Mated to Alpha Bastain

Chapter 5: Tethered Bonds

Margareth POV

Xavier’s collapse haunted me his gasping form, Selena’s frantic cries, my brother’s cold ultimatum: “Surrender the pack, or Xavier dies.”

The gala had dissolved into chaos, guests fleeing as Bastian’s hand steadied me. “We’ll save him,” he’d whispered, his amber eyes fierce.

But save Xavier for what? A pack under siege, a marriage in ruins, and a fated mate—Bastian—whose touch set Emma howling? My brother’s council-backed threat loomed, with Ashley’s betrayal and Selena’s ambition tightening the noose.

Yet Bastian’s vow, “You decide our next move,” echoed, a lifeline in the storm.

The next morning, Xavier sat in his study, pale but alive, the poison’s grip broken by the pack healer. His laptop pinged with Bastian’s email—the bet agreement. His eyes scanned the document, jaw tight. He’d agreed to the terms last night, but now, doubt flickered. If Selena was pregnant by next month, he’d reject me; if not, he’d ditch her and return to me. A cruel game, and I was the prize. He grabbed his phone, dialing Bastian.

“Who’s this?” Bastian’s deep voice answered, calm but edged.

“Xavier. We need to tweak your rules.” Xavier’s tone was sharp, controlled.

“Go on,” Bastian said, unfazed.

“Rule three—barring me from touching Selena. It’s off the table.”

“Fine. Drop it. What else?” Bastian’s voice held a smirk.

“Rule five. Margareth’s my wife. Forcing us to live separately in the castle? Absurd.”

Bastian exhaled, and I pictured his eyes narrowing. Emma stirred, He’s fighting for you, Margie. Xavier’s demands grated, but Bastian’s composure held. “You can see her,” Bastian said, “but not sharing her room. Hers or yours. Clear?”

Xavier’s knuckles whitened around the phone. “You’re pushing it. Want a war with my pack?”

Bastian chuckled, low and dangerous. “If you’re itching for a fight, my Red Iris Pack’s ready. But you won’t win, Xavier.”

Xavier slammed the phone down, swearing. He pulled up a search on the Red Iris Pack, his face darkening. “Damn it. Top-tier, rivaling Apollo. Bastian’s no bluff.” He summoned Beta Blake, desperation creeping in.

Blake entered, cautious. “You asked for me, Alpha?”

“Know Bastian well?” Xavier leaned forward, eyes probing.

“Not closely,” Blake admitted. “He’s the country’s Highest Alpha. Too lofty for casual ties. Why?”

Xavier gestured at the screen. “If he declares war, we’re done. His pack’s a powerhouse.”

Blake frowned, weighing the scandal. “Play his game, Alpha. Your affairs is ranking your reputation online. One wrong move, and you lose the pack—or worse.”

Xavier’s gaze hardened, thoughts churning. War was suicide, and dethronement loomed if the council sided with Selena and my brother. He scrawled his signature on the agreement, the pen shaking. “Margareth won’t set foot in his pack,” he muttered. “I’ll make sure of it.”

—

Miles away, in the modern, glass-encased office of Red Iris Enterprises, Bastian swirled his coffee, the scent of dark roast wafting through the atmosphere. His phone pinged, interrupting the buzz of his reflections.

The signed agreement glowed on his screen, its digital signature a hard-won victory. A triumphant smile spread across his face, sharp and predatory. Got you, Xavier. His investigation into Xavier’s inner circle Selena’s ruthless ambition, Ashley’s serpentine duplicity had shaped this high-stakes bet. It wasn't merely about rescuing Margareth from Xavier's ornate prison; it was about showing the so-called Lordly Alpha the painful price of treachery.

Deep inside Bastian, his wolf, Clements, awakened, a soft growl echoing in his chest. She’s our destined mate. Seize her. The instinctual drive gnawed at his self-control, yet Bastian suppressed it, his grin becoming as sharp as a knife.

Stay patient, Clements. “You can’t escape me, Xavier,” he considered, his thoughts plotting the subsequent action in this complex game of influence and allegiance.

He dialed Xavier, his voice smooth as polished obsidian. “Lordly Alpha, what now?”

Xavier’s response was pure ice, each word clipped. “I signed. Happy?”

“Thrilled,” Bastian teased, leaning back in his leather chair, the city skyline sprawling beyond his window. “Let me speak to Margareth.”

Xavier’s tone tightened, a steel trap snapping shut. “She’s my wife. No.”

Bastian’s smirk widened, relishing the c***k in Xavier’s composure. “Then I’ll take Selena. Rule four, remember?”

“Don’t drag her into this!” Xavier stammered, his possessive panic bubbling to the surface like venom.

“You cheated first,” Bastian shot back, his voice low and cutting. “Margareth deserves better than your lies.”

Xavier relented, his grudging tone heavy with resentment. “Fine. One hour. That’s it.”

---

In Xavier’s opulent study, I stepped into a storm of tension. His gaze seared into me, intense and blaming, as he pushed the phone ahead. “Bastian,” he spat, the name a toxic curse in his mouth.

I picked up the phone, my curiosity ignited in spite of Xavier’s intense anger. “Hey, Bastian. What’s up?”

“Afternoon, Margie,” Bastian said, his voice warm, like sunlight breaking through a winter fog. “Sorry for the sudden call. Just wanted to check on you.”

I looked at Xavier, his jaw tight, teeth pressed together so forcefully I worried they might break. “No worries. I’m free now. And… sorry for Xavier’s attitude.”

“Forget it,” Bastian said, his tone light but laced with steel. “You free to meet?”

My heart raced, a thrill of danger flowing through my veins. My wolf, Emma, softly purred, Destined partner. Xavier’s fury was a palpable energy, pushing against my skin, but I was finished hiding under his dominion. I nodded, even though he was unable to observe it. "Of course." Where at?

"My home," Bastian declared, his confidence unwavering. "I'll come to get you." "Don't worry, okay?"

“Sounds good. I’ll get ready.” I hung up, meeting Xavier’s blazing eyes. His fury could’ve scorched the earth, but I refused to bend. I was done being his pawn, his trophy, his prisoner.

As I was about to exit, a shadow darted past the tall window of the study. I gasped for air. My brother’s visage stern, marked, and carved with serious intent was visible through the glass. He grasped a council parchment, its wax seal shining menacingly. His lips shifted, voiceless yet clear: You’re next. My heart raced, a scream rising in my throat, but just before I could cry out, a hand grasped my mouth, strong and relentless. I was pulled into the dark corridor, the study door crashing closed behind me.

Ashley’s voice murmured in my ear, slicing like a blade."Please don't yell, Margie." Selena has the council under her control and Xavier's blood on her hands. "Say just one word, and you will both be dead." Her hold became firmer, her breath warm on my neck. Anxiety twisted in my stomach, yet Emma snarled, pushing me to battle. Whatever game Selena and Ashley were playing, I wasn’t just a piece to be moved. Not anymore.