Chapter 4 Claimed

NATACHA

I ran out of the portal toward my closet, I used my vamp speed and parked the little things I need to escape because I know the Alpha King will definitely come for me, I was about to open a portal when I heard a loud knock on the front door, I concentrated trying to pick out the sound outside. I hurriedly ran downstairs when I made sure it was only lily. "What are you doing here?" I asked her the moment I opened the door.

She strode inside completely ignoring my question "What are you doing here Lily?" I repeated the question examining her suspiciously.

She sighed and moved toward me "Isn't it obvious Dummy, after the stunt you pulled out there. I have to come and make sure you are okay and...."

I held her hand looking straight into her eyes "Look Lily, now is not time for a little chitchat, as you know I have to leave,"

"I'm sorry," That's all she said before I felt a cold chain on my neck and a sudden warmth as two arms wrapped around my waist, tiny tingles erupted on my neck where the tip of a finger swiftly caress. I turned and lifted my eyes to charming gray ones. He smiled showing me the adorable dimple on his left cheek. He was so perfect, I wanted to push him away but the attraction toward him was so hard to resist. More reasons I hate this damn mate bond. It's making me act like a bitch on heat; I was shamelessly checking him out as I leaned a little closer to him. I gathered all my strength and took a step away from him.

I straighten my dress and I touched the cold necklace he placed on my neck before glaring at him "What the hell is this?" I questioned furiously.

How the hell did I not even sense him?

He shrugged expressionlessly, "It is a little something for your little tricks," he replied nonchalantly.

I opened my mouth to retort when I heard some noise coming from outside the house I hastily turned to walk outside but the Alpha quickly pull me back "Stay here, I will check," he commanded and walk outside without waiting for my reply. I turned toward Lila, who was still standing inside the living room; she looks guilty as she nervously fidgets with her fingers. "Thank you so much for snitching on me,"

"What did you expect me to do Tee, I am a wolf I can't resist the Alpha King's order," Ignored her and walked outside because I don't have time for her little excuses.

"I said to stay inside," The Alpha King walked out of the bushes across our house with blood dripping down his hands. A half-shifted wolf runs toward him, I watched as he plugged his hand into the wolf's chest and brings out a no longer beating heart, before tossing it aside along with the body. "We are under attack as you can clearly see, get back inside," he said matching toward me.

I stood my ground looking at him directly in the eyes, "I am not going to hide like some coward or run like prey." I replied with so much determination "I am going to fight,"

I thought he will be furious and dragged me back inside but instead, he just smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Well then stay behind me," he said pushing me behind him.

I rolled my eyes but stayed behind him scanning our surroundings, Alexander suddenly appeared holding a man by his neck. "It looks like these little pups have been compelled, they don't know what they are doing," he said dropping the man to the ground.

I don't even know he was close, how did he know about the attack

I quickly step forward with the intention of walking toward the man but I was pulled back before I could reach him, I turned and glared at him "Can you stop doing that, it's annoying and I am the only witch here, who may have a clue what's happening to them," I started pointing at the man on the floor.

"Fine," he mutters running his hand through his hair, but he follows me closely behind I could easily touch him if I lend back. "Where are the others?" he asked Alexander.

"They are clearing the bodies, they'll be here in a few minutes," Alexander replied.

"Any survivors?"

"All dead,"

I crouch down next to the barely breathing werewolf, examining him. He looks disoriented, and he has a very slight cut on his temple that could have been healed by now because of his wolf genes, but it isn't which points out only one thing "He is not under compulsion, he is 'hypnotize'" I said examining the mark in his hand "Look here, he isn't rouge, this is the work of a witch" I said pointing to the black park symbol on his hand and the little whitish cut on his forehead.

Every park has a symbol that every pack member gets when he joins the park, the moment you turn rouge it disappears. And regular pack members don't just fight or attack anyone without an order from their Alpha and that too is the work of pack warriors and this man isn't one, because he clearly doesn't have any warrior's tattoo. The Alpha King and Alexander stepped forward-looking at the wolf's hand "He's from Greenland pack," The Alpha stated stepping back, he pulled out his phone and started dialing a number.

