ALPHA XANDER’S POV
I left the banquet hall, the noise and laughter fading behind me as I stepped out into the cool night air. The few pack members suggested we go back after the meeting with Alpha Jameson, I regretted it instantly. I exhaled a breath of relief as I escaped the crowded room, the constant chatter and fawning of the other wolves grating on my nerves.
As I walked down the path, my thoughts turned to Adriana. I had to admit, I was taken aback by her beauty. I've heard of it but I never thought it was that accurate. People tend to overhype things, there was nothing overhyped about her. Her long golden hair that reached her waist, and crystal blue eyes captivated me from the moment I laid eyes on her. My body reacted in a way it has never done to another woman, and I’ve seen a lot of them.
She was my fated, I knew from the moment but I brushed it off. It wouldn't be wise to let anyone know just yet. That would just put a target on her back and that would be stressful for me. The wolves might get ideas into their head.
The reluctance in her eyes were clear, the way she seemed to shrink back when her father presented her to me. It was clear that she didn't like me, that she was unhappy about being forced into this marriage. I’ve heard the things that were said about me, she was right to be worried. I couldn't deny the horrendous things I've been accused of doing as most of them were true. I just didn't feel like explaining my reasoning. If they feared me for that, then all the better.
That is why I didn't blame her or push her, I suppose. I kept our physical contact to a minimum. Her wolf might have recognized me as her mate, though she is young. It might take her a while longer. I understood she had a right to be scared, to downright fight this. I was a powerful Lycan king, and she was just a young wolf with no say in her own future.
My duty to my pack and my kingdom was the main reason I agreed to this, and maybe make her join my harem. Her beauty was unmatched and that is good. I hadn’t planned for a mate and I wasn’t ready to settle for one, but I've been alive for centuries and I guess it is time I find someone to rule beside me. I just had not thought it would be a wolf. It didn’t mean I would let go of her though. She was MINE.
She may not agree with the alliance now, but she’ll be willing soon enough. My cock twitched at the thought of having her in my mine, making her mine in every way possible.
I had just reached the end of the path when I heard a commotion behind me, the sound of footsteps pounding on the grass. I turned just in time to see Alpha Jameson running towards me, his face contorted with fear, desperation reeked off him like cheap cologne.
"Alpha Xavier," he panted, his chest heaving as he came to a stop in front of me. "My daughter, she's gone missing." my head reeled as the words left his mouth, ringing multiple times in my head.
My bride, the woman that has been paraded as mine has gone missing! It was like a punch to the gut, the shock and utter disbelief coursing through my veins. My mind raced as I tried to think of what the hell must have happened.
How could this have happened, how could she have gone missing with all the security littering this place?
I turned to Alpha Jameson, walked towards him, and towered over him with a menacing look on my face. He was shaking with fear as I approached. “This was all your plan right?” My jaws tightened. “You planned all this, you planned her escape.” That seemed like the only plausible explanation for this.
“I swear I know nothing about this. She was a bit hesitant at first but that is to be expected, she recently turned eighteen and still thinks like a child, but I know she wouldn’t do that, she has never left this pack.” he kept on rambling. It took everything in me to not punch him in the face. “Maybe she has been kidnapped.” he continued his monologue, his chest heaving as he panted while I tried to rein in my anger.
I took another step closer to him, my voice was low and threatening as I spoke. "You're lying," I said. "I know you had something to do with this. You helped her escape, didn't you?" I snarled while the man shook under the weight of my gaze. If he was claiming she has never left the pack, then how the hell did she go missing.
Someone would have sighted her if she was taken, no one would go in and out of here dragging a woman without anyone being alerted. The only way my warriors would not notify me she is seen with another person is if they recognize them as members of her pack.
Jameson's eyes widened in fear as he shook his head. "No, I swear," he said, his voice shaking. "I had nothing to do with this. I don't know where she is."
