ALPHA'S ETERNAL OBSESSION

Fulfilling a promise

Chapter 4: Fulfilling a promise

Malakai's POV

I left my beautiful mate behind and headed back to the hall. I walked past the guards stationed on the verandah. Six of them, all under my compulsion. Their eyes were glazed, staring ahead like I didn’t exist.

A slow smile graced my lips. They wouldn’t remember the last few minutes of their lives once they recovered. Too bad.

I had made a promise, and I never break one. No one should carry that much sorrow and still be breathing.

Coming here for this Alliance, the last thing I expected was finding my mate. I had never cared much for the mate s**t, so when I came of age and got my wolf, I didn’t bother searching.

Meeting her tonight changed everything. She wasn’t just bound to another man, she looked uncared for. That was putting it mildly.

She looked like a walking corpse. Bones jutting out, hollow eyes, drowning in misery. Yet somehow, she was still managed to be breathtaking. Her mate hadn’t just neglected her. He was killing her slowly.

The way she'd looked so uncomfortable around him when she came to the office. The way Arthur spoke to her like some maid. That was all the proof I needed.

Rage blazed inside me like needles piercing my skin, but I fought to stay calm. I didn’t want to scare her any more than she already was.

I sent a mindlink to Logan, my Beta.

'Notify our men. We’re departing tonight.'

I felt him frown through the link.

'Didn’t we plan to spend the night? What changed?'

'I found my mate. I’m taking her home,' I said firmly.

'Goddess, man! We could leave now. Just say the word.'

His shock and excitement were loud and clear.

I stepped back into the hall. Logan’s eyes met mine, and a subtle smile played on his lips.

'Keep the warriors alert.'

I wanted them ready in case things went south. Though, we might be outnumbered and deep in their territory, it that didn’t mean they stood a chance. Still, I wanted everything to go peacefully. I didn’t want Camilla burdened with guilt of people dying because of her.

Camilla.

I really loved the sound of her name, and how she smelled—like sweet, intoxicating perfume, straight from nature itself.

I slipped into the hallway that led back to the office where I had left Arthur. He was probably still going through the documents. I had excused myself, claiming I needed to take an important call. But instead, I went to see Camilla.

I entered the neatly furnished room and went straight to the chair I had sat in before.

Arthur looked up from the paperwork in his hand. “Alpha Malakai, you’re back.”

"Yes, I am." I sat and crossed one leg over the other. "Is anything not to your taste?"

"Everything is exactly to my taste. I’ll be signing by the time you’re ready to leave."

A thin smile stretched across my lips.

"Perhaps you should take your time to go through it again. Nothing will be amended once it’s signed."

He paused, brows drawn as he considered my words.

"You might have to send it to my pack once you're done." That’s if he still cared by tomorrow. "I’ll be leaving tonight."

He frowned. "You were going to spend the night. What changed?"

I met his gaze, my hand itching to tell him exactly what changed with a punch.

"Emergency," I said with calm tone.

"I hope it’s not too serious?"

"It is."

"Ah… sorry."

"Don’t be," I told him. "You’re part of the solution."

His forehead pinched more tightly. He dropped the document on the desk.

"What do you mean?"

I leaned forward, placing both hands on the table between us. "The woman who came to pour us drink," I began, and a scowl immediately formed on his face. "I’ll be taking her."

He looked confused for a moment, eyes watching me. Then he started laughing. Loud and annoyingly. Did he think I was joking?

I leaned back slowly, picked up the wine bottle, and poured some into my glass. I sniffed the content discreetly before taking a slow sip, waiting for his laughter to end.

"That’s my mate, Malakai," he said finally, still chuckling.

"Oh, my bad. She didn’t look the part."

His smile faltered, expression hardening. "What do you mean?"

"Let’s start again, Alpha Arthur." I set the glass down and locked eyes with him. He shifted in his seat, and though he tried to hide it, I caught the flicker of unease that flashed through his eyes.

He was an Alpha. It would be pathetic to crumble under another’s stare.

"The woman who served the drink—I'm taking her home tonight. What do you need to let her go?"

If she was that afraid to speak, that hesitant to move, then she wasn’t living. She was imprisoned.

Arthur swallowed, unable to look away. "If you want her that badly… five million in cash should do," he said after a moment, voice low.

Five million. For her. Like she was some object, some item to be priced and sold. Rage boiled in my chest. I wanted to pound his smug little face, until his pack wouldn't recognize him.

But violence wasn't necessary. Not yet. Not when I could take the easy route that wouldn't scare my mate.

"Refill our glasses, let's cheers to a good deal." I watched with a smirk as he obeyed.

His grin looked forced, his hands trembling slightly as he poured the wine.

After we cut the deal, I sent a mindlink to Logan. 'Bring five million to Arthur’s office.'

He was shocked, but he didn’t ask questions. He knew I’d explain later.

::::::::::::

I returned to the pack house to get my mate, her ex-mate trailing behind, giving me directions I already knew.

I wanted him to reject her before we left but I feared pushing for that now might be disastrous to her. I didn’t know the state of her wolf.

We reached the mahogany door and Arthur eagerly pushed it open.

Camilla’s eyes widened the moment she caught sight of us. She shot up from the bed and rushed forward, probably on instinct. Her face was drained of color, like she’d just seen death walk in.

The urge to slam Arthur’s head into the nearest wall rose in me, but I buried it beneath a calm smile.

“Hello, Lily,” I called.

Her head stayed bowed, fingers clasped and trembling.

“Is there anything you want to take with you? We’re leaving now.”

Her eyes widened and her heart began to pound like a hunted creature. Her gaze flicked between us, unsure if this was real or some trap.

She was sweating... despite the cool air, her face was trembling.

“She has nothing,” Arthur snarled, walking past her into the room, their shoulders brushing. “But I’ll be generous. She can keep the clothes on her body. After the sum you paid, it’s only fair.”

She turned sharply to him. “What do you mean?”

“It means you’re finally someone else’s burden,” he replied, coldly.

“We have to go now, Camilla.” Another second in this godforsaken place, and I might just burn it down.

She turned to me, conflicted.

I took her hand. She hesitated, gripping the doorframe for a moment, before finally letting me pull her.

As we walked, she kept glancing at our joined hands… then at my face… then back to the house, like she still wasn't sure if to continue or run back. Like freedom was too good to be true, and it scared her.

A tear slowly slid down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, but I saw it. It pricked my heart.

She moved slowly, shakily, as if there was no strength in her bones.

I was so tempted to carry her—but I didn’t know if she’d be okay with that kind of closeness. It wouldn't be long again before Arthur's guards recover from the compulsion.

“Camilla!” A shrill voice suddenly pierced the air just as we reached the verandah.

My mate flinched, immediately moving in front of me, to hide herself. Her breathing turned shallow, like she might faint right there.

Was she scared of everyone in this cursed house?

I wrapped my arms around her protectively and turned to face the direction of the voice.

An older woman stood there, bearing a slight resemblance to Arthur. His mother? Grandmother? I didn’t care.

“What is going on here? What are you doing with this man, letting him touch you like that, at this hour? You slut!” Her nose flared, eyes wild—like a bull's.

My eyes turned red. A low growl rumbled from my chest.

“Do not ever call her that again,” I warned, voice low. One more insult, I wouldn't care about her age.

Color drained from her face, and she sized me up with her eyes. I was a lot, obviously.

“Arthur! Guards!” she shrieked.

Camilla’s grip tightened around my coat. I pulled her closer, shielding her with my body, eyes never leaving the old witch.

'Is everyone ready?' I asked Logan through the link.