TO MATE A MONSTER

CHAPTER 8

ETHAN’S POV (CONTD)

Julian’s voice stopped me. “You can’t let her know that you are pained. If you want to pull through with this plan of yours, just let her be.”

She was right. I stood still and watched Elena and Lucas like I was watching some soap opera on a TV screen.

Julian folded her arms. “I am sorry to say this, Alpha, but this might be a long fight. You do agree with me that Alpha Lucas also has a strong personality. After our clan, theirs comes second. I know you are very handsome, but he too is not bad looking.”

Her words weren’t soothing. They did not help.

“What are you implying?” I asked.

She did not look away. “If you want to get her, you have to tighten your heart. You need to make her want you, make her jealous. Pretend like she doesn’t exist. I am good at this. know these things.”

I turned to face her. “Julian, just so we are clear. You know you can’t be my mate, right? And this whole thing will be a charade.”

She smiled. I could not tell if it reached her heart. She bowed her head. “I know my place in your life, Alpha. Be assured, I won’t overstep boundaries. With your permission, I beg to take my leave now. It is late. It is cold outside. Please don’t stay out for long.”

She left me there with my restless thoughts. My wolf went quiet and then loud again, like waves.

“Hold on,” I told him. “If you want us to mark her, we must make her love us first.”

He growled once and fell back.

***************

ELENA’S POV

I forced myself out of bed. My head was heavy. It must be close to nine in the morning. I had stayed up late after Ethan left the garden, thinking too much, and now I was paying for it.

I dragged my feet to the window. I pulled the curtains wide, allowing the morning sun rays to kiss my room, as cool air rushed in.

Something moved in the yard below. I looked out.

Julian stood with a water hose in her hands, spraying a man who curled in on himself. He was thin and shaking. I did not know his face.

Maybe I did not know many faces in this place yet. But I knew this: I hate oppression. I ran off to meet them before my thought was done.

“What are you doing?” I shouted, crossing the stones. I grabbed the hose from her and flung it aside. The water slapped the dirt and

died.

“Do you want to kill him? Can’t you see he is shivering?” I took off my coat and wrapped it around the man’s shoulders. His teeth were knocked together.

Julian’s eyes were on me. “He is an Omega, and you will not interfere in my affairs. Just so we are clear, I am the Beta of this clan, and you dare not interfere.”

I lifted my chin. “I will interfere when someone is being treated like this.”

A step was heard behind us, Ethan’s steps. I did not turn, but a part of me eased. He would correct her. He would not allow this.

“Elena,” he said. His voice was calm. “You might be my fated mate, but not yet the Luna. You cannot challenge Beta Julian’s authority. And as your Alpha, I demand you apologize to her. Now.”

The words hit harder than the cold. I stared at him. For a breath, I could not speak. What was I thinking, getting my hopes high from a mere murderer?

Not yet, Elena. Bear it a little more, I told myself. He will soon be on his knees, begging for his life.

I turned to Julian. A small, smug smile sat on her mouth like she had just won some battle. “I am sorry for the way I spoke to you,” I said, voice flat. “But I am not sorry for standing up for this man. You know better than this.”

Now it was my turn to smile. I saw the look on her face.

Ethan did not look at me again. He turned and left. She followed him.

I knelt beside the man. “Can you stand?”

He looked up slowly. His eyes were pale, almost washed out. His hair was long and messy. His clothes were worn and dirty. He gave a small, strange smile, and then laughter broke out of him in a rush. It was not angry, it was not happy; it was like something stuck between.

“Hey, easy,” I said. “It’s alright. What is your name?”

He raised his head, looked at me like he was trying to see my face. Then his lips moved. “Berge,” he said. “Berge.” He laughed again and continued, “Berge.”

He kept repeating it like he was reciting a poem.

A young maid came up fast, her head bowed too low. “I am sorry if he has been a menace,” she said. “He is one of the gardeners. Alpha

Ethan was kind enough to offer him a job. He is just a fool who doesn’t deserve to touch your clothes.”

I let out a short, dry sound. “Such ignorance,” I said, and met her eyes. “Young lady, for the position you bear in this place, don’t you think the arrogance is much? If he is an Omega, that makes you two even. Clean him up. Instruct someone to give him a proper cut and new clothes.”

She felt embarrassed, but I didn’t care. “Yes, my lady.”

“Not ‘my lady’,” I said. “Elena is fine.”

She nodded and hurried him away, still wrapped in my coat.

Berge looked back once and gave me a small, broken smile that did not feel broken at all. It felt like a thanks from someone who had not said that word in

a long time.

************

Another day came fast. This time, I woke early. The heaviness in my chest had lifted a little, like a curtain had moved. I washed, dressed, and stood before the mirror, quite satisfied with my look.

Today was the Alpha’s Tournament announcement. I had heard stories of it since I was small. Tests of skill, strength, and mind. The best wolves from the strongest packs. I had never seen it. I wanted to see it. I wanted to see how the feared Alpha of Eclipse Shadow Pack fought when the whole world watched.

In my mind, I could see it already: he would ask me to come with him. It made sense. I was his mate. He would want me near.

I walked to the clan’s court. The room was half full when I arrived. The council sat in rows. The space buzzed with quiet talk and quick

steps.

He was not there yet. I waited. Minutes passed. He came in at last, and for a strange second, I was happy to see him.

He stood on the steps and looked over his people. “The Alpha’s Tournament begins today,” he said. “We have emerged as winners for eight consecutive years. This time, we plan to do the same.”

A low cheer moved through the room. He lifted a hand, and it died.

“Regarding this, I will be out for some days,” he said, and paused a little.

I held my breath. That was it. Say my name.

“Beta Julian will go with me.”