"You're the most unprincipled, mean, and selfish creature I've ever met. Is this how wolves treat their mates?" I couldn't hide the disdain in my voice, giving him a stern look.
In that tense moment, time seemed to stand still. Fear and doubt pulsed through me, casting our future in a dark shadow. The wolves might have triumphed, reducing our once-mighty empire to ruins, but their thirst for power and control remained insatiable.
Their eyes weren't just set on the throne. They coveted a living trophy… me!
"If fighting for what's rightfully mine makes me mean and selfish, then so be it. You're my mate, plain and simple."
I resisted the urge to wipe that infuriatingly playful smirk off his face. He was utterly unhinged. Who could possibly love him?
"And don't think for a second I didn't try to play by your precious 'rules.' I promised to do anything for you. It's you who underestimated me. Serpents might make grandiose vows, but wolves? We honor our word. You dared me. Do you have any inkling of the reckoning my father put me through? For six long months, my wolf has been howling, restless. Doesn't your serpent coil and hiss in the same way? How can you not feel it? It's unfair."
I stared at him, my heart pounding in my chest. I could see the truth in his eyes. He was hurting, just like me. But he couldn't care less about our status. He was determined to have me, no matter the cost.
I didn't know what to do. I was afraid of him. The way he cut to the heart of the matter, and he didn't mince words was intimidating. He wasn't afraid of chasing what he desired. And it was drawing me to him in a strange way. I had never met anyone like him before.
"What do you want from me?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He smiled, but his eyes were still haunted. "I want you to be mine," he said. "Completely and utterly."
The air felt charged with tension, the weight of our intertwined destinies heavy. The mist fragrance of soil and rain was replaced by the acrid scent of iron and gunpowder.
Hundreds of pairs of eyes gawked at Alpha Wei Zhang, flanked by his formidable Beta, Byun, their presence casting a shadow over the desolation.
"No! This can't happen. I reject you!" My voice was a blade, sharp with mortification. I knew it might have stung, but he didn't show a hint of pain or surprise at the rejection. His smugness remained infuriatingly intact. AND I WANTED TO SMACK HIM.
I heard terrified gasps. Might be Ziva or Kiera or maybe Nyssa. But it was a confirmation that what I was witnessing wasn't a hallucination. It was real. He was here!
"Oh, I am so heartbroken!" His arrogant ass seemed to find it amusing. A mocking chuckle danced against the back of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine as his lust-filled eyes took a once-over. "Unfortunately, this isn't how it works in Xi City. Sera!"
He took two steps forward, making me stumble nearer the edge. Mechanically, the three ladies mimicked my actions while I squeaked out. "What do you mean?" I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest. Alpha Wei Zhang was closer than I thought. I could feel his power radiating off of him.
He smiled at me, his eyes dark and intense. "You can't reject me," he said. "We're mates."
I shook my head. "No. I won't be your prize. Stay away from me! Or else…"
Alpha Wei Zhang's eyes smirked, waiting for me to finish the sentence. Or else…what could an abandoned Serpent do?
He stopped a few paces away. Putting his hands on his hips, he sighed—as if sucking in my fragrance. What a creep!
"My wolf needs you," he said, leaning closer. "He can't live without you. You know, recognizing a mate among us can be quite the challenge, Seraphine. And let me not get started on how wolves' mating process works. Unlike the serpents, it's more… direct for us. We physically mark our mates, mate with them, and keep them close. We don't shy away from keeping our mates occupied, often confining them to the bedroom for at least a week. So, staying away from you is the furthest thing from his mind, Luna."
His tone dripped with taunting amusement, the confidence of the Alpha radiating from every word as he advanced. I instinctively edged further back, desperate to put some distance between us. Meanwhile, the ladies behind me let out a chorus of protests, but their voices fell on deaf ears. In fact, the Beta and his entourage seemed to roll their eyes at the spectacle. The absurdity of the situation wasn't lost on anyone.
