Rejected, But Claimed By Her Three Alphas: Read Chapters 1-5

~ Elara ~

“I, Alpha Kieran Silverwood, reject you, Elara Emberheart, as my mate and Luna of Silverwood pack,” I heard Kieran say.

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

Tears rolled down my cheeks instantly, my breathing pace slowed down and I found myself panting in despair.

“Kieran, this can’t be…” I muttered. A lot of words - questions - formed in my mind but my voice was completely lost at the moment. I had to use my head to process the event that had just happened right in front of me.

Alpha Kieran Silverwood, my destined mate, had just rejected me on the night of the full moon, in front of the whole pack! This was more humiliating than the embarrassment I’ve received as an omega!

He had given me the reassurance that we were going to be married, right from the first day we discovered that we were mates. I had walked into his room on the day I turned twenty-one, to serve him his usual morning tea when I sensed his scent in the room. It was a combination of cedarwood and vanilla, a rich earthy flavor had enriched her nostrils and when he came out of the bathroom with his wet hair and body, I almost went crazy as I drooled over his hotness. He also noticed my presence and almost marked me as his mate if not for his self control, he promised me that he would mark me once he announced me as his Luna.

Now, I watched in disbelief as Kieran gave me a straight look. He wasn’t guilty or remorseful at all, for rejecting her. He looked rather satisfied with the decision he made.

“But why?” I managed to ask him.

“Look at yourself, Elara. You are an omega, a weak one for that matter. Making you my Luna would seem like an unfair choice and a mere bonus for you. Meanwhile, Silverwood pack comes first and deserves a strong Luna to be by my side and you , Elara, are not qualified for this role,” he said firmly.

The low purr that came from my wolf made me realize that this was indeed happening. Enya withdrew from me and locked in herself , I could feel nothing from my wolf.

I had lost her.

“You promised me that we will be together, Kieran. You said this yourself that you can’t wait to mark me tonight, then why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“You don’t have any other choice but to accept my rejection, Elara. Don’t waste my time,” Kieran warned.

“No! You can’t do this to me, I beg of you!” I cried desperately. I was in love with him and our mate bond had strengthened over the weeks that we had spent together, he can’t dump me like this.

“Elara!” Kieran called me with an authoritative tone, “Accept my rejection now or face a severe punishment for your actions!” He threatened.

I realized that nothing could be done about this. I was not just rejected, but humiliated too by my so-called mate.

“I, Elara Emberheart, accept your rejection… ahh!” I yelped in pain as I felt the mate bond break in a zap. The strong scent of cedarwood and vanilla disappeared instantly and everything between us went blank.

But I was not expecting Kieran to make another announcement.

“Tonight, we shall honor the bond that will strengthen the bond of our pack,” Kieran announced, his voice echoing through the clearing. “Tonight, I will choose my Luna.”

The drums began to beat, the people looked very excited and my rejection was forgotten in a second. I had no other choice but to watch who Kieran had chosen as his Luna.

After a few minutes of celebration, Kieran raised his hand and signaled the drummers to stop. The instant silence was accompanied by a commanding aura that emanated from Kieran. I watched his eyes as they navigated through the crowd and soon fixated upon my beloved best friend, Seraphina. My eyes widened in disbelief.

No.

“I hereby announce Seraphina Sal, the daughter of the ancient Alpha Sal, as my Luna,” Kieran said. He stretched out his hands toward Seraphina and she walked majestically to him, taking his hand.

The people cheered loudly while some jeered at me scornfully. This was entirely ridiculous. Seraphina was my best friend, why would she do such a thing to me?

I was not only rejected and humiliated, I was also betrayed and abandoned. I lost my mate, my wolf and my best friend in one night!

“We shall celebrate our union tomorrow night with prominent leaders and Alphas gracing us with their presence!” Kieran continued but I couldn’t stand this devastation.

I dashed out to the woods, running as fast as my legs could carry me. It was when I tried to shift that I remembered that my wolf was gone, I hit a stone and stumbled to the ground.

“Wake up, Enya! I need you!” I screamed at my wolf to answer but it never happened. I had no choice than to go back to my room and cry myself to sleep.

I refused to leave my room until the night of the union celebration. I could hear the loud noise of celebration coming from the crowd outside but I didn’t want to leave. Suddenly, my door was opened forcefully and Seraphina barged in with rage.