The werewolf lifted his head a little bit staring at me before his eyes glazed for a second and it completely turned white, he swiftly grabbed my neck with so much vigor it stunned me. "Hello Rebecca," he said looking directly into my eyes. My body was completely paralyzed hearing the voice I dread so much.

"Tue ek nepari, ott tek bokai dia biku," (Surrender yourself or they will pay the price of your disobedience) the possessed werewolf yelled in our Ancient dialect as the Alpha quickly came to my aid. He yanked and tossed him away as if he weighs not more than a paper bag, "Are you okay?" he asked examining me with his eyes as he placed his hand on my arm.

"I am fine," I replied pushing his hand away from my body. I turned my attention back at the possessed werewolf; he was still muttering something but so fast I couldn't hear him even with my advanced tribrid senses. I clenched my jaw and tried to stand up but a strange feeling started spreading from where the werewolf strangled me down to my whole body, getting a hold of all my muscles, rendering me completely motionless. I couldn't do anything as I felt myself fall back but I was quickly caught before I hit the ground. I opened my mouth to speak yet no word came out, I started panicking because I couldn't hear anything not even what Alpha King was saying, I can only see his mouth moving before his face slowly started contorting into the one I feared the most and I blanked out.

I open my eyes gently to the plain white ceiling of my room; it took me a few moments afore I quickly sit up remembering what happened earlier. The monster has found me again after years of running. How did he know I was here? How did he paralyze me with just a touch and it wasn't even the real him but a possessed werewolf that has no magic, he must have grown more powerful? I must notify my Dad. I walked to my window and open the curtains; it was still dark meaning I have been unconscious for just a few hours. The stars twinkling above the dark woods that only the goddess knows how many dangerous creatures are roaming around it, maybe even he is there silently watching me before he strikes. I walked to my door and try to open it but stopped when I heard a movement outside. I focus on the voices I heard downstairs; it was the Alpha King talking with Alpha Stone and two other men I couldn't recognize. They are discussing the attacks. I went back and sat on my bed only to see the bag pack I had parked earlier which is a great reminder of how much I need to flee, get far away from this place, my mate, and the monster that is after me, but without my magic, I can't and I have only a few vials left, my wolf will soon regain her strength and break free, plus I haven't feed for over a month so technically I am presently just a weak malnourish vampire. I tried to get the chain off, however, after countless futile attempts, I conclude that it was enchanted, and only the person that put it on me can remove it so I need to have a conversation with my mate.

I step out of my room to see a bulky werewolf standing outside the door; he followed me closely behind like some kind of bodyguard when I started walking. I stopped and turned to glare at him but he pays me no mind as he continues looking ahead with his permanent stoic countenance, I scoffed and continue walking. I looked down at my mate from the staircase, he immediately turned as if he sensed me, maybe he did because I don't really know how this mate thing works and without my wolf, I can only feel half of what he is feeling. His eyes ransack my body as if he is checking for some kind of injury or something, when he found nothing his stiff expression loosens.

"You're awake," he said, his voice so velvety and calming making tingles run wild in my body.

Damn this mate thing

I was silent for a few seconds contemplating whether talking to him was even a good idea in the first place or not, maybe I should have absconded I may even find someone that can break this enchanted pendant. "Can we talk?" I asked nervously

"Of Course," he replied in a soft tone giving me an encouraging smile before he starts walking toward me.

He closed the door to my room, leaving only me and him standing in the room, I never knew a room could feel smaller until now that he is just a few feet from me. "What could you like to discuss?" he inquires arching one of his perfectly sculpted eyebrows. I feel a little bit intimidated by the way he is looking at me, his gaze doesn't falter even once. I cleared my throat before I speak up, I know what I am about to say will not be received with open arms, but I got to try maybe he will understand me. "I don't want a mate," I dropped the bomb.

Silence

One

Two

Three

"What the hell did you just say," his voice thundered in the room, making me shudder slightly.

And there goes my confidence

I gulped down but keep a straight face, trying to hide my angst "I said I don't want a mate," I repeated looking at anywhere but him.

"Look at me when you speak," he growled.

