STRANGER'S POV

"What information have you brought this time? It better be good, or I am going to kill you and your useless, good for nothing squad." The rogue leader said as he looked at me with those lecherous eyes. ​​

"Sorry, leader. I wasn't able to add the spelled liquid in their food as planned, but there is something that I came to know, and I am sure you would like to hear about it." I said, bowing my head to show my utmost respect to the clan.

"You failed again? What a useless bitch! Now, what could be more interesting that can improve my mood?" He asked while roaming his hands on one of the girls that he always keeps beside him to have his way with.

"This, the new alpha king Alexander has found his mate-" Before I could even complete my sentence, he slapped me so hard that I could feel my inner cheek bleeding.

"You bitch! You've been giving me bad news, since the moment you entered, and you expect me to feel good about it? The alpha king has found his mate. Won't it make him stronger than before? Do you want me to celebrate now?" He asked, making me look at him with teary eyes.

"It's not that, leader. When I was passing by the bushes to add the liquid to the food, I heard Alexander's beta Daniel and Alexander's mate talking, and it looks like Alexander's beta also loves this girl and declares that she is his mate." I said, looking down as I saw my blood dripping down on the floor from the corner of my lips.

Wiping the blood with the back of my hand, I couldn't help but scoff at this scoundrel of a leader. If not for the leader possessing such a big army of rogues, I, an alpha myself, would've never taken this humiliation.

"Is that true? Does that mean both of them are fighting for the same girl? An alpha king and an alpha who works as beta fighting for the love of the same girl? It indeed is interesting. We can make use of this Daniel guy to take over the kingdom. All we need is a little bit of persuasion and some tricks up our sleeves that can be used to turn him against Alexander. Uhh... finally a piece of good news after so long." The leader smiled before he grabbed the girl beside him and asked her to leave.

Though he was talking, I couldn't miss the evil glint he was throwing my way while looking me up and down with a lustful gaze.

"If that's all, I will be leaving," I said, wanting to leave the place as soon as possible.

"What about that girl Laila? Since she wasn't able to become the Luna queen, is she useful anymore?" He asked.

"I don't think so. You can send your further orders for her. I'll see if we can use her any further or should discard her, already." I said, turning around to leave.

Closing the door behind me as I shifted into my wolf form, I ran towards my own hiding before picking up the call from Aiden.

"Hello, Aiden? Yeah? I'll be there. Don't worry." I said before turning around in the direction of the mansion.

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ALEXANDER'S POV

Looking at our mate, who was standing looking all shy, Hunter couldn't help but feel like marking her already.

We both wanted that but knew to control our emotions before we scare the life out of her.

A marking process wasn't anything easy. The mates have to go through one of the worst pains when they mark each other and bite into each other's flesh. Given how Victoria wasn't a full werewolf and I was the alpha king, I knew when I'll bite into her flesh, it will be more painful for her than I can imagine.

However, it was also an important process, because it was a way to tell and warn other wolves that the person is already mated to someone else and is off-limits. Also, once marked, the mates become each other forever.

It was a full moon today, and I'll have to wait for three months till the next blood moon appears. It was a tradition that the alpha king has to follow. Normal werewolves can mark each other and their mate on any full moon, but an alpha king was needed to mark his mate on blood moons only.

"Hey, so I was thinking if everything's-" Victoria started. However, before she could complete her sentence, I heard my father's voice from the study above and couldn't help but smile apologetically at her.

From his voice, it was clear there was something urgent matter that he needed to talk about.

"You can wait for me in my room. I'll be back as soon as possible." I said, kissing her forehead and rushing upstairs towards the study.

"Father, you called me?" I couldn't help but come straight to the point.

"Please sit. It might take a while." My father said, looking at me with a complicated expression.

"So, Alexander hunter. How did you find out, that the girl you called your mate today, is actually your mate?" My father asked, in his interrogative council head voice.

And should I mention to him that it was the dumbest question you can ask a werewolf, let alone an alpha king?