I knew deep down that the terror in his eyes was not an act and I thought, maybe he was telling the truth, but I couldn't just believe his word easily, not when my mate is nowhere to be seen and he is the only suspect.
I leaned in closer, my voice low and dangerous as I spoke. "There are two ways this can go, either you tell me where the hell she is and who took her or your entire pack will pay for it, until the day she returns."
Jameson swallowed hard, his eyes darting around nervously. He knew I wasn't bluffing. "I don't know where she might be, alpha." he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Him submitting annoyed me but it also made a sliver of pleasure skate down my spine. It is good to see wolves being put in their place.
“You have to know something!” I snapped, roughing him uf a bit. Fear makes people do all kinds of stupid things. He might say something he shouldn't and that is what I'm looking for right now.
"I can’t think of anything,” he shook his head. “She has never done anything like this, she has always been a good girl. There is a possibility she might have been kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" I repeated, my voice dripping with fury.
“A few other packs have been notified of your betrothal, alpha. That would definitely have enemies swirling around.”
It was the first sensible thing he has said since he got here. I had a lot of enemies, I've made many of them through the course of my life, but I didn’t think they were stupid enough to take something that was mine.
My eyes narrowed and my fists clenched at my sides. Alpha Jameson swallowed nervously. "If she was not taken, I think it is best if we get a search party. The crowd might have overwhelmed her, she keeps to herself most of the time."
That sounded like a good plan, but something told me it wasn't just that. If she had gone out for air, then he wouldn't be here telling me she is lost. He was just being a father, not wanting to believe the worst has happened to his offspring.
I was more realistic and that was both a blessing and a curse. I had to accept there was a higher chance she was taken to be used as bait, for the person not to be noticed meant they were good. The possibilities of what might be happening to her were endless. None of which ended with her being fine.
I let out a snarl, my frustration bleeding into anger threatening to boil over. We needed to agree that everything was possible, she might have left on her own, or maybe she was taken. We should be prepared for whatever it may be. Aware that every second we spent talking about this meant her getting farther from us, I stood straighter and fixed my burning gaze on Jameson.
"We will find her." I stated, my tone leaving no room for doubt. “Get your warriors ready and send out a search party. Whomever she is found with should be kept alive, I’m going to be the one to kill them.” he nodded, hanging on my every word like a bitch. God, I hated wolves.
He turned and started to turn back to get started on what I instructed. I called his name, his back stiffened before he stopped and turned. "If I find out you are involved in her escape, you will die," it was a promise. I heard his heart skip a beat before he nodded eagerly and disappeared behind the thick cloth of trees.
I mindlinked Donovan and asked him to assemble the warriors we came with. They couldn’t be more than twelve and that was because of the other notable members of the pack that came with their aides.
He gave me their location which was a bit out of Jameson’s territory. I walked there, hoping my anger would lessen but it only seemed to increase with more time i spent not knowing how she was.
“What happened?” Donovan asked, rushing to me. His eyes wide and looking around frantically. He was hoping Jameson tried some shit so he could wage a war and kill the man. He hated the mutts as much as I did. It was among the few things we had in common.
“My fucking bride has gone missing,” his eyes widened as I speak. "Find out who did this," I commanded, addressing the soldiers standing. "Leave no stone unturned, no leads unexplored. I want every member of the pack searched, every suspect interrogated. We will find out who took her and we will bring her back."
The guards nodded, their faces grim as they turned and left to carry out my orders. I stood there for a moment, my mind racing as I tried to come to terms with what had happened.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the work that this was going to bring. If she had been truly kidnapped, only the Goddess would know what I would do to whoever kidnapped her.
I would make sure they paid in the most horrifying way. Nobody dared touch what belonged to me. Anybody who did so was inviting intense torture and death.
“How the fuck did it happen?” Donovan seemed to only regain his speech then. I didn't have an answer for him so I changed the topic to one that was more concerning.
“Inform Jameson he and his search party have before dawn to present her, or I’ll have his head. I'll start with his two sons.” Donovan nodded, his eyes glinting with slight mischief. He liked violence and anything that would bring wrath to people he disliked.
