CHAPTER 2: THE COLD ALPHA
859 Words
CHAPTER 2: THE COLD ALPHA
The hum of the car engine was the only sound on the road to Moonveil Pack. I sat stiffly in the backseat, my parents on either side, the leather interior pressing coldly against my palms. Every passing mile deepened the knot in my stomach.
I stared out the tinted window as the city lights faded behind us, swallowed by the forest. The deeper we drove, the quieter the world became, until the only glow came from the moon above and the headlights cutting through the mist.
My reflection stared back at me in the glass—pale face, wide eyes behind my glasses, lips pressed too tight. I hardly looked like someone about to be married to one of the most feared Alphas in the country.
What if he rejects me? The thought looped endlessly in my head. What if he discovers I still haven’t shifted?
By the time the car rolled to a stop before the Crescent Moon Pack estate, my heart was hammering so loud I thought the driver must hear it.
The mansion loomed like a shadow against the night sky, its tall windows glowing faintly with golden light. It wasn’t just a house; it was a fortress, surrounded by high fences and watchful guards. The Crescent Moon Pack was wealthy and powerful, and they wore the power like an armor.
The gates slid open with a metallic groan, and the SUV glided inside. Warriors stood on either side of the drive, their sharp gazes following our car as if weighing our worth. My pulse skipped. Their presence pressed down on me, thick and suffocating, the aura of wolves bred for battle.
The I saw him.
Alpha Zayne.
He stood at the top of the estate steps, the massive doors behind him flanked by torches. His tall frame was straight as steel, his black tailored suit cut perfectly to his broad shoulders. Even from this distance, his presence was undeniable. Power rolled off him, commanding submission without a single word.
The driver opened the door. My legs trembled as I stepped out, the cold night air biting my skin. My father’s firm hand guided me forward.
“ Jenny” he whispered.
I bowed my head respectfully “Alpha Zayne.”
His eyes, dark and stormy, locked on mine. He studied me slowly, deliberately, and though his expression gave nothing away, I felt as if he saw straight through me. For a moment, I swore disappointment flickered in his gaze.
But then his face hardened into a mask.
“The alliance is accepted,” he said, his voice deep, commanding, and utterly emotionless. “The marriage will happen.”
Just like that.
No welcome.No kindness, No spark.
My chest tightened painfully.
Before I could form a reply, movement caught my eye. A woman stepped forward, her gown flowing elegantly, her hair streaked with silver that only made her beauty more striking. She carried herself with grace, yet her smile was warm, gentle, almost motherly.
“ I am Luna Selena,” she said, extending her hand toward me. “ Zayne’s mother. Welcome, child. May this place become home to you.”
Her voice was soothing, her touch soft, and for the first time that night, some of my fear eased. Her kindness wrapped around me like a fragile blanket, something I hadn’t felt in years.
“ Thank you, Luna Selena,” I whispered, fighting the sting of tears.
But the warmth shattered with Zayne’s next words.
“ Do not mistake this marriage for love.” His voice cut like glass, cold and merciless.
“ This is nothing but duty.”
The words struck harder than a slap. My throat closed but I forced myself to nod.
“I…understand.”
My mother shifted uncomfortably beside me, but no one dared contradict him. The Alpha’s word was law.
The rest of the evening was a blurr. We were ushered inside the estate, offered drinks we hardly touched, asked questions about the arrangement, the date, the ceremony. The pack elders nodded approvingly, but I could feel eyes on me—weighing, doubting, judging.
Zayne said little after that. He spoke to my father about security, to the elders about the alliance, but he never once looked at me again. I might as well have been invisible.
By the time the meeting ended, my legs ached from sitting so rigidly. I rose quietly, bowing my head to excuse myself. No one stopped me.
As I reached the doorway, a voice froze me.
His voice.
Alpha Zayne’s words were low, meant for no one’s ears but his own. Yet in the silence of the hall, they carried.
“ If she’s truly my mate…” His jaw tightened, fists clenched at his sides. “…then the curse will kill her.”
My breath caught.
I stumbled forward, my hands shaking. I didn’t dare turn back, didn’t dare let him see I had heard. My heart thundered in my chest, every beat screaming danger.
A curse.
What curse?
And what did it have to do with me?
Was I bound to a man who’s love could very well destroy me?
- Writer
