Alpha's Redemption: A Second Chance Mate

Elena's POV

"You can't just give me out like that, I'm not some kind of property to be traded! I have feelings of my own. I won't let you throw them away," I cried out to my step-father while expecting him to have a change of mind but from the view of things the devil wasn't even budged by my outbursts. Instead he stood where he was his face impassive glaring at me angrily.

When he was finally tired of watching me sob like a woman that her child was taken away from her he finally spoke out,

"Elena can you for once stop being selfish, Alpha Darian has always been too good to us and we both know that he's good person," he said to me in a convincing manner while expecting me to succumb to his wish but only if he knew the anger that was boiling in my heart anytime he mentioned the name of Alpha Darian.

Who in our Pack would say that he isn't aware of how cruel and ruthless Alpha Darian is, even the mention of his name sent cold chills down the spin.

"Never dad! I will never bear Alpha pup to someone I don't love because it's convenient for you, he isn't my destined mate and I'm sure that soon the moon goddess will...," I tried protesting but he cut off immediately.

"Mate?" He scoffed in a mockery tone.

"You are twenty Elena for crying out loud, all your friends have found their destined mate right from the age of eighteen isn't it obvious that you aren't ever going to find this mate of yours?" He asked me, his voice raising in anger.

Those words were like a dagger and it was stabbing right through my chest, does he have to remember for me that at the age of twenty that I was still to discover my mate while my other friends had all discovered their destined mate and is that also valid reason to sell me off to the most cruelest alpha king of all time?

As these thoughts ran through my mind I couldn't help but sob more.

"But dad I don't love him," I protested sorrowfully with tears streaming down my face.

"Enough Elena!" My step-father's voice hollowed in anger and afterwards he sighed heavily and approached me and used his finger and cleaned the drop of tears streaming falling from her eyes.

Once he did that I felt this feeling of relief because according to me he has finally decided to change his mind but what he said after that almost made me to pass out.

"You don't need to love him Elena, all you need to do is give him a son and afterwards you will be set free," he explained to me with a calm tone while placing his hand on my shoulders.

As I turned and looked at him I couldn't help but wonder if he had or was it a stone that he had instead of a heart

As if that wasn't enough, he pressed on,

"Alpha Darian has always been good to us, he has done many good things for us without asking for anything in return; this is the first time he's asking me a favour and I can't refuse," he explained to me while trying his best to look innocent.

What I still couldn't figure out was why he was making use of the expression "us" as if Alpha Darian had ever done something good for me; it has always been about him and his ruthless endeavour for power.

Actually my stepdad was a man driven by ambition and a hunger for power, a man whose secrets ran deeper than the forest itself. He had married my mother when I was just a child, and over the years, he had become increasingly ruthless in his pursuit of dominance within the pack. It was a pursuit that had now led him to a sinister alliance with the cruelest alpha king of all times, Alpha King Darian.

My mother had been a kind and gentle soul, but her passing had left me vulnerable to the whims of my stepdad and the alpha king. I had been a pawn in their political machinations, a means for my stepdad to secure his position as an influential figure within the pack; I had known that my life was a pawn in my step-father's game, but I had never imagined that he would go to such lengths to secure his position.

When he noticed that I wasn't go to fall for his dumb explanation he heaved heavily before proceeding,

""Elena don't think this is easy for me too because it isn't, you are my stepdaughter and I promised your mother to take care of you but presently my both hands are tied and I don't have any other choice than to grant Alpha Darian his wish," he explained to me calmly while expecting me to succumb to his demand but from the look in my eyes he could easily detect that his dumb explanations were getting me more and more infuriated.

"I don't care dad! I won't do it, I won't bear him a son," I screamed my voice breaking.

"Enough of all these nonsense Elena!" His voice echoed in anger.

"My decision is final, you are going to bear him a son whether you like it not," he said to me.There was a lack of emotion on his face and his eyes bored into me with an icy glare.

"But..."I tried protesting but I was interrupted immediately by him.

"No but Elena, now go inside your room and park your belongings,I'm taking you to his palace right away ," he commanded me while ignoring my sobbing.

