"What the fuck," Dallan murmured to himself. He jerked his hand away from the knob as if he touched something poisonous. What was he feeling?
His nose quirked and he felt a surge of his wolf. Unintentionally, his claws elongated; his body became hot. He was aware of every single thing going on around him. The voices of the men coming from the lower deck sounded like a conversation being made directly beside him.
"What the fuck," Dallan repeated as his heartbeat increased. How come he could feel all the known signs of a mate?
He looked around to know where the peculiar scent of a female he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with was coming from. All indications pointed towards the door he was standing before.
"What the fuck!" Dallan repeated again, this time frantically. Only one soul he knew could be inside the cabin.
The mermaid!
The fuck! The goddess mated him to a mermaid?!! A low class of specie! He would have done better with even a measly human!
Dallan knitted his brows. His heartbeat accelerated, only this time, it was as a result of anger. By now, their ship had completely left the storm. Now they were sailing peacefully under the soft glow of the moon. The thought of the serenity of the sea did nothing to make Dallan relaxed. All his life, he had always prayed for one thing: to find a mate. Now that the goddess gave him one, he was praying to be mateless throughout his entire long and boring lifetime. That would definitely be better than this... this...
What could he even call it? A mistake of a mate?
Dallan steeled himself and pushed the door open. All his anger flew out of the window.
A beautiful young woman was curled at one corner of the cabin. Her knees almost touched her chest. Dallan could no longer see the tail that proved her mermaid status. All he saw was an extremely beautiful lady with olive skin smooth as ivory. When she looked up, he froze.
He should have just turned back, Dallan realized after setting eyes on her face. She looked too ethereal, too heavenly. Drops of silent tears streamed down her cheeks—slowly. Dallan itched to wipe them off or caress her until she calmed down. His fingers trembled when he saw her recoiling in fear. Did she perceive him as a monster?
Did mermaids always look this innocent and beautiful? Kai had not told anything about this. Dallan had not even bothered to ask about their physical properties except for some funny questions about their tail. Now he was wishing Kai lingered around to answer the load of questions piling on his mind, or simply help in pulling him out of the cabin since his feet seemed to have glued the floorboards. He fisted his hands and slowly approached her.
"Please, don't hurt me..."
Dallan stopped in his steps. Her voice sounded like a spell, drawing him closer, clouding his senses. He knew how spells worked, after all, he had a warlock in his pack.
Only a peach-transparent gown clung to her skin. It made Dallan's mouth water. Her tail was nowhere to be seen. What replaced it existed long and fresh legs appealing to sight—and touch. Dallan knew how soft her skin would feel beneath his touch.
Her pointy nipples pressed to the fabric so hard that he began to crave a taste. Her skin looked too smooth and shiny to classify her as a mortal. It seemed living in the water and coming to land as she pleased had its own advantages.
This is the mate the goddess gave him?
Dallan realized that he had asked himself endless questions in a little span of some minutes. The excited release of adrenaline his wolf kept pumping into his veins and the natural womanly scent pervading his nostrils was not helping his attraction to her. How would he even handle this?
Coming closer, within reach, Dallan could now clearly see her face: dark-as-night hair, face smooth as glass, and lush rosy lips made her look tempting. Under the right light, Dallan knew her eyes would be green. When he was just inches from her, he gave himself a thumbs-up. Truly, her beautiful orbs were green. It reminded him of moments when he would run around in a forest filled with just the natural colour of leaves and vegetation.
"What is your name?" Dallan asked the first reasonable question that entered his mind. For a moment, she stared at him with glassy eyes then wiped the tears off.
"My name is Hazel."
Ah, beautiful name! Dallan could definitely not give that compliment. The scent came again, that warmth and feeling of serenity pervading his senses, dulling his thoughts. He could not deny it anymore. He just found his mate. He had plans for his life and this mermaid fitted into none of those plans.
He had always planned to jubilate when he found his mate, maybe even throw a party in the pack for almost a week. He had great plans for a mate. How would a weakling stay beside him in general meetings or public outings? What happened when she had to defend herself?
"This won't work," Dallan murmured under his breath. He was getting irked with himself and it was not helping his feeling of agitation. "Are you okay?"
Dallan felt like ripping his own head off after the question escaped his lips. He should be strong! Not asking of her well-being being like some effeminate specie! He cleared his throat and reconstructed the question. "I hope this place is not too uncomfortable for you. We don't want you dying on us before we get to our destination." He sincerely hoped she got the message. They had her as a prisoner—and it would stay that way. As soon as they got to the pack, the first thing would be to make findings on how to reject a mate or swap for another one.
