...

Dimitri

I remained as still as a rock as I stared at the spot on my mates neck which I had just marked. Binding her to me irrevocably.

I watched her take shallow breaths as we both waited for me to speak. Words had failed me during this moment. Logic came rushing back into my head instead of where it had been lying in my neither regions not moments before the lead up to this colossal mistake I had just made. Had I forgotten the absolute danger my being with her posed?

Yes, I obviously did because not only did I not turn my beautiful mate away again for the second time, like I should have. I had made love to her and mated with her in the space of a few hours.

How could I have been so stupid?

The reason why I am in this mess in the first place, where I had no other option but to turn her away was because of my father's warning. His reaction when he passed away during the council meeting unnerved me. He pointed towards our council as if they themselves were the true threat and NOT the wolf who had put me into this cave in the first place.

She was not safe here with me and I needed her to leave.

But staring into those wonderful eyes that shone like diamonds, i was lost in her beauty and innocence. Her eyes held the question..

where do we stand now that we are both mated to one another?

I had bound her to me in every way and with that thought I immediately closed our mind link.

The last thing I needed right now was to feel her emotions or for her to read and hear mine. I threw the blanket towards her to offer her some coverage from my wanton gaze and stood from the spot we had both been lying together not moments before. Her mouth dropped open and I rolled my shoulders, checking for any breaks to see if her ministrations last night had helped in her attempt to heal me. It appeared like it had.

I guess I have to turn into the bad guy again now.

I sighed and mentally prepared myself to be the bastard I knew I could be.

The one she didn't deserve.

*******

Violet

Happiness and acceptance. Those two words were alien to me. The feelings they evoked unsettled me but gave me hope. I had known the touch of my mate and it was beautiful. Our link allowed me access into his mind and I was curious as to what I had found there. I felt his love. I felt his need to shower me with protection. So to look upon his face now, After he had marked me was troubling.

Why was he so startled and frightened? You would think I was some sort of demon. He acted like my touch burned him as he threw the blanket we had shared towards me and began to rise to his feet. He proceeded to cut off our already new and fragile link to his mind but it was no use. I had already caught fractions and pieces of his jumbled and panicked thoughts which he was trying so hard to conceal from me. He was not as disgusted with our mating as I had thought, rather, he was worried for my safety.

But what was it that scared him so?

Feeling self conscious I re dressed myself in between the awkward silence which now permeated the air between us. You could cut the tension with a knife. Deciding to allow him to speak first the silence only ensued. Before long I started to feel my heart beating painfully in my chest.

Fear, uncertainty and apprehension built. I feared he would reject me again and feared that what had transpired between us was now regretful to him. My insecurity peaked when I watched him turn to slowly face me again. I searched his face in earnest. But the face in front of me was not the Mate who had just made love to me, nor the mate who held me like some precious treasure.

This Demitri was the Alpha of RedFang pack and not MY mate as he had been moments before. I lowered my eyes to the ground and felt my anger simmering, it started to boil over and I took a deep and calming breath to prevent myself from saying something we would both regret. The look on his face was clear. I clenched my fists together and waited for the inevitable rejection (Round 2). In a bored tone he said...

"Try not to think too much into what we did here, you'll only give yourself hope where there is none".

His casual demeanor and words tipped me over the edge but he continued nonetheless..

"I think we should be clear about where we stand.... or not for that matter".

I searched his face to find him completely un bothered and if it was possible, his second rejection was worse than the first. But I still needed some answers. This time I would not run away. I would face him square on. He was an Alpha... but so was I!

"This was a mistake and it will never happen again"

I nodded my head in agreement and ensured that my eyes were reserved. Holding no trace of emotion so as not to reveal how painful his words were to me.

"Agreed. You should go back to Milly and your unborn pup".

I popped the 'P' at the end of pup and couldn't help the jealousy behind it. His eyes were the only indication that he caught my meaning and he sent me a playful smirk that was ripe for smacking straight off his face.

"No one asked you to come here, so remember that".

He turned around again and began to dress himself whilst he continued his monologue. You would have thought we were merely discussing the weather. His blatant disregard for my feelings and his non challance manner left me dumbfounded. He acted like I was rag that no longer suited his purposes and he was ready to throw me out!