With those statements it dawned on me that his decision is final, I have no other choice than to accept my fate.

It was just like a nightmare for me, at that moment I couldn't help but feel betrayed.

"Elena I said go to your room and park your belongings unless I will drag you to his palace without your belongings," my stepdad threatened me angrily when he noticed that I was still standing where I was glaring at him angrily.

After giving him a disgusting stare for some seconds I started heading to my room.

After some seconds I came out with my luggage containing only the necessary things I needed; after all I wasn't going to stay with him forever, once I give him a son we will each go our separate ways as if nothing ever happened.

"We need to start going to Elena, the Alpha will already be anticipating our arrival," my stepdad said to ne while trying to help me with my luggage but immediately I stopped him.

"I can carry it myself," I said to him while peering into his eyeballs. The hate and anger in my eyes were too evident, even him too could see it.

With that he sighed heavily placing his hands on my shoulder but immediately I shoved his hand away from my shoulder.

"Elena I don't want you to view me as a bad person, I'm still your step-father and everything I'm doing is for your own...,"

"Can we start going?" I interrupted him immediately and after some minutes of silence he nodded positively and started heading outside and immediately I followed him from behind.

As the carriage rattled away from the forest, my heart was heavy with despair because deep down I knew that my journey into the heart of Alpha King Darian's castle would be fraught with danger and uncertainty. I could only hope that one day, I would find a way to escape the clutches of my cruel fate and return to the moonlit glens that had always held the secrets of my soul.

Little did I know that the journey was just beginning, and that the moon itself held the key to my redemption.

Elena's POV

"Elena we are already here," my step-father said to me while tapping me tenderly and immediately I jerked back to reality.

I just couldn't believe that I was lost in my thoughts till the extent that I didn't notice when we got to the palace.

Once I stepped down, I first took my time to look at the imposing walls of the Alpha King's castle. It's a dark, foreboding place with towering spires, surrounded by dense, ancient forests. The castle is perched on the edge of a rugged cliff, overlooking a sprawling wilderness. From today henceforth this place is going to become my new living place, the place fate had brought me.

As I was still looking around the castle I couldn't help but pray to the moon goddess for a miracle, all I was just praying for was just a simple event that would take place and change everything, a little event that would make the Alpha Darian change his mind and ask me to return back home but is that ever going to happen, was the moon goddess even listening to my prayers because I doubt it; if she ever listened to my prayers maybe she could have heed my prayer ok keeping my mother alive or giving me a loving and caring mate just like she gave my friends but unfortunately none of that ever happened, I was always the unlucky one.

As these thoughts were running through my mind I was jerked back to reality by the greetings of my step father and one of the castle guards.

"Let's get going Elena, the Alpha is waiting for us," my father said to me before heading towards the entrance of the castle and without hesitating I followed him from behind.

Once I entered the castle, an intoxicating scent swift pass my nose.

'MATE'. My wolf chimed.

He smelled like cotton candy, a blue-raspberry smoothie cologne, and a bit of pepper-mint candy.

"But who could be my mate in this castle?" I questioned myself excitedly while following my father from behind.

To be sincere I have patiently waited for this day for a very long time, the day that I will finally sense the presence of my destined mate; but despite the fact that I could sense his presence I still had this mix feeling, who could be my destined mate in this castle? I hope it isn't what I'm thinking.

As we were getting closer to the court chamber the masculine scent kept getting stronger until I was standing face to face with him;

"Alpha Darian?" My eyes widened in shock. Oh- no, there must have been a mistake. The Goddess must have paired up the wrong matches.

"Greetings Alpha Darian," my father greeted him while prostrating himself and without hesitating I did the same while expecting him to acknowledge the mate bond, jump in joy just like the way I heard other people react when they discover their mate but unfortunately he did nothing of such, instead he sat on his throne peering at us with his piercing blue eyes portraying an aura of power.

"Elena does mate not recognize us?" Tricksy my inner wolf whispered to me with a dejected tone after mind linking with me.

"I doubt he does," I said to her through link and immediately I could feel her whimpering in pain.

