This was what they meant by tunnel vision. Though I could see people moving and hear voices-perhaps even Alpha Dominic’s-I couldn’t comprehend any of it. Every sound was distorted, as if they were distant and unfamiliar.
Instead, the memories took over. Faces I had tried so hard to erase from my mind reappeared, sharp and vivid. A chipped tooth, a smirk full of arrogance. Draven’s face joined the others, merging with the tormenting images of those I had spent a year trying to forget. I felt the dam inside me begin to crack, the memories pushing, straining to break free.
Panic set in as darkness started to close in around me, narrowing my vision until there was nothing left. The overwhelming pressure, the memories, the fear-it all became too much. And for the first time in my life, I lost consciousness.
Alpha Dominic’s POV
I reluctantly decided to attend this year’s Moon Ball. Once, the search for a mate had been a driving force in my life, but after years of disappointment, I pushed the thought aside. What was once a strong desire had become a mere necessity. To maintain my hold over the pack, having a mate was crucial.
The journey from the Silver Moon Pack to the Blue Moon Pack took only a few hours. I kept my distance until it was time for the ball, savoring the nervous glances thrown my way. Being feared was something I preferred. With a reputation as the most ruthless Alpha, who would dare challenge me?
Both males and females bowed to me, never daring to provoke my wrath.
I took my seat at a large table near the far wall of the canopy, understanding that the Alpha of this pack wanted me as far from the others as possible. I maintained a passive expression, though amusement flickered in my mind. My gaze drifted over the unmated males, watching as they stole frightened glances in my direction. My eyes moved from one female to another, noting the mix of fear and lust in their gazes.
“Do you think she’s here, Alpha?” a deep voice asked from my left. I recognized it without needing to look-my Beta, Luca, who liked to speak his mind often.
“Perhaps,” I replied curtly. Luca knew this was business to me. Last year, he had found his mate, and I watched as she gradually softened him. While he put on a strong front in my presence, the longing in his gaze was unmistakable. The idea of allowing myself such a vulnerability stirred my anger, but I knew that without a mate, control over the Silver Moon Pack would slip away. The pack needed assurance that my heir would one day take on the role of Alpha.
A frown tugged at my lips as I sensed my wolf, Hunter, growing agitated. He paced, shuffled, and whined, causing a dull throb to form in my skull.
“What is it, Hunter?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral despite my confusion.
“I don’t know,” Hunter grumbled, his frustration evident in his quickened pacing.
In an instant, Hunter’s head snapped up, and I was assaulted by a scent unlike any I had ever encountered. Warm notes of vanilla, honey, and cinnamon filled my senses, soothing my headache almost immediately. It was an intricate blend, not easily pinned down to something simple. The creamy vanilla intertwined with sweet honey and strong cinnamon, urging me to find the source.
I stood without hesitation, barely registering Luca’s words as the scent beckoned me forward. My face remained a mask of indifference as I let my nose guide me through the crowd. I hadn’t noticed when the music ceased or when the crowd parted in fear. I cared for nothing except the scent that teased my senses, my wolf urging me forward with an urgency I struggled to control. If not for my restraint, I was certain Hunter would have had me sprinting toward the source.
My eyes locked onto a small figure-a woman-standing five feet away, her gaze fixed on mine as if she had known I was searching for her. Though my expression remained detached, I couldn’t help but notice how delicate she was. Her face held an incredulous expression as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. As I took in her features, her scent consumed my thoughts, and my wolf roared in triumph.
“Mate! She’s our mate!” Hunter exulted, urging me to close the distance, to claim what was rightfully ours.
A surge of emotion unlike any I had ever experienced coursed through me as I looked at her porcelain features. Her small, pink lips formed an ‘o’ as if she had just realized who I was.
In a move more animalistic than human, I spoke my first words to her, “You are mine.”
I closed the gap between us until only a foot separated us. Her gaze traveled up the length of my body, widening in fear as it met my own. While I remained detached, Hunter whimpered at the thought of our mate being afraid of us. A war raged in my mind-fear was a necessity, a tool to keep others in line, to reduce disobedience and the bloodshed that followed. But as I looked at this small woman-my mate-the fear in her eyes gave birth to an unfamiliar feeling within me, one I couldn’t name.
I stepped back to take her in fully. She was unlike the women who pursued me in my territory-something about her radiated innocence. My eyes traced the curves of her face, her chocolate hair, her pink lips, and finally down to the ball gown she wore. Hunter growled in the back of my mind, his focus on her bare, unmarked neck.
Her presence captivated both Hunter and me in a way no other woman ever had. I had taken pleasure with women in my pack, but none had ever commanded my full attention as she did. My gaze returned to her face, noting how blue her eyes were-like crystal-clear water. Her cheeks flushed red, and I made a mental note of how she looked in that moment. Hunter’s desires, my own, and the reality of the situation churned in my head.
“What is your name?” I asked, needing to know what this little woman called herself.
She seemed frozen under my gaze, her eyes reflecting an internal struggle. My patience began to wane-I needed to know her name. If pressed, I would blame it on my wolf, but a part of me genuinely wanted to hear her voice.
“I asked you a question, little mate,” I repeated, my tone growing impatient, almost angry. I fought to reign in my irritation, not wanting to scare her.
“Katarina, my name is Katarina,” she replied, her voice as delicate as a bell. I was surprised by the steadiness of her tone, given her previous fear.
“Katarina,” I repeated, savoring the feel of the name on my tongue as I gazed into her startled yet confused eyes. I couldn’t help but wonder if she knew who I was. Judging by the earlier fear in her eyes, I assumed she did.
