The Scarred Alpha’s Mate

THREE

CHAPTER THREE

WILDER.

“No one goes in her room except the healers. She is not to step out. I want men stationed by her windows and doors every single minute. She’s smart and will try to run. Do not give her the chance to do so.” I calmly ordered the group of guards.

“Yes, Alpha.” They chorus, and I walk away.

My office is a few rooms from her makeshift prison. I am not surprised to see my second-in-command, Archer, the Chief healer, Madame Nyra, and members of the council in my office. They’re impatient and need answers.

“This is unnatural, Wilder.” Madame Nyra says as I walk in. “In over seventy years of nursing and medicine, I have never seen anyone able to heal within hours. The wound was very … how did she survive it?”

I clench my jaw tight, remembering how bloody I found her. The rogue's claw grazed her heart. There was a f*****g gash on her chest. Her rib was broken. She was two steps closer to dying, and now, she’s in the room, able to stand, able to speak, able to f*****g argue. Yeah, very f*****g unnatural.

“How did she kill a rogue?” Archer whispers, as if he fears she’s the devil. “I saw the body. A defenceless woman can’t do that.”

“Even an armed soldier couldn’t have filleted a rogue. His body exploded from within. Who is this woman, Wilder?” Beta Alexander asks me.

Everyone is shaken. I have brought an enigma into our home.

“She’s my mate,” I answer, because it’s the only answer I have right now.

I clench my jaw as pain radiates over my left side. They stop talking immediately, watching me as I slowly unravel. The rot on my face and neck is alive, morphing, living and burning me from within. I keep my agony locked within me. This is my curse, and I bear it with pride. I know what they’re thinking. We’re all thinking it. I am cursed, and now, I’m supposed to believe this woman is a blessing? A woman with strange powers.

“What have you found on her? We have no time to waste. Soon, the news will spread, and I will not let my Pack be scared. We must get ahead of the narrative.” I declare, arms folded.

“She’s Elara Silverclaw, the adopted daughter of Vivienne and Thomas Silverclaw. Apparently, she was abandoned, and possibly orphaned, so they raised her as their own, alongside their only child, Seraphina.” Archer explains calmly. “Elara doesn’t know that she is adopted, but everyone knows. Everyone also knows that Seraphina and Alaric, Elara’s first mate, have been sleeping together. The entire Pack had reportedly rejected Elara as their future Luna because … well, because she’s fat, which I do not understand.”

I don’t understand that either.

Heat burns through my guts as I remember her, how she plastered her body to the wall, her breast rising and falling. Her full breast. f**k. I’ve never seen someone as surplus as she is. She has wide hips, perfect for childbearing. Her belly will carry my children, and her boobs shall be mine. All parts of her. My breeches tighten in response, and I ignore my arousal. I will not take her by force. She’ll come to me. If she can stand my rot.

“She was publicly rejected last night and cast out,” Archer concludes.

“Do you think they tried to kill her?” Madame Nyra asks.

“Why, though? It is all so confusing.” Beta Alexander massages his forehead in confusion.

“Prepare the carriages, and send forth the messenger. We’re going to the Raventhorn Pack. She belongs to them, and this is the chance we need to finally put this nonsense war to bed. I will not lose any of my good men.” I decide calmly.

“Are you sure about this, Wilder?” Archer frowns at me. “She belongs to you, too. The Moon Goddess has spoken.”

“Let’s give Alpha Alaric a chance to speak.” I shrug, ruminating on her. My mate.

__

An hour later, after ensuring her safety, we move. Madame and half the council stay behind. Archer stays close to me. He’s also my Enforcer and General. He oversees our army, and we’re moving with just a small number today.

As expected, we’re delayed at the Raventhorn border. It’s bloody disrespectful, but I keep my anger in check. Those bastards will not get a rile out of me. I look around when we are eventually allowed in. Their Pack isn’t what it used to be. The war has taken a toll on us. Alaric’s father and I agreed, but ever since his death, his stupid son has been moving funny, attacking my men in the name of vengeance. I refused to be baited, and now, we can finally let the dogs lie.

Alpha Alaric is seated at the centre, with a woman beside him. She’s dressed very … strangely for a Luna. She must be Seraphina.

“To what do we owe this displeasure?” Alaric cuts through the preamble.

I look at him, then around. His mother is beside him. His soldiers hold their guns firmly. It’s amusing if they think they can overpower us. I’ve singlehandedly burned down territories and kingdoms. I’d vanquish them in seconds.

“One of your residents strayed out of your borders last night, got attacked by wolves and was saved by Alpha Wilder. She’s being tended to by our healers and will recuperate in a week. We are here to negotiate her freedom, her return for the end of this senseless war. We’ll hand back Elara Silverclaw to you, as a gesture of goodwill, and we can finally put this war to rest.” Beta Alexander declares calmly.

The woman, Seraphina, looks shocked for a second, but I notice.

Alaric scoffs and shakes his head, “Elara is dead to us. I rejected her as my mate, and do not care what you do to her.”

“Perhaps you should breed her and fill her up with your deviant seeds.” Seraphina chuckles, and they all laugh.

I do not see the joke in it.

“To be clear, you do not want her back?” Archer frowns, confused.

“Kill her. Sell her. Ruin her. None of this is our business. We have a new Luna now. Seraphina and Alaric will lead us into a new dawn. Now, get out of here, Alpha, before we lose our patience.” Luna Raventhorn spits, and I smile.

They just made the greatest mistake of their life.

Elara belongs to me now, and forever.