MATED TO A CURSED RUTHLESS ALPHA

My shaken legs could no longer withstand the tension charged in the room. My entire life had changed the second the words "mate" left my lips.

I gripped onto the white pillar in the courtroom for support, the knife-edged tension within the court growing brutal by the second.

Our pack warriors were behind their Alpha, Aldo Reign, no doubt prepared to attack, just in case a fight managed to break out with the warriors from the nightrider Pack.

My father, Aldo, was in a heated conversation with Alpha Hadrianus about me. It was funny as hell how the confrontation a second ago about my father sending rogues to the nightrider Pack soon changed into an intense conversation between my father, Alpha of the Silver tail Pack, and Alpha Hadrianus of the nightrider Pack, my mate.

It still feels like a dream to me how my entire life changed for the worse within a minute.

It was as if the universe hated me, and the moon goddess despised me.

At that moment, he was here, Alpha Hadrianus Blaze, charging in with a troop of his warriors into our pack, with fury stalking his veins, and then, to my utter disbelief, he happened to be my fated mate.

I listened more to their conversation; neither of them was ready to take a rest. My father couldn't do better to hide his satisfaction in sending me off with the enemy.

For some reason, Hadrianus kept refusing me, almost as if he was rejecting me. Even though I'm quite used to people's rejection, I've experienced it first-hand with my father, the infamous Aldo reign. Hadrianus's rejection hurt me more than I'd like to admit. I mean, even though I just found out he was my name, we shared a bond after all.

Father and Hadrianus looked at each other like they were a second from murdering the other, as they kept deciding my fate like I wasn't even in the room. This was about me, yet Hadrianus had not cast a second glance on me. It sent a piercing pain to my chest.

"As you wish, Alpha Aldo, I will take her away," Hadrianus spoke with ease, but there was something about the way he counted those words that made me cringe. It was cold and threatening.

It could almost be called a miracle that the courtroom still remained calm. Every pack in the territory was aware of the rooted hatred between both packs. They both had the largest packs in all of the North, and my father didn't like it one bit. He was a tyrant Alpha and a beast who preyed on packs, annihilating them and stealing their lands. That was the type of Alpha my father was. And Hadrianus was rumored to be no different

I was forced to shake off my thoughts when Alpha Aldo was up on his feet. He smiled darkly after one last gruesome stare at me. That smile of his has haunted my every awakening.

"She is yours after all. You may take her!" He glanced at me. He never treated me like his daughter.

My years growing up within the walls of the Packhouse have been the literal definition of the term "hell!'. In that hellish state, the only thing that kept me going was finding my mate. I always heard stories from the servants about the mate bond and its undying love. I always prayed for a mate, even though deep down I knew my chances were nil. Unlike most wolves that were blessed with their wolf mate at sixteen, mine never came. So, it was unbelievable that I would be given a mate. My legs finally gave up, collapsing against the pillar which could no doubt feel my plight.

Hadrianus demeanor was cold, dominating, and even intimidating. His eyes gauged me, regarding me. I felt uncomfortable under his cold stare. The cold mask he had worn did not allow me an inkling of his true thoughts.

"Tell her to be prepared. I'll send someone to take her before dusk." Hadrianus's gruesome eyes fell on me. Even just by staring at me, one could see the cold glacial that were aimed at my throat. How could I possibly be mated to him?

I almost gasped. I was fudging right there, yet he was ignoring me.

"That won't be necessary, she can leave with you." My father was in fact excited to send me away with him. Just like that, like a terrible nightmare, what little belongings I owned in this place that never seemed like home were bundled by the servants.

My horse was saddled for me, and my little belongings were all packed up by the servants, and I was literally shoved out by my father.

We began the ride to the nightrider Pack, my new home. Hadrianus was beside me, on my left was his beta, and the other warriors trailed behind.

