Alpha King Xavier's Fated Mate

My claws blurred as I ran through the wood as fast as my legs could carry me.

Tears burned my vision and my heart felt heavy.

"Run Autumn, run!" My father's voice echoed in my head, almost making me stop.

I felt the urge to turn around and go back to where I was coming from. But I had to keep going.

I left so many things behind. Damn! I'm nothing but a coward!

Maybe my mother was wrong. I'm more useless and worthless than an omega!

A tear dropped, making me feel even more miserable as I scalded through the forest with no destination in mind.

A thud and I was forced out of my tracks suddenly. My body ached and I wondered if I was so lost in thoughts that I didn't know when I hit a tree.

I heard a crack and knew I had broken some bones. But that was the least of my problems.

Just before I could get up, a leg was suddenly pressing against my chest. It felt heavy and judging by how weak I currently was, it would take only a few minutes before I passed away.

Yet, I struggled with it. I will do anything to live. Even though I don't want to admit it now, I will live, find my mate, and come back for revenge!

"Where did the little one think she's off to?" A voice mocks somewhere around me.

Damn! It was Alpha Xavier's men. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me but they still caught up with me.

Like I said, I'm the most useless werewolf in this whole wide world. My parents made a mistake. I wasn't who they thought I was.

I couldn't fight with the pack and running away was even the hardest thing for me to do. What then can I do?

"Rick, come over here," another voice muttered, suddenly pulling me back to the mundane world.

I finally succeeded in pulling the leg away. I breathed out and tried to make a run for it again but a strong arm was suddenly holding me back.

If Riley was as powerful as my father said she was, this man would be a piece of meat for me. But they could enjoy their victory while it lasted.

There was a rush behind me, and then I was staring at the Alpha's Beta.

"Fear the heaven, Rick! My father has done nothing wrong!" tears dropped down in a cascading manner as I uttered this statement.

Rick didn't answer, as his gaze bore into me. "No way!" He muttered with a hint of surprise in his voice. Even his face shows how shocked he is.

"This is unbelievable!" The one holding me muttered. Yet again, I could hear the surprise in their voices.

I had no idea what they were talking about. Were they surprised that I knew Rick's name?

I used to sneak out of the pack house even against my father's wishes because I was desperate. I'm twenty-three and I haven't seen my mate yet.

Well, all work proved abortive because I'm still yet to know who my mate is. Maybe the moon goddess forgot to pair me with someone.

So, I got to know more about Alpha Xavier and even Beta Rick. However, I have yet to see Alpha Xavier.

"We have no idea where the Alpha's mate is. What are we going to gain by crossing him? My father has tried his best to stay away from him! Why can't you leave us alone?" My voice started strong but it soon failed me. It fell near a whisper. I was seriously begging them to stop the massacre, to stop them from killing my pack.

Rick turned to the other guy. "We are taking her to the Alpha King."

My eyes widened with shock.

Oh no! Not the Alpha King, my worst nightmare.

I started to struggle again. Perhaps, I could be lucky and make a run for it.

Well, another wishful thinking!

"Shut up!" The voice yelled and I was slammed against the tree.

I heard more cracks and a sharp pain shot through me. I need no one to tell me I have broken my bones. And the fact that I was healing slowly makes matters worse.

I curl into a ball on the floor, unable to move because of the pain.

"You will learn to obey, especially when you are with the Alpha king or it might cost you your head earlier than scheduled," he warned sternly.

A hood was placed over my head and I felt hard arms carry me.

At that moment, I couldn't stop the tears anymore. The reason why life has decided to be this unfair to me is that I don't understand.

At that moment, I couldn't help but think about my family, my pack- the Moon-like pack.

There was slaughtering when I left. The killing was so much that I initially refused to leave.

I have no idea what has become of my parents now. The thought of it weakens me.

I can't believe I left them behind.

I mean I am the only child and my father is the Alpha. My duty was to stay and fight.

But I couldn't. I'm such a coward. All I was concerned with was protecting the silver wolf.

Besides, who could defeat Xavier? If I stayed, I would die because I am no less than an Omega.

Without my silver wolf, I am useless.

Yes, I am the silver she-wolf the world has known for 2000 years.

The moon goddess gave me a power that would help my pack but the only mistake she made was keying it.