“What are you doing here, Elara? Are you not aware that there are distinguished guests amongst us?” Seraphina asked in anger.

“Leave me alone,” I muttered instead.

“I would have left you alone if not for the fact that you are an omega and it is required for you to serve these guests. If Kieran learns that you did not participate in this event, he’ll kick you out of this pack,” Seraphina reminded me.

I looked up at her, my anger flaring up in a flash. “Why do you care, huh? You have already ruined my life, Seraphina. You backstabbed me and betrayed me, now you want to act like you care about me. Get lost!”

“How dare you talk to our Luna like that!” The gamma scolded me and landed a hot slap on my cheek.

I fell down and the pain stung me so hard.

Seraphina smirked and bent down to my level, then she pulled my hair. “Listen here, Elara Emberheart. The Alpha was not yours to begin with. No omega deserves such a special treatment, not even you. Do you think I’m doing this because I care about you? No, I’m doing this because I am your Luna and you shall listen to whatever I have to say. I give you ten minutes to get yourself ready and serve my guests , okay?”

I had no choice. Seraphina had won the battle. She is the pack’s Luna and I am still the irrelevant omega, I have to listen to her.

“Yes, Luna Seraphina,” I replied in defeat.

“Good,” she said and left with the gamma.

I got ready to serve ‘her distinguished guests’, and before leaving, I made up my mind to be strong in the whole situation. After all, it was my weakness that got me rejected in the first place.

At the party, I did my job well. Serving the guests while ignoring the jests and mockery that came from my fellow omegas. Unknowingly, my eyes landed on Kieran at where he was sitting with Seraphina. I watched in horror as they kissed passionately in each other’s arms, my heart was burning in despair. But my attention was called back when someone spilled a drink on me. I could hear them laughing around me, I was embarrassed.

Angry that I’ve been humiliated so much by them, I stormed out of the hall. My mind was clouded with the series of events that had happened , I was too preoccupied to notice the stranger coming inside in front of me. I bumped into him and fell flat on the floor.

Suddenly, I caught a whiff of something familiar yet intoxicating. It was a blend of Sandalwood and honey, earthy and grounding with a hint of sweetness and golden warmth. My heart skipped a beat as the scent heightened, making me feel safe and cherished.

I raised my head to look at the stranger in front of me and my eyes met with an intense gaze of deep green eyes. The scent was coming from him, I was sure of it.

The soft growl that came out from inside me sent sparks of excitement down my spine, it was Enya! She opened up and let out another growl inside me that melted my heart.

Mate!

~ Elara ~

“Mate!” He growled too, confirming that I’m not out of my mind.

He stretched out his hand, offering to help me to stand up and I took it. When I got up to my feet, he placed his hand on my waist and turned me around. I felt a sparking sensation on my skin when he touched me, this felt stronger than what I had felt when I was with Kieran.

“Mate, are you okay?” He asked me, his voice was deep and rich with a smooth velvety quality. It exudes confidence and loyalty, making me feel secure in his presence.

“Yes, I feel fine,” I replied softly, my eyes looking dreamily at him.

“Mate, what is your name?” He asked.

Enya giggled in excitement, this was finally happening so soon! The introduction of the mates. I thought I didn’t deserve a second chance mate since I was an omega but maybe I was wrong, the moon goddess has indeed blessed me again.

“My name is Elara Emberheart,” I replied.

“I am Alpha Ronan Starfrost,” he said boldly.

As soon as I heard his name, my heart sank. The excitement in me was drained away from me quickly and my face fell in disappointment. Even Enya’s excitement was gone.

Was this a joke to the moon goddess? Pairing me to another Alpha was more like a slap on my face.

The Starfrost pack was known as the second most powerful pack in the packland. With their powerful and defensive mechanisms, they pose as the packland’s powerhouse for strength and agility. How is it then possible that a low omega like me is his mate?

To me, this was going to be a repeated pattern just like it was with Kieran.

Ronan must have noticed the disappointment on my face, he raised my chin to look at him.

“You don’t look happy to see that I am your mate, why is that so?” He asked me.

I sighed, this was because I was nothing but an omega who doesn’t deserve to be a Luna. I wanted my second chance mate to be an omega, just like me. Another alpha as my mate will only make things worse for me.

