Chapter 2 Zaya anger unleashed

Despite his irate countenance, he still possessed an undeniable charm, adorned with captivating features and dimples gracing both sides of his cheeks. Zaya strode with a storm of anger brewing inside him towards the Alpha King's abode. His emotions were ignited by the unsettling information he had recently acquired. Were these mere whispers or the bitter truth, he pondered in solitude.

He forcefully entered the Alpha King's residence, his heart too heavy to acknowledge the greetings of the workers. Marching straight into the vacant living area, he clenched his fists, rage manifesting vividly on his face.

From the dining room, muffled chuckles reached his ears, beckoning him closer. Advancing into the dining room, he locked eyes with the man seated there, his father, the Alpha King.

The Alpha King gazed at his son and exhaled deeply. "Zaya, I understand your fury, but please, find your composure," he implored. Zaya fixed an intense glare on him. "What have I heard?" he snarled. His father sighed once more. "My dear, you must remain composed," he entreated. Zaya expelled a frustrated breath and took a seat beside the Alpha King.

"Why was I kept in the dark about this, Father? It wounds me more to learn this from outsiders. Why would the Moon Goddess decree such a fate? I refuse to be bound to a sorceress from a distant realm," Zaya exclaimed angrily, rising to his feet, ready to depart. However, he collided with the Queen, his mother.

"Zaya, please, return to your seat," the Omega Queen beseeched gently, her smile tinged with sorrow. Zaya, though, remained silent, resuming his departure. He stormed out to his car and sped off to the training grounds.

Greeted by fellow trainees, he paid them no heed, heading directly to his exclusive training area designated solely for him.

Stripping off his shirt, he confronted the heavy bag suspended in the air. He attacked it relentlessly, his anger fueling ferocious swings. His fists crashed against the bag with unbridled force until finally halting, breathless, and oblivious to the bag's deteriorating state. Cracks had formed, and the bag hung precariously.

Panting heavily, Zaya sat on the ground, hearing approaching footsteps. He had already discerned the identity through scent alone.

"Even the mighty Zaya finds himself without alternatives," Faani teased, but his levity subsided when met with Zaya's scorching gaze, which seemed to pierce his very soul.

"I was bewildered and shocked by the rumors," Jango admitted.

"Enough of that, Jango. Since when do you put stock in rumors?" Faani interjected. He continued, "Zaya, the rumors can't be true, right?" he prodded, to which Zaya remained unresponsive. Faani pressed further, "It's like the rumor about you being mated to a witch."

"It's absurd!" Zaya declared, turning away with clenched fists.

"What do you suppose your future Luna will be like?" Jango inquired, a question that ignited an inferno within Zaya.

"She is not my Luna, and her appearance is of no consequence because I will never accept her," Zaya asserted, storming out of the training grounds. Faani and Jango followed cautiously, avoiding further provocation.

***

Zaya's irritation seethed within him as he withdrew from the training grounds. He required an avenue to vent his emotions, and the solitary drive through the dense forest afforded him some relief. The murmuring leaves and the distant pack's howls granted him a moment for contemplation.

While navigating the serpentine forest path, his thoughts reverted to the impending union the Moon Goddess had decreed. His mind conjured visions of an enigmatic sorceress, a foreigner from a distant land with abilities he couldn't fathom. Once more, anger surged at the mere notion of such a connection.

The engine's growl was his sole companion until he arrived at a concealed clearing, bathed in the soft radiance of moonlight. This was his refuge, a haven he had frequented since childhood. Here, he could be himself, liberated from the burden of responsibility and anticipation.

Zaya exited the vehicle and proceeded to the center of the clearing. He gazed upward at the moon, a celestial entity that appeared to hold the answers to his destiny. Moonlight bathed him in an eerie luminescence, casting elongated shadows upon the forest floor.

His thoughts reverted to the pack's anticipations, to his bloodline's heritage, and to the onerous obligations accompanying his status as the Alpha's son. He couldn't disregard his duty, yet he longed for a choice, for an opportunity to carve his own path.

A rustling in the nearby shrubbery disrupted his reverie. Zaya's senses heightened, and he instinctively assumed a defensive posture. Emerging from the darkness was a figure draped in a hooded robe.

"Who are you?" Zaya inquired, his voice tinged with caution.

The figure raised a slender hand, pushing back the hood to reveal a countenance veiled in shadows. "I pose no threat, Zaya," a gentle, melodious voice responded. "I am Kalista."

Zaya attempted to catch a scent but couldn't discern one. Who was she, and why was she an enigma? Kalista's eyes, luminous like the moon itself, locked onto his, evoking an unfamiliar sensation he couldn't fathom.

"Why are you here?" Zaya queried, his tone no longer suffused with anger but imbued with tranquility.

"To address your inquiries," Kalista replied. "To bridge the gap that fate has etched between you and Gracie. And, perhaps, to reveal that destiny's path isn't always as it appears."

Zaya noticed there was no apparent threat from Kalista, yet he remained wary. Something about her was off, but he couldn't quite grasp it.

"Who is Gracie? And what do you mean that you'll show me that destiny's path isn't always as it appears?" Zaya inquired.

"Feel free to ask any questions; I'm here to answer them," Kalista said, maintaining her gaze.

"Listen, I came here for solitude, not to entertain falsehoods," Zaya retorted, his anger resurfacing. "And where are your manners? How dare you address me as Zaya? I could have you punished for that. I am an Alpha and the future leader of the Moon Pack. You ought to show respect."

Kalista chuckled, further fueling Zaya's ire. "You may be the future ruler of this realm, but you're not my future monarch, and I believe the respect should flow the other way. You're the one taught to respect those deserving of it, so you should acknowledge my abilities," Kalista responded with an icy tone.

"What abilities? Frankly, I'm growing weary of all this," Zaya declared, preparing to leave.

"My abilities are substantial. What if they could alter the fate of you marrying a witch? Isn't that what you desire?" Kalista inquired, causing Zaya to halt as he opened his car door.

"That's absurd; no one knows better than the Moon Goddess, and she knows best," Zaya replied as he got into his car.

"What if I could alter that fate? What if I could advise you on how to avoid marrying a witch? If you're interested in finding out, meet me at the riverbank by nightfall in three days," Kalista proposed, but Zaya remained silent, starting his car and driving away.