"Where are you taking me?" Hazel looked directly into his eyes. Her unshed tears made the green eyes look like a painting. As Dallan was still looking into her eyes, entranced, he saw them change colour.
It was more like some brief seconds of a black cast over her eyes.
It changed back to the normal green before he even had time to peer closer. Was it his eyes or the light? He shook his head to clear off the thoughts. "You will be going with me to my pack. We need you, and I will like you to corporate with us to avoid unnecessary suffering." The thought of making her suffer almost made him recoil back in shame. "For your information, I am Dallan."
"What do you need me for?" Hazel quietly asked. She wrapped around herself and drew her legs up. It was clear she felt very uncomfortable beneath the heat of his gaze.
"What are your powers?" Dallan answered her with a question. "I want to know what you can do."
"I don't have any powers."
"Excuse me?"
"I said I don't have any powers, Dallan—"
"First of all, it's Alpha Dallan. And secondly, how the fuck don't you have powers?!" Dallan yelled. She flinched back. That, and the need to find out the truth, made him calm down. "How is that possible?" He stood akimbo. He had known Kai since they were little after Kai's parents died and he had to move in with Dallan's parents, and for once since they knew each other, the nerd had never made an error when giving out characteristics of species. Dallan knew that Kai even had more information about vampires than most of the vampires themselves. If Kai said a wolf or any other transitioning specie could release wings and fly, Dallan would believe him. That was the extent to which Kai possessed knowledge of things like that.
"I don't know what you mean by 'how is that possible'? Am I supposed to have powers?"
"Hey, listen to me. I am not playing here," Dallan warned. "I want to know what your powers are before I completely lose it."
"I do not have any powers," the scared lady repeated. "What do you mean?"
"Don't mermaids always have a special kind of power? Healing and other bullshit?" Dallan knew he would soon explode or ram his fist into a wall—or someone. The former didn't seem okay since that 'someone' was likely going to be Kai who may not survive the blow considering the heat crawling around Dallan's body. Kai had told him that all female mers had powers!
"Mermaids do. But I don't have." Hazel moved back until her back pressed to the wall. "If that is why you captured me, I am sad to inform you that you just wasted your precious time."
He found himself a feisty mate. Dallan nodded and turned around with dry humour, "If you ever need water, just let me know."
"Oh, I will." The reply came back as boring as his voice sounded. If Dallan was annoyed, he became furious. When he got to the door, an idea struck him.
"If you don't have any power, you must have someone who does, right? A sister, friend, any female... Tell me where they are." For the first time since their little discussion began, he saw her hands tremble. That was a good sign.
"I... I don't know."
"Oh, you will. Trust me, you will." With that, Dallan spun around and exited the cabin, banging the door hard for emphasis. "Kai!"
There wasn't any need to shout. His childhood buddy was on the upper deck, gazing at the silent waves. "Why are you yelling? Don't tell me our mer friend got you pissed."
"Kai, you said all female mers have powers." Dallan gripped the front of Kai's shirt so hard that it almost tore. "How come she does not have any powers?"
"Wha... What? How?" Kai clung to the fist around his shirt. "Dal, please let me go." The fact that Dallan had him pressed against the railing was a fact he was well too aware of. What happened if he was pushed off the ship? Knowing the alpha so well, Kai knew it could happen. "How is this possible, Dal?"
"Don't Dal me! She just said she has no powers!" Dallan was not even sure if he could believe her, yet here he was fuming. "And I also demand to know why the fuck she is my mate!"
"Your what?" Kai demanded with eyes wider than saucers. "Did I just hear you say mate?"
"Have your hearing gone so bad or have you lost your wolf capabilities?"
"None! How is she your mate?"
"How do you expect me to have an answer to that question?" Dallan pushed Kai forward until Kai's torso was slightly bent over the rail. "I need to know what the fuck is going on!"
"Okay. Relax, Dal. Just relax." Kai held up his own hands in a gesture of calming Dallan down. "Why don't you let go of my shirt and let us sit down and discuss this like grown men?"
"Kai, do you want to die?" Dallan was not smiling. Kai knew the question wasn't from any amusing thought. Dallan had once pushed him off a cliff when they were still little. Even though Dallan received his punishment, Kai had spent almost an hour getting healed. That day, his healing seemed a bit slow, but at last, he completely healed. That experience taught Kai a valuable lesson. Even now, he could not remember what he had done to irk Dallan.
