100 Days, Alphas' Mate

CEDAR BLAKE

"Stop right there, you worthless Omega!"

Their voices were loud, vicious, and far too close. I could hear them breathing hard behind me, their footsteps pounding the forest floor in hot pursuit. The leaves under my feet crackled as I ran, the sharp twigs slicing into my bare soles, but I didn't stop.

I couldn't.

My heart thundered in my chest, beating wildly with desperation. Sweat trickled down my forehead, stinging my eyes. My lungs burned with each gasp, but I pushed forward. I couldn't afford to be caught.

I must escape.

I have to survive.

I have to live.

I repeated the words over and over like a sacred chant, trying to silence the sobs crawling up my throat. My mind screamed at me to focus. There was no room for weakness.

You've got to live, Cedar. Promise me, you will. Do it. Swear it, now.

My brother's final plea echoed in my skull, louder than the shouts behind me. I bit down hard on my cracked lower lip until I tasted blood, but I didn't slow down. I didn't look back to see how close they were. That would only waste precious seconds I didn't have.

I wasn't fast, never was. Even among the weakest Omegas, I couldn't compete in speed or strength. But none of that mattered right now. I ran because it was all I had left.

Behind me, the sounds of their pursuit grew louder, more aggressive. Their weapons... spears, claws, cruel intentions... slashed through the underbrush as they closed in. I didn't dare look. My only hope was reaching the edge of the Crystal Moon Pack's territory. Maybe another pack would find me, take me in. Maybe someone, anyone, would show mercy.

But my legs betrayed me.

My knees collided, clumsily knocking together. My body pitched forward and I slammed hard into the dry earth, face-first. Sand filled my mouth and pain exploded through my chin. Before I could crawl away, I felt a rough hand grab my ankle and yank me backward.

I screamed.

The Alpha twins, Adonis and Adonai, loomed over me, tall, strong, and filled with savage delight. Icarus, the pack's Zeta, joined them. I knew the Beta would be nearby too. They wouldn't miss this for anything. My humiliation was their entertainment.

I stared up at them, terrified, but refused to beg because that never got me anywhere near safety.

"I told you, brother. She's no good!" Alpha Adonai's voice thundered in my ears like he was whispering straight into my skull.

"A fucking slave," he spat.

"We should've gotten rid of this stinking cunt the moment her parents betrayed our father!" Adonis growled, his lip curled with hatred. "I don't know how we've let her live this long."

"Game over, Cedar! Give up already!" Icarus laughed as he raised his dagger. In his other hand, a chain glinted in the moonlight.

Their eyes burned with bloodlust. This wasn't punishment, it was a game to them. A hunt. A thrill. And I was the prey.

I didn't dare lift my head. I knew what they were capable of. I'd already survived being tied to a racehorse and dragged through the village square until I was nearly unrecognizable. Today's "fun" was just another cruel invention. A new way to break me.

According to the rules of their sick game, if I reached the border, I'd be spared. That was the only mercy they'd offered, to make it feel fair. But we all knew the truth.

I'd never make it.

Even if I did, they'd find a way to twist the rules. They always did.

Still, I ran. Because I promised.

I made a vow on my brother's deathbed to stay alive, long enough to gather proof. Long enough to clear our family's name. Long enough to avenge my parents' unjust execution and reclaim the honor they stripped from us.

"Please," I finally cried out, tears running freely down my face, "Let me go. Have mercy!"

Icarus tightened his grip on the chain, his grin widening with sick delight.

"Soon," Adonis growled, "you'll join the rest of your cursed family. Your name will be erased from this pack and every other. You're nothing but a disgrace!"

He grabbed a fistful of my tangled hair and slammed me into a nearby tree.

The impact knocked the breath from my lungs. I screamed, a guttural sound that tore from deep within me. My body crumpled to the ground, trembling. My ears rang, my skull pounded, and I couldn't feel my legs. My eyelids fluttered, heavy and swollen.

Still, I prayed.

Even though the moon goddess had never answered me, even though every offering, every whispered plea had gone unheard, I prayed.

"Please... spare me," I whispered. "Moon goddess..."

Adonai's voice was gleeful, drunk on cruelty. "Don't spoil the fun, brother. Let's take her back. Tear her apart piece by piece until there's nothing left."

"Take her," Adonis said, voice rough with amusement. "The game has just begun."

Icarus hoisted me over his shoulder like I was a rag doll. My head lolled back, blood dribbling from my mouth, my vision blurred beyond recognition. I hung there, limp, praying for a swift death.

And then-

"Stop!"

