Prisoner of the Blood Pact: Fated Mate

I am a half-wolf.

Today is my awakening ceremony-my last chance.

If my wolf refuses to come, what will become of me?

Mom always said that no matter what, I would always be her treasure. But to raise me in the pack, she endured too much.

As for my human father? A ghost no one even remembers.

***

Mom isn't here today.

Is it truly a coincidence... or did she not want to witness my failure?

I downed the awakening potion in one gulp and knelt before the Moon Goddess's altar, silent among the murmuring crowd, awaiting my fate.

Silence.

The torches on the walls flickered as a faint breeze swept through.

Then-

A surge of unfamiliar power rushed through me. In the darkness of my mind, a shadowy crimson wolf took shape-

But it stopped.

An invisible force bound it, dragging it back, tearing it away.

It let out a guttural, enraged snarl, its claws raking violently against the abyss. Its glowing green eyes locked onto mine, burning with fury, frustration, and pain.

No!

"Don't go!" I lunged forward, trying to grasp it, but my fingers closed around nothing but cold emptiness.

In the next heartbeat, it vanished. As if it had never existed.

"Awakening failed."

The elder's voice was cold, final. My last shred of hope shattered

"You really are something. The only Ravencroft in history who couldn't awaken."

Aunt Clare's heels clicked sharply against the stone floor, each step landing like a nail driven into my heart. She looked at me as if I were filth.

"And you still have the nerve to stand here?"

***

BANG-

The doors to the hall were thrown open.

A silver gown shimmered under the candlelight as Vivian strode in.

Her gaze, cold and arrogant, swept past me as if I were invisible. To her, only the strong were worth acknowledging. And I-I was nothing.

She was my cousin, born the same day as me, yet hailed as the prodigy of the Ravencroft family.

The elder offered her the awakening potion. She rejected it with a proud scoff and merely turned before closing her eyes.

And then-

A massive gray wolf tore through the void and emerged before everyone. The air surged outward, and the ladies in the front row instinctively held down their skirts.

It opened its crimson eyes, surveying the hall with quiet arrogance-just like Vivian.

The werewolves around us lowered their heads.

The elders sprang to their feet, their eyes blazing with excitement.

"Stormwolf spirit! A talent awakening?!"

"Vivian, my darling, I knew it-you're the best."

Aunt Clare rushed forward, embracing her daughter, tears streaming down her face.

"Mother." Vivian impatiently pushed her away.

She flexed her sharp claws, admiring them with a satisfied glint in her eyes. A slow, cruel smile curled her lips.

"Of course, I'm the best."

She lazily twirled a finger, her razor-sharp claws tracing a thin, gleaming arc through the air.

Her gaze landed on me, and she tilted her head, feigning innocence laced with venom.

"This wolf-less mutt and her filthy traitor of a mother-how much longer are they going to pollute our pack?"

"Pathetic! A useless freak who can't even awaken-why don't you crawl out of here already?"

Someone in the crowd shouted.

"Get out! Get out!"

The crowd's jeers rose, a sharp blend of excitement and ridicule.

My fingertips trembled slightly, but my gaze remained locked onto them.

"Shut up!"

I snapped my head up, my voice cutting through the frenzy.

I've never taken a single extra coin from this pack, and you've never given me a single meal for free! Don't think I don't know what you forced my mother to sacrifice."

My mother, Evelyn, traded her past achievements for a meager sum, raising me alone on the outskirts of town.

And you expect us to leave? Just because you say so?

I refuse.

"And you," I turned my piercing gaze onto Vivian, "what have you ever done for this pack? If not for my mother, you wouldn't even exist."

Vivian's smirk vanished.

"Heh..." Aunt Clare barely had time to put on her usual fake smile before-

A deafening alarm shattered the air.

"Enemy attack! It's Ashford!"

A bloodied wolf burst into the hall, staggering as he gasped for breath. His voice was hoarse, but his words were like a blade slicing through the tension-

"David needs reinforcements! That lunatic has already torn through our defenses!"

The hall plunged into dead silence. The air grew heavy. Muscles tensed.

Dominic Ashford.

The warlord of Silverpine Pack. The Silverflame Wolf. A name that turned battlefields into graveyards.

Since he took command, we had never won a single battle against them.

Where he walked, blood followed.

And now, his claws had ripped through our borders.

Why?

The elder's face darkened. "What does he want?"