"If you thought that my momentary weakness by accidentally biting you would automatically make you my pack's Luna, then you are sorely mistaken. A male 'Mate' is compelled to bind their female to them during rutting. As I said, it was nothing more than that".

"Rutting"? I spat and my eyes went wide with a promise to rip out his throat with the way he described our love making.

He coughed to clear his throat and turned to look at me again.

"Sorry....

He laughed to himself.

"I meant fucking".

I stilled before attacking him.

I flew across the small space between us and grabbed his throat. He went soaring across the floor as I pinned him against the caves wall. Trapping him between myself and the rock. His eyes widened at the strength I possessed and at my sudden attack and once he recovered from his shock his large hand engulfed the wrist of the hand gripping his neck and he reversed our positions against the wall as he threw his full weight behind throwing me to the side of him. I kicked out at his prominent leg and we both went down onto the floor and continued our grapple for dominance.

He growled between breaths...

"ENOUGH VIOLET"!

But I refused to listen. My one and only goal was to end this mutherfucker who had just insulted me. He was defending himself and his only goal was to subdue me. He didn't make an attack of his own. He was strictly trying to refrain me from hurting us both in my rage.

I tackled him and we rolled carelessly across the floor. Straight over the blanket and bedding I had made for him earlier and straight into the small bowls of food and gas fire. He kicked the fire away to prevent it from burning me as we turned but I grabbed his hair back to expose his throat. I punched him in the stomach and his growling increased. His eyes went from startled to anger and he pinned me beneath him, and trapped my arms by my sides, cutting off my movements and any other attack I might make.

When we settled down and I stopped trying to fight against him all we could hear was our ragged breaths.

'This is why you cannot be Luna. Your uncontrollable".

"I will never be controlled by anyone, least of all you". I shouted.

I beared my teeth in response and he did the same. Two Alpha wolves who had taken enough of the others shit meant that this situation was a dangerous one for the both of us. Especially if we could not control our wolves from surfacing.

Layla was well and truly prepared to come out at a moments notice and i struggled to keep her at bay. She wanted to defend us and show our mate our worth.

"I regret ever saving your life".. I said and in that moment I meant it.

His eyes softened slightly and if I was not mistaken I saw a little hurt in there too. But I brushed that off and saw how he recovered quickly from my strong words. He grinned.

"Well I'm not, considering how much fun I got out of it all during my recovery".

I snarled and my face started to shift partly. Layla was forcing her shift on me and Demitri's eyes went wide with panic. If I shifted in this cave his wolf would do the same. With the limited amount of space we had.. one of us would die for sure.

He backed up and stepped away from me. Giving me a few moments to internally calm Layla the fuck down. I stared daggers into him from my position on the floor and quickly righted myself to stand in front of him. I was his equal and he knew that now.

"Go back to Bloodstone Violet and back to that Beta of yours. Leave my territory and don't ever let me see your face again"!

He turned around and walked out of the cave. Leaving me in a whole lot of pain.

How did it come to this?

********

Demitri

Pulling myself up the ledge of the cliff I sat on the side and overlooked the trees below me. The sun was high in the sky at this point so I gathered it must be around midday. Violet was still in the cave below me and had yet to come out. I felt like absolute shit. I wanted nothing more than to go back into that cave and kiss the hell out of my fiery Luna, but I couldn't. I wanted to tell her so badly that Milly's child was not my own, but I couldnt. The look of pure hatred in her eyes I doubt I will ever forget. I let out a tired sigh and began to rise to my full height. I was torn between going back to Violet begging for her forgiveness and returning to my pack to protect them. After the 'Rogue King's' attack yesterday I needed her as far away from my territory as possible. The only problem I now faced was the fact that I had stupidly marked her.

She now had complete access to my mind and to the rest of the pack. She could recall their memories and have complete control and authority over them as Luna, if she so wished. I cursed myself and my momentary lapse of judgement. I would need to be alert at all times and make sure that the wall I had bridged as a barrier between our minds never fell. If it did, she would know everything. I began the 20 minute journey on foot back to my pack and listened to the sounds of the animals all around me.

Last night was a dream. It was everything I thought it would be with my mate and more. When I had made friends with Violet when we were children I could never have imagined what she would end up meaning to me as an adult. I could never foresee the absolute marvel she would become. She was an Alpha through and through. I smiled to myself when I recalled our tussle in the cave. How she fought with absolute vigour. She was one hell of a shewolf and would indeed be the perfect Luna to the strongest pack in this continent. The Moon Goddess was never wrong.

