Mated To The Unforgiving Alpha

Chapter One: Marked By The Alpha(IV)

Three Nightshade warriors. Outnumbered. Cornered. Fighting, but struggling.Something inside Killian snapped.A dark, uncontrollable rage overtook him, his wolf surging forward, faster than he ever had before.He wasn’t going to make it.One of the warriors struck first.Eliot gasped as claws sank deep into his stomach.Killian saw red

“ .A savage, earth-shaking roar ripped from his chest. He tore through the battlefield, his mind blank with fury.By the time he reached Eliot, he barely remembered what happened next.The attackers were dead.Killian didn’t even realize he was kneeling until he felt Eliot’s blood pooling beneath his hands.The Omega’s body was trembling, his breath shallow, his normally sharp eyes hazy with pain.“No,” Killian growled. His hands shook as he pressed against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.Eliot gave a weak, breathless chuckle. “Didn’t—know you cared.”A snarl built in Killian’s throat. “Shut up.” His voice was raw, panicked. “You are not dying.”Eliot smiled. Even now—even dying—he was smiling.Killian’s vision blurred. This can’t be happening.His wolf howled inside him, demanding he do something. Anything.And then—without thinking—Killian did the one thing he had sworn never to do.He bit Eliot’s neck.Claimed him.His fangs sank deep, a desperate, primal act of possession. His wolf poured every ounce of power he had into the bite, forcing the bond to take, forcing Eliot’s body to heal.Eliot gasped sharply, his entire body arching as the bond snapped into place. Power flooded through him. The wound began to close.Killian didn’t move. Didn’t breathe. His forehead rested against Eliot’s, his heart pounding wildly.“I swear,” he whispered, voice shaking, “if you ever scare me like that again, I’ll kill you myself.”Eliot’s hand weakly gripped his wrist, his voice barely above a whisper.“…You claimed me.”Killian squeezed his eyes shut. “I had no choice.”Silence.Then—a faint, teasing smirk.“Liar.”Killian let out a strangled laugh. Relief crashed through him so hard it nearly broke him.Because Eliot was alive.And Killian knew—there was no more running from this.Killian Fighting His FeelingsKillian couldn’t look at Eliot.Not without remembering the way his body had gone limp, the blood pooling around him—the fear that had gripped his chest like a vice.He was the Blackfang Alpha. He did not fear.Yet, he had never felt terror like that before.For days after the attack, he avoided Eliot.The Omega was healing fast—too fast. The bond had strengthened him, the mark on his neck pulsing with power. With Killian’s power.Every time Killian caught the faint scent of it—his scent on Eliot—his wolf growled in satisfaction.Killian wanted to rip his own damn throat out.This wasn’t supposed to happen.It was a mistake. A reckless, desperate mistake.And yet, no matter how much he tried to rationalize it—he had chosen Eliot. His wolf had chosen Eliot.But he couldn’t let that mean anything.So, he distanced himself.Every time Eliot walked into a room, Killian left. When their eyes met across the training grounds, Killian turned away. He buried himself in pack duties, in strategy meetings, in anything that kept him from facing the truth.But his wolf wouldn’t let him forget.Every night, the bond pulsed beneath his skin, aching with Eliot’s presence. He could feel his emotions—frustration, curiosity, the occasional flash of amusement. Never fear.That, more than anything, unsettled Killian.Because Eliot should be afraid of him.Instead, the Omega was getting bolder.And then came the confrontation.Killian was in his office, pouring over battle reports, when the door slammed open.He didn’t need to look up to know who it was.The bond flared with irritation—Eliot’s irritation.Killian sighed, keeping his gaze on the papers. “You could knock.”“I could,” Eliot said, crossing his arms. “But then you’d pretend not to hear me, and I’m done playing that game.”Killian clenched his jaw but didn’t reply.Eliot stepped closer, his voice tight. “You bit me.”Killian’s grip on the pen tightened.“You saved my life,” Eliot continued, his tone unreadable. “You bonded us. And now you won’t even look at me?”Killian’s throat felt dry. He forced his voice to stay even. “It was a mistake.”Silence.Then—a sharp laugh.Killian finally looked up.Eliot was smirking.