At first, I thought I had imagined it. My mind was foggy, my ears still ringing from the impact. But the voice came again, loud, clear and commanding.

"Give her to me."

My heart stuttered. That wasn't one of the twins. That voice... it was calm but filled with a power that made the air shift.

"Who are you?" Icarus demanded, his whole body tensing beneath me.

"Whoever he is, he's about to regret stepping into our land," Adonis growled.

"She belongs to us!" Adonai thundered. "We decide what happens to her!"

"You're right... and wrong at the same time," the voice replied, cold and unshaken.

Footsteps approached, slow, deliberate, heavy with dominance. The ground almost seemed to vibrate with each one.

I knew then. They were close. The twins were circling the stranger, challenging him. No one crossed them and lived. Whoever this man was... he should've run while he had the chance.

My fate had already been sealed the moment I failed to shift at eighteen. I was cursed. Marked for death just like my family. I had accepted it.

As I forced my swollen eyes open, I saw only shadows and light. A tall figure advanced on Icarus. He moved with the calm confidence of someone who feared no one.

Icarus stiffened. I heard a snap, bone cracking, and then a deep, agonizing groan.

Darkness swallowed me as my eyes rolled shut again.

And everything... went still.

CEDAR BLAKE

"No! Please... no!"

I bolted upright with a scream, my heart racing in my chest before my eyes even adjusted to the light.

"You're awake," a deep voice said calmly from beside me. "I thought I'd lost you."

My head snapped to the side. A man, bare-chested, was relaxing in a cushioned armchair just a few steps away. His green eyes were fixed on me, intense but unreadable, and his lips curved slightly as he took a slow sip from a white cup in his hand.

I immediately shifted in the bed, putting distance between us. My fingers clutched the duvet, dragging it up to my chest like it could shield me from danger. The last thing I remembered was falling... and then darkness.

"You don't have to be afraid," the man said, noticing my reaction. His voice was calm but carried a certain authority that made it hard to ignore. "If I meant you harm, you wouldn't be awake right now."

His words were supposed to be comforting, but they only made me more alert. I glanced around quickly, scanning the unfamiliar room. The walls were dark and wooden, polished with elegance. The space was clean, spacious, and quiet... too quiet.

"Who are you? And where am I?" I asked, my voice dry and cracked as I faced him again.

He sighed into the cup, swirling its contents slightly before taking another sip. "Isn't that the question everyone asks when they wake up after a traumatic event?"

My chest tightened. There was something strange about how calm he was, as if he'd been expecting this exact conversation.

"I don't remember much," I admitted, my voice firmer now. "But I know you're the one who showed up back there, when I had already lost hope. That couldn't have been a coincidence."

It was bold of me to talk this way, especially to a stranger, especially a man of such presence. But I wasn't in the Crystal Moon Pack anymore. There, I would've been on the floor, scrubbing tile or receiving commands. Here... I didn't know what I was yet. But for the first time, my voice didn't feel like a curse.

He set the cup down on a small table next to him and leaned forward slightly.

"It wasn't a coincidence," he said, his tone dipping lower. "I've been watching you, Cedar Blake. Since the day your parents were executed."

My stomach twisted. No one had ever spoken of their deaths so plainly. Not even me.

"I want you to feel safe," he added quickly, reading the look on my face. "That's why I'm telling you the truth. I have no hidden intentions. That's the reason I saved you."

He stood up slowly, and as he moved closer to the bed, I studied him carefully. His light green eyes held secrets. His body was powerful, muscles built from battles, from years of survival. His hair was dark and swept back, clean and thick. He wasn't exactly handsome in the traditional way, but there was something about his presence, refined, commanding, eternal. A man like this couldn't just be powerful.

He had to be dangerous.

"Why?" I asked, tightening my grip on the duvet. "What do you want from me? You're making me nervous."

He chuckled softly, walking to the side of the bed before sitting on the edge. His weight shifted the mattress slightly. I held my breath.

"You recovered fast," he said, placing a large, warm hand over mine where I clutched the blanket. "This is usually the part where the rescued says thank you... and maybe pledges her allegiance to the man who pulled her from the pits of hell."

I blinked at him, confused. "I didn't ask to be saved," I mumbled, voice quiet but stubborn.

"You begged the moon goddess to save you," he replied without hesitation. "You begged for life. You promised your brother that you'd stay alive. Or have you forgotten already?"

My breath caught in my throat. How did he know that? No one had ever heard those prayers, let alone quoted them back to me.

I stared at him, unsure if I should feel exposed or seen. "You're not the moon goddess," I said, still trying to hold my ground. "I did pray to be saved... but not by another nightmare."