I need my mate to unlock my wolf power.

"Is the Alpha king inside?" A familiar voice asked suddenly, cutting through my thoughts.

"Yes, but he's busy. You will have to come back."

"Well, it's quite important. Tell him this," the voice said firmly.

There was a few minutes of silence and I felt myself moving again.

My heart skipped several beats at the thought of meeting the Alpha king. Alpha Xavier is known to all and sundry as a ferocious man. He was hard, wicked, and fierce. He's only sweet to his Luna, as rumour would have it.

And the only woman who could calm him down was currently missing.

Suddenly, I felt my legs touch the ground and the hand holding me slowly let go.

In the next few minutes, I felt alone.

And for that, I felt a sudden shiver run down my spine.

I hugged myself mentally and braced myself for the next thing.

Suddenly, I felt soft footsteps towards me and the hood over my head went off.

I looked up at the Beta. He was staring at me with a kind of emotion I couldn't distinguish.

Was there something going on? Now, I'm more scared.

Before I could think more, rich dark chocolate with an undertone of vanilla notes wafted through my nose suddenly. I felt restless almost immediately and my heart pounded madly in my chest.

Instinctively, my eyes moved slowly to my right where a huge figure was. Without being told, I knew he was the Alpha. Our gaze holds and locks for a moment.

Something stirred inside my chest.

"Our mate!" Riley, my wolf mumbled, shocking me.

Wait, what? Alpha Xavier is my mate?

Riley has long been dormant after our first transformation when I clocked 18.

Since then, she hasn't resurfaced. So, yes, I am surprised that she spoke up. And I'm sure there's no way she would be mistaken about this.

But how could the moon goddess pair me with someone who already has a mate? I mean not a fated mate. Everyone knows Alpha Xavier married his chosen mate and not a fated one.

As rumour would have it, they'd been together for a long time, before Xavier even became the Alpha king.

But must it be Alpha Xavier? He was my father's worst enemy, and now mine.

What kind of trap have I gotten myself into?

A shiver took all over my body at the thought of it.

Alpha Xavier hesitated for what seemed like an eternity. I could feel the pull of the mate bond between us within these minutes of silence. I mean that was normal. The mate bond was stronger than anything in the world.

"Who are you?" His thick voice sounded like thunder to my ears.

"Autumn Brooker," I responded in my best voice.

He moved closer, giving me the chance to give him a deep scrutiny. He was tall, at least 6 ft because I felt very small in front of him.

He's thick, and with broad shoulders and I'm sure there are some abs underneath that fur cardigan he's wearing.

He has square cheekbones that fit perfectly under those eyes that felt like they were boring into my soul.

He was intimidating, fearsome and it felt like he was going to swallow me alive. The stubble of hair on his face made him look even more handsome, yet so scary.

"Anthony's daughter?" His voice was rough. He stopped before me briefly, before he moved to my back.

I nodded quickly. "Yes, Alpha. I assure you that_" I started, only to be cut off by his scary voice.

"You speak when you are being asked!" He yelled in a deep and scary voice and I could hear some hint of hatred in his voice. "Where's my mate!" His voice increased suddenly and I jumped up.

I swallowed hard on my dry throat. "I have no idea. The Moon-like pack is innocent, I have never seen your_"

I was forced to a sudden stop as Alpha Xavier hit me on the cheek. My vision blurred and I fought to keep my stand.

"The last warning, Autumn. You don't talk when I'm talking. You don't speak until you are asked to!" He roared and the ground shook underneath us.

I fought the tears that threatened to slip from under my natural long lashes. I can't believe this is happening to me.

"And why? Just why are you like her?" His voice softened for a few minutes as he walked to stand in front of me again. Yet, he had a dark frown on his face. "Who are you really?"

Your mate! Our mate, my wolf, said again but I had no courage to say it out loud.

I mean Xavier knew who I was. There's no way he wouldn't have felt the pull of the mate bond.

"You are not my mate!" He muttered thickly as if trying to convince himself instead of me. "Why?" He stopped suddenly, as if in deep thought. His eyes were fierce. So, I looked away quickly.

He took a step closer and suddenly grabbed my breast.

Blood rushed into it, followed by an electric shock that seemed to course through my body.

