HADE'S POV
Morning came slowly and mist clung to the fortress walls like pale smoke. The forest surrounding the territory was silent, heavy with the kind of quiet that came only after long nights of hunting.
I stood at the balcony outside my room. From here I could see the entire courtyard. Warriors already trained below, their steel clashing, wolves shifting and bodies moving with precision. Discipline, strength and survival.
My pack. That was what I had taught them. I had trained my men to be one of the best. The weak ones I made them train harder both male and female.
Now somewhere within this walls, a fragile human slept in the chamber meant for a Luna.
My mate.
The word tasted strange even in my mind. I had never had a mate that wasn't a wolf. What even fascinated me the most was I have another met and a human at that one.
What was so special about this human?
Footsteps approached behind me interrupting my thoughts.
"I was wondering when you planned to explain this" I didn't turn. I knew that voice.
"Good morning to you too, Kieran"
Kieran stepped onto the balcony and stood beside me. Kieran was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried the permanent scar of a wolf claw across his jaw. His arms folded across his chest as he stared out at the courtyard.
"You brought a human into our territory" he said flatly.
"Yes"
"You declared her your mate in front of the entire royal court"
"Yes"
"You placed her in the Luna's chamber" I finally glanced at him.
"Yes"
Kieran exhaled slowly.
"You've completely lost your mind"
"Have I?" I said with a smug smile. Kieran turned fully towards me.
"You know the curse" he said quietly. "You know what happens to the women bound to you" my jaw tightened.
"Yes"
"So why bring her here?" Kieran demanded. Silence stretched between us.
Below, two wolves crashed violently during a sparring match. The scent of blood drifted faintly into the morning air. Kieran stepped closer.
"Hades" his voice softened slightly.
"You didn't just risk her life. You risked the entire pack" my gaze returned to the mist-covered forest.
"There is no risk to the pack. I had to do it" Kieran frowned.
"Why? You know we don't bring humans here except as slaves and we don't keep slaves"
Kieran was right, there was no single human in the Iron claw pack. It was only at my Uncle's pack that human slaves were kept.
"I couldn't leave her in my uncle's territory. My wolf wouldn't let me" Kieran stiffened immediately.
The name alone was enough to stir tension. King Samael, the Alpha king ruled the central territories, but the outer regions belonged to older bloodlines, wolves who held power through ancient alliances and my uncle was among the worst of them.
"I attended the ritual because tradition demanded it. Another pointless display of breeding politics" Kieran snorted.
"I know about the mating ritual. How does the human girl connect to this?"
"She fell into the circle during the ritual" Kieran blinked.
"She fell?" I could hear the surprise in his tone.
"Yes" he rubbed his temples.
"The penalty is death"
"She wasn't supposed to be there but somehow she ended up there" I said.
"What happened?"
My wolf stirred beneath at the memory. The scent.
The moment and the impossible recognition.
"Before the guards could take her away, my wolf spoke" I said slowly. His eyes widened.
"He's never done that before"
"I know."
"What did he say?" I turned my head slightly.
"One word"
The look in Kieran's eyes told me he already knew.
"…Mine"
Kieran swore under his breath.
"That explains you bringing her back"
"The entire clearing erupted" I said. "My uncle ordered her execution immediately"
"Of course he did. She broke a sacred law"
"My wolf emerged then. Ready to challenge him"
"You partially shifted?"
"In front of the entire court"
"That must have terrified them"
"That's exactly what my wolf wanted. He would have killed someone then"
"So you claimed her to protect her or is there something else?"
"She's my mate. Of course I have to claim her"
"And now you've brought her here"
"Yes" Kieran's expression darkened.
"You didn't answer my question" I looked back at him.
"Which one?"
"Why you didn't leave her somewhere safe. Why did you have to bring her back here breaking your rules?"
The words landed heavily because I knew the truth.
There was nowhere safe for her now. In fact, this was the safest place she could stay.