"Tell him," she urged me.

"No Tricksy, he will soon realize the mate bond," I said to Tricksy reassuringly before blocking the mind link.

"Is she the one?" The voice of Alpha Darian echoed from his throne.

"Yes she is my lord," my father replied excitedly while nodding.

"What is your name," his strong masculine voice echoed from the throne.

"E-E-LENA," I stammered before raising my head to take a proper look at him; actually.

Once our eyes met, I almost gaped because despite the anger I was feeling towards him I still couldn't help but admire how good looking he was, he was damn good looking. He is tall,his white hair that resembles mine looked like it was combed by his fingers and swept back away from his face. He has a strong,defined masculine jawline, he is the perfect definition of the mate of my dreams but then there was this his cold demeanor, his blue piercing eyes that could send cold chills down your spine; even by looking at him you could already sense how ruthless and fierce he is. No wonder everyone in wolfenwood pack feared him.

"Elena hope your father explained to you your reason of being here?" He asked me from his throne and immediately I glared angrily at my stepdad before turning my gaze towards him.

"No he didn't," I lied while looking at my step-father whose jaws were almost dropping to the ground.

"What Elena?" Didn't I tell...,"

"Enough Richard," his voice raised in anger. "Your excuses disgust me," he said to my step-father who was still staring at me angrily and immediately I curved my lips in a wicked grin.

"Show her to her room," he commanded one of the guards who came and took my luggage and without hesitating I followed him from behind without even waving goodbye to my step-father.

Once the guard brought me to the room I couldn't help but admire how beautiful the room was, but at this very moment none of all these mattered to me, my only concern was what that awaited me now that I'm finally the castle of Alpha Darian.

As I was lying on the huge bed thinking of what fate had in-store for me I heard someone knocking on the door, without hesitating I stood up and ran to the door and immediately the intoxicating scent filled my nose once again.

"Can I come in," he asked me with an icy glare as I was still staring at him motionlessly.

"Yes, yes come in," I stammered while leaving the road for him.

"Once he came in he sat down on one of the chairs that are inside the room.

"Your dad didn't inform you of the reason why you were brought here right?" He asked me while peering into my eyeballs.

"No he didn't," I replied while avoiding his gaze and immediately he nodded positively.

"Your father sold you to me in exchange of a higher position in the pack, in order words you are now my property," he said to me, his eyes boring into me with an icy glare.

"What!" I exclaimed in surprise.

Elena's POV

"Yes Elena, you are now mine, and for the short time we are going to stay together my wish is going to be your command," he said to me, his blue eyes piercing into me.

"And what if decide not to abide by your rules," I asked him with a daring tone. I still couldn't explain how that question escaped from my mouth or how I gathered up courage to question him but anyway I did it.

Once I asked him the question a silent atmosphere engulfed the whole room, possibly this is the first time someone have ever questioned him. From the way he was staring at me with his blue piercing eyes it was as if he he was thinking about the punishment that would be suitable for me for daring to question, something that no one has ever done.

"Do you really want to know what I do to people who don't abide to my rules?" He broke the silence, his lips curving in a wicked smile and immediately I swallowed hard.

"Do you also want to know what I do people who snub me when I ask them question," he asked me with a calm but intimidating tone because his manner of speaking rendered me mute immediately, I couldn't help but bend my head in grief with my heart pounding heavily. As an Alpha I'm sure that he was hearing the sound of my heartbeat.

With that I shook my head negatively while avoiding his gaze.

"Perfect," he replied with a wicked smirk.

"I bet you won't want to know it and you won't even want to witness the pain and agony of those who doesn't abide to my rules talk less of experiencing it," his voice smoldered despite the smile on his face and immediately I felt a cold chill down my spine.

"What's that your name again?" He asked me.

"E-E-LENA," I replied, stammering.

"Elena," he repeated with an angelic voice.

"Can I ask you a favour Elena?" He asked while maintaining the smirk on his face and without hesitating I nodded positively

"Can you stop nodding whenever I ask you a question, it disgusts me, you are no lizard," he said to me with an icy glare.