We rode in absolute silence on our way to the nightrider Pack. Even when I forced myself to say something, what greeted me was a brutal silence and a murderous glare from him. So, I decided it was best to keep mute instead.

The uncomfortable silence lingered for hours as we rode past the mountains, to the other side of the south, into the capital, which I heard was under his territory. After a while, we arrived at the notorious nightrider Pack, known for everything it stood for. We rode a few more and we arrived at a castle. It was beautiful from the outside. Like nothing that I've seen before, it was truly beautiful.

When we approached the castle, some warriors sauntered to us, bowing in respect to Hadrianus. They took the reins of the horses, while someone helped me with my belongings.

I helped myself down, feeling everyone's curious eyes on me. There was no way anyone would have expected Hadrianus to be arriving with his mate, who happened to be his enemy's daughter.

"Alpha?" A woman approached us with the servants, but from the manner in which she spoke, I could tell she was someone with ranking. She bowed her head in respect to Hadrianus. Her curious eyes fell on me. The questions were vividly written in her eyes, but for some reason, she didn't dare ask them.

"Kira, please have a private chamber prepared for her. And you, " He turned to me, his eyes so intimidating and dominating that I had to shift my gaze from him. "You look at me when I speak to you." Involuntary, my eyes fell on him. His tone, on the other hand, kept getting harsher and deadlier with the passing second. I stared unblinkingly into his amber eyes.

"I will deal with you later," Hadrianus said, in the usual domineering tone I was getting accustomed to. He barely looked my way and started walking off to the entrance door, leaving me with kira. I was left confused. A private chamber for me? Why? But we were mates, shouldn't we be sharing the same chamber?

The woman,kira, walked closer to me, her lips holding a plastered smile.

"Hadrianus." His name left my lips for the first time. It seemed to have gained his attention. He came to a halt and swerved to face me.

"From today onwards, it'll be Alpha to you." He spoke to me like he was addressing a subject. I was his mate, for crying out loud. I was upset, but I played it cool, remaining calm. He was still my mate, after all, and it was just my first day here.

I ignored his words. "Why a private chamber? We are mates, we should share the same chamber."

His amber eyes became stony, and his soft lips, which were the color of cherries, curled up amusingly. Hadrianus moved closer to me, so close that our noses could almost kissed. I felt his hot breath fan my face. My breathing became hitched, and my legs became too weak to stand. The attraction between us was too strong to ignore. Couldn't he feel it too?

My question was soon answered by his stern words. "You mean absolutely nothing to me, lurline Reign." There was a sharp stab in my chest. My eyes were round, full of questions and hurt. If he didn't want me, why was I here?

My lips parted to speak when a voice interrupted us. "Hadrianus," The voice said, jerking my head in the direction of the voice. It came from a woman around my age. She was a stunning beauty with jet-black hair. She moved with a kind of elegance that suited her. Who was she?

She came to us, standing beside Hadrianus. Her eyes were upon me. She looked really calm and gentle, but there was a fire of rage flashing through her eyes, which faded so quickly. Her effortless smile reappeared, moving to Hadrianus.

"Hadrianus." The way she called his name made my stomach churn.

"Who is she? " She asked him.

It made my insides curl up. Hadrianus's eyes trailed from the woman, finding mine.

That's exactly what I should be asking. Hadrianus wrapped his hands around her waist.

"A little problem I encountered at silvertail Pack."

A little problem? Was that what he thought of me? A problem?

"Oh, I see," she said in a condescending tone. I judged her too quickly, she was anything but calm and gentle. There was something about her that was deceptive

"I am Lurline Reign, his mate. And who are you?" I asked, her eyes widened.

"Watch your words in my castle. Ramona is your superior and my chosen mate. She is to be respected. "

His words hurt me. If he had someone else, why did he accept me? His words seem to gladden Ramona. She leaned into his arms, placing a kiss on his lips, right before me, his rightful mate.