"My uncle saw her" I said quietly.
"That's the more reason why you should have taken her elsewhere"
"No, she's better off here. Where I can watch over her" I added. Understanding flickered across Kieran's face.
"You think he'll come after her"
"I know he will. I thwarted his orders after all"
"So bringing her here…:"
"Is the only way to keep her alive. Also, I want to see how far my uncle would go" Kieran exhaled slowly.
"Well…" He scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"That's unfortunate" I raised an eyebrow.
"For whom?" Kieran gestured vaguely upward.
"For the human sleeping in the room where your last three mates died"
That caused my expression to darken instantly. Kieran held up his hands when he looked at me.
"Just stating facts. Do you think she knows?" I looked away again.
"I didn't ask for this bond. Heck, I don't even want a mate"
"None of us do" Kieran's voice became soft. Silence settled between us again. Both of us gazing at the courtyard below.
"Have you spoken to her yet?"
"Yes"
"And?"
I hesitated. Images flickered through my mind. Her wide frightened eyes, fragile hands and the branding on her wrist.
"She is frightened" I said.
"Of course, she'll be frightened. She was a slave in the Royal pack and all of a sudden she is the Luna of one of the lost feared Alpha"
"She is not yet the Luna!" I said through clenched teeth. Kieran scoffed.
"You claimed she was yours. What else could she be if not your Luna? A sex toy?" I scowled.
"You know I'll never fuck someone so small. What if she breaks?"
"We are not talking about sex. You said she's not your Luna and that's what I'm talking about"
Before I could reply, the chamber door opened
Boots clicked against the marble floor.
"Well. I knew I'd find you here since you weren't in your office" Elle said and Kieran groaned softly.
"Damn!"
Kieran didn't really like Elke and only tolerated her.
Elke was tall and radiated dangerous confidence. Her braided blonde hair hung over one shoulder, and the twin blades at her hips gleamed in the morning light. Her gaze moved between us before it settled on me.
"Alpha…" she said casually.
"You finally lost your mind" Kieran pointed at her.
"See? I said the same thing"
Elke ignored him and her eyes narrowed.
"You brought a human back to this pack"
"Yes"
"A human?"
"Yes" I said flatly. Elke crossed her arms.
"And placed her in the Luna's chamber"
"Yes" Her brow twitched.
"You know that room is cursed"
"I'm aware"
Elke looked at me carefully. Then she stepped closer. Close enough that her scent brushed against me. Normally I would have pulled her against me, dragged her into the my chamber, and pounded into her until I had forgotten the world for an hour. Our relationship had always been simple.
War, training and occasional nights that meant nothing but today, I felt nothing. Elke must have noticed with the way her eyes were moving down my body to see if I was hard.
"You're distracted" she said.
"I'm busy"
"With the human?"
Kieran took a step back. Elke tilted her head.
"You really think she'll survive here?"
"She will" I said in a dangerously low voice. Elke laughed.
"You said that about the last one too. At least, the last one was a wolf"
The air on the balcony went cold. Kieran quietly moved another step away. Elke didn't back down. She leaned against the railing beside him.
"So tell me, Alpha" she said softly.
"Why bring home something so fragile? When you can have something strong"
She was talking about herself. She has been trying to convince me for a while that she was the perfect Luna. My gaze lifted toward the fortress tower.
My wolf stirred again. Reminding me that we have a mate within these walls.
Mine.
"You've said enough!"
"Apologies Alpha. I was just worried about the pack…and you" she said the last part cautiously.
"You don't have to worry about me. I'm capable of taking care of myself. Worry about the pups and the pack"
"Yes Alpha"
"Good. Now go back to training, I want to be alone" she bowed and left. Her steps resembled that of someone annoyed but I didn't care. I was not in the mood for that.
"Wow. This is my first time of seeing you reject Elke" Kieran spoke after being quiet for a while.
"Join her"