Mated To The Unforgiving Alpha

Chapter One:Marked By The Alpha(II)

Because you don’t know how to behave.

”Eliot scoffed. “Oh, I’m sorry. Was I supposed to be a good little mate and sit quietly while you treat me like a prisoner?

”Killian’s jaw tensed. “You are a prisoner.”

The words cut, even though Eliot had known them to be true.

Still, something inside him—the primal, instinctual part of him that ached for connection—recoiled at the harshness in Killian’s voice.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Then, Eliot exhaled sharply, shoving to his feet. “Fine. If I’m a prisoner, I’ll act like one.

”Killian barely reacted as Eliot stormed past him—until Eliot made a sharp move toward the door.In an instant, Killian was on him.His hand caught Eliot’s wrist, yanking him back before he could touch the handle. Eliot let out a surprised gasp as he was spun around, his back hitting the wooden door with a dull thud.

Killian was close.

Too close.

His scent flooded Eliot’s senses—smoke, cedar, something darkly intoxicating.

The heat radiating from his body seeped into Eliot’s skin, making it impossible to ignore the tension between them.Eliot hated that his wolf stirred, that the bond reacted even though Killian had done nothing but reject him.

Killian’s voice was low, dangerous. “Do you think this is a game?”Eliot swallowed hard, forcing himself to hold the Alpha’s gaze. “No,” he said, voice steadier than he felt.

“I think you’re a coward.”Killian’s grip on his wrist tightened.

“Careful, Omega.”Eliot let out a bitter laugh. “Or what? You’ll kill me? You’ll hurt me?”

His eyes flashed with defiance. “You already hate me. There’s nothing you can do that will break me.

”For the first time, Killian hesitated.The moment stretched between them, thick with something more dangerous than anger.Eliot’s chest rose and fell sharply, his pulse pounding against Killian’s grip.For a fraction of a second, Killian’s gaze dropped—to Eliot’s lips.Eliot saw it. Felt it. Then, just as quickly, Killian’s expression hardened. He ripped himself away, shoving Eliot backward before stepping away like he had been burned.

“Sleep,” Killian ordered, his voice sharp. “You’ll need your strength.”Eliot didn’t move, still breathing hard, his heart a chaotic mess.

Killian turned his back to him and walked toward the far side of the room, but the space between them felt smaller than before. Because Eliot had seen the truth in his eyes—Killian felt the bond just as much as he did. And no matter how much the Alpha tried to deny it,It was only a matter of time before he snapped. The tension in Killian’s quarters had settled into something dangerous and unspoken. Eliot sat on the bed, arms crossed, pretending to ignore the way Killian paced near the window. The Alpha was restless, his body tense with an energy that Eliot didn’t quite understand—until a low, distant howl echoed through the night.Killian froze.Eliot felt it, too. The air shifted, thick with something ominous, something wrong.Another howl—this time closer.Killian moved fast. Before Eliot could react, he was yanked off the bed, shoved behind Killian’s towering frame as the Alpha’s eyes flashed silver.

“What—”

Eliot started, but the answer came before he could finish.An explosion rocked the compound.The walls shook. A deafening roar of fire and collapsing stone rang through the night, followed by battle cries. The Nightshade Pack was here. Eliot’s pulse hammered. He had heard stories of Alpha Soren, leader of the Nightshade wolves—a ruthless, power-hungry monster who thrived on chaos. Killian snarled, shoving Eliot toward a hidden passage near the fireplace. “Stay here.”Eliot ripped his arm free.

“I’m not—”A crash—the door splintered apart. Two wolves burst through, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. Killian was on them before Eliot could blink.The first wolf lunged, but Killian moved like a shadow, dodging and slamming his claws into the attacker’s chest. Blood sprayed across the floor as the wolf collapsed with a gurgled snarl. The second enemy wolf hesitated—a fatal mistake.Killian’s hand shot out, gripping the wolf’s throat in a vice-like hold. One swift motion—snap. The body dropped lifelessly to the ground.Eliot had never seen an Alpha move like that.Killian barely looked winded.

“Go,” Killian growled, but Eliot stood his ground.More footsteps.

More intruders.Eliot’s instincts screamed—run, hide, let the Alpha handle it.But something inside him snapped.For the first time since being captured, Eliot fought back.A wolf lunged at him, fangs bared. Eliot dodged, grabbing the dagger from his belt and driving it deep into the attacker’s side. The wolf yelped, stumbling back, and Eliot didn’t hesitate—he grabbed the fallen sword from one of the dead guards and swung.Killian caught the movement from the corner of his eye.For a second, he saw something different in Eliot. Not weakness. Not helplessness. But a survivor.The last of the intruders fell, their bodies littering the floor. The attack had been fast and brutal.Killian exhaled heavily, turning to Eliot, whose chest was still heaving, his hands covered in blood.Eliot lifted his chin defiantly. “I’m not as weak as you think.”Killian’s gaze lingered. For once, he didn’t argue.A distant, furious howl shattered the moment.Killian’s expression darkened. “Soren isn’t done.”And for the first time since being taken, Eliot realized something—If he wanted to survive this, if he wanted to truly be free, he would have to fight alongside Killian.Because this was no longer just about being a prisoner.This was war.