"Dallan, please," Kai called out his full name. This situation was not one to make unnecessary informal statements. "Look, I will get to the bottom of this. I promise."
"Does that mean we just spent hours at sea for nothing?" Dallan asked through gritted teeth. Kai looked directly into his cold blue eyes.
"Let me make some findings. Come on, let me go now." Reluctantly, Dallan freed him. Kai straightened his shirt. "What do you mean by that mate stuff you mentioned earlier?"
"She is my mate. I felt all the signs with her. Kai, what do I do?" Dallan's fierce mood dropped. He had a pleading look. "How will I be mated to a mer? What will people say? Alpha Dallan, the mighty warrior who took over silhouette pack from his father has suddenly settled for a lesser specie of creature. The pack is not anywhere near its full potential. How will that be possible when we've just got a powerless mer."
"Dude, relax. If she is your mate, you should be happy. This is what you have wanted all these years. You are over a hundred now and you just got your mate! That is a thing of joy. Also, remember that you did not choose her yourself so there is nothing to worry about." The way Kai smiled warmly during the entire speech made Dallan almost feel relaxed. "Forget about what the pack will say. Just make sure that you continue being yourself. Follow the legacy your parents laid for you. The goddess bless them, they were also my parents after my dad was murdered and my mom died months later. Bringing me into your family is one of the things I am forever grateful to your parents for. Look how close we have been since then, even when they went back to meet the goddess after so many centuries."
It seemed the message was sinking in because Dallan suddenly looked thoughtful. Something incomprehensible flashed across his eyes. Kai was about to add more motivation when he heard what made him freeze.
"I will never accept her. She will never be my mate. I heard wolves can reject their mates and stay single throughout their lifetime. Is this true?"
"I will never accept her. She will never be my mate. I heard wolves can reject their mates and stay single throughout their lifetime. Is this true?" Kai stilled. He looked Dallan straight in the eyes to be sure it was something, at least, close to a joke. "Errm... Are you being serious right now?" "Do I look like I'm joking?" "Wait, you are ready to be mateless throughout your life than be—" "Yes!" Dallan interrupted angrily. "Yes, I am ready to be mateless throughout my life than be with her! Isn't that clear enough?" The anger he was displaying didn't seem necessary, especially as he was venting it out on the wrong person. But he wasn't done. "I can not accept her as a mate! Why should the goddess do this to me? I have waited for so long. I expected something worth all the time. Now look what I got!" "She is beautiful, and she will definitely make a good mate. You have not even tried getting to know her better." "It's not an issue of getting to know her better." Dallan ca
"Where is the mermaid?!" The fake smile Dallan had plastered on disappeared as fast as a pin thrown into a pile of haystack. He quickly pushed himself back to a comfortable sitting position. What the fuck! Mermaid?!! When did it become right for the pack members to ask him about whoever he brought into the pack? Why was the mermaid getting them excited? Dallan allowed the questions to pour into his head even though he had no answers to them. When at last the truck stopped close to Dallan's quarters where some of the more daring ones were gathered, all the warriors swung into action. They disembarked and guided the alpha through the crowd. Already, Dallan had given orders for Hazel to be locked in a room in his mansion. It was to serve as a temporary site until he figured out what to do. Kai followed him into his chamber. Dallan rushed into his room. "Gosh, these people are noisy!" "They have been this way since I knew them. Are you just taking note of their noisy nature?"
"What!" Hazel screamed. Her eyes bulged out; her jaws drooped. Dallan wasn't smiling, and it made her heart beat fast. She expected him to laugh and say it was all a joke, but nothing of such came. "Tell me that is a joke. Please," she begged. "Do you think I am joking?" Dallan's brows knitted in confusion. "Are you saying you haven't felt anything since we met?" "O—Of course I... have!" Hazel blurted out. She scoffed. "How can I be your mate? Is that why I can't stop thinking about you?" She regretted mentioning that last part. Dallan had already started smirking. "Oh, I see. You were thinking about me, right? What were you thinking?" Dallan continued smirking as he inched closer. Hazel moved back until she collided with the headboard. "I can imagine your thoughts on my lips, or..." He caressed his groin. "I was so wet yesterday. Did you see an outline of my cock?" "Shut up." Hazel nervously swallowed. Her legs trembled. "I... I thought nothing of such." Her eyes betrayed her.