I couldn't take this insult. "Basically, you are saying this 'thing' is your slut..?" I said with disgust. My words didn't sit well with Ramona, as she began crying.

Seeing her tears, Hadrianus eyes landed on me. His bright crystall blue eyes became dark with rage and hate. I felt my heart prickle with fear.

"I clearly warned you to watch your words in my castle! Thea is your superior, therefore, she should be respected in my castle. Since you've proven quite stubborn, you'll be punished for your actions! "

I was confused. I had no idea what he was saying.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the Pack warriors. "Take her to the dungeon!"

His murderous glare made my heart stop, I had no idea what was going on. I was trembling hard. My fear and confusion were imprinted on my face. I looked around at the warriors that surrounded me, my fearful eyes meeting those of my mate. His stony expression weakens me the more.

I was trembling hard. My fear and confusion were imprinted on my face. I looked around at the warriors that surrounded me, my fearful eyes meeting those of my mate. His stony expression weakens me the more.

I was dragged into the castle, down the corridors, and thrown into a dark dungeon, and the wooden door slammed behind me.

I crashed on the harsh, cold floors with darkness circling around me. Frozen on the spot, I still couldn't move past that moment, the icy stare of my mate. His hatred and anger for me couldn't be hidden. I didn't know when my eyes gathered with tears, and they rolled carelessly from my eyes.

He hated me!

My own mate hated me!

I brought my hands to my face, sobbing profusely. The last time I felt this hurt and broken with tears in my eyes was when I was only twelve and was tortured by my father for speaking to the servants

I was tortured a lot worse than this, but that didn't even hurt this much.

I curled against the cold walls, bawling my eyes out in the darkness.

I had no idea when I fell asleep in the darkness. I woke up to the deafening silence that echoed through the walls. There was no way of knowing how long I'd been down here. It was cold, and whatever I was sitting on was making my body hurt.

The floor was hard and humid. The cold air around me was making me tremble. All I could do was wait in the darkness for a long time.

At that same moment, the big wooden door made a loud squeak, and a very strong gleam illuminated the place. I had to pull my hand up to protect my eyes from the light, and when I had adjusted to the environment, I looked up and saw Hadrianus.

My breath hitched, getting stuck in my throat. His tall and dominating figure moved closer to me as I forced my legs to stand. He had a towering height that I had to force my gaze up to. He bore down on me with flickers of raw emotions that I recognized as hatred and disgust. I clutched the silken fabric of my dress, fighting back the urge to cry.

"Let's get one thing straight. I have only one woman in my life, and that is Ramona, and no one else. " His voice was more brutal than the winter's gravest wind and sharper than any sword to my chest. "You mean nothing to me, Lurline Reign. Absolutely nothing!" He made sure to enunciate every word, which echoed within the walls of my head, murdering me. "I have a few rules on how I run my pack. Everyone must abide by them, and that includes you.

If you abide by these rules, your stay in my pack will be bearable, comfortable, and livable enough." His voice was so deep and so smooth, with a faint accent. I could easily listen to it all day, even though he sounds so ruthlessly cold.

I didn't speak. I couldn't trust my own voice not to betray me. Instead, I listened to him, like an obedient little wolf.

"Firstly," he began, "you speak only when spoken to.

Secondly, you are not allowed to step out of your chambers without my permission.

Thirdly, you are only allowed in my office when called upon and never allowed in my chambers, ever.

Fourthly, you are not allowed to step out of the castle without my permission either.

And lastly, stay out of Thea's way. That's a warning, Sheila. " He hissed with so much hatred that I winced at the intensity.

"Flouting these rules will only earn you excruciating punishment." He concluded without any emotion.

I could only stare in utter disbelief at his words. Without hesitation, he turned his back to me, heading to the door.

"W-Why?" I asked breathlessly, in pain and tears. "Why Hadrianus? I am your mate." No matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't think of a plausible reason why he despised me so much. He stopped moving for a minute and turned to face me. In a flash, Hadrianus was before me, his large hand on me, but not the way I would have wanted it. His firm grip squeezed my neck, slamming my back against the merciless wall.