I tossed the duvet off and shifted farther from him on the bed.

"I only gave you what you asked for," he replied evenly. "I, Alpha Dominus Maruto of the Oakwood Pack, am your answered prayer. And I choose you, Cedar Blake, to be my mate... for the next one hundred days."

The room tilted beneath me. I stood up, then fell to my knees, stunned by the weight of his words. That name, Alpha Dominus, was like a whispered legend, one I never believed I'd encounter in the flesh. Now it made sense. The fear in Icarus' eyes, the silence in the air after he appeared, this was the man they feared. His name rings a bell and I have heard of how he's greatly feared.

He reached down and hooked an arm under mine, helping me sit again. "I'll protect you," he said quietly. "But only if you let me. I didn't rescue you by chance. This was deliberate. You're part of something now."

"I apologize," I said, trembling. "I just... I don't understand why someone like you would go through the trouble of saving someone like me."

He took a breath, sitting back. "Because if you agree to be my mate, even contractually for a hundred days, you will have access to everything I possess. My name, my resources, my status. The fear that follows me will shield you. And when the time comes, you'll have the power to get your revenge. On everyone who's ever hurt you."

His hand reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was surprisingly gentle.

"The ball is in your court now," he said, locking eyes with me. "You can kick it... or walk away from the pitch."

His offer shook me more than his touch.

Power. Safety. Revenge. The life I had only dreamed of while bleeding on the floor of my pack's slave quarters, it was being handed to me.

I couldn't breathe.

"If I say no?" I asked quietly.

"The door is open," he replied, nodding toward the large wooden door at the far end of the room.

I looked at it, then back at him. "Why does it have to be one hundred days?" I asked. "Why not forever or...?"

He leaned back, amused. "Why don't you find out for yourself?" His eyes scanned my face, pausing at my cracked lips. His thumb brushed softly along my cheek, sending a strange chill down my spine.

I swallowed hard. My head said run. My heart whispered stay.

"I accept," I breathed. I wasn't sure if he even heard me, my focus was more on the sensation of his touch than my own voice.

His gaze sharpened. "You accept what?"

I met his eyes and said, louder this time, "I, Cedar Blake of the Crystal Moon Pack, accept you, Alpha Dominus Maruto of the Oakwood Pack, as my contract mate for the next one hundred days."

He smiled, softly this time, like a storm had passed. "You've made the right decision."

He stood and pressed his lips gently to my forehead. The contact made my breath hitch.

"I'll send in the pack doctor and have the servants take care of you while I draft the contract," he said before walking to the door.

When it shut behind him, silence returned.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the weight of everything settle. His scent still lingered on my skin, woodsy, clean, and dangerously inviting.

I wasn't sure what I had just agreed to. Was this a dream come true... or the beginning of another nightmare?

But as my heart thudded in my chest and the warmth of comfort crept into my bones, one thing was certain-

For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like prey.

DOMINUS MARUTO

"I have her now. Start preparing for the ritual, Cena."

"She finally said yes?" Cena asked, surprise in his voice as he handed me my coffee. "I can't believe it. After all these years watching from the shadows, you finally pinned Cedar Blake."

I nodded slowly, sipping from the mug he gave me. The coffee was hot and bitter, just the way I liked it.

"Did you tell her?" he asked next, narrowing his eyes at me.

I didn't answer immediately. I sat back in my leather chair, staring at the lawyer seated across from me, reviewing the contract I had drafted years ago. Every line, every clause, every hidden detail had been prepared long before Cedar knew she'd need saving.

I knew this day would come.

The day Cedar Blake would be mine.

Not just as Luna of the Oakwood Pack, but as the final piece in my long, strategic game. A step closer to my redemption. And to my rise.

Malik, my lawyer, looked up. "Your contract is ready, Alpha."

I stood and shook his hand. "Expect your payment tomorrow."

He nodded, packed up his briefcase, and quietly let himself out of my office.

As the door clicked shut, Cena turned back to me with a sharp look. "So?"

I picked up the contract, flipping through the pages, inspecting my years of careful planning. Then I selected my favourite pen from the rack and answered, "I told her nothing. What she doesn't know won't hurt her."

Cena exhaled sharply, unimpressed. "Won't it? She accepted the offer blindly. She has no idea what she's getting into."

"She'll read the contract before signing it. That's fair enough."

He crossed his arms, one brow lifting. "You and I both know that's not what I'm talking about. But you're Dominus Maruto. You always do what you want. I'll stay out of it."

He picked up the pen rack and headed toward the library, but not before throwing me one last knowing glance. "Just promise me you'll tell her the truth when the time's right."