The messenger wolf, trembling, wiped the sweat from his forehead. He swallowed hard before speaking-

"He said we broke the agreement. He's demanding that we confirm the blood pact hostage. Now."

A ripple of unease swept through the hall. Whispers, shifting glances-everyone was just as lost as I was.

Then, Magnus looked at me.

Just for a moment. Just long enough for my stomach to tighten. Then, with a quiet sigh, he turned to Vivian.

"We proceed with the original arrangement," he said. "The Alpha and the pack will remember your family's contribution."

For the first time, Aunt Clar didn't have a ready response.

Instead, she turned-just in time to see Vivian ripping the hem of her gown.

She grabbed her daughter's wrist. "What do you think you're doing?"

Vivian sneered, yanking her hand away. "What do you think? I have a wolf now! I'll put that bastard Ashford in his place and show him what the Ravencroft family is made of!"

She's insane.

Did she really think that a newly awakened wolf like her could take on Ashford-the warlord who has crushed every pack in the Eastern Territories?

Where the hell did she get this kind of confidence?

But... blood pact hostage?

What did that mean?

And why did Magnus just look at me like that?

Unexpectedly, the elder nodded.

"Good. That's the kind of spirit worthy of a Ravencroft."

He scanned the room and ordered, "All warriors, reinforce the frontlines immediately!"

Aunt Clare's lips pressed into a thin line. She had no choice but to comply.

Then, suddenly-

Her eyes flickered. A calculated, chilling glint flashed across them as she turned to me.

"You."

She lifted her chin, her gaze pressing down like a heavy weight.

"You're going with Vivian."

I frowned, a hint of caution rising within me.

What?

What was she planning? Aunt Clare had never let me stand beside the pack-so why now?

Vivian screeched. "What?! You're making me take a half-breed? That's disgusting!"

Aunt Clare just smiled. Sweet. Sickly. Poisonous.

"Even half-breeds have their uses... some more than others."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze dark and unreadable.

"Did you really think you could stay here without proving your worth? Foolish."

Aunt Clare was scheming against me.

And yet, I still found myself at the border.

Even if the pack had treated me unfairly, the fact remained-I had failed to awaken. Maybe that alone was enough to make me unworthy of staying.

I needed to think of a way out. At the very least, I couldn't be thrown out of the pack before my mother returned.

Aunt Clare thought it was her threats that made me obediently come here.

But in truth, I was the one desperate to reach the border.

I could barely contain my eagerness-like something vital was calling to me from ahead.

As I ran, Dominic Ashford's name and Aunt Clare's chilling smile flashed through my mind over and over.

***

At the border, the enemy pack stood in eerie silence, their presence heavy with menace.

A man stood at the very front, bathed in moonlight, commanding all attention.

Tonight, the moon was bright, illuminating not just his silver hair but also the deep shadows carved across his sculpted face.

"Who is the blood pact hostage? Let me see your sincerity."

His voice cut through the night, cold and absolute, tearing apart the illusion of peace.

He stepped forward casually. And with every step he took, the wolves behind him followed in unison, pressing closer.

An invisible force loomed over us, heavy and suffocating.

Who was he?

And what did "blood pact hostage" mean?

"Ashford! It's not time yet! Are you Silverpine wolves breaking the pact?"

Young David, the Alpha's son, spoke in anger.

The silver-haired man chuckled, as if amused.

"Time?" He repeated the word like it was some kind of joke, his lips curling slightly.

Then, with a careless shrug, he said, "Oh. I changed my mind."

He stopped, his smile vanishing in an instant. With a cold scoff, he said, "It seems you still don't understand the situation. What kind of tricks are you playing behind my back? Hmm?"

His dark eyes locked onto David. Without moving a muscle, he simply lifted his hand-and flicked his fingers.

The next moment, a warrior at the front was suddenly yanked off his feet by an invisible force.

He tumbled twice, crashing into his comrades with a startled yelp.

A heavy silence fell over the Silverpine wolves.

They stood still. Waiting.

As if a single word from their Alpha would send them lunging forward.

"You-!" David tensed, his body jerking slightly before he forced himself to stay put.

Our Alpha and Beta weren't here. As an underage wolf, he was nowhere near strong enough to challenge Ashford.

Leonard, my uncle-the Beta's eldest son-stepped up beside David, his fury rolling off him in waves.