As I opened my mouth to tell Alpha Ronan what I had in my mind to say, another scent filled my nostrils. This time around, it was a mix of lavender and citrus, the scent was fresh and invigorating. It calmed my nerves and made me feel a sense of peace.

Mate! Enya growled.

What is going on here? Why are there two mates? Even Enya was confused about what was going on.

“I believe she is not happy because she is not your mate, she is my mate,” a low and husky voice said. It held a mysterious , almost hypnotic quality. There was an underlying intensity that hints at the deep emotions that emanated from this voice.

I turned around to see a man with jet black, straight hair that was tied in a low ponytail. His eyes were icy blue, confirming his mysterious and hypnotic appearance. I was drawn to this mystery without hesitation.

“What - what is going on here?” I inquired, suddenly becoming scared of the idea that was running through my head.

“Let me introduce myself properly, mate. I am Alpha Lucian Silvercrest, your beloved mate,” he took my hand and kissed the back of my palms.

Alpha Lucian Silvercrest!

The Silvercrest pack was the third most powerful pack in the packland. It was known for its healing and rejuvenation, bringing inner peace to whoever that comes into its blossom. To think that someone like me was mated to Alpha Ronan and Alpha Lucian was insane, the moon goddess must be asleep!

“Lucian, I must congratulate you on how good your performance is. Now, let go of my mate,” Ronan warned.

Lucian held my hands tight, intending not to let go as Ronan had said. “But she is also my mate,” Lucian declared.

Both Alphas held my two hands tightly, leaving me awkwardly in the middle. As if that was not enough, my nostrils picked up a third scent.

A rich, musky aroma with a touch of pine reached me. It filled my interiors with an incredible sense of love and joy, I was so overwhelmed with this beautiful feeling that engulfed me. But I was scared because this only meant one thing.

Mate! Enya growled in fear and out of panic, she locked in herself again.

My wolf was gone again, what other misery was in store for me?

Turning around to look at the presence behind me, my eyes fell upon the most handsome man I have ever seen. His hair was dark blonde, short and slightly tousled. His eyes were amber colored, they were filled with so much fierceness and protectiveness at the same time. His aura alone made me realize that he was also an Alpha.

“Let go of my mate this instant!” His strong and resonated voice was clear, with a commanding presence.

“Your mate? This must be a joke,” Lucian scoffed.

“She can’t be your mate either, that’s impossible!” Ronan laughed.

He ignored both of them and stared at me with longing in his eyes. The intensity of his gaze ran shivers down my spine. The feeling was truly overwhelming.

“My love, I am Alpha Thorne Stormhowl, your one and only mate,” he introduced himself with clear authority.

Stormhowl? This must be a dream.

The Stormhowl pack was the first most powerful pack in the packland. It’s aura depicted in reliance and authority, a pack that was ruled by a powerful Alpha. It was the largest and strongest of all packs, wealth and incredibility was one of its accredited attributes.

Now here I am, in between these three powerful Alphas and I am their mate. Me? An omega?

Regardless of my status, I bowed in respect to Alpha Thorne. I had to be humble while preparing myself for my rejection.

“Well, I - I am Elara Emberheart…” I stammered as I introduced myself to him.

“Elara,” Lucian called me softly. It was as if he savored it around his tongue before letting my name go from his lips.

“Your name is the most beautiful name I have ever heard in all of this packland, Elara,” Alpha Thorne said.

I couldn’t blush, I just couldn’t.

Instead, I decided to make it known to them that I was not at their level and I was not qualified to be their Luna.

“And I am nobody, just an omega who doesn’t deserve your love and affection. I am more than ready to accept your rejections,” I said.

“Rejection? Who said that I am going to reject you?” Thorne asked.

My eyes widened slightly as I stared at him in disbelief, not what I was expecting to hear.

“I recognize you for your true worth and potential, not for who you are,” Ronan said.

“And for your beauty and physical appearance. Elara, you are more than enough for me to make you my Luna,” Lucian added.

This wasn’t happening! This can’t be real!

The three powerful Alphas don’t want to let me go. I was mated to the three of them and they were not willing to reject me. I had to convince them somehow that this was a terrible idea.

“You are all saying this because you have not learned anything about me yet. I am weak, easily manipulated and tormented by everyone. I can not be any of your problems by becoming your mate,” I cried.

“Then I will protect you from them,” Ronan told me.

“I will crush anyone that comes in your way to bones and I will banish them from the entire packland at one simple command,” Thorne declared.

