Chapter 2 2

The Alpha's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned his attention back to Alexander. "Thank you for introducing us, Alexander. I hope you're enjoying the party?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. It's always a pleasure to attend your gatherings," Alexander replied with a polite smile.

The Alpha nodded, and his eyes flickered back to me. "I'll be sure to catch up with you later, Alexander. I have some business to attend to."

With that, he turned and strode away, his pack following him like obedient dogs.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as the Alpha disappeared from view. The intensity of his gaze had left me shaken, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen right through me.

"Are you alright?" Alexander asked, his hand on my back.

I turned to him, grateful for the distraction. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed."

He smiled at me, a warm, comforting gesture. "Don't worry, Madeleine. You'll get used to it. The Alpha can be intimidating, but he's a fair leader."

I nodded, not entirely convinced. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about the Alpha, something dangerous.

As the night wore on, I found myself drawn to Alexander's company. He was easy to talk to, and he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say. We danced together, and I found myself laughing at his jokes, forgetting for a moment that I was in a room full of werewolves.

But as the night drew to a close, and the guests began to filter out, I found myself thinking about the Alpha again. I couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching me, waiting for something.

As I stepped out of the grand hall and into the chilly night air, I felt a shiver run down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, the chill of the night air settling into my bones. My mind raced as I walked through the gardens, the moon casting long shadows across the grass.

I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was like a knot in my stomach that refused to untangle. I knew I should go back inside, find Alexander, and go home, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own.

I wandered deeper into the garden, drawn towards the sound of running water. As I approached a small fountain, I saw a figure standing beside it, his back turned to me.

My heart pounded in my chest as I recognized the Alpha. He was staring at the fountain, his face unreadable.

I took a step back, ready to turn and run, but his voice stopped me.

"Stay."

His voice was deep, commanding. I felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

He turned to face me, and my breath caught in my throat. His eyes were like liquid gold in the moonlight, and they seemed to see right through me.

"I've been watching you," he said, his voice low. "You're a little interesting thing, aren't you?"

I tried to speak, to form words, but my mouth was dry. I felt like a mouse caught in the gaze of a predator.

He took a step towards me, and I felt the heat of his body. I could smell his scent, a mix of pine and something wild.

"You intrigue me, Madeleine," he said, his voice a whisper, his eyes deeply observing me movement.

"You fear me."

I forced myself to take a step back, but he was too close. His hand shot out, gripping my wrist.

"Let go of me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't listen. Instead, he pulled me towards him, his other hand cupping my cheek. His touch was rough, but I could feel the gentleness beneath it.

"Is it fear that I smell?," he asked, his lips brushing against mine. "or desire?"

I pushed against him, but he was too strong. His lips crashed against mine, and I felt a surge of heat. It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. His tongue traced the outline of my lips, and I found myself responding, my body betraying me.

He pulled back, a smirk on his lips. "All I wanted was just a little taste of these" he said, his gaze intent on my lips as his fingers softly kept running on them.

I tried to pull away, but his grip was unyielding. "Let me go," I said, my voice shaking.

He chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "Not yet""

I tried to scream, but he clamped his hand over my mouth.

"Shh," he said, his eyes locking with mine. "No one can hear you out here. And even if they could, they wouldn't dare cross me."

I struggled against him, but it was no use. He was too strong, too powerful.

He pulled me closer, his lips trailing down my neck. "I like how stubborn and foolish you can be" he said, his voice a low growl.

I felt sick to my stomach, the reality of what was happening hitting me like a ton of bricks. This was wrong, so wrong. I tried to push him away, but he held me close.

Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes. The Alpha spun around, his grip on me loosening.

"Alpha!" a voice called out.

The Alpha turned back to me, his eyes blazing. "You're lucky, Madeline. I'll let you go this time," he said, before turning on his heel and disappearing into the darkness.

I collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down my face. I felt violated, powerless, and alone.

"Madeleine!" Alexander's voice called out, as he rushed towards me his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he caught a whiff of the alpha's scent on me. His usual warm smile was replaced with a tight-lipped frown as he approached cautiously, maintaining a distance.

"He marked you," he whispered, his voice barely above a murmur.

My heart sank at his words. I knew what that meant in our world. I was now claimed by the alpha, and there was no escaping it. I looked up at Alexander, hoping to find some solace in his eyes, but he avoided my gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

He remained at a safe distance, not daring to touch the alpha's mate. Instead, he kept a watchful eye on me, making sure I didn't collapse or suffer any further harm. His usual playful banter was absent, replaced by tense silence as he guided me back to safety.

I couldn't blame him for his distance. The bond between an alpha and their mate was sacred and unbreakable. As much as Alexander cared for me, he knew his place in the pack hierarchy and respected it.

As we made our way back to the safety of my home, I couldn't help but feel like a part of me had been taken. The Alpha had marked me, and I knew that I would never be the same again..