Hunted by the Alpha King

Fourteen

Ronan snarled in his head. At this point, he was more beast than man. His sable wolf paced the border of the forest. Leif had successfully subdued him. It was the opposite affect of wolvesbane. Ronan was still unsure of how his wolf had done it.

You insult me pup.

Over the years his relationship with his wolf had gotten worse. It started with the first she-wolf that Ronan had been intimate with. Leif nearly tore the she-wolf apart when he changed. After that moment the Alpha had learned how to subdue his wolf, with the harsh herb. Whenever he was visiting a neighboring pack for a Chase he would take the herb. He had been able to keep it a secret from everyone, never revealing his wolf during the chase. Him fighting the call to mate with anyone had gained him a lot of respect throughout the land. Not that he deserved the respect. Especially since he no longer had the respect of his mate.

Willow.

She had accepted the mating. Once he breaks Leif’s hold on him, he would be able to hunt her down and bring her home. It would take everything in him to not hurt her. To not show her who is Alpha. Leif and Rana would probably fight, but Willow was subdued. She fell back on her wolf in times of need or trouble. Relying on her wolf’s strength. Ronan would teach her to be strong without her wolf. Just like he was.

Lies! Leif hissed. You are nothing more than an immature boy.

Why didn’t you tell me you knew who my mate was? I would’ve listened to the elder if I knew.

Because you did not deserve her if you thought of other she-wolves.

Will you really wait until I am dead to find her again?

She commanded me to. I will listen to my mate.

You are an Alpha, she listens to you!

You have much to learn, pup.

Ronan hissed and pulled away from Leif. He continued to pace the tree line, watching the farmhouse in the village below him. Willow was down there. With another male. At least he knew she wasn’t dying. Her wolf accepted the mating. He was so close to getting her back. He could almost taste her blood again.

Is she in the barn? He asked his Hunters. It didn’t matter if his wolf was preventing him from getting Willow himself. He was an alpha, and he was in charge of the most savage group of trackers the pack had ever seen.

It was her blood, Xavier, his Beta, told him. But she is no longer here.

Where is her scent?

Subtle, but here. It’s leading toward the Farmhouse.

And where is the farmer?

Gone. But we’ve caught a scent that’s mixed with hers.

Ronan snarled. Did he touch her? His anger was so great that he couldn’t breathe. His red vision blurred into black, indicating that the beast was taking control. Even Leif wouldn’t hesitate to kill the farmer if he was responsible for keeping Willow from him.

We do not know.

Find them!

Ronan walked along the line of the trees, feeling any sense of weakness from his wolf. Leif would never give in. He was the strongest Alpha that had ever been seen. His wolf inspired fear. If his wolf refused to concede power, Ronan was stuck, waiting for some of his hunters to bring home his mate.

Did you find the Richards? He asked his other Hunters.

We caught up to them. Two were injured. Ronan snarled. Willow’s father had always been a formidable tracker. A man who was cunning and excelled in hand-to-hand combat. He had been the man to train Ronan in his youth, along with his father. It was obvious by the way Willow had been able to keep away from her that her father had been training her as well.

Keep them there. Her father has a lot to account for.

His wolf blinked to remove the black spots that were blinding his vision. Even in beast form, a dark power was overtaking him. He wasn’t sure if it was his Alpha blood or that he and Leif had fought against each other for so many years. But when his vision went black, he was unstoppable. He was a monster. The nightmares that parents told their children about.

He feared without Willow; he wouldn’t be able to find himself out of the monster’s wrath. If she left, then no one would safe. The entire world would burn.

Come home, Willow. He begged for a dead connection.

His breath quickened. His nails grew and dug into the earth. No! No! No! Willow!

A loud, angry howl was released through all the land when his vision went black.