Dallan got a little confused. Abe was always the type to crack jokes, laugh, and make people feel at ease. But this particular type of congratulation did not sit well with Dallan. Who knew what the warlock had seen? "Abe, I don't understand." Dallan nervously cleared his throat. "Why are you congratulating me? "Wait... Are you telling me that you do not know?" "Know what?" Abe feigned a look of surprise. It made a corner of his lips tilt up. "Are you yet to feel the mate signs?" "Oh. Is that what you are talking about?" "Of course!" Kai who was now smiling gently plopped on a sofa. He allowed them to discuss. Dallan also sat on a sofa. Now, only Abe stood. "Please, sit." Dallan tried ushering him to a sofa, but the man refused. "I am okay this way. I want to know why your face looks this way. You don't even seem excited that you have finally found your mate. What is going on?" "If you saw a vision about me getting my mate, did you also see who the mate is?" "Of cour
"What!" Kai exclaimed in disbelief. "The pack has been planning all that?!" "Yes, they have. I wanted to know if it was an order from—" "No! I did not give that order! Neither did Dal—Alpha Dallan. Have the people gone mad? Shouldn't the alpha be the one to make that decision?" "I just thought to inform you." "Thank you, Drab. You may leave." Kai fumed. While Dallan was thinking about making Hazel his maid, the pack had kitchen plans for her. Kai did not even know who was the alpha anymore. Whenever Dallan gave an order, the pack members gave two to counter it. Still fuming, Kai went back to Dallan's quarters. The alpha was no longer in the sitting room. Kai knew he must have gone to be with his parents. Kai went straight to Hazel. He knocked. For a moment, it seemed no one was in the room. He knocked again. "Who is that?" Her voice came from within, low and confused. "It's... erm..." Kai slowly pushed himself in. "Hi." "Hmm, I knew it wasn't that imp. He would never ca
If there was anything Dallan hated, it was pack gatherings. He would have to face all the insufferable council of elders and the over-demanding pack members. The fact that the main theme of the celebration was to see the mermaid was a fact that he was well aware of. He had no idea why the pack wanted a mermaid so badly. He had been the one crazy for one. Initially. Now, his mind was pricking him. It felt like he did a very wrong thing by kidnapping Hazel. She wasn't the first person to be taken by him in such a forceful way, so it came as a surprise why he was suddenly feeling bad—no, remorseful. The trumpet sounded again. Dallan exhaled and slowly got up. It would be a very obvious lie if he should duck under his covers and pretend he didn't hear the summoning trumpet. The sound of that instrument could reverberate on an individual's eardrums from a surprising distance when handled by a specialist. The only reason he would flow with the party was because of his order for the men
"Gods, no." Hazel shook her head in the direction of the gown Kai neatly folded on the bed. "No," she repeated, shaking her head. "You don't expect me to wear that, do you?" "It's a beautiful dress. You will look good in it." Kai picked it up and held it against his body. "Look at the glitters." "And cleavage-exposing cups," Hazel added with a grimace. "And a long slit that will show..." She stopped. There was no need to tell Kai all that, after all, he knew nothing about women's fashion. The dress was probably picked by one of the pack's women. "I thought you will like it." Kai shrugged. "Since you will be meeting the entire pack tonight, I thought it will be important for you to appear beautiful. Though you will be very beautiful with or without the dress." For a moment, Hazel amusingly knitted her brows. Then she burst into laughter." How did you meet Dallan?" she asked. Kai looked lost. "I don't understand." "I said how did you meet Dallan, the alpha?" Kai frowned.
Dallan gasped; his jaw almost touched the ground. He felt a surge of his wolf, an excited dance of jubilation in his guts. The moon seemed to shine brighter, or maybe it was just his eyes. The feeling of adrenaline pumping through his veins was soon replaced with a feeling of peace and serenity. It was a familiar feeling. He had always felt that way whenever his mother hugged him. As a child, feeling undefeatable in her arms was an everyday occurrence. That was the same feeling that attacked Dallan when he set eyes on Hazel. Her choice of dress—he doubted if it was her choice—left very little to the imagination. Very little. The green net covering the white body-hugging dress not only outlined Hazel's shape but her eyes as well. The green of her eyes perfectly matched the dress to the extent that the colour of her eyes was evident from afar—not considering the sharp eyesight of his specie. She wore a stiletto, also green in colour. Hazel stopped walking. The stares she was receiving