"Also, in our realm, we hold the Goddess's command in the highest regard. Rejection simply isn't an option. And now that your world exists no more, you'll need to abide by the rules of mine."
Violet. His eyes were a mesmerizing shade of violet. It seemed to pierce through the chaos, commanding attention even in the midst of turmoil. They bore into me with unfathomable depth that made me shiver.
A magnetic force within me yearned to leap into his arms, feeling the strength of his veiny embrace. Those arms, powerful and capable, had likely wielded the weapons that shattered my world. His uniform was a testament to his authority, pristine and regal amidst the surrounding desolation.
"I am not your mate." I huffed out like a stubborn little girl. It was so embarrassing that I considered choosing Ziva's suggestion of jumping over the cliff and getting done—once and for all!
He laughed, pinching my puffed-out cheek as his voice sliced through the tense air, a mixture of arrogance and triumph lacing his words. "You are and always were Seraphine. No matter how far you want to run, how deeply you want to bury yourself, fate has a funny way of circling things, doesn't it?"
I stood my ground, defiance blazing in my eyes. "Don't mistake destiny for consent, Alpha. I'll never be yours willingly."
His lip curled into a predatory smile, his gaze unyielding. "Oh, I wouldn't expect anything less from you, my fiery mate. But mark my words, fate loves its little tricks, and we're just pieces on its grand board. Trust me, love! I understand your... predicament. The sheer absurdity of it all. Which is why, I believe you deserve a fair chance."
"What are you trying to do here?" I was on my toes, playing my cards carefully. Anything could be a trick up his sleeves.
"A wolf loves nothing more than a game of chase…" I see what he was doing. Alpha Zhang was revealing one piece at a time so he could hold
the powerful upper hand.
"Spend a night with me. My wolf craves to let his passion out and...some satisfaction. We will play a game once I've marked you! You get to show me just how much you despise me. Prove how vehemently you long to deny this bond and keep your distance." There was a tantalizing hint of anticipation in his voice as if he relished the challenge.
I scoffed, refusing to let his confidence shake me. "Save your delusions for your bedtime stories, Wei. This game ends with your downfall."
Byun, the ever-watchful Beta, shot me a warning glare, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon. It was a clear signal that any defiance would be met with swift, brutal force.
Wei's laughter echoed through the desolation, a chilling sound devoid of mirth. "You are a spirited one, Sera! It's seductive! I'd relish seeing you try."
He opened his arms wide and closed his eyes as if cherishing the pricky droplets that washed on him fiercely. When his eyes opened again, I nearly gasped at the intensity.
"Run!" He challenged. "Run as far and as fast as you can. I won't chase you, but if this treacherous destiny shoves you back into my arms once again, you're bound to me for the worse."
With his advancement, his presence loomed like a specter of doom as if he couldn't resist the opportunity to twist the knife further. His voice, a smug undercurrent of mockery, sliced through the charged air.
"I know you burn with hatred for me but your serpent is melting inside," he sneered, his tone dripping with cruel amusement, "I know it's the same torture for you. And maybe I should set you free. Sera, I'll release you from this bond after marking. But remember, if our paths cross again, you'll bear my pups until you can bear no more. It's a fate you won't escape."
The audacity of his proposition left me seething. "You overestimate your allure, Alpha. The day I willingly bear your pups is the day hell freezes over."
As he turned to leave, I couldn't help but let my own venomous words hang in the air. "We'll see about that, Alpha. The game is just beginning."
Wei's laughter echoed a harsh sound that grated on my nerves.
He nodded. "That's fair."
We stood there in silence for a moment, watching each other. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew that my life would never be the same again.
"WHATEVER HAPPENS," I yelled at top of voice as I inched closer to the cliff. "YOU CANNOT MARK ME IN THIS LIFE TIME."
The air engulfed around as I closed my eyes and awaited the river to swallow me the whole.