The Alpha’s Unchosen Mate

Chapter2

Talia’s POV

I followed him through the trees until the big manor came into view. Lights glowed in most of the windows. My ribs hurt with every step. Blood had dried on the side of my face. The torn dress kept slipping off my shoulder. The Alpha never slowed down or looked back.

The front doors opened when he got close. Two guards moved out of the way. Warm air and the smell of food hit me at once. My stomach twisted.

He walked up the stairs and down a long hall. At the end he opened a door.

“Guest room,” he said. “Stay.”

That was it. He turned and left. The door shut behind him.

I stood in the middle of the room and stared at the closed door.

“Well… thank you,” I whispered. “You’re welcome.”

My voice sounded weak. I almost scoffed at how silly I was for talking to an empty room, but the small movement hurt my side and made me take a sharp breath. I sat on the edge of the bed and held my ribs.

A soft knock came a minute later. A young maid with brown hair stepped in. She carried a basin of warm water, clean cloths, and a folded nightgown.

“I’m Nira, miss,” she said. “The Alpha told me to take care of you. May I?”

I nodded. Talking still hurt.

Nira cleaned the cut on my head. She wiped the dirt and blood from my face and arms. When she pressed a cloth to the dark bruise on my ribs I bit my lip hard. She kept saying she was sorry, like it was her fault.

“You have strong bones, miss,” she said when she finished wrapping a bandage around me. “Most people would not have walked this far.”

I gave a weak smile. “I didn’t have much choice.”

She helped me into the soft nightgown and brushed the tangles from my hair. I was just starting to feel a little safer when another maid walked in without knocking.

“The Alpha wants her at dinner,” the second maid said. “Now.”

Nira looked at me. “She is hurt—”

“The Alpha does not like waiting,” the other maid cut in. “It is not smart to make him angry. Get her dressed and bring her down.”

There was no arguing. Nira helped me into a plain dark-green dress. It hung loose on me. Every move still hurt my ribs but I stood up straight. I did not want to walk in looking as broken as I felt.

The second maid walked me down the stairs and into a long dining hall. Candles lit the room. The table was huge but only two places were set. Alpha Darian sat at the head. He was already eating. He looked up when I came in and pointed at the empty chair with his knife.

“Sit.”

I sat.

The food was already in front of me — meat, bread, gravy.

I stared at it but didn’t move.

Darian didn’t look up from his plate. “Eat.”

I kept my hands in my lap. My stomach twisted hard, but I didn’t want to eat in front of him. Not like this. Not while I was still hurting and everything felt wrong.

He finally glanced at me. “I said eat. You’re no use to anyone if you pass out from hunger.”

The words were cold, but the hunger won. I hadn’t eaten since morning. My hands moved before I could stop them. I tore into the bread first, then the meat. I barely paused to breathe. Juice ran down my fingers. I didn’t care anymore.

After a while I felt his eyes on me and slowed down. My face got hot.

Darian’s mouth tipped up a little. “You eat like the kitchen forgot to feed you for a week. Or like someone who thought they would die before morning and decided the last meal should count.”

I swallowed and wiped my mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

He said nothing. Just watched me.

I put the bread down. “Thank you. For earlier. In the forest. I would be dead right now if you hadn’t—”

Silence.

I cleared my throat. “I said thank you.”

He cut another piece of meat, chewed, and swallowed. Then he set his knife down.

“Why were they chasing you?”

The question was calm but it still hit hard.

I looked at the table. “My mother and some of the elders set up a marriage for me. Tonight. To an older wolf. I said no. I ran. I thought they were just going to drag me back.” My voice dropped. “They weren’t.”

“Did running help you any?” he asked. “You were on the ground with a knife over your throat.

So tell me—why run at all? You have no rank. No wolf. No future anyone cares about. What did think was waiting for you past those trees?”

The words landed right where they were meant to. My face got hot. The old shame came with it. I sat up straighter even though my ribs hurt.

“I have stayed long enough,” I said. My voice was tighter than I wanted. “I’m grateful you saved my life. Really. But I should go. I’ll find my own way.”

He leaned back and looked at me. “Where? Back into the same forest where men with knives are still looking for you? Or to the border cabins so your mother’s people can pick you up at sunrise?”

I had no answer.

“You are helpless right now,” he said. “Bleeding. Tired. Worthless in the eyes of this pack. So I am offering you a deal.”

My heart jumped. “What deal?”

“You will stand next to me as my intended mate. Not bonded. Not claimed. Just mine in front of the pack until the mating ceremony is over. In public you act the part. In return I find whoever ordered your death and deal with them. No one kills on Veyrath land without my say. That rule is older than both of us.”

I stared at him. “I don’t understand.”

He stood up. The chair scraped on the floor. He walked around the long table until he stopped right in front of me. Up close he was even taller. The candlelight showed the hard line of his jaw. He smelled like night air and something sharp.

One hand came up. Two fingers caught my chin and tipped my face up so I had to look at him.

“What is there to understand?” His voice was quiet and cold. “You have nothing. Nowhere to go. No one who will protect you. I am offering both. You play the part of my future mate in front of the pack. That is all. I do not need to explain myself to an Omega who almost died on my land.”

My heart slammed against my sore ribs. His fingers were warm. The touch was light but it felt heavier than the boot that kicked me earlier. I could feel every place my body still hurt.

I swallowed. The words came out steadier than I expected.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I have to decline your request.”