My Forbidden Alpha

Chapter Four | Mate

    Willow stood there, her breath caught in her throat, as the larger man towered over her. He smirked down at her, his ice gray eyes full of a fire that Willow had never seen before. The man seemed to be holding himself back but the desire to hold her and touch her was all over his face. Willow's feet felt like cement. Her heart was beating so hard she could hear the blood pounding in her ear. Her hands had gone numb and her mouth was parted just slightly but even still, her throat felt like the desert. 

    As the two looked at one another for what felt like an eternity, Willow knew. She knew that she would never be able to marry Rhys or bear his pups. She wouldn't be able to stay in this pack. She wouldn't be able to go back to her normal life - the one she had been living for the better part of five years. Willow knew that she would always be drawn to the man standing before her. She would always wonder "what if." She also knew the very real possibility of her wolf distancing herself so much from Willow that the two would rarely communicate. Willow would feel incomplete in more ways than one. 

    As time seemed to catch up with the two of them, a cough reached Willow's ears. She turned her head to look at Ryan who was seated at the head of the conference table, Lexi to his immediate left. Rhys had yet to arrive but she could tell that he would be arriving soon by how unbothered Ryan was about his absence. "Willow. This is Alpha Damon Black, of the Bloodstone Pack. He's here to ask for territory for his pack," her Alpha replied and Willow nodded quickly. 

    "Yes, thank you Alpha Ryan," Willow all but purred in response. She turned her attention back to her mate and gave him a small smile. "I'm Willow Atkins. Originally of the Onyxclaw Pack. Daughter of Alpha Whaylen and Luna Addison Atkins. I sat on the pack council in my home pack and am currently engaged to Beta Rhys Barrett," she introduced herself alongside her titles. She said the last bit about her engagement through slightly gritted teeth but she played it off coolly with a warm smile. Her sandals made a light click-ing noise on the wood below her as she took her seat off to Ryan's right. She left one seat open for when Rhys arrived. 

    Alpha Damon smiled warmly down at his mate, a soft and barely audible growl in his throat at the mention of her being engaged. She was supposed to be his, not some Beta mutt's. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to scoop her up and take her far from here. Just as he was about to reach out and offer his hand, Willow quietly made her way past him and to her seat. The Alpha's eyes widened slightly a soft chuckle came from his throat. 

    As Alpha Damon made his way further into the conference room, the door opened once more and Rhys stalked in, his face full of frustration and anger. Behind him, a smaller male by the name of Alex walked in. Being the pack's Delta, he was to still sit in on meetings but he had very little say unless he was directly asked. Rhys made his way to sit next to Willow. As she made an attempt to grab his hand, he immediately yanked it away from her, his eyes set cold and form on Alpha Damon. For a brief moment, Willow's eyes flashed with pain and sadness but she quickly pushed it aside, today wasn't the day to be selfish. 

    "Well, now that you all are here, please take a seat Alpha Damon. I want to know every reason for you demanding that we offer you any of our territory," Ryan called out, his voice sharp and dripping with a hatred so strong even Lexi looked scared. 

    Giving a bit of a chuckle, Alpha Damon grabbed a seat directly opposite to Ryan. He leaned back in the chair slightly, arm draped over the armrest as if he had not a care in the world. "Alpha Ryan, it really is nice to meet you," Damon began, his voice covered in sarcasm. "I'm here, along with my pack, to show that change really is needed around here. The five packs along this river have gotten stale and boring. There's no excitement around here. My pack would bring new blood to the river. New traditions. New young. New life. While we are small, we have closer bonds than even the oldest packs. If both Onyxclaw and Paletooth gave some territory, we could rearrange Silvermaw, Goldenhide, and Springeridge just slightly to make room for my humble pack. We intend on staying small. At least for now, and any expansions would be in unclaimed territory," the Alpha continued, despite hearing soft growls from both Ryan and Rhys. 

    "Anyways. The Bloodstone Pack will bring nothing but prosperity and excitement to the river and the packs that call this area home. We have a meeting with Onyxclaw later this evening so I'll be needing an answer before we leave the territory," Alpha Damon finished with a slight wave of his hand. 

    Ryan looked as though he was about to leap across the table and kill the rival Alpha where he sat. A low growl came from his throat and Lexi was immediately on her feet, gripping his arm. Rhys was silent next to Willow but his eyes were dark and cold. At this point, Willow refused to touch Rhys, not wanting to be the thing that set him off. 

    Alpha Ryan got to his feet, lightly shaking Lexi off of him and he stalked over to Alpha Damon. "You will never get a piece of our territory. And Onyxclaw will tell you the exact same thing. So get your mangy ass out of my chair and take your mutts out of our borders or I will kill you and them with no hesitation" he spat, getting right in Alpha Damon's face. 

    The rival chuckled darkly, his eyes bright and fearless. "Temper, Alpha Ryan. You don't want to traumatize the ladies, do you?" he asked and looked over to Willow, shooting her a quick wink. "By the way, Willow. Do you mind if I speak with you privately? I'd like to learn a bit about you before I head to your home pack. Any additional information will be helpful," Damon asked with a kind smile, getting up from his seat and making his way towards the door. He stopped and turned, awaiting for an answer. 

    Willow turned to look at Rhys but he said nothing. He gave her a slight shrug, got his feet, and pushed past Damon as he exited the room. Lexi looked as though she was about to speak out her disapproval when Willow spoke up. "Yes you may, Alpha Damon. With you visiting my home, I would like to at least prepare you for what you will see," she replied calmly, getting to her feet and walking over to him. "Alpha Ryan, we will be in the smaller conference studio across the hall. I will escort him to the front of the pack house if you wish. I would like for Alex to stay behind just in case anything goes awry," she added and opened the door, gesturing to the door across the hall. 

    Damon calmly walked through the door, Willow hot on his heels, and as soon as the door shut behind her, he pinned the smaller woman to the door and smiled down at her. "Well, it's nice to finally be alone with my mate," he purred in her ear as his scent enveloped her. He buried one hand in her silky smooth hair and pressed his forehead to hers. "I am truly blessed to have finally found you, my love. However, there is just one little problem..." he trailed off and his eyes darkened, his jaw clenched and his free hand balled up against the solid wood door. "That pesky fiance of yours. He'll have to go," Damon hissed and captured Willow's lips in a passionate kiss.