hated by the alpha forced,to be his mate

The rain lashed against the glass façade of Blackthorn Tower like claws dragging across a cage. The skyscraper cut into the midnight sky with merciless edges, lit floor by floor with a cold white glow that turned it into a beacon of dominance above the city. To humans, it was the headquarters of Blackthorn Enterprises, a billion-dollar empire. To wolves, it was something else entirely: the stronghold of the most feared Alpha in the region. Serena Langston stood at the edge of the lobby, her damp coat clutched tightly in her fists. The marble beneath her heels gleamed, polished to a mirror sheen, but it did nothing to steady her trembling reflection. Every instinct screamed at her to turn and run, to flee back into the storm and disappear into the anonymity of the city streets. But she couldn’t. Her family had made sure of that. The lobby was nearly empty at this hour, but the men stationed by the doors and elevators weren’t human security. They were wolves—Betas, massive and silent, their sharp gazes tracking her with predatory interest. Even with her scent suppressants layered thick on her skin, she could feel their nostrils flare subtly as she passed. They knew exactly what she was: an omega. Rare. Vulnerable. Bound to submit to the call of an Alpha whether she wanted to or not. “Miss Langston,” one of them rumbled, his voice low and gravelly. “He’s waiting. Elevator. Top floor.” Her stomach twisted, but she lifted her chin, refusing to show fear. If she gave them even an ounce of weakness, they’d smell it on her like blood in the water. Serena forced her legs forward, each step toward the elevator echoing too loudly in her ears. The golden doors slid open with a soft chime. Inside, the space was silent, sterile, the walls lined with mirrors that reflected her pale face back at her. She stepped in, her pulse racing, and the doors closed with a metallic snap that felt like the seal of a coffin. The ascent was agonizing. Floor after floor ticked upward in glowing red numbers. She pressed her hands to her coat, digging her nails into the fabric. This was it. The moment her life ended—or changed beyond recognition. Because at the top of this tower was Damian Blackthorn. Alpha of the Blackthorn Pack. Billionaire CEO in the human world. Rumored mafia lord in the shadows. And the man who, by some cruel twist of fate, was her fated mate. The universe had a sick sense of humor. Her father’s betrayal had sealed her fate. He had tried to play both sides, selling information to a rival Alpha. It hadn’t worked. The rival was dead, her father disgraced, her family broken. And instead of executing them all for treason, Damian had chosen something worse. He had chosen her. The elevator slowed. Her knees threatened to buckle as the bell chimed and the doors opened. The penthouse office stretched out like a throne room, vast and commanding. Black marble floors reflected the storm raging outside the glass walls. Lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating shelves of leather-bound books, steel sculptures, and a desk carved from dark oak that looked as heavy as a coffin lid. Behind it sat Damian Blackthorn. Even seated, he radiated power. His suit was tailored perfection, charcoal gray over broad shoulders and a body honed like a predator. His dark hair was swept back, framing a face of ruthless symmetry: high cheekbones, a sharp jaw, and lips that looked carved to sneer. But it was his eyes that stopped her breath. Steel gray, cold and merciless, with a glimmer beneath that reminded her he wasn’t just a man. He was an Alpha, and his wolf was watching too. “Sit.” The command wasn’t loud, but it carried through her bones like a growl. Her body obeyed before her mind could argue, sinking into the leather chair opposite his desk. She clenched her fists in her lap to stop the shaking. Damian studied her in silence for a long moment, as though dissecting every inch of her. Finally, he spoke. “Do you know why you’re here?” Serena swallowed hard. “Because of my father.” His mouth curved, though it wasn’t a smile—it was mockery. “Correct. Your father thought he could betray me and live. He failed. But unlike most traitors, he left behind something of value.” Her chest tightened. “Me.” “You.” Damian’s voice was a blade. He slid a folder across the desk, the scrape of it against the wood sharp in the silence. “Your father’s debt will be paid. In blood, or in chains. You should consider yourself lucky I chose chains.” Her hands trembled as she opened the folder. Inside were neatly stacked pages covered in dense legal text. At the bottom of the final sheet waited a blank space. A marriage contract. Serena’s throat closed. “You can’t be serious.” Damian leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “I don’t make jokes. Tomorrow, you will marry me. Publicly, you will act the part of my Luna. Privately…” His gaze darkened, and his wolf flickered behind his eyes, gold bleeding through steel. “Privately, you are nothing. A reminder of betrayal. A tool for my purposes. Don’t expect affection. Don’t expect mercy. And never mistake duty for love.” Serena’s heart pounded. Fury surged through her veins, battling with terror. “And if I refuse?” The room seemed to shrink, the storm outside fading beneath the weight of his presence. Damian leaned forward, and his scent washed over her—smoke, leather, and the sharp tang of danger. It curled around her senses, tugging at the bond she wanted to deny. Her body betrayed her, heat pooling low in her stomach even as her mind screamed run. “If you refuse,” he murmured, voice silk over steel, “your father dies tonight. The rest of your family will follow. Slowly. Publicly. I’ll make sure you hear every scream before your own throat is cut.” Serena froze, her breath trapped in her lungs. The wolf inside her whimpered in submission, instincts bowing to the dominance radiating from him. She hated it. She hated him. But she couldn’t let her family be slaughtered because of her pride. Her hands curled into fists. When she spoke, her voice was steady, even if her soul was cracking. “Fine. I’ll sign.” For the briefest moment, something flickered in Damian’s expression—surprise, perhaps, or irritation that she hadn’t begged. Then it was gone, replaced by icy indifference. He pushed a pen across the desk. “Then sign, Mrs. Blackthorn.” The words cut deeper than any blade. Her fingers trembled as she picked up the pen, the weight of it like shackles in her hand. She stared at the empty line, her name hovering in her mind like a curse. Memories surged—her father’s lectures, her mother’s tears, the younger siblings she’d sworn to protect. This was for them. For their survival. Serena pressed the pen to paper. With every letter, her freedom bled away. When the last stroke was made, she felt it. The bond snapping tighter. The chains locking shut. Damian took the papers back, sliding them into the folder with deliberate calm. His expression was unreadable, but his wolf stirred again, a ripple of gold flashing in his eyes as though satisfied by her surrender. “Good,” he said simply. He stood, towering over her. Even across the desk, his presence pressed against her like a physical weight. “Our wedding is tomorrow. You’ll be fitted for a dress tonight.” Her head jerked up. “Tomorrow? That’s—” “Nonnegotiable.” His voice was final. “From this moment forward, you belong to me.” The bond pulsed, hot and undeniable, a thread pulling her toward him despite her hatred. She hated the way her body responded, the way her wolf wanted to bow to his dominance even as her human heart rebelled. Serena forced herself to her feet, meeting his gaze with defiance. “I may wear your ring. I may sign your papers. But you will never have me.” For a heartbeat, silence. Then Damian’s lips curved again, cruel and dark. He circled the desk, moving closer, his steps predatory. The air thickened as he stopped just inches away, his height swallowing her in shadow. He reached out. His fingers brushed her chin, tilting it upward. The contact was electric—mate-bond fire sparking along her skin, traitorous shivers racing down her spine. “You’re wrong,” he whispered, his breath warm against her lips. “I already do.” Her pulse thundered, her body betraying her with heat even as she glared into his merciless eyes. And in that moment, Serena realized the terrifying truth. No matter how much he hated her, no matter how much she despised him, the bond had claimed them both. And Damian Blackthorn never let go of what was his.