I clenched my eyes snugly and took a deep breath to calm my nerves; I look up straight into his eyes with a stern expression "You know I have a choice and I choose to live independently,"

The Alpha King was glaring at me fiercely, his grey eyes now completely turned gold, he look furious but he is so damn good at controlling his wolf. He slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of me, with less than an inch between us. Too close I couldn't think clearly, I can feel the hushed humming of electricity between us, my hand was itching to touch him, I want him to touch me, which really terrifies me.

Too close, Mate Mate

"Your heart... is fluttering very loud little Mate," he crooks his neck looking at me with a mischievous glint in his orbs.

I gulped and slowly stepped backward and he took a few steps closer, closer than before. His face slowly came down to my neck I can feel his warm breath on my skin, he leisurely raise his eyes to mine, "Can I take a bite," he said the words in a low husky whisper, his eyes flitting between my eyes and neck.

I exhale sharply his words wooing me into an illusion for a brief second before I snapped out of it.

What the hell just happen?

I have heard of thousands of stories of Alphas who claim their mates with one fateful bite, with or without consent. A mark that will deprive you of your autonomy, it annulled any notion of free will and bonded you with a complete stranger that you don't love and may not even be a good person, it is a burden that makes you vulnerable. But still, here I stand right in the front of an Alpha king, my mate, neck opened and exposed for him to bite.

His sparkly white canines elongated, he swiped his tongue across them taunting me. I lifted my hand to push him away but he caught them, a spark ignites from where he held my hand and disperses to my whole body. It is like my body has a mind of its own, I don't want to be marked but my body is saying a different thing. A small whimper escapes from my lips as he moves closer, and the glint in his eyes makes it clear he is in no mood for negotiation. I was so tempted to use the little vampire strength I have left to break free he let go of my hands. His face came dangerously close to mine "Run, little Mate," he whispered, I was dumbfounded for a second his words resonating in my mind. He stepped back watching me with observant eyes.

He underestimated me

I look around my room, my heart pounding heavily in my chest, I couldn't think of a way out except my window, I ran toward it and without a thought, I jumped. I ran without sparing a glance behind me, my heart was beating heavily as I ran with my all even though I am just a little bit faster than a human in my current weak state, I couldn't vamp run. I was so keen to flee I didn't even know where I am heading my mind is just blank. I am afraid, for the first time in years I am terrified of something else other than him. I know I can't outrun my mate but I can run far away from here and hide, and I promise he will never see me again. With that thought, I fasten my pace as I felt a strong gust of wind blew past me as I ran.

Goddess protect

I will not be caught

I stopped to catch my breath as I felt my energy draining completely, I need to feed I can't go on like this. I look around frantically trying to figure out where I am. My mate was nowhere in sight maybe he lost me. I sigh at the thought, a ghost smile formed on my lip with the little taste of freedom. I straighten up and was about to continue when another gust of air blew past me but this time around he stood right in front of me.

Goddess protect

His eyes glowing eyes were staring back at me, he doesn't look like he has been chasing me around with not even the slightest hint of fag. I quickly turn around to run but I slammed in his chest, I steady myself and turned in the other direction, and he was there too with a smirk adorning his handsome face.

Goddess, he is too fast

"Tired already?" he asked with a smug expression, his eyes spangled with a genuine glee as if he won some trophy. "Hours ago you were blabbing about how you don't run like a prey," he teased.

I scoffed and glared at him "I have already told you I don't want to be your mate or anyone's, fuck off," his eyes started glowing as he took a few steps toward me, effectively silencing me.

"That was quite impressive for a little witch," he stated striding languidly in a circle around me, his arms behind his back in such a regal, yet predatory manner.

"I Luciano Black, Alpha King of the Waning Crescent Moon Pack, accept you Natacha Anderson as my fated and chosen mate, to Love, Protect, and Cherish for eternity" his husky voice was loud and clear, and his speech so smooth and sincere it echoes continuously in my ear. I felt my whole being consumed in some kind of hot pleasurable flame after his acceptance; it was a foreign sensation nothing like I have ever felt before. I know a little about the Werewolf mating culture but I, unfortunately, know the first Step of our Mating is completed.

I am Royally and Officially Screwed