River
"Dammit," I said kicking the desk in my office. I couldn't believe that Sapphire was acting this way. She's my mate she should understand better than anyone that I am an alpha and it's in my nature to seek power.
I understood that it was her former pack and that she cared for her family and friends, but I had been after that land for years. There was no way in hell I was going to just forget about it.
I wanted to make her happy. I just didn't know how. Not going to war was not an option, so I was at a loss. I would just have to pray that she would forgive me once this was all over. She had to, she was my mate, she wouldn't leave me. At least I hoped not.
"Alpha we got trouble," my Beta Mark mind linked.
"What is it?" I demanded.
"Looks like the party started early. They have warriors lining the border."
"Call all fighters and have them secure it. Kill anyone who tries to get through. I'm on my way."
I shifted and ran to meet them. If it was a war they wanted, it was a war they would get.
"Luke make sure Sapphire is safe. Don't let her leave by any means. If she so much as puts a toe out of that house I will kill you."
Luke was my Delta. Since I needed everyone else he was the strongest I could trust.
"Yes alpha," he replied. When I got to the border blood was already being shed. I immediately thought of Sapphire. This was what she was trying to avoid.
From the looks of it we were winning. For some reason it didn't give me a thrill like I thought it would.
I had to kill a couple of wolves before I finally came face to face with the alpha.
I showed my teeth wanting him to surrender. He growled as if saying over his dead body.
He charged at me and pinned me down. I kicked him off and he flew a few feet and hit the ground hard.
When he got on his feet we circled each other sizing one another up. He came at me again and I dodged making him hit a tree. I got back up and I could tell his wolf had taken over completely. His eyes were pitch black. I had to kill him quickly.
I charged at him and he bit into my left shoulder. It hurt but I didn't let it show. When he lunged again I took my opportunity.
He was quick but I was quicker. I sunk my teeth into his neck hard, but not hard enough to kill him just yet. I would give him one last chance to submit. He tried to bite me and I knew all hope was lost.
I bit down with all my strength and tasted blood and bone. He was dead. I took a look around and saw all the dead bodies and wolves still fighting. I howled in victory, but also sorrow. I finally understood what Sapphire meant. I didn't want things to be this way. All of the years of conquest and trying to become the strongest alpha in the world didn't seem to matter as much, not when I had her.
As I howled everyone stopped fighting knowing that it was over. Their alpha had fallen and their territory now belonged to me.
I ran back to the pack house after telling Mark to round up all the survivors from the other pack and take them to the dungeons. I had to see Sapphire. I grabbed some shorts and shifted back.
When I walked in she was lying on the couch crying. From the look on Luke's face she had tried to escape.
"Don't come any closer, " she said not bothering to look at me.
"Angel please just hear me out," I begged. She didn't say anything so I took that as an okay.
"Look I know your upset. I want you to know I finally heard you. I was angry at first that you would act the way you did. I didn't want to accept the fact it made sense.
When I saw all that blood out there it dawned on me that you were right. It was senseless to risk all those lives for territory.
I fought in wars before, most of them I started. I have seen plenty of blood, but never has anyone made me second guess my very nature.
I didn't want to hurt you Sapphire but I realize I did. I started this war. I don't know how many family members and friends you lost out there and I didn't care before now. All of this is because of me. What I'm asking is, can you ever forgive me?"
I was prepared to do anything to gain her trust and show her I wasn't a heartless tyrant. We hadn't known each other long and I could only imagine what she thought of me. I held my breath as I waited for her answer.