Chapter 4 Four

Draven's POV:

'Why did the Moon Goddess do this to me?' I thought, staring deeply at the strange slave standing wide-eyed before me.

'Why would she dare pair me with another she-wolf when I had sworn that after losing Helen, the only woman I had ever loved, that I would never allow another mate into my life?'

My hands curled into fists, nails digging into my palms as anger coursed through my veins because the Moon Goddess did as she pleased, always had, always would, and no mortal law or instinct could ever prevent her from meddling.

In anger, I released my Alpha's command causing the girls to stagger back and fall to the ground while I made my way to the pretty one who happened to be my second-chance mate. But even as I crouched before her and grasped her jaw tightly, tilting her face to meet mine, I felt the primal insistence that gnawed at the edges of my control with my wolf sensing her in ways my mind could not yet understand.

I was just about to reject her, just about to force her away, when Ragnar's scent filled the air and I looked to see my Beta had strode in and was standing behind the line of girls.

"We need to talk." He said, and I released her jaw reluctantly, my claws flexing at the faint pull of irritation.

Then I followed Ragnar out, tension coiling in my shoulders as we went behind

"Draven, what the hell are you doing going behind my back to buy breeders?" Ragnar began, hands on his hips. "You know the Elders are strongly against this!"

"I don't care what the Elders want." I admitted. "I am going through with it."

Ragnar's jaw tightened, and he stepped closer. "You've already angered them enough. If you go through with this, it could force the Elders to bring you before the Council of Kings. They'll dredge up every unnecessary instance of your disrespect just to make your life miserable, or worse, they'll attempt to impeach you. You need to get rid of these breeders and find a wife before you bring the pack to ruin."

I exhaled slowly, the corners of my mouth curling into a shadow of a sneer. "I will never replace Helen." I said, voice low and unwavering. "I will have a breeder bear an heir for me, nothing more."

Ragnar's eyes flared with exasperation. "Helen has been dead for five years! It's time to move on, Draven. You need to make the right decision before this obsession destroys you."

I whirled to him. "Do not ever speak such words to me again."

But he didn't relent. "I hate how out of touch with reality you've become these past years. You've refused to move on, refusing to accept that Helen is gone. And now, you're dragging the pack and yourself into a mess because of it."

I felt the familiar burn of my wolf inside me, coiling like steel in my chest, reminding me of every wrong I had endured, every moment of loss, every betrayal. Still, I had to find a solution.

My plan to have a breeder would fail if the Elders discovered it. They had made it explicitly clear that the future Alpha of Hellbound Pack cannot be born from a sex slave. A Luna or an officially sanctioned concubine must bear the heir.

I considered the girls I had acquired could be concubines, or perhaps one could be chosen as a Luna. But Helen would have hated the idea of sharing her Alpha. Never. The thought twisted something tight in my chest, but Ragnar's voice broke through.

"You'll have to compromise because there's no other way." He said, firmly. "You cannot ignore the Elders' rules, no matter how much you think you can bend the world."

Suddenly, an idea sparked, in my head and I tapped Ragnar's shoulder, my eyes alight with sudden resolve. "Hold on. I've just had an idea." Without waiting for him to question, I stormed back inside.

Ragnar followed silently, standing at a corner as I approached the man who had delivered the girls.

"Show them to their rooms." I commanded, pointing at the strange girl. "But leave this one behind." My gaze fell on her because still kneeling, and trembling then I crouched before her, grasping her jaw once more, ensuring her gaze met mine.

"What is your name?" I asked, my tone deceptively soft. "Aria." She whispered, voice shaky but clear.

Exhaling, I asked. "Aria, how would you like to be my wife for a year?"

In my mind, it was clear that since the Elders would not permit a breeder, I would make her my Luna, have her bear my heir, then dispose of her afterward. But then, the unexpected happened. She jerked back, eyes wide, cheeks flushed, and spat a single word

"No!"

My wolf surged, a mixture of confusion, irritation, and curiosity rising within me. She had the audacity to defy me, the Alpha of Hellbound Pack, in my own territory? My mind raced, calculating, assessing, and yet... the tremor of shock refused to leave me.

"Aria..." I began. "Do you understand what it is you are refusing?" A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, as my instinct screamed at me to crush her, and bend her will but another part, a rare, unfamiliar part, stirred in response to her resistance.

"Interesting." I muttered, almost to myself. "You may have just complicated my life, Aria."