“I will make sure they never see the light of the day again in their lives if they come close to you,” Lucian swore.

I could feel the mate bond as it strengthened. The combination of their scents envelops me, making me feel a deeper connection to all of the three Alphas. This was not just my second chance mates, they were my destined mates.

But how was this possible?

As much as the Alphas of three powerful packs are here, the truth remains that they are not in peace with each other. The five powerful packs of the packlands have been in conflict for years now with no signs of resolving their disputes.

Each of them was simply waiting for the opportunity to attack the other and take over the territory. An omega from Silverwood pack is mated to the first three powerful Alphas and was rejected by the fourth powerful Alpha who turns out to be Kieran. I wonder what the fifth powerful Alpha would have to do with me too.

Meanwhile, I have to find a way to clear the tension that filled the air and the awkwardness that was accompanied with it.

“But I cannot be mated to the three of you. It is totally impossible to become the Luna of three packs at the same time,” I said, hoping that they would change their mind after hearing this.

“Very well then, you will have to choose between the three of us,” Thorne replied.

“What?” I asked in shock.

“Yes, Elara. Choose who you want to get married to,” Lucian said.

“Once you’ve made your decision, the others will back off,” Ronan implied.

I looked at the three hot men who in turn, stared back at me. How was I going to make a choice between them all?

“What is going on here?” I heard Kieran’s voice from behind me.

~ Elara ~

Apparently, it seems like my drama here with the three powerful Alphas has disrupted the party and everyone was now focused on us. My heartbeat was pounding loudly, in fear and in embarrassment at the events that had occurred recently.

But Kieran’s facial expression was a proof that I was in a deep trouble, even Seraphina had a scornful look on her face and so was most of the people in the crowd.

“Elara, what have you done again?” Kieran asked me.

“I didn’t do anything,” I muttered in response.

How could he conclude that I had done something wrong?

“Then why are the center of attention?” He continued asking.

“I - I…”

My words got stuck in my throat.

Someone in the crowd shouted out, “Alpha Kieran, Elara was trying to hook up with the Alphas!”

The crowd burst into laughter but Thorne did not take it lightly.

“How dare you talk to my mate like that?” He growled, releasing his commanding aura instantly.

“Alpha Thorne, I believe that my people have a right to speak to their Alpha. After all, this is Silverwood pack,” Kieran reminded Thorne.

Of course, no matter how powerful these Alphas were, their rights were only recognized in their own packs. They were absolutely powerless in their frenemies pack , unless they wanted to declare a war on that pack and the last thing I wanted was for a war to break out.

Thorne , however, seemed to calm down after Kieran spoke.

“Elara, come over here,” Kieran ordered. He gestured to the space close to where Seraphina was standing.

I scurried to the place with my head down in shame. I was being framed by someone and the situation was turning against me.

“Flirting with Kieran wasn’t enough for you, Elara. Now you are trying to hook up with the three powerful Alphas, stop making your life miserable!” Seraphina spoke lowly to my hearing only.

I ignored her, even though I was pissed off at what she said. In truth, all of this was because of her betrayal. If not, I would have been happily married to Kieran now.

Kieran stepped in front of the three Alphas and said, “I apologize dearly for Elara’s poor behavior. She has not yet recovered from her incident last night.”

“What happened to Elara last night?” Ronan asked.

“Elara was supposed to be my destined mate, but because she is a weakling and feeble omega, I had to reject her and marry Seraphina. Elara might be traumatized by this incident and that could be the reason why she thinks that the three of you are her mates,” Kieran replied.

“Are you trying to call us babies that do not how they feel or what?” Lucian asked, sounding irritated.

Kieran chuckled nervously, “Of course not. I’m simply saying that a woman like Elara can be so charming that you might actually believe her lies.”

Seraphina cleared her throat loudly, obviously displeased that Kieran had called me a charming woman. I could see her face as it folded in jealousy. This was not the best friend I knew and loved.

“There is a mate bond between us. Somehow , Elara is connected to the three of us. How can you explain that?” Thorne asked.

Kieran groaned and turned to glare at me, “Do you derive joy from ruining people’s happiness?”

I shook my head, “No, I don’t.”

Then Kieran said loudly, “Then why don’t you go ahead and apologize to Alpha Thorne, Alpha Lucian and Alpha Ronan for manipulating them into thinking that you are their destined mate!”