Since I knew he would deliver my message fairly well, I got into the car and the chauffeur drove off immediately. Donovan was smart to have my car driven out here, he knows I wouldn't want to spend another breathing moment on this Godforsaken place.
A few minutes into the drive, I started to feel uneasy, we were a bit farther from Jameson’s territory. I tried to ignore it but the more we went, the more I grew restless. I gave up soon after and told the driver to follow the untarred road. He knew it would be messy but didn't argue and in the next intersection between trees, turned the car and started up a dirt path.
I rolled down the windows, the smell of damp earth replacing that of the cool leather interior.
A mouth-watering combination of citrus and vanilla that had my cock hardening told me she must have come this way. Her intoxicating scent had planted itself in my head since I laid my eyes on her.
“Stop.” I commanded, making the driver hit the brakes immediately, the car jerked but I held myself back, which stopped me from colliding with the headrest of the front seat.
“I’m sorry alpha,” I didn't listen to the rest of the things he had to say, my mind occupied by the scent I’d perceived.
I sniffed the air, the smell of trees and other things were strong but as the wind hit, I caught a whiff of that citrus and vanilla. I followed it like a dog hound, following a bounty hunter.
I was going to find her.
ADRIANA’S POVI jerked up, feeling someone's presence near me, my heart raced in my chest and I backed away instinctively until I hit the headboard. I didn't even care to let my eyes focus enough to see who was with me, I just felt a presence and immediately my body reacted the best way it knew how. The last time someone entered my room when I was sleeping, they tried to force themselves on me."Don't be afraid, princess," a soft voice whispered, like if he spoke any louder I would sprint. I might. "It’s me, Aiden. I was just checking on you to make sure you were okay." my eyes snapped up and sure enough, the large man was hunched over the bed, looking down at me with worried eyes.I still moved back a little, searching my brain for the memories that seemed vague.I studied him for a moment, trying to steady my breathing as my memories slowly pieced themselves. The party, the lycan king, me running away and feeling dizzy, falling and everything going black, the warrior that gave me fo
ADRIANA’S POV I strain my ears to hear their conversation but I can’t make out what they are saying but they were still talking, they look a bit more aggressive now. I curse and start pacing around the room. Even though I wanted to blame him for everything that was happening, this wouldn’t have happened if he’d just let me go when I told him, before they got here. I knew this would happen. He just didn’t understand, or he didn't want to. I was surprised he still wanted to fight for me instead of turning me in, I was just trouble for him. Their voices get louder, I get up and walk toward them again. It seemed like the guards were trying to search the house. Aiden didn't agree to it and they immediately reach the conclusion that he is indeed hiding something, they try to push over him and he resists. One of them tries to hit him and that causes a fight to break out. I watch in horror as Aiden fights the men, my heart racing as I realize that I am in even more danger now. My feet drag
ADRIANA’S POV My horror at watching the inevitable death of the man who saved me gets distracted by the full moon rising high in the sky. Coming out and shining even more, I didn't know if it was me or that was actually happening but it stood intimidating in the night sky. Like it was reminding us of its presence, as if to say this is being witnessed. I felt a sense of ease, feeling as though the moon had spoken. Telling me I wasn't alone in this. Alpha Xander’s wolf stops for a moment, almost like he was frozen. It only lasts a few seconds before a heart stopping growl ripples from his throat as his body visibly shakes. Xander falls to his knees, the earth around him shaking from the weight of his wolf, he writhes in obvious agony as his bones begin to snap and reshape again. I watch, my eyes wide with horror as a bone protrudes in his back and a guttural sound leaves his mouth, echoing in the night. His body contorts and twists in ways that have something clenching in my lower s