I tensed as I recalled some of the things I said to her....

As the forest became less dense and I saw the beginnings of my packs borders and buildings come into view I straightened my back and walked faster. I noticed my newly appointed Beta Matthew in the distance. He sniffed the air around him and locked eyes with me. I saw relief in them as he ran towards me.

"Alpha.... where have you been? We've been looking for you"!

His tone was accusatory but he did seem slightly panicked. He sniffed me to ensure I was indeed ok since the last time anyone had seen me I was running after the 'Rogue King' himself. He must have smelt the recent mating on me too and perhaps even the faintest smell of our previous pack member Violet, but if he did, he didnt say anything about it.

"I'd rather not talk about it" I said dismissively.

Genuinely just wanting to go back to the pack house and drink away my sorrow. I knew that my warriors must have searched for me all night and without Violet mending me back to health I'm sure I would have died. But Matthew did not need to know that. I went to walk passed him but he blocked my path...

"Alpha, I have news to report to you. You had closed off your mind link so I was unable to inform you of the news we received this morning during your absence". He said.

I threw my head back and looked towards the sky.

Great!

Something else I'll have to deal with.

"Well then, spit it out". I said exasperated already. I could tell that Matthew was a jobs worthy Beta already and would most probably be the greatest pain my ass. He would leave no stone unturned, but maybe that was a good thing.

"Bloodstone pack was attacked by the Rogue King not 5 days ago. Their Alpha and Luna have all but perished". His eyes were worried.

I stiffened but allowed him to continue.

"Survivors from the pack made it here this morning and they look worn out and tired. I had the women of the pack give them medical attention and food."

I was shocked. Alpha Liam and his Luna were both dead?

"The survivors have one hell of a story to tell Alpha. I asked them to wait in your office".

I nodded in agreeance. But panicked when I remembered telling Violet to return to Bloodstone. She must not know what had happened!

"Matthew, I need you do something for me. Find Violet Hayes and keep her safe".

His eyes widened as awareness came to him. His eyes were questioning so I decided to be be truthful and trust him.

"Yes, she is my Mate... I need her safe and at this moment, I can only trust you with this task. Bring her back to me".

He nodded and left.

I began the journey up the road into my pack house. Nodding to my pack along the way as they bowed in respect to their Alpha. As I reached the doors to my office I spotted Beta Richard waiting for my arrival. He stood straight as I approached. He bowed his head to me.

"Where is Beta Matthew"?

"He is completing a task for me". I said and he nodded.

Motioning towards the door of my office I said "what's the situation"?

He gave me a pointed look.

"I think you should find out for yourself Alpha... but it's not good". He said.

Opening the door to my office I looked over at how few pack members there seemed to be left of Bloodstone. Is this all that is left?

So few had survived then?

If this was all that was left it was an absolute travesty. One of the members stepped forward and bowed their head in respect to me and my position.

"You are safe here in RedFang. Please rest easy in the knowledge that we will take care of you. Tell me everything that happened so that we may avenge our fallen brothers".

I meant it too. Alpha Liam and I were not exactly friends but we were not enemies. He housed and sheltered my mate and for that I was grateful. I would avenge his pack for both him and his Luna. Even though I had never met Luna Anya, I had heard that she was indeed a kind woman.

"We had no where else to come Alpha Demitri. Our pack was attacked and we are all that's left. My name is Miriam and behind me are my brother's and our little sister here is Peggy".

I looked down towards her feet and nearly gasped at the sight of the child quivering in freight.

"Our Beta had turned Rogue and betrayed our Alpha. He allowed the Rogues to kill our families. Only we escaped"

My jaw went slack at her testimony.

"Beta Alec" ? I asked

She looked to the floor and nodded solemnly.

THE Beta Alec? The wolf whom Violet was seeing?

I clenched my fists in anger. To think I sent her back to him thinking she would be safe. I had to pray now that Matthew could get to her before she made her way back to Bloodstone. Fear gripped my chest as I turned to look at Beta Richard. She was in danger now and she was falling straight into the arms of a man I told her to take as her mate.

When I get my hands on him.

I'll kill him!