Alpha Kane's POV:
"I promise you, Alpha Kane, nobody touched Elena," Alpha Samuel said quickly, his voice a mix of pleading and urgency. "Why don't we go together, so I can introduce you to her properly?"
That did it. The mention of seeing her again was enough to tame the beast inside me, at least for the moment. The fury that had been simmering beneath the surface ebbed slightly, replaced by an overwhelming desire to lay eyes on my mate again. The possessive urge to claim what was mine was almost unbearable, but I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm—for now.
"Fine," I growled, narrowing my eyes at Samuel. "But understand this, Alpha Samuel, I'm letting Derick walk away this time. If I even suspect he's still in her life, there will be no second chances."
Samuel nodded vigorously, clearly relieved. "Of course, Alpha Kane, I'll make sure he knows his place. He won't interfere."
I allowed myself a small smirk. "Good."
I turned on my heel, my mind already on Elena, the woman who had unknowingly claimed every part of me the moment our eyes met. As I followed Samuel out of the office, my mind raced. The moment I saw her again, the game would change. I wasn't planning on leaving without her, and I certainly wasn't going to let anyone—even her father—stand in the way of what was mine.
Elena's POV:
"Oh, hell no... Alpha Kane cannot be my mate!" I practically screamed into the empty space around me as I paced up and down the room. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of confusion, anger, and sheer disbelief taking over. How could the Moon Goddess do this to me?
My mom found me pacing like a madwoman, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. "Is it true? Is Alpha Kane your mate?" she asked gently, stepping closer, her eyes wide with shock.
I spun around to face her, my eyes filled with frustration. "Oooh, Mom, I don't want him. I don't want this!" I could feel my throat tightening as I spoke, the panic rising. "How can I love a man that I've resented for as long as I can remember? He's arrogant, a complete narcissist, and a ruthless jerk!" I threw my hands up, my body filled with a restless energy I couldn't shake.
I had spent years hating everything I'd heard about him—the fear he commanded, the way he dominated packs and used his power to manipulate those weaker than him. Now, this same man, Alpha Kane, was supposed to be my mate? The idea was unbearable.
My mom placed a hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away, too agitated to be comforted. "Honey, you don't have to decide anything right away. Fate has a funny way of working things out," she said softly, though I could hear the hesitation in her voice. Even she couldn't hide her unease about this revelation.
I shook my head. "Mom, I can't be with someone like him. He's nothing like what I imagined my mate would be. He's... he's terrifying, and I've seen the way people talk about him. No one wants to cross him, and the way he treats others... how can I submit to someone like that?" My voice broke a little at the end, the reality of the situation hitting me harder with each passing second.
My mom looked at me with understanding, though her own face was lined with worry. "Elena, the bond between mates is something powerful. It's not something that can be explained easily. And while I understand your concerns, maybe there's more to Kane than you know."
I huffed. "More? He's domineering, ruthless, and obsessed with control. I've heard enough about him to know he's not someone I could ever trust with my heart."
But even as I said it, I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward him. It wasn't fair. How could I be fated to someone like that, someone who went against everything I had hoped for in a mate? This was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life—finding my mate, my other half, the person who would cherish me and love me for who I was. Not someone who saw others as tools to be used and discarded.
"I'm not going to just give in," I muttered, more to myself than to my mom, my fists clenched at my sides. "I won't let him control me."
My mom sighed softly. "I know this isn't what you expected, sweetheart. But maybe—just maybe—there's more to him than what you've heard. People are complex, and the bond between mates can bring out the best in both of you."
I shook my head again, my heart in turmoil. I didn't want to believe it, didn't want to accept that this ruthless alpha could ever be the one meant for me. But as much as I hated it, the bond was there, pulling at me, making it impossible to ignore.
"I don't care what the bond says," I finally said through gritted teeth. "I'll fight it if I have to."
But deep down, a small, insidious voice whispered that it wasn't going to be that easy.
"Fate is really a bitch," I muttered under my breath as my mom and I started taking down the decorations. The balloons, streamers, and ribbons that were supposed to celebrate the best day of my life now felt like a cruel reminder of everything that had gone wrong. From a jerk of a boyfriend to an arrogant, narcissistic mate, I couldn't believe this was my life now.
