His Pain & His Passion

Chapter Three

Rafael’s POV

Rolling out of bed I walked straight to the mirror and looked at my reflection. I could see Claire’s silhouette on the bed behind me. Her body would make any man commit and she knew it too, she had set her sights on me pretty quickly, She wanted to be Luna and in another life I would have agreed to it after all I was 27 with no mate in sight but I had seen my Parents and how the bond made them move as one and I had watched my siblings meet their fated mates and fall under that spell. I wanted that for myself. Claire was stirring and looking for me on the bed. I looked back and said “I’m going to hop into the shower, my beta would soon be here let’s not give anyone the wrong impression. Let yourself out”

She pouted but walked out after putting on clothes without saying a word. I knew I would pay for that soon but this morning all I wanted was to spend a little time organizing my thoughts. Claire and I had come to an arrangement after I became Alpha three years ago, we would keep each other company attend functions together, but we were never meant to be serious. It was something to do while we both waited for our fated mates. However lately she had begun pushing me to mark her as my chosen mate and make her my Luna, I didn’t like it, but my wolf Raze really hated the idea. A couple of weeks ago My Beta Marcus had told me she was instructing the omegas to refer to her as Luna, he pleaded with me to break it off with her immediately.

My 6-foot 4 frame looked back at me and I ran my hands through my dark hair to try and straighten out my bed head. I hadn’t had a hair cut in a while and I knew I needed to before we went for the ball.

“Alpha”my Beta mind linked “there are some rogues at the border they claim to know where some of Shane’s men are hiding. They want to trade that information for a place in the pack”

Immediately I heard Shane’s name a growl escaped from me. I really wanted to get my hand on Shane after the incident with my youngest sister three years ago. Shane and his men had kidnapped her and that had set off the chain of events that led to my father stepping down and handing over to me.

We found her 3 weeks later badly mutilated and drained of all her blood, just thinking about finding her body made my skin boil. Lea so young so sweet not even 18 yet. She had barely lived before that bloodsucker and his men had sunk their fangs into her. Years later and I still wanted to smash something whenever I remembered it. My parents had left; gone travelling around the world on some never-ending cruise. I knew it was just an excuse to run away from here the town where she had lived those first seventeen years. Everywhere I looked I could see her laughing about something or hear her asking question after question till she was satisfied, if I missed her this much, I couldn’t imagine how my parents felt. Shane had gone underground after the incident but, we heard whispers all the time about some other girl turning up exsanguinated and badly mutilated. I knew he was the reason so many parents were mourning the loss of a child because that’s what they all had in common they were all 17.

“I’m coming down”I mind linked my Beta. “get them into an interrogation room”

Shane and I had been close friends long ago, I had initially thought our friendship would bridge the gap between our species but unfortunately two things had happened in quick succession that ensured his death the next time I saw him. .

It was almost 5 years to the date that she had come to visit my Pack with her parents.

5 years Ago

The alpha couldn't come so he had sent his beta. Beta George had come with his wife and 2 children. I remember looking out the window and seeing her hair. That Vibrant shade of red that was supposed to be too much but once you paired it with her pale skin packed just the right punch. A lightening bolt went through me as I imagined her naked with that hair all around her. My pants were suddenly too tight as I wondered if the carpet matched the drapes.

Raze was prancing about in my mind and for a moment I though finally this is it!!! She's my mate! From my spot at the window I didn't dare move because I didn't want to miss that moment I had heard so much about.

my father had said it was like coming home after almost 18years away, my brother said it was like finding something you had been looking for all your life.

My Brother said it was like everything suddenly snapping into focus after living a life with blurry pictures. Yes I come from a family of romantics. I wanted to experience it I was 22 goddamit and an Alpha I wanted to meet my Luna and start living life with her. For that reason I didn't move from my window perch, I kept willing her to look up at me so I could see her face. Her brother said something to her and she threw her head back and laughed as they walked into our home. I got a good look at her and she was beautiful. She looked like everything I wanted, her laugh warmed my insides and made me think of hot chocolate on a cold night but I didn't feel that spark, nothing clicked. I huffed with the disappointment, this was the closest I and Raze had come to being excited about someone, this was such a letdown.

Stealing one more glance at her I thought to myself 'my goddess she is exquisite', shaking my head I walked off. I wanted to take a quick shower before I headed off downstairs to greet our guests and sit in for the meetings. My Father had been including me more and more in meetings since I turned 21, I needed to learn how to always make the best decision. Other packs started their Alpha in training much earlier but my father had maintained 21 was early enough, he wanted me to have my childhood. I would always appreciate him for that, I had lived my life in relative peace and quiet, made all the mistakes that comes with teenage years and now I felt I was ready to be saddled with the responsibilities of running one of the largest packs in the United States.

I walked out of the bathroom and saw Shane seating on my bed.

"Shane when did you get in?" I asked

"about 10mins ago but I just came into your room. I was distracted by that work of art downstairs. She's so beautiful it has to be illegal!" Shane replied

"Stay away from HER" I said so forcefully even I was surprised Raze was just beneath the surface making threatening growls and I felt so protective towards this girl I hadn't met who was definitely not my mate. I didn’t have time to examine my feelings towards the beauty downstairs. I just knew I was definitely attracted to her and Raze was feeling a little territorial about her