“But I am their mate. I felt the mate bond as it connected with the three of them!” I replied.

This wasn’t a mere coincidence or joke, it was real! Why don’t they believe me?

“Maybe you are too exhausted to think straight about it, Elara. There is no way in all of the packland for anyone to have three mates at the same time,” Seraphina criticized heavily.

I turned sharply to look at her, “Why are you solely concerned about this? Do you want to go behind my back and become their Luna too?”

The consequences of my words came in too quickly, Kieran slapped me and I fell on knees. I noticed that Ronan made an attempt to move but Thorne stopped him. Any actions taken by Ronan could lead to a coercive war in all of the packs.

“How dare you talk to your Luna in such a disrespectful manner?” Kieran asked angrily at me.

“I’m sorry, I was just overwhelmed by my anger,” I replied calmly.

“Now, apologize to Seraphina and also apologize to three Alphas immediately!” Kieran ordered.

“I’m sorry, Seraphina…”

“Luna Seraphina,” she corrected.

“I’m sorry, Luna Seraphina,” I said with gritted teeth, then I turned to the three Alphas. “I’m sorry too.”

“You’re good at ruining someone’s day,” Kieran muttered to me. He turned to the people present and announced, “The party is over! Everybody should leave now! The servants should show the Alphas their rooms, they will be leaving tomorrow morning.”

“We are not leaving without Elara,” Lucian said defiantly.

Kieran turned sharply to look at him, looking fed up by the three mates storyline. “And how is she going to stay with the three of you? Will you divide Elara into three parts and take her with you?”

None of the Alphas replied to Kieran’s question. He nodded and said, “Good. Now, retire to your rooms and leave this discussion for tomorrow.”

They nodded and left, leaving I and my betrayers alone to face each other.

Kieran started first. “Elara, are you out of your mind? What were you thinking when you said that crap about them being your mates?” He scolded.

“I am not lying, Kieran,” I replied.

“It’s Alpha Kieran ,” he corrected me.

“Alpha Kieran, I am being honest here. The three Alphas are my second chance mates,” I defended.

Seraphina scoffed, “Are you that desperate to get away from Silverwood pack?”

Desperate?

Hell no, I wasn’t desperate. I just wished that Seraphina would shut up already.

“If I was desperate , I would have simply escaped from here,” I replied her out of my calm demeanor.

“And where would you run to?” She asked again.

I looked at Kieran, hoping he would tell her to close her mouth but he didn’t so I continued to talk.

“I would have gone to anywhere as long as it’s not here,” I replied.

She shook her head, “You are so shameless, Elara.”

Lowering my voice, I retorted, “And who should be more ashamed here? You flirted with my mate and stole him from me, making yourself his Luna. Now, you are jealous that I am mated to the three powerful Alphas and I’m sure you’re wishing that it was you. Or did you think that I did not see that look of jealousy on your face when Kieran called me a charming woman?”

“You weak omega!” Seraphina yelled and hit my face.

Out of anger, I hit her back. Irrespective of the fact that she was now the Luna, she was the reason why I am in this awkward situation with the three Alphas.

Seraphina screamed dramatically, dragging a lot attention to herself. Even the three Alphas came down from their bedrooms to check what the commotion was all about. Kieran rushed to Seraphina’s side.

“What happened to you?” Kieran asked.

“She hit me!” Seraphina cried out.

“Guards, arrest Elara now!” Kiera ordered.

“But she started this first!” I cried as the guards grabbed me.

Ronan rushed to drag me back from their grasp, “Release her now!”

“Ronan, unless you want to start a war between our packs, let go of the guards now. Elara has crossed her limits in this place and she must be punished dearly for it!” Kieran warned Ronan.

From the mate bond, I could feel that Ronan was deeply hurt by this. But there was nothing he could do about it, he cannot interfere in this matter unless it involves his pack.

Reluctantly, he let go of the guards and they dragged me away. I saw Seraphina smirk victoriously at me as I cried out for justice and mercy. The guards threw me inside the dark prison, laughing hysterically at me.

“This is what you get for insulting our Luna,” one of them said.

“I know that you are just jealous because Alpha Kieran rejected you but you shouldn’t have taken it too far,” the other one added.

“Go away!” I cried.

They mocked me as they left while I cried my eyes out. The events that had happened replayed in my head again.