"Father, what are you talking about? Do we werewolves need any proof that the person is our mate? Her scent, her touch, her smile, her presence, the sparks, everything indicated that she was my mate." I replied.

"Okay. Good. And how long it has been since you came to know, that your mate was half-werewolf?" He asked.

"It's been a month," I replied honestly.

"So, you are telling me, that you weren't able to identify her as a half-werewolf when you met her for the first time? Can I know why it was like that? Please elaborate." He further demanded.

"Well, when she came into the town, there were things that I found strange. First, even though she was a human, her scent used to lose its trail within seconds, and I wasn't able to trace her. Second, she tried to read my thoughts this one time when we went to the amusement park. Third, she had this special bonding with a hunter that no human can have with a wolf. Of course, we can ignore this one, thinking how she is our mate. Fourth, miss Azrael knew her.

To be honest, initially, I thought that maybe she was a human who was well protected by someone or had these capabilities because she was an alpha king's mate.

But one month back, when she found out about our species, and I was explaining things to her with my back facing towards her, I suddenly heard a tweaked sound. When I turned around, I only saw droplets of blood mixed with sweat on the place where Victoria was sitting earlier. There was no scent of her altogether anywhere near, indicating where she went or anyone else's scent who might've taken her.

The only scent I could recognize was of miss Azrael and thinking how she had already known her, I knew something was wrong. My doubts started to become more clear when I noticed her aunt was a werewolf, and her family lineage contained many half and full werewolves." I explained.

"So, you knew everything from the very start? That she was a lantern? Do you even know how dangerous a lantern is? They are the most vulnerable and unpredictable creatures in our species! Besides, the toughest people to know if they are your mate or not are lanterns. There is soo many cases when lanterns mated with the wrong wolves or have to mate with humans since they couldn't find their mate. Not to say, Victoria is soo beautiful and is bound to have many suitors. " My father shouted, standing abruptly.

"Dad, Do you think your son is so incapable? She might not have told me anything, but being her mate, I had once tried to cross her mind barrier when she was sleeping. And I clearly noticed a fuzzy presence in her mind. She definitely has a wolf, I don't know the reason why she hasn't transformed yet, or will she be able to transform every again or not, but she is not a lantern. And I am positive that she is my mate." I explained.

"And, what about Daniel? I can clearly see how much that guy loves her. I crossed his Barrier and none of his feelings were fake. And, if you haven't noticed, even Victoria loves him. Her love for him might not entirely be romantic, but there are feelings involved. Why do you think there is something like that?" My father asked, and I won't deny that the confidence I was feeling while answering earlier questions faded in this one.

Even I didn't know the reason why there were such feelings involved. There was no way, Victoria was Daniel's mate. There had never been a case like that ever. Besides, I am an alpha king and he is an alpha himself, our feelings can't possibly be just attractions.

There was something more to this situation than it was meeting my eyes.

"Okay, you can go now. Go spend some time with your mate. By the way, congratulations on finding your mate. I am hoping you are not gonna neglect your duties as an alpha king because of your new love." My father commented, and I couldn't help but shake my head at his words.

"Also, Alexander. What happened with Laila today, your mother is extremely sorry about that. She didn't have the heart to meet you and your mate after she put you through such an embarrassing ordeal and almost shamed you in front of your mate. I hope you and Victoria can forgive her." My dad said, smiling apologetically.

"Dad, there is nothing to be sorry about. She didn't know that I have found my mate. So, technically I am at fault here. Besides, Victoria is such a sweetheart, she won't take it to heart." I replied.

"You are right! You bastard! You are at fault! Go apologies to her! And here she is crying when it's her son's fault. You better apologize and make her laugh again. I don't want to sleep on the sofa, just because you ruined her mood." My dad exclaimed, making me laugh at his tactics.

"Sure thing dad," I said, closing the door behind me, as I rushed towards my room, to spend some sweet time with my mate.