With a roar, he shifted into a massive gray wolf, lowering his stance, fur bristling as he glared at Ashford.

But Ashford didn't even spare him a glance.

He continued his slow, casual advance, voice steady.

"Tonight, I will get my answer. One way or another."

Or what? Would he start a war?

I stayed silent, watching the situation unfold carefully.

"Hah."

A cold laugh rang out.

Vivian took a step forward, tilting her chin up in arrogant defiance.

"So this is the infamous Dominic Ashford? Hah-underwhelming." Vivian scoffed, lifting her chin in arrogant challenge.

"Vivian!"

"Vivian!" David's voice was sharp and commanding.

Too late.

A furious uproar rippled through the enemy wolves.

A challenge against their Alpha was a call to war.

Their growls rumbled through the air, eyes gleaming with bloodlust, claws scraping against the ground in anticipation.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Ashford's gaze flicked toward the source of the provocation.

His expression unreadable, he lazily studied Vivian's aggressive stance.

Then-he smirked.

Not impressed.

Not interested.

He scoffed and looked away, as if she wasn't even worth his time.

But then-he froze. Slowly, almost deliberately, he turned back... his gaze pinning me in place.

What?

Why was he looking at me?

I felt like a small animal caught in the sights of a predator.

My blood ran hot, my entire body frozen in place.

And yet, my mind spun wildly with thoughts that made no sense.

Had I met this man before?

Why did he seem... strangely familiar?

No. Impossible.

"You..."

For the first time, Ashford looked-uncertain.

His sharp gaze scanned me carefully, as if trying to confirm something.

Then-

A force slammed into my back.

I staggered forward, out of the crowd-exposed.

"We're ready!"

Aunt Clare's sharp voice rang out, urgent and unwavering.

"This is Aurora. Our chosen blood pact hostage-the daughter of Evelyn Ravencroft!"

"Me?"

I froze, staring at her in disbelief. My lips parted, but I couldn't form the words.

No one gave me time to process it.

"Oh? "

"Evelyn's daughter?"

Amusement flickered in Ashford's voice, but his next words were absolute. "Come here."

Behind me, Clare's voice slithered into my ear, low and insidious.

"This is your moment to be useful. Think about yourself. Or..."

She paused.

"Think about Evelyn."

The words hit harder than I expected.

My mother.

She still didn't know I had failed to awaken. She had already sacrificed so much for me.

And now, if I wanted to stay in this pack...

How much more would she have to endure?

Was Aunt Clare forcing me to trade myself for that right?

But... a blood pact hostage?

A bargaining chip? A sacrifice?

How long had Aunt Clare been planning this?

How long had the elders known?

Had they given up on me only after my failed awakening...

Or was it much, much earlier?

Could I afford this price?

Thoughts stabbed through my mind like needles, sharp and relentless.

But in the end, I had no choice.

With clenched fists and a racing heart, I forced myself to move.

The closer I got, the harder it was to breathe.

Ashford waited, watching with apparent amusement.

Then, just a few steps away from him-I stopped.

I couldn't breathe.

His gaze flickered in dissatisfaction. In two strides, he closed the distance and grabbed me.

His grip tightened as he pulled me closer.

Fingers wrapped around my jaw, tilting my face up toward his.

Strands of his silver hair brushed against my ear, his warm breath ghosting over my neck.

What is he doing? Is he going to bite me?!

I tried to push him away, but my body refused to listen. My heart pounded against my ribs, wild and erratic.

But he only inhaled. Slowly.

"Half-wolf?"

His tone was full of mockery. "Evelyn's child is a half-breed?"

"She's no Ravencroft! Just a filthy half-breed who isn't even worthy of staying in the pack!"

Vivian's sharp, furious voice shattered the strange tension in the air, yanking me back to reality.

This idiot! Does she want me dead? I turned back, staring at her in disbelief.

Vivian held my gaze with a smug, taunting look.

"Me! Vivian Ravencroft! I'm the real Ravencroft. You've been deceived."

To prove her words, the Stormwolf materialized behind her, wind swirling at her feet.

Her wolf lifted its head proudly toward Dominic, and in its sharp crimson eyes-was that... expectation?

Dominic let out a cold scoff.

A crushing force erupted from him.

The warriors in the front rows buckled under the pressure, dropping to their knees with gritted teeth, struggling to resist.

Vivian fared even worse.

It was as if she had been struck by a hammer-her face drained of color as she crashed onto the ground.