I was rejected by my destined mate.

I was betrayed my best friend.

I lost my wolf.

I am now mated to three powerful Alphas.

I was tagged crazy and humiliated deeply.

Now, I’m in trouble and alone in a dark cell.

Turning twenty-one really came with a lot of twisted dramas.

~ Ronan ~

I was restless all through the night. My mind kept thinking on how my mate, Elara, was coping with the darkness of those hideous cells. My heart ached for her as I remembered what Alpha Kieran had told me about rejecting her and choosing Seraphina as his Luna.

I knew that the reason for Kieran’s decision was because of Elara’s weakness, he wanted to protect his precious pack’s image forgetting the fact that his marriage with his mate had no business with the pack.

‘Kieran’s rejection happened for a reason. How would you have met Elara if Kieran did not reject her?’ Red, my wolf, said to me.

I nodded in agreement with what he said. But what about Thorne and Lucian, and why did the moon goddess make them her mate too?

‘Relax, Ronan! We must focus on winning Elara’s heart first. Remember that she has to choose between the three of you and you must prove to her that you are the right mate for her!” Red advised me.

He was right. I had to impress Elara first so that she will choose me as her mate. Her status as an omega didn’t matter, what matters what building a strong woman as a Luna and Elara was the perfect match for me.

As soon as it was daybreak, I freshened up and went straight to Kieran’s study room. Without bothering to knock, I barge into his office in a haste.

“Care to knock?” Kieran asked.

“What are you doing to do to Elara?” I asked instead, more concerned about my mate than curtesy.

Kieran dropped the pen he was holding and sighed, “Elara crossed the line last night. Hitting Seraphina was not what I expected from her.”

“I know that she was wrong but I was hoping that you can make an exception for her,” I pleaded.

“Elara must be punished severely for what she did, that’s why she is an omega and there can never be an exception for an omega,” Kieran snapped.

I was willing to do anything to get Elara out of there but Kieran was adamant on punishing her. I can’t think of any better ideas to do.

‘Then break her out!’ Red snapped at me.

I managed to control myself from bursting out into a fit. Breaking Elara out of prison was like openly throwing fire in Kieran’s pack, I was brewing trouble if I do such.

My wolf groaned, uninterested in what my opinion is. ‘Wake me up when you are ready to execute your plans,’ he said and shut me out.

An Alpha’s wolf can be truly annoying!

The door flung open and Thorne stepped in with a scowl on his face.

“Seriously, does any of you not care to knock?” Kieran grunted at Thorne.

Thorne ignored him and sat on the chair in front Kieran’s table, then he placed his two feet on the table. Kieran rolled his eyes while Thorne gave me a death glare.

“I know what you are doing, Ronan. You want to be the hero that will save the damsel in distress and take all the credit for it,” Thorne accused me, even though his accusation was correct.

I scoffed, “That damsel in distress is my mate so yeah, I’m going to do everything in my power to get her out of there.”

“And you forget that she is also mated to I and Lucian,” Thorne reminded me.

“It’s not my fault that you are Lucian are unwilling to put an effort to save her,” I retorted.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on. Are you seriously saying that Elara is mated to the three powerful Alphas?” Kieran asked.

“Are you seriously trying to tell me that you are a nitwit?” I initiated in sarcasm.

Thorne glared at me shortly before looking back at Kieran, “Ignore Ronan, please. What is more important to me right now is for you to release Elara,” Thorne said.

A hasty knock interrupted our conversation. The door opened and Lucian walked in majestically.

“Good morning, Alpha Kieran,” he greeted.

Kieran smiled in satisfaction, “Finally, someone knocked on the door and even greeted me! Thorne and Ronan should take some mannerisms from you.”

“Are you going to release Elara or not?” Lucian snapped, ignoring Kieran’s insultive compliment.

“No, Elara will face her punishment tomorrow for hitting Seraphina,” Kieran said with gritted teeth.

“You have to release her. She’s our mate, we need her,” Lucian complained.

“Elara can’t be mated to three Alphas. She will have to choose between one of you and that decision will be taken after she serves her punishment,” Kieran declared.

Kieran was a strong and determined Alpha. Anything decision he makes will always be his final decision. I don’t think anything can change his mind once it’s been made up.

“Ronan, did you hear that? You can’t play your hero duty again,” Thorne mocked me.