My mom glanced at me, concern evident in her eyes, but she didn't push me to talk. She was giving me space, but I knew I had to get it all off my chest. As we carefully folded the now-useless birthday banner, I finally broke the silence.
"Mom... there's something else," I began, my voice wavering as I forced myself to tell her the truth about Derick. The man I had thought would be my mate, the one I'd spent years with, who had promised me the world—only to shatter it all in an instant.
"What is it, sweetie?" she asked gently, pausing in her task to give me her full attention.
I sighed, feeling the weight of the confession pressing down on me. "Derick... he's already found his mate." Saying it out loud felt like a stab to the heart all over again. "And he rejected her."
My mom's eyes widened in shock. "What? He rejected his mate?" She set down the decorations and moved closer, her hand gently squeezing mine. "Why would he do something like that?"
"Because he's an idiot," I snapped bitterly. "He thinks... no, he believes that we should be chosen mates instead. He wants me to pretend like I'm his fated mate so he can still be the next alpha after Dad." My voice was laced with anger, frustration, and a touch of heartbreak.
The audacity of Derick's plan still made my blood boil. All those years I had thought he cared for me, loved me even. But now, it was all clear—he wanted the title, the power, the status that came with being alpha. And since I was my father's only child, he saw me as his ticket to that throne.
"He told me that we could be chosen mates because he thinks he's the only man fit to be alpha after my father," I continued, shaking my head in disbelief. "As if being with me was some kind of strategic move for him."
My mom's face hardened, her lips pressed into a thin line. "That's absurd," she muttered. "He has no right to ask that of you, Elena. The mate bond is sacred, not something to be manipulated for personal gain."
I nodded, grateful that she understood. "He doesn't care, though. He's obsessed with the idea of being alpha. He doesn't see me, not really. He just sees what I represent—power."
The realization had stung when Derick first laid out his twisted plan, but now it just left me feeling empty. How could I have been so blind? I had always thought that Derick and I were meant to be. The entire pack thought we were fated to each other. But all along, he was just playing a game, and I had been a pawn.
"And now..." I paused, feeling a fresh wave of frustration crash over me. "Now, I have Kane as a mate. From one controlling man to another. It's like fate is laughing at me."
My mom's expression softened, but I could tell she was struggling to find the right words. She didn't like Alpha Kane either, not after everything she'd heard about him. But the mate bond was something neither of us could ignore.
"I know this is hard, Elena," she said softly. "But Kane... he's your mate now. Whatever you decide, just remember that no one can force you to accept him, not even him."
I let out a bitter laugh. "Tell that to the mate bond, Mom. It's not something you can just turn off. And Kane... he's used to getting whatever he wants."
I could still feel that pull deep inside me, that magnetic connection to Kane that terrified me as much as it intrigued me. It wasn't fair. How could the universe think pairing me with the most ruthless, domineering alpha was a good idea?
"He's a narcissistic control freak," I grumbled, my anger resurfacing. "He treats everyone around him like they're beneath him. And now, I'm supposed to just... what? Submit to him? Be the obedient little mate he expects?"
Mom frowned but didn't argue. "You don't have to submit to anyone, Elena. You're strong, just like your father. If anyone can stand up to Kane, it's you."
Her words offered a sliver of comfort, but the reality of the situation weighed heavily on me. I wasn't ready for this. I had wanted my mate to be someone who would love me, cherish me, someone I could trust with my heart. Not a man I had spent years resenting for his ruthlessness.
But here I was, caught between fate and my own heart.
"I just don't know how I'm supposed to do this," I admitted, feeling the tears welling up again. "How can I be with someone like him?"
My mom pulled me into a hug, her arms wrapping around me in a way that made me feel safe, even if just for a moment. "You don't have to figure it all out right now," she said softly. "Just take it one day at a time. And remember, you're not alone in this."
I nodded against her shoulder, though the fear and uncertainty still gnawed at me. One day at a time. That's all I could manage for now.