Her Stormwolf let out a pitiful whimper before tucking its tail between its legs and vanishing into the void.

Wait... this sensation...

Something was saturating me, seeping into every inch of my being-like an invisible force soaking through my bones, wrapping around my senses.

Could it be... Ashford's pheromones?

A faint shiver ran through me, goosebumps trailing down my arms.

It was almost like a static charge, an unsettling buzz against my skin.

Compared to the others struggling under his pressure, why did I feel... different?

Would a half-werewolf who hasn't awakened be immune to a pheromone attack?

Even in a pack as ancient as ours, records on half-wolves were scarce.

As for those who never awakened? They weren't even worth documenting-let alone something as subtle as this.

My mind spun with uncertainty as I slowly turned to Dominic.

He was watching me intently, amused.

One foot tapped the ground in a slow, idle rhythm.

Vivian-her struggle, her humiliation-none of it even registered in his eyes.

"So, you're not a Ravencroft?"

...What?

"Of course, I am!"

The words burst out before I could stop them.

That name-it was given to me by my mother!

Vivian? Does she really think she's already in control of the family?

Grandfather is still the head of this family! It's not her place to speak.

"Oh?"

Dominic smiled-a sharp, bloodthirsty grin.

So that was just the rambling of an idiot?

His eyes darkened.

"You should all know... lying to me only has one outcome."

"Blood."

He clapped his hands once, lazily turning to David.

"See? If I don't come here myself, nothing ever gets settled properly."

His tone was indifferent as if he was discussing something as trivial as the weather.

"Ten days. I expect to see her in Silverpine Pack's territory by then."

His gaze swept over me.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

His final words echoed in the silence, chilling and absolute-

"Remember this. You are mine now."

With a wave of his hand, the wolves behind him retreated like a tide-silent, swift, and absolute.

Blood pact hostage... what does it truly mean?

A death sentence or...An honor?

A faint tremor ran through me-not just from fear, not just from panic, but from... something else. A thrill I almost mistook for excitement.

Mother... this is dangerous, isn't it?

But I can handle it.

I can bear the weight of being a Ravencroft.

Clare thinks being a half-wolf makes me weak?

She underestimated me.

***

Uncle Leonard stormed forward, not even sparing me a glance before rounding on Clare.

"Are you insane?! Only a pureblood like Vivian can uphold the blood pact!"

His disdain for me was undisguised.

"Ridiculous! Only a pureblood like Vivian can uphold the blood pact!" His contempt for me was undisguised.

"Aurora is completely unqualified! Have you considered that breaking the pact could reignite the war?

"Vivian? Don't even think about it."

Aunt Clare scoffed, her voice edged with a dangerous sharpness.

"My daughter will be this pack's future Luna. I would never let her take such a risk."

Then, her eyes flicked to me.

"As for..."

"Why are you unharmed?!" Vivian rudely interrupted the conversation.

Vivian had finally recovered, only to realize she had missed the entire conversation.

"Why didn't Dominic attack you?!"

Her once pale cheeks were now flushed with an unnatural red, and an unreadable emotion burned fiercely in her eyes.

Aunt Clare frowned. "Vivian, what are you talking about?"

"Shut up!"

Vivian screamed, losing control.

"Why did he ignore me?!"

Vivian's breath came in ragged gasps, her fury barely contained.

She let out a sharp, animalistic growl before shoving me aside, then spun on her heel and stormed off, her entire body trembling with rage.

What the hell is wrong with her?" She shoved me, making me stumble back a few steps-but that didn't matter.

The real issue was this-from their conversation, the truth was finally taking shape.

Hah.

So I was never important to begin with.

Not even as a replacement.

The small, fleeting sense of pride I had felt earlier now felt utterly pathetic.

***

"So... it was supposed to be Vivian?"

I locked eyes with Aunt Clare.

"Fine. You don't care about my safety-but did you ever think that this might ruin the blood pact?"

Aunt Clare's lips curled into an eerie smile.

"Ruin it? Oh no."

She took a slow step forward, her voice dripping with amusement.

"Patience, dear. You'll see-you were always meant for this."

She turned with unshakable confidence, every step dripping with the satisfaction of a grandmaster.

"Come. Let me show you."

I clenched my jaw, my expression cold as I followed.

I wanted to see exactly what she had planned.

We returned to the ceremonial hall.