I didn't answer.

Because the truth didn't matter right now.

What mattered was that I had Cedar. Under my roof. Bound to me, even if she didn't fully understand the depth of it yet.

I'd waited for this.

I had everything: wealth, power, and control. I ran this pack from the comfort of my home, and my name alone made others tremble. I didn't need to chase power anymore.

But Cedar... she was different.

I didn't want to conquer her. I wanted her trust. I wanted her to come to me freely, so that when she looked into my eyes, she'd see stability. Safety. I'd be her only anchor in a world that had broken her over and over again.

The 100-day contract was more than just a strategic move, it was all the time I needed to change everything. Once the full moon rose, the ritual would begin. And if the moon goddess accepted the offering, nothing, not even the gods, could deny me the power I craved.

And once I had that...

The world would bow.

With a smile tugging at my lips, I left my office and headed into the main house. I imagined Cedar was already in the dining room, overwhelmed by the luxury and attention. The slaves had orders to treat her like royalty, and I knew that kind of shift would hit her harder than any words I could speak.

"Alpha Dominus!" the doorman greeted, pulling open the large door as I stepped inside.

There she was.

Cedar sat at the end of the long table, eyes scanning the extravagant setting in front of her. Her expression was soft, shy almost, until her eyes met mine. Then, like a frightened animal, she straightened, unsure whether to rise or bow.

I motioned for her to stay seated.

"It's ready," I said, placing the contract and pen in front of her as I took the seat opposite. "You can read through it carefully before signing."

She looked at me, her lips parting slightly. "Thank you... for everything. I can't thank you enough for saving me, not to mention the life of freedom and... access you've offered me. I never imagined this."

She picked up the pen, her hands shaking slightly, then began to flip through the contract.

"You don't have to thank me," I replied calmly, though my eyes never left her face. I studied her expressions closely, watched every flicker of hesitation, every moment of doubt.

She looked up once, brows furrowed, then quickly lowered her gaze again. Her eyes moved over the words, then, too soon, honestly, she began signing in the spaces marked for her signature.

I let out a quiet breath as I turned to my food and began eating, feeling victorious. Her facial expressions told me everything before I even had to sneak into her mind. She hadn't fully read the fine print, but that didn't matter now.

"Done," she said softly, placing the pen down.

Our eyes met again. She tried to smile, but winced and reached for her jaw.

She was still hurting.

I knew what they did to her. The beatings. The humiliation. Her own pack had hated her for something her parents had been falsely accused of. They would've buried her alive if given the chance.

But now she belonged to me, and if anyone was ever going to make her feel helpless again, it would be me.

"Let's eat," I said gently, covering her hand with mine. "You're one step away from reclaiming your life. From destroying every last person who tried to take it from you."

I slid her chair closer with my other hand. "I bet you want to start with the ones who watched your family crumble. Start from the roots. Find the real culprit. Feed the truth to the twin alphas until it chokes them. Tear everything they care about apart."

She trembled.

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, tears of grief, fury, and something deeper. Longing. Hope. She was already mine, even if she hadn't said the words.

I could feel it.

And I knew, deep down, she found me fascinating. Maybe it was the way I appeared to her that first time, shirtless, powerful, untouchable. Or maybe it was something else. Something deeper. Either way, I had her now.

And soon... I'd have all of her. Or that part of her that matters most. That I really want. That has always been the reason why I have been watching her. Waiting for her.

***

"I present to you, Mrs. Dominus Maruto! The Luna of Oakwood Pack!" Cena's voice rang out across the hall, echoing like a bell as glasses were raised for a toast.

The room was filled with pack members. Every last one of them was present, by my order. I didn't want whispers or rumours. This marriage needed witnesses.

Even if it was temporary. To make it feel real, so she feels important and trusts me.

At first, there was silence. Then murmurs began. Shock rippled through the crowd like a wave. I scanned their faces, some confused, some furious. But as soon as they met my eyes, most of them fell silent again.

Then... she stepped forward.

Her eyes were dark, burning with rage. She stared straight at Cedar, fury bubbling beneath the surface. Her jaw trembled, her body stiff. She turned to me, her stare sharp and bitter... then walked out without a word.

Cedar looked from the woman's retreating figure to me, stunned. Her expression shifted, questions forming in her eyes.

I knew this would happen.

I should've warned her.

But this wasn't about transparency. This wasn't a love story. This was a business arrangement.

Later, when we were finally alone, she turned to me.

"Who was that?" she asked, her voice low, steady, her eyes locked on mine.

I looked at her, silently weighing my answer. She had no idea what she had signed up for.

But soon... she would.