"What did I just say?" He asked me with an icy glare.

"I should stop nodding whenever you ask me a question," I replied brusquely while avoiding his gaze.

"Exactly Elena," he replied with a wicked grin. With that he stretched out his hand and caressed my cheek.

"That's my girl," he said to me while caressing my cheek.

"I wonder why someone with such a sweet voice will be nodding like a lizard instead of talking," he said to me with a wicked grin.

"Or should I take the voice away from you, in that way you won't be in need of it anymore instead you will become a complete deaf person nodding the way you love it," he asked me with a mockery tone and immediately I glanced at him with terror and fright written all over my face.

"Just kidding, just kidding Elena," he repeated his lips curved in a wicked smile.

"I won't dare take away the voice of the she-wolf that is going to bear me an Alpha pup who will take after me, I won't want the future Alpha to inherit deafness from you," he said to me with a wicked grin and immediately I furrowed my brows at while feigning to be surprised.

"Ooh sorry, you haven't been told the reason why you were brought here," he said to me while feigning to be sorry.

"Well your main reason of being here is to give me a son afterwards you can consider my contract with your father as expired in other words you are free to go but not with the child," he said to me his lips curved in a wicked smile.

Truth be told I wasn't considering giving him a son willingly until when I discovered that he's my mate, why would I budge to bear a son for my mate but then there this is this issue of him not recognizing me as his mate.

Surely his heart has been fed up by his cruelty and pride to the extent that he no longer feel or sense anything else than wickedness.

If there's some people I blame for this it's firstly the moon goddess and secondly my father. I know that it's not right to blame the moon goddess but someone needs to be blamed for my misfortunes, and for the ruthless Alpha sitting right in front of me he better pray that he recognizes the mate bond because I'm not even considering leaving the first fruit of my womb with him if not he will have to bear the pain of seeing me everyday throughout the rest of his life or until when he finally recognizes the mate bond.

"Can I ask you a question?" I asked him after some seconds of reflection.

"Permission granted," he said to me while maintaining his wicked grin.

"What will you do if one day you discover that I'm your destined mate, will you find it in your heart to love me? I asked him and for the first time I peered directly into his eyeballs.

With that he chuckled lowly, to be sincere he looked like a devil when he laughed. His laughter didn't reach his eyes but somehow he seemed a bit amused by my question.

"Elena tell me, what exactly are you trying to say, are you somehow insinuating that you are my mate or ever going to be your mate?" he asked me, his tin lips curved up to a dangerous and mischievous smile.

With that question all my suspicions were confirmed, he didn't recognize the mate bond and deep down I could feel Tricksy whimpering in pain.

"No I'm not insinuating anything, I'm just asking," I said to him while trying my best not to show off my emotions.

"Better," he replied his lips still curved in a wicked smile.

"Whoever that person is I pray that I never find her because she will be the most unluckiest person on earth and do you know why?" He asked me, his eyes boring into me with an icy glare and immediately I nodded negatively before remembering that he had prohibited me from nodding in his presence.

"No," I replied brusquely and he furrowed his brows at me.

"Because I don't do love, I don't know how to show affection," he said to me and from his facial expression I could clearly see that he meant every word that he said.

"Those statements kept on resounding in my ear over and over again,

"I don't do love, I don't know how to show affection,"

"I don't do love, I don't know how to show affection,"

"What!" I exclaimed in surprise without even realizing it.

"Yes you heard me right Elena so don't even think that I'm ever going to love you or show you any affection for the short period we are going to stay together," he said to me with an icy glare.

To be sincere I never expected him to fall in love with me or show me any affection and with those statements of his I felt an inner joy because I didn't inform him that I'm his mate but deep down I still wished that he would soon recognize the mate bond and because I know deep down that he's saying all these because he haven't recognized the mate bond but once he does he will surely have a change of mind and attitude.

"I will be taking my leave now Elena," he said to me while standing. "But I will be back tonight, it's time for you to fulfill the main purpose why you were brought here," he said to me without even back, I was jerked back to reality when he banged the door while walking out.