Lucian chuckled, “Was he trying to put a lot of effort in trying to convince Kieran?”

“Yes, and he wanted to take the whole credit for it,” Thorne replied.

They both laughed it off and I simply shook my head. If only they knew about the other plans that were running in my head. I know that there was absolutely nothing that I can do about it, but I don’t want to leave Silverwood pack without at least confirming that my mate is okay.

“The preparations for your departure has been made. You will be leaving by evening when your escort arrives,” Kieran said to us.

We nodded and left his study room. I had to stop Thorne and Lucian to discuss a few things with them.

“So this is it? The both of you will give up on your mate just like that,” I said to them.

“Ronan, we are not giving up on Elara. This is simply respecting boundaries, what do you want us to do? Declare war on Silverwood pack and request for Elara’s release? That’ll be too extra,” Thorne replied.

“I know that we secretly abhor each other but I’m going to agree with Thorne. We can only do something after Kieran punishes Elara, it’s not in our hands,” Lucian added.

This was ridiculous!

Thorne must have forgotten that he was the first powerful Alpha in all of the packlands. His voice alone was enough command to demand for Elara’s release.

I watched them as they returned to their rooms. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of leaving this pack without my mate, I had to do something about it.

It was then that Red’s idea popped again in my head. This was the only other option that was possible to achieve and I have to act fast.

Red! I need you right now!

My wolf groans lazily, ‘It better be that you are waking me up for a good reason!’

I’m ready to take on your plan to break Elara out of this nightmare that she is in.

‘Alright!’ Red danced around.

But first, I need a plan. I’m clueless on how to go about this.

‘I’ll help you out with the rest,’ Red promised, ‘Let’s save our mate!’

~ Ronan ~

The prison yard was hidden behind a thick and concrete structure, making it impossible to penetrate or escape without passing through the front gate. I walked through the fog that surrounded the entire prison building outside, Red was guiding me with a heightened sense of smell to detect if anyone was following me. Once the coast was confirmed to be safe, I used the cloak to cover my head and make my face look darker.

Red, this is as far as I can go. I need a plan to get through the two guards in front of the gates!

‘I can only help you if you permit me to take over your body. I promise not to hurt anyone,’ Red said and I nodded.

Deal.

Immediately, my eyes start to glow in a bright red color with a reddish vapor evaporating from the corners of my eyes. This was called the Alpha’s aura, it emanates from the Alpha or from his wolf but an aura emanating from a wolf can be very dangerous. I just hope that Red will keep to his promise and not hurt anyone.

He walked boldly towards the guards direction. When the guards noticed a figure approaching, they raised their weapons in defiance and defense.

“Stand back and tell us who you are,” one of them shouted angrily.

Red raised the corner of his lips, “I am here to take someone. She belongs to me.”

“Elara?” The other guard asked, catching on quickly to the reason why this strange creature was here.

“We won’t let you have her! We will fight you to our last breath!” The first one snapped.

Red chuckled, “You don’t have to fight me. I have something that you don’t have, now go to sleep and do not wake up until I leave this pack!”

I watched in awe as the guards slumped on the floor and snored loudly in a deep sleep. Red snapped back inside, allowing me to take over. My red eyes were gone too and I returned to normal.

This was awesome, Red!

‘Thank you, now let’s move quickly. We have our mate to save!’

I moved quickly, going inside the building. The cells were damp and cold, not to talk of being dark and smelly. The air was thick with the scents of despair and fear. I adjusted my eyes to the darkness and relaxed my nerves to search for Elara’s cell.

My nostrils tickled as soon as Elara’s scent hit my nose. Elara’s scent is a unique blend that is both captivating and soothing. It carries the delicate fragrance of wildflowers, reminiscent of a meadow in full bloom. There’s a subtle hint of lavender, which adds a calming effect, mixed with the fresh, earthy aroma of pine needles. This combination creates a scent that is both refreshing and grounding, making me feel at ease and comforted whenever I am around her.

‘Focus, Ronan! This is not the time to think about Elara’s scent!’ Red snapped at me.

I looked around the corners of the cell, remembering that I was on a mission to rescue my mate. I cannot afford to be distracted. Following her addicting scent, I found Elara in her cell. She was lying down on the floor, her body looked weak and almost lifeless.

“Elara,” I whispered, kneeling beside her. “I’m here to get you out.”