“Do you know who I am?” I asked, curious if she had heard the countless rumors about me and my pack. I felt no remorse that many of those rumors were true-fear kept enemies at bay, and ruthlessness dealt with the few that remained.
“I do,” she answered softly, her eyes still locked on mine. Out of habit, she bit down on her lower lip, nibbling it nervously. I watched with curiosity while Hunter filled my mind with vivid images. My eyes darkened as Hunter fought the urge to mark our mate then and there, regardless of the bystanders.
I turned my back to her and instructed her to follow me as I led her back to the table where I had been sitting. Her pace was slow, which wasn’t surprising given her small stature.
I slowed my steps to match hers, feeling Hunter’s excitement at being so close to our mate. Without resisting the urge, I glanced down at Katarina and was surprised to find her looking up at me, a strange emotion clouding her eyes. As I took my seat, I found myself wondering what was going through her mind.
While part of me wanted to learn more about this woman who had entered our lives, another part knew this was merely a means to an end. I never expected nor desired happiness from this bond. The rumors surrounding me were enough to scare anyone away, and I was fine with that. My priority was ensuring the future of my pack, and having a mate was the most straightforward way to achieve that.
I noticed how close Katarina stood to me, her crystal eyes darkening as her wolf struggled for control. My curiosity piqued, I wondered what thoughts were causing her wolf to react so strongly.
“We’ll be leaving for my territory tomorrow morning,” I informed her, curious about her reaction. She looked into my eyes for several moments, and I allowed myself to get lost in her clear gaze. After what felt like minutes, her brows furrowed, and her nose crinkled as she processed my words. Her response took me by surprise, though I kept the emotion hidden.
“I need to say goodbye to my family and friends. I’ll return shortly,” she said, her voice ringing like a bell. Blood rushed to her cheeks, tinting them a rosy color. I wondered how often she blushed-how often her thoughts caused this reaction? It intrigued me that she didn’t seek my permission, only informing me of her decision. Hunter protested, not wanting our mate anywhere but with us. I looked into her eyes, confident she wouldn’t try to run. If she did, she’d soon learn that I relished the chase.
“Don’t stray too far, little mate,” I responded, my voice laced with amusement. My eyes darkened as Hunter and I watched our mate in her ball gown. I kept my gaze on her as she walked away and into the crowd. With each step, Hunter grew more agitated.
“Keep an eye on her,” I ordered one of my pack members. Hunter’s anxiety flooded my mind, knowing that no one could protect our mate better than we could.
I sat lost in my thoughts when a foreign sensation washed over me-fear. Pure, unadulterated fear.
My eyes widened in shock as I tried to locate the source of the emotion.
When I realized the fear wasn’t mine, my blood turned to ice. I grabbed Luca, ordering him to follow me as I let her creamy scent guide me to her.
Luca trailed behind me as I stepped outside, rounding the side of the tent. What I saw was almost too terrible to believe.
My mate was pinned against a tree, her wrists bound above her head. Someone was forcing her dress up, and the horrifying realization hit me like a tidal wave. Before Luca could react, I had seized the assailant by the throat.
My vision was suffused with red as I and Hunter took control. In one swift, fluid motion, I slammed the attacker to the ground, pinning him on his back. I drove my fist into his face, savoring the satisfying crunch of his nose breaking.
“Katarina, are you alright?” I asked, my voice unnervingly calm. I turned my head slightly to see her face. A bruise was already forming on her cheek, igniting my fury further. I glanced at her bound wrists, knowing they too would be bruised. Despite my inner turmoil, I met her gaze and saw the tears welling up in her eyes. The sight of someone harming such a small, innocent person made my blood boil. This boy would learn quickly not to cross me. His punishment would be slow and inevitably fatal-there was no doubt in my mind.
A crowd began to gather, their horrified gazes fixed on me, but I paid them no mind. Eventually, another Alpha approached, his eyes fixed on the broken boy. The Alpha’s expression revealed a desire to protect him, but I wasn’t about to allow that. This mutt had dared to violate what was mine.
The red haze that had overtaken my vision remained as I glared at the other Alpha, who understood that not only would I fulfill my threat, but I would also revel in it. I would not only take the boy’s life but also the Alpha’s, seizing control of his pack in the process. The man, filled with fear and pity, left the boy’s fate to me.
Suppressing a cruel smile as the boy’s face filled with terror, I spoke calmly, “Grab him.” My wolf was bristling, eager for revenge.
Ignoring the boy, I turned back to Katarina, who was leaning weakly against the oak tree as though it were her last support. Without thinking, I reached out and traced a finger down her cheek. Her wince intensified my rage, and the sparks that shot through me were both startling and unsettling. I quickly withdrew my hand, struggling to find words for the small mate who had stirred emotions in me I hadn’t felt in years. I had long grown indifferent to the idea of a mate, only seeking an heir, but Katarina was breaking down the walls I had meticulously built around myself.
I watched as she tried to move away from the tree, only to falter. Realizing her misstep, she crumpled to the ground without a sound. Swiftly, I caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her in my arms. The sparks of connection that surged through me were intensely gratifying.
Overwhelmed by a flood of emotions, I fought to regain control. Hunter was already deeply enamored with her, and I struggled to reinforce the barriers I had erected around myself. There was no way I would let this small, vulnerable creature be my undoing. I had ended the lives of men far larger and more vicious than her-why should she affect me so deeply? She would soon learn that in the Silver Moon Pack, I am the Alpha, and my word is law.
After a few steadying breaths, I approached what I assumed to be her family. They looked up at me with horror, understanding the fate that had befallen their child.
“Show me to your house,” I ordered the man who seemed to be her father, my gaze cold and unyielding as I carried his silent daughter in my arms.