in my

naked glory in front of a man I just met trying my possible best to cover my body with my hands. I pressed my hands tighter against my body, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. Sapphire was still restless inside me, pacing and irritated. There was silence between us for a moment, with him looking anywhere but at me

I glanced at him one more time to see him pull his shirt over his head.

“Here.” He said with a frown

I was surprised, like you mean this dominant beta literally gave me his shirt. I guess he isn’t as bad as I thought. I quickly put the shirt on my body, nobody likes being naked in front of someone they just met.

“Now that you’re all dressed up I ask again, what are you doing on our land rogue”. He snarled in disgust. Remember when I said he wasn’t that bad, I take it back.

I sighed “Look here I didn’t know this land was marked, I was just passing through I don’t mean you or your pack any harm”.

“If you could just let me go, I will be out of your hair and your pack” I added feeling frustrated

“I’m sorry but I can’t do that rouge”. He said amused

At least I knew him letting me go sounds like a joke to him, I didn’t know I had a talent in comedy. I looked over to him, his eyes were fixed somewhere and I noticed he had completely zoned out.

Let me guess … his mind linking his alpha

Of course

“How nice of him to request for extra authority” I thought sarcastically.

Because clearly him refusing me himself wasn’t dramatic enough, he needed someone to back him up. I folded my hands as I watch him stand there while having a full conversation. It’s honestly impressive how wolves could just mentally have a full blown conversation with someone mentally while in the middle of a argument.

I shifted my weight, tapping my foot against the ground while waiting for his highness to finish with his mind link, knowing that if I tried to run I would be caught within seconds as my body is already so weak. His eyes flickered slightly and I knew his coming back.

“Great!!” I murmured rolling my eyes

I tilted my head, raising an eyebrow as If I had all the patience in the world, like literally this have been one hell of a day.

“Done consulting a trusted adult in your head”. I said with a smirk, though my curiosity was burning. I mean any minute from now my head could be snapped. If he really did contact his alpha, then things are about to go bad on my side, interesting right?.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

“The alpha sends his regards”. He said flatly.

I snorted “ how thoughtful of him”.

His gaze sharpened as he studies me for a moment “ you’re awfully confident for someone trespassing”. He said.

I shrugged lightly “well technically I wandered”. His brows lifted slowly amused.

“You’re a rogue who crossed into our territory”. He said slowly “ by pack law, I should have killed you by now.”

I leaned slightly closer lowering my voice “but you didn’t, which means you can actually let me go.”

Silence stretched between us, his eyes narrowed.

“You’re either incredibly brave”. He murmured, “or incredibly reckless”.

I’m an alpha’s daughter, he doesn’t expect me to submit fully to him.

I smiled faintly ” Maybe both”

His expression shifted into something dangerously calm.

“The alpha’s on his way”

Of course he is.

I stared at him for a second before letting out a quiet groan. “Wow” i muttered “one accidental trespass and I’m treated like a criminal.”

The beta’s lips curved slightly “you are a rogue sweetie, you technically a criminal.” I rolled my eyes.

I heard rustling through the trees snapping my attention away from the beta. Then the smell hits me. The smell of dark cedar and pine.. deep and earthy like the heart of the forest after rain. Beneath it lingered something cold, powerful and untamed. It wasn’t just strong

It was commanding.

Sapphire reacted before my brain could process what was happening, suddenly wide awake pacing like she had caught sight of something she’d been searching for.

Then he stepped into the clearing, his dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, messy in a way that looked unintentional but somehow perfect. His jaw was sharp and defined, he was massive not just tall. He easily towered over the Beta, his broad in a way that made it clear he was built for power. His shoulders stretched wide beneath his dark shirt, the fabric pulling slightly across solid muscle as he moved. Every step he took carried an effortless authority, like the forest itself made space for him. His presence alone was suffocating making my chest tighten. He looked over to me, his eyes meeting mine but something about his eyes made my wolf lose control.

“Sapphire what’s happening?.”

“Do you feel that?.” I asked

“MATE”. She’s growled.

Uhm what the f**k.