Elara’s eyes fluttered open. Her eyes used to be a striking shade of emerald green, with flecks of gold that seem to dance around the lights. But now, I could barely see her pupils as they had sunk in and dark circles were around the corners of her eyes. Her hair, which was a rich, deep chestnut color with soft waves, was tangled with dirt. Her fair skin was covered in dirty moist sand.

My heart ached to see my mate in such a devastating position. The sight of Elara was too much for me to bear but I was more than glad that I had come to save her, she wouldn’t have survived another night in this situation she was in.

Elara looked at me with a mixture of relief and confusion. “Ronan?” She murmured, her voice barely audible.

“Yes, it’s me,” I replied, gently lifting her into my arms. “We need to move quickly.”

“No! You can’t be here. If Kieran catches you with me, he will fight you and it will cause nothing but war,” she declined to follow me.

“No one will know who took you or what happened to you, I will make sure of that. Elara, look at yourself now, you cannot survive this situation for another night. I can’t leave this pack, knowing fully well that you are not in a safe place,” I told her.

“But…” she tried to object but I placed my finger gently on her lips.

“My tracks are covered, Elara. Give me a chance to take you away from this trouble,” I begged. My heart was beating so fast, time was already against me as it was almost time for me to return to my pack.

Elara nodded, she was too weak to talk and must have exhausted her strength is objecting to me. Without wasting time, I carried her up and turned to leave.

With Red’s help, I navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the cell, avoiding the guards inside and making my way to the exist. The two guards outside the gates were still in a deep slumber, Red was really good at handling his aura.

Elara clung to me, her strength was fading away with each passing moment. My heart ached at the miserable sight of her looking so vulnerable, but I knew that I had to stay focused. Finally, I emerged into the cool evening air. The darkness was drawing in slowly. Outside of the pack house was empty, besides the cars that were arranged to take us back to our packs. Moving swiftly, I carried Elara to the car I would be riding in and laid her down at the backseat where no one will see her.

After this, I returned to inside to take a few things I came in. The other Alphas were in Kieran’s office, looking angry and impatient.

“Thanks to the moon goddess that you decided to show up! We’ve been looking all over for you!” Kieran exclaimed in frustration.

“I’m sorry. I went for a small sightseeing trip and got lost,” I lied.

Thorne threw his hands in the air out of annoyance. “Sightseeing trip? You’re ridiculous, Ronan!”

“We better hurry up before it gets too dark. We all know that the rogues enjoy attacking travelers at late nights,” Lucian said.

I cleared my throat, “Yes, about that. I would like to go without an escort. One of my subordinates will return your car by tomorrow.”

“Are you kidding me? There are rogues everywhere! Even an Alpha can’t beat a group of rogues alone,” Kieran said.

“I know but I don’t want to carry too much burden with me. I prefer to travel lightly and alone,” I persisted.

“Let him be, Kieran. If he wants to travel by foot, nobody should stop him. Now, let’s leave before it gets dark,” Thorne snapped.

Kieran came closer to me and said, “It is weird for an Alpha to reject an Alpha’s offer. But if it’s what suits you, so be it.”

We went outside the packhouse, ready to enter our cars and leave.

“Do you perceive something familiar?” Lucian asked all of sudden.

“Smells like Elara but I’m not sure, the scent is very faded and may not be unique,” Thorne replied.

I panicked and added, “It must be smell of the blooming wildflowers and the cool breeze is maximizing their scents at night. Let’s leave and stop worrying about what is not true.”

“Ronan is right, the scent of the blooming wildflowers can be rather intense. Elara is in the dark cells and I will get back to you once she has served her punishment,” Kieran said.

I could see the disappointment on Thorne’s and Lucian’s faces when they heard what Kieran said. I know that I should have told them about taking Elara away but I was mad that they didn’t even make an attempt to save her initially.

I entered the car and drove off . When the coast was clear and safe, I got down and carried Elara to the front seat where I can se her face clearly. She was looking pale and drained out, I had to hurry up so that I can take her to the pack’s doctor who will take care of her.

The journey was long and arduous, but my determination never wavered. When I reached the of my pack’s territory, I was met by a group of warriors. My Beta, Marcus Garvey, stepped forward. His eyes narrowed as he took in the sight of Elara in the front seat.

“Who is she?” Marcus demanded, his tone sounding suspicious.

“She is my mate,” I replied with a firm voice.