"H-h-hadrianus?" I choked, unable to breathe, while my hands fell on his.

"I warned you, it's Alpha to you." His hold tightened, and I was gasping for air.

"Please... you are hurting me," I could barely hear my voice, staring into his eyes, which were glowing a streak of bright yellow, or golden. But he didn't let go.

My hands clung to his tightly, pleadingly. I could feel the tingling sparks that erupted at the mere contact. "Please, Alpha," I whispered, a tear rolling down my eyes.

Reluctantly, he let go, dropping me on the floor. I clutched onto my neck, swallowing as much air as I could in tears.

"You will spend the rest of the night here, serving your punishment." He stared down at me like I meant absolutely nothing. Casting one last glance at me, Hadrianus stormed out of the dungeon, leaving me in a dark and cold space by myself again.

I curled up on the floor, shedding tears. After a while, the wooden door squeaked open, and a plate of food was tossed inside. I finished my food, waiting in silence. These were the worst hours of my life, being locked up by my own mate. I slept for some time, even though my body seemed very much alive the whole time. It was a sleep full of my usual nightmares, which made me wake up scared all the time.

The wooden door opened again, allowing a ray of sunlight into the room, accompanied by a familiar face. The young woman I met outside the castle.

"Hello, do you remember me? I am---"

"Kira," I said, recalling her name. She gave a small smile.

"The Alpha asked me to take you to your chamber."

I stood up on my feet, quietly, without saying a word. Kira led me out of the dungeon.

I was finally escorted to what looked like my own chamber. Kira locked the door, looking at me thoughtfully. "Oh, my lady, why did you pick a fight with Ramona? Didn't the Alpha tell you?"

"About his lover? No." I shook my head, truthfully.

She sent me a pitiful look. "Well, that's it. Thea is like the Alpha's most favorite person in the Castle,"

I felt a pain in my chest.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I just wanted you to know that he cares deeply about her."

I could barely form a word.

"I'll run you a warm bath, my lady, and after that send someone to fetch some food for you. Meanwhile, if you need anything, just let me know, my lady. " She hurried past me, but I stopped her, holding her hand.

"Thank you. And please, call me Lurline."

She smiled. "Alright, Lurline."

She went to the lavatory, and in a few minutes, she was out. She was about to say something when a knock came at the door.

A young lady strutted in. She looked younger than me, with black hair that framed her heart-shaped face perfectly.

"Ah, this is Trisha, and she'll be serving you," kira informed me.

The young girl smiled, bowing her head in respect. "At your service, my lady."

"Please just call me Lurline," I said, feeling uncomfortable with formalities.

She smiled, glancing at kira. "If that's okay, my lad-" She paused. "Lurline,"

"By the way, the Elders are here," Trisha said in haste, turning to Kira.

The Elders? As in the Council of Elders? Every Alpha in the south was a part of the Council, including the Alpha of the nightrider Pack, Hadrianus, my mate. The Council was a circle that consisted of several supernatural kinds, each having a representative within the Council. The Council Elders are the oldest wolves and represent our kind in the Council.

"Third-person pov"

Hadrianus was training with some warriors at the training field on the east side border of the pack, which was a distance away from the witches' quarters within the pack. He stomped his feet into the ground, gesturing the warriors to charge at him, and one after the other, they lunged at Hadrianus.

His eyes gleamed brightly, indicating his wolf, Hevel, was sharing partial control with him. In a flash, one by one, Hadrianus pounded on them and thrashed them against the dusty earth. Alan was behind him. His claws were extended, almost on Hadrianus , but he caught him just in time, pinning him to the ground as well. That was close. No one had been that close to gutting him whenever they trained. Hadrianus knew part of the reason was that he was distracted, and he hated every bit of it.