"Fuck!" He cursed and withdrew as if I burned him. "Same size though," he noted darkly.

"I told you," Rick voiced out.

Xavier nodded once, and I could still feel his eyes on me but I couldn't meet them.

"Now, here's it. Gwen's parents are coming here in three days. Rick will tell you all you are to do. Her parents must not see the difference between you and Gwen."

I looked up at him quickly. "You want me to pretend to be Gwen?"

"You heard that quite right."

I couldn't believe it. Why would I pretend to be Gwen? Everything was confusing.

"I have no idea where your mate is. My parents are innocent. The pack is innocent," I cried.

The dark frown on his face made him look very scary. I have never seen anyone look so demonic like him. No wonder people fear him.

"I wasn't asking for an opinion. And I'm only going to give you the grace of five days to tell me where Gwen is or I will make sure I wipe your existence off this world!" He threatened.

My heart shattered into millions of pieces.

Alpha Xavier looked at Rick. "Take her away and fill her in on all she needs to know."

I looked at him quickly. "But_ but_"

I started but the words refused to leave my lips. I seriously wanted to tell him I was his mate. Would he seriously kill his fated mate because of his chosen mate?

I swallowed hard and forced it out eventually. "I'm your mate. Would you seriously kill your mate?"

He clenched his teeth and filled the little space in between us. We were so close now, so close he only needed to tilt his head down a bit and our lips would touch.

He gently moved his mouth to my left ear, the action leaving a sensational feeling in my heart.

"Mine?" He smirked. "You are not my mate, Autumn even though the moon goddess said so. I don't believe in her and the only thing stopping me from snapping your neck right now is because of Gwen's parents. So, never see yourself as one, never! Because you will never be one," His voice went deeper and I swallowed hard at the end of each statement, his words seeming like blows to my face.

The tears threatened to break loose. I was going to get rejected by my mate even before I had the chance to unleash my silver wolf and be the most powerful she-wolf the world has ever known.

No, he would eventually kill me because I have no idea where his chosen mate is.

Rick led me out of the room.

He stopped slightly to look at me. "Follow me," he ordered.

His voice was deep and emotionless but not as scary as Alpha Xavier's.

I nodded once, unable to find my voice. I was seriously holding myself to prevent the tears from dropping.

Where we walked was empty. There were no maids in sight. I guess other werewolves are allowed to this part under strict instructions.

He stopped suddenly, in front of a silver door. He unlocked the door and stepped inside.

I took a deep sigh before I stepped inside right behind him.

We entered a spacious room of high designs. The whole place looked like paradise. The queen-sized bed was pink in colour.

The wall was also pink in colour, as well as the vanity table. I actually heard that Luna goes to the human world more often and brings in stuff from there.

That aside, everyone knew that Alpha King Xavier was a billionaire in the human world. He owned one of the biggest estates in the city as well as a clothing company.

I've never been there anyway. So, I don't know how it was. But a lot of werewolves talk about it.

The wall had a big picture of me. No, someone who looks so much like me. Because there's no way it would be me!

The eyes, the face, and the lips look the same, except for the colour of the hair. She had red hair.

What the heck?

Unconsciously, I moved closer. I have never been so shocked in my entire life.

"That's Gwen, the Luna," Rick responded suddenly as if reading through my mind.

When Alpha Xavier was talking about pretending to be Gwen, I thought he was crazy. Now, I understand.

"But how could she look so much like me?"

"Well, that's something mysterious and not something I think the Alpha is interested in currently. Play your part well and make sure your parents confess. He's not as wicked as people say he is."

Oh, spare me! Everyone knows Xavier kills like he's always thirsty for blood. If eventually we find his mate and she was really kidnapped by my pack, Xavier might kill us all.

But wait, what did he mean by 'make sure your parents confess?' Are they alive?

"No one, not even your maids can know who you really are. From now on, you are Gwen, Xavier's Luna."

Just as I listened to him, I knew instantly that my life would never remain the same again.

What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?

"I will be back later."

I barely heard him. It was the slam of the door that made me realize I was alone.

At this moment, I couldn't stop the tears again. It feels like the only thing I could do.

The door creaked open suddenly. "Mistress?"

I whirled around almost immediately. I hesitated briefly as I regarded the lady in front of me, dressed in uniform.