“A mistake?” he repeated, stepping closer. “That’s funny, because from what I remember, you weren’t exactly hesitating.” He tilted his head, exposing the mark on his neck. “In fact, I’d say you were pretty damn possessive about it.”Killian’s wolf snarled.Eliot felt it.His smirk widened. “Ah. There it is.”Killian shot to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor. “Don’t test me, Eliot.” His voice was low, warning.Eliot didn’t flinch.He never flinched.Instead, he leaned in, challenging. “What are you so afraid of?”Killian’s pulse pounded.He could feel the bond pulling him in, feel Eliot’s breath ghosting over his skin.His wolf wanted.Killian clenched his fists, his body rigid with restraint.“This bond doesn’t mean anything,” he growled.Eliot’s eyes darkened. “Then why do you feel like you’re lying?”Killian turned away, his breath unsteady.He didn’t have an answer.But the worst part?Neither did his wolf.The bond was driving him insane.Every time Eliot walked into a room, Killian could feel him. His emotions. His heartbeat. His scent—like warm cedar and rain, intoxicating, inescapable.Every night, the bond pulsed in his veins, restless, needy. Demanding.But he refused to give in.For weeks, he held himself back. He ignored Eliot’s teasing, brushed off the sharp comments, avoided the way the Omega’s eyes lingered on him like he knew exactly what was happening.Killian was losing control.And then—it all snapped.It happened after a sparring session.Eliot had been training with the warriors, his movements sharper, stronger. The bond had made him faster, more resilient. He wasn’t weak anymore.Killian should have been proud.Instead, he was furious.Because Eliot was pushing himself too hard.He was reckless—dodging blows by inches, refusing to back down. And then, when one of the warriors caught him off guard, Eliot hit the ground hard.Killian saw red.Before he even realized it, he was moving.The warrior barely had time to react before Killian’s fist slammed into his jaw. The impact sent the man sprawling.The training grounds fell silent.Everyone stared.Eliot sat up slowly, wiping blood from his split lip. He glanced at the warrior on the ground, then at Killian. His expression was unreadable—but the bond was thrumming.“You done?” he asked, voice calm. Too calm.Killian’s jaw clenched. His breath was ragged. His wolf was pacing inside him, furious, possessive.Without another word, he grabbed Eliot’s wrist and dragged him away.They barely made it inside Killian’s quarters before Eliot ripped his hand away.“What the hell is wrong with you?” Eliot snapped.Killian was pacing like a caged animal, hands clenched, breathing heavy. “You were being reckless.”Eliot’s eyes flashed. “I was training.”“You could have been hurt.”“I’ve been hurt before, Killian.” Eliot stepped forward, his voice sharp. “What, you think because you put a mark on me, I need your protection now? That I can’t fight my own battles?”Killian’s control snapped.He was on Eliot in a second, slamming him against the wall. His arms caged Eliot in, his body inches away, his breath hot against the Omega’s skin.The bond flared violently, pulling them closer, demanding more.“You think I don’t know that?” Killian growled, his voice low, rough.Eliot’s breath hitched.Killian’s eyes locked onto his, silver burning with something dangerous.“You think I don’t know you can fight?” His grip tightened on Eliot’s wrists, his body trembling with restraint. “I saw you in battle. I saw you bleed, I saw you fall—” His voice cracked, just for a second.Eliot’s eyes widened.Killian let out a shaky breath. “And it nearly drove me insane.”Eliot froze.For the first time, there was no teasing. No smirk.Just silence.The bond pulled tighter.Eliot swallowed. “Killian…”Killian’s gaze dropped to Eliot’s lips. Too close.His heart was pounding. His control was shattering.Then—Eliot tilted his head, just slightly, exposing the mark on his neck.An invitation.Killian lost the fight.His mouth crashed onto Eliot’s, desperate, bruising. The bond exploded between them, raw and overwhelming.Eliot gasped against his lips but didn’t pull away. He kissed back.Hard. Hungry.Killian couldn’t stop.Didn’t want to stop.Because for the first time, he wasn’t fighting it.For the first time—he let himself want.And Eliot?He wanted, too.