224

Book:Fated to the Alpha Published:2024-6-3

“Kat, come here,” Ezra murmurs, pulling me toward him, so Mateo is also kneeling in front of me as well. This is my first time witnessing something like this. I have never seen this done before but have read about it in history books, it is not the norm when it comes to Alpha’s. And it certainly isn’t the normal for mates to strip titles from one another. Mateo was born with Beta blood. Ezra marking him gave Mateo his DNA, making Mateo Alpha along with him. And, from what I have heard of title stripping, it is quite painful. Also, if the other Alpha isn’t willing, it could kill them because then it would become a battle of wills on who is forced to submit to whom.
Mathias comes over with a chalice, holding it, standing next to Ezra. Ezra takes a blade from his pocket and runs it down his palm before making a fist above the cup. His blood runs into the chalice. People start whispering amongst themselves, and Ezra growls. Maddox comes forward, his eyes turning onyx. Maddox, I can feel, is annoyed by his deep gravelly voice ringing loudly above them. “Anyone have a problem? Step forward now and speak against my decision,” Maddox challenges, and they all drop to their knees, his Alpha Aura rolls out. He grabs my arm, holding me upright. He leans down, his voice next to my ear. “Do not bow to me,” Maddox growls, his grip forcing me to remain standing as I feel his Aura rush over me.
I may be his Luna, but in the hierarchy, the Luna will still be overthrown by her Alpha. Mateo seems completely unaffected, being he was also a male Alpha for now and not a Luna, but the effect on me makes my stomach churn. Mateo grips my knee, looking up at me apologetically.
Finally, Maddox lets the challenge go, and I see everyone visibly relax, Mathias stands back up beside Ezra with shaky hands. Maddox turns to look at him. ” Are you okay? I am sorry about that,” Maddox apologizes.
“It’s ok, Alpha,” Mathias says breathlessly.
Maddox retreats, giving Ezra back control, and Ezra turns to me. “Sorry, Love,” he whispers before grabbing my hand. I flinch, tugging my hand back, but his grip tightens. “You need to do this,” Ezra tells me, and my eyes dart to Mateo. He looks away guiltily. Ezra’s thumb opens my hand, pushing my clenched fingers away from my palm. “Look at me, not what I am doing,” Ezra orders me, yet my eyes are on the blade in his hand. “Kat?” Ezra warns, but no one wants to be sliced. Ezra steps closer, leaning down to whisper to me. “He wants this. We can do this for him.” Ezra tries to convince me, and I nod my head, chewing the inside of my cheek. Ezra rubs his thumb over my palm. Reluctantly, I open my hand and he exhales. “That’s my Luna,” Ezra says, winking at me before dragging the blade across my palm.
I hiss at the sting, and he turns my hand, squeezing my hand into a fist above the chalice. Both Ezra and Mateo hiss, and I know it’s because of my link to them, forcing me to heal. Mateo’s bloody hand dripped on his pants as they both healed me.
Mathias hands the cup to Ezra, who then tilts Mateo’s chin-up to look up at him. “Pledge and renounce your title,” Ezra orders.
“I, Mateo Leo Calder, renounce my title of Alpha of Black Creek Pack and pledge my loyalty as Beta to my Alpha, Alpha Ezra Pierce, and my Luna, Katya Hartley,” Mateo recites without missing a beat.
Ezra hands him the chalice before running his fingers through Mateo’s hair, a sad look on his face telling me he doesn’t want to do this. Mateo drinks from the chalice before handing the cup back to Mathias and Ezra.
“I, Alpha Ezra Pierce, denounce your title and appoint you my Beta of the Black Creek Pack” The moment the words leave his lips, Mateo takes in a sharp breath, his entire body trembles, and I can feel his agony through the bond making tears spring in my eyes.
I went to comfort him when Ezra grabs my arm. “You can’t, Kat. He has to endure it,” Ezra mindlinks, his grip moving to my hand and pulling it away from going to touch him.
Mateo’s jaw clenches, his claws slipping from his fingertips, and I feel his title be stripped from him. A few people look away, unable to watch his pain, and it is torture watching my mate suffer when he lets out a breath, sweat dripping onto the sandstone pavement as he stares up at us.
Ezra looks away from his gaze, and swallows before clearing his throat. “Submit!” Ezra growls at him, directing his Alpha voice onto Mateo.
A whimper leaves my lips, and Ezra squeezes my fingers reassuringly. Mateo drops closer to the ground on his hands and knees, baring his neck to Ezra, and Ezra lets out a pent-up breath, dropping the command. I know he didn’t want to do it, and I can see how much it upsets him when Mateo looks up at me, I stare at him, confused when Ezra turns to me.
“Make him submit,” Ezra informs me, and I take a step back as my stomach drops, only for Ezra to gently pull me back.
“It’s ok, babe,” Mateo whispers, smiling up at me, but I shake my head. Mateo reaches up, gripping my other hand, and presses his lips to my fingertips. “Please,” he whispers, and I look away, my voice breaking as I speak the words.
“Submit,” I force out, but I don’t let the full command out, not wanting to hurt him. I beg Kora to do it, but once again I am met with silence, almost as if she isn’t present which usually she always comes forward, especially when our mates are pained or distressed.
“Kat!” Ezra orders me, gripping my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze. “He wants this, now make him submit,” Ezra tells me clearly, and a tear slips down my cheek, which he gently brushes off with his thumb.
I take a shaking breath, and Ezra lets my chin go before I look down at Mateo. “Submit!” I command him. My Alpha voice rolls out clearly, and I hear everyone gasp as Mateo lets go of my hand, dropping back to his hands and knees and bowing his head to me.
“Hold it,” Ezra orders me, and I force myself to hold the command over him until Mateo bares his neck to me. I let out a breath and drop the command. Ezra offers Mateo a hand. “Stand,” Ezra tells him, and Mateo rises, taking his hand. “I give you your Beta, Mateo Leo Calder,” Ezra announces, and people clap and bare their necks to Mateo. Ezra grips the back of his neck, pressing his forehead to Mateo’s. “You’re lucky I love you, because I hated doing that,” he growls softly at Mateo, whose chest is rising and falling with each pained breath.
“Thank you,” Mateo whispers back to him when Ezra presses his lips to Mateo’s stealing anymore words. Mateo seems shocked at his public display of affection in front of the entire pack, but he answers the kiss by kissing him back before pulling away. Mateo tugs me to him, pressing his face into my neck and inhaling my scent. “I’m sorry, I made you do that,” Mateo whispers before pulling back and kissing my tear-stained cheeks.
I nod, pressing my face against his chest. Listening to the soft thumping of his heartbeat, I let the noise calm my racing heart. “I love you,” I whisper to him before looking up at him.
“And I love you,” he whispers, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine softly. Pulling back, Mateo has a smile on his lips. “Now we are both Fated To The Alpha,” he chuckles.