ADRIANA’S POV “He is not my lover. Aiden is just a... a helper!” I say, in a final pathetic attempt to save Aiden’s life. “Please let him go!” I whisper, my voice almost breaking. Alpha Xander says nothing but I notice him grow stiffer, he stares down at Aiden whose feet are off the ground, it wouldn't take much to end him. “Get her, we can’t stay here for too long. It will be dawn soon.” He says to one of the men, inclining his head toward me. The smaller wolf bows then he runs off only to come back a few seconds later in his human form, dressed in low jeans only. He is holding onto another pair of jeans which he drops at the front of the black wolf. He shifts right there, not caring that he is naked and pulls the pants up. He approached me, his eyes trained on my body with his lips turned down in an angry frown. My heart beats frantically in my chest with every step that he takes. Something about him screams danger and instinctively I step back, trying to get as far away from hi
ALPHA XANDER'S POV "Adriana, you will come with me right now. You are not going to stay with Alpha xander until you have been lawfully wedded as is customary." The unmistakable voice filled with frustration echoed through the forest. Alpha Jameson howls, stepping back when a growl begins to sound in my chest. I nearly killed someone some minutes ago. I won't hesitate to switch who the victim is. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Father. I'm staying with Alpha Xander and I trust him to protect me." She lied, which is what piques my interest to listen to their dialogue. "You trust him?" He asked, glancing at me for a second. "Look where that trust will get you. I don't care about what you think, Adriana. You will come with me and that is final." “Yes,” she replies. Her voice doesn't hold much confidence like it first did. I’m surprised he doesnt catch up on that. "You will do as I say, young lady. I am still your father and I know what's best for you." He bellowed, looking seconds
ADRIANA’S POV The adrenaline from the argument with my father still crackles in my blood as the car starts moving. Xander is silently sitting beside me while I try hard not to let any part of me touch him. We are not touching in the slightest but his presence fills the car, making me feel suffocated as I try to hide in the back seat. I’m fully resting on the door though there is still room for me to sit on. Alpha Xander is a big man, yes, but the car is big enough that if I didn't want to touch him, then I wouldn't. I feel his eyes on me even before I turn and when he lays his hand over mine, it curls into a fists completely on its own. My show of bravado in front of my father has gone, the adrenaline is wearing off and my reality is starting to come back to me. I take in a shuddering breath when he entwines our fingers, a soft gasp leaves my lips without my permission when he tugs hard, pulling me into the car more. I have to fight the instinctive need to fight against his hold or
ALPHA XANDER’S POV I was done with my breakfast when Donovan walked into the room, his steps light and his face hard. "We need to talk." He says and I cock a brow, telling him to say what is on his mind but he shakes his head and tilts his head toward the door. I nod understanding what he is saying, he needs to talk about something private. I get up and follow him, a sense of unease settling in the pit of my stomach. Things never end well whenever he sounds like that. My brain has already come up with a thousand different reasons for why he has called me and what he has to say. I don't have to wait for long because as soon as we are inside the office and Donovan closes the door, he turns me. He turns to me with his lips pressed into a thin line,his eyes hard. "Is Adriana your mate?" He asks, his jaws clenched, the impression playing in between his scanty beards. I wonder where this is leading to, I wait for him to continue without bothering to reply to that question. “She is you
ALPHA XANDER’S POV “Alexander, stop!” Donovan’s voice is just a breeze over my ears as I lunge for him. He is quick to slide out of the way. “Just see how you are acting, the old Xander would never try this.” His voice is loud, his words are angry but I don't care. My fingers extend into claws and I go for his jugular. I’m more animal than man, needing to feel his warm blood on my hand with the hopes that it will quench the rage burning within me. My hands sink into the shoulder of his dress shirt and I haul him up, all I can see is red. I drag Donovan up, his protests sounding like nothing to my ears. He is fighting against my hold, unable to free himself.i’m not letting him do it. “You will not speak to me this way.” I growl the command out. He growls in return, getting angry too. I feel his rage burning from within and it spurs me on. I do want this fight. The need to kill him has never been more and deep down, I know this isn't me. Even though he gives me shit sometimes, I k