She regarded me for a moment, her brows drawn together. "Mistress?" she called again.

I didn't even know how to respond.

She rushed forward suddenly and ended up in my embrace.

I was still stiff, unsure if I should hug her or not. I mean who hugs their maid?

I do, actually but I don't know how things work around here.

She pulled back, a smile on her face. "You've changed the colour of your hair," she says as a matter of factly.

I touched my hair unconsciously.

"But why are you crying?" she noticed.

I wipe the tears off immediately, with the tip of my finger. "I'm not," I lied.

She regarded me again before she withdrew, moved to the door, and locked it.

She walked back to me and pulled me down to the bed.

"You are not my mistress, right?"

My heart made a sudden thud in my chest. I'm supposed to be Gwen but my identity is already wavering. If I can't pretend to be a maid, I wonder how I'm supposed to pretend to be Gwen to her parents.

I'm so sick of this!

"Are you surprised?" She smiled faintly.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Elixir, Mistress's maid. I've been caring for her since she became Luna. So, I kind of know some things about her more than anyone else," she explained and sighed. "I guess they haven't found her."

I suddenly felt like she was someone I could talk to.

"I swear, my pack has no hand in this. We have no idea where Luna is."

She held my hands in hers and looked at me with affection. "I'm so sorry you are in this position. I guess life isn't always friendly but well, I'm sure she will soon be found and you will be free. The Alpha king must need you because of her parents."

I nodded once as I didn't even know what to reply with. She seems to know a lot that I don't. Perhaps I might even need her help in the near future.

I unconsciously released the breath that I didn't even know I was holding. "Can you tell me more about the Alpha?"

Actually, I was going to say 'the Luna'. But it looked like while my head was thinking of a different thing, my mind was focused on another.

Why the heck would I want to know more about the Alpha? The heck with him!

Maybe because he's your mate? A voice whispered in my head.

That's right! He is. It's only normal for me to want that. He's my dream mate! He's the one I have always been waiting for but I don't know if I should have that dream buried now.

"Scratch that!" I said quickly, closing my eyes in the process as I struggled with my inner thoughts to collide with what I wanted. "Tell me about the Luna and why she looks so much like me."

Elixir looked past me, at the wall behind me. She seemed to be comparing me and Gwen.

"Damn! You look so much like her. To be honest, I wouldn't have recognized you if it wasn't for your actions."

I smiled. I have no idea this could happen.

"Could you have been twins?"

I laughed at the possibility. My pack is the least of all the packs in the east. There's no way my mother would have given birth to a twin and the other one would be a princess from the north.

"Maybe Gwen's mother is your mother? Perhaps your mother took you from somewhere?" She inclined her head aside, as she concluded.

I laughed again and sobered almost immediately. "No way!"

Elixir laughed. "I was only kidding. Though, we shouldn't rule that out. Unless you are reborn, there is no way you will look the same to someone. And the next possibility is if you guys are siblings. And well, since that's not possible on your side, then the moon goddess must be trying to get back at the Alpha King."

I gathered my brows amazingly. "What do you mean?"

She leaned in. "The Alpha doesn't believe in the moon goddess. Perhaps the moon goddess is now trying to mess with his mind."

I grin. Though, that was not expected.

A soft knock interrupted Elixir of the word she was about to say next. She stood up hurriedly, moved to the door, and unlocked it.

The door opened and an elderly woman walked in. She has a strong expression and I wonder if someone had offended her or she was merely angry at me.

Elixir bowed immediately.

The woman didn't look at Elixir. "Leave!" she ordered instead.

Elixer complied immediately.

"What are you doing? Speaking with a maid? Do you want to blow your cover?"

I blinked once, skeptical.

"I'm Tito, and from today henceforth, I will be your tutor to assist you in pretending to be the Luna for three days.

Horror escaped my throat. How am I supposed to cope?

"Now, here is your schedule. I will come in every morning by exactly 9 am and you will take 3 hours of classes with me. There will be no food for you until you are done."

I gasp. 3 hours?

Then you will have one hour to yourself. You will have the time to do anything you want. Eat and sleep, if you like. By 1 pm, you will be with the Alpha, until_," her voice trailed off or maybe I was the one that lost it.

Be with the Alpha?