Ruthless Mate

Her brows furrowed when she heard heavy footsteps approaching. She barely stood up when the door burst open and her heart lurched to her mouth when she noticed his eyes swarming with hues of gold in them.

He was mad.

He closed the door harshly and then locked it causing her to flinch.

"I told you not to get involved in this," his voice was calm but it was filled with raw malice causing her heart to pump wildly.

"W..what?" She stammered cluelessly.

Draken prowled towards her like a predator and she stumbled a step back. Her eyes went wide when he hovered over her like a mad beast and her back touched the wall.

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of it?" He asked menacingly, causing her heart to squeeze in pain at his ruthless tone.

"I..I.. didn't do a..anything," She stuttered while not meeting his gaze. She was terrified to look in those onyx orbs that were filled with acrimony and rage toward her.

She gasped when his calloused hand roughly grabbed her chin and he jerked her face up, making her look at him.

"Don't you f*cking dare look away when I'm talking to you!" He growled as his fingers dug in the flesh of her fluffy cheeks, promising to leave bruises.

She barely had eye contact with him before she shut her eyes. Her small hands were holding his wrist trying to remove his hand away but it only infuriated him as his free hand wrapped around her silky locks in a fist and tugged at her hair roughly causing her pain.

Her eyes shot open wide as a whimper of pain tore through her lips. "I..I'm... l..looking... p..please..." She stuttered in her shaky small voice. Big fat tears poured out of her doe-like eyes as he glared down at her but he wavered seeing those tears in her eyes.

His hold loosened enough to not cause her pain. His eyes lowered down to her cherry lips that were pouting because of his rough hold on her.

No matter how far he wanted to push the sparks but they were there and with the slightest touch, he could feel them humming with sensations.

"Stop crying," He growled at her face and she abruptly wiped her tears away but the new set of tears poured out.

She noticed his dark eyes narrowing at her and a small cry of fear escaped her lips. "I...I'm trying," She said in her muffled voice and he shook his head.

"F*ck this!" He growled before he let go of her jaw as his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to him. Her toes barely touched the ground. Her gasp was cut in the middle. Tilting her face up he crashed his lips on hers for the much-needed kiss.

He was f*cking dying to taste those cherry lips.

She inhaled sharply.

Her eyes snapped open wide and without a bated breath, she dashed into the woods holding her dress up in her fists. She looked like a princess on a run under dazzling moonlight.

She didn't know she would've been able to find her mate so soon.

Aurora followed the scent as she heard Luca calling behind her. She needs to get to the source of this scent. It was luring her in.

It was as if that scent had controlled her being. No matter if she tried to stop she couldn't. She just had to get there.

Aurora didn't know when she almost reached the border and came into a small clearing. Her eyes were wide as she gaped at the huge back of a man who had massive muscular shoulders.

She could hear her heart thumping in her ears as adrenaline coursed through her veins.

She was panting but still, she moved forward and stopped when that man slowly turned around.

Her breath hitched when her eyes met with the darkest shade of onyx hues. The man was huge. He was probably 6'1 and was wearing a fur coat. She noticed the head of a dragon inked on his thick neck and her stomach dropped yet she couldn't stop the tingles that erupted all over her body.

"Mate...." the word left her lips in a small whisper but the man heard it and he felt it too.

He tilted his head ever so intimidatingly, barely glancing at her before his eyes fell on the number of people who stopped right behind the girl.

"Alpha Draken!" Hunter snickered.

Aurora froze and it was as if her heart ceased to beat. No. This can't be. Maybe she was hearing things.

Rasmus grabbed her arm and pulled her back behind his back. Both of her brothers, Hunter and Rasmus stood in front of her like iron shields.

"Are you okay?" Rasmus asked but she was too stunned to speak.

Her aghast eyes fell on that man again and her heart forgot to beat for a second when she found his onyx eyes fixed on her. The lethal intensity of his eyes caused her body to tremble in fear as she took a shaky step back.

"What are you doing on our territory?" Hunter barked viciously causing that man to focus his eyes on the enraged Hunter. The hot-headed and lethal Alpha, Alpha Hunter.

"To kill," Draken snickered in his menacing voice causing her to flinch back.

Rasmus, Hunter, and Luca tensed as they glared at the notorious Alpha Draken of the North. He was in their territory all alone. Has this man lost his mind?

"Leave or else we'll kill you," Luca menaced, earning Draken's attention.

"Try," Draken hissed coldly as Aurora's eyes started to gloss up.

This was the man that moon Goddess chose for her?

The enemy of her pack.

Why would the moon Goddess do such a thing to her?

"Why are you here Alpha Draken?" Rasmus asked calmly.

If possible he would like to solve this issue verbally because in no way does he want to put his pack's life at stake.

Both Hunter and Rasmus were stiff like a rod, they were rigid because they heard when Aurora called this guy 'mate' but this man had said nothing.

Was he going to reject her because she was the sister of his enemies?

Luca on the other hand was enraged. He wanted to kill that f*cker and rip him apart into pieces. He now knows that Aurora would choose him in place of that enemy.

"I will not harm a soul until I'm on this territory," Draken said calmly and Rasmus took in a deep breath as his claws retrieved and he stood up straight.

Whereas Hunter and Luca were still cautious of him.

"What are you here for then?" Rasmus queried.

"To talk," Draken said calmly.

Hunter was about to curse profanities at him when Rasmus mind-linked both Hunter and Luca and told them to stay calm.

"Go back to the mansion," Rasmus said to Aurora over his shoulder.

A tear escaped her eyes as she stole a last glance at her mate and ran away from there, knowing that she would never see him again. Her heart pained to know that he was going to reject her but if he didn't, she would reject him. He was the enemy of her pack. There was no future for them.

The man who was planning war against her pack. The man who wasn't hesitant to shed innocent blood. The man was known as the ruthless Alpha of the North.

Her mom, Cath, Angela, Agatha, and her father stood at the entrance. But she straight on dashed into her room. Locking the door she leaned against it and slowly slid down. She hugged her knees to her chest and tears came falling out like a waterfall.

Was it too much to ask for a good mate?

The door was knocked lightly and she heard her mother's soft voice.

"Aurora, sweetie. Please open the door," Emma said gently.

Rasmus had already mind-linked his father telling him the situation, which means they all know.

Aurora stayed silent. She wants to stay alone but she knew so well that she would feel a lot better in her mother's embrace.

Groggily she stood up and opened the door. Emma opened her arms and Aurora hugged her tightly, crying softly on her shoulder.

Emma rubbed her back gently. It hurts her to see her precious daughter crying like this. The best day of her life turned into a nightmare.

"M...mom, why? W...why of all the people, that man had to be my mate?" She asked brokenly and Emma's eyes teared up.

"It's okay, Aurora. You are my strong daughter." Emma said gently while patting her back. Angela and Cath watched from the doorway silently.

Angela had tears in her eyes and Cath was furious. She wanted to kill Aurora's mate with her own hands.

Xander strode into the study where Alpha Draken sat on the sofa. Luca and Hunter stood near the door with their arms crossed and Rasmus sat on the head chair.

Xander walked in as he took the chair in front of the desk and faced the man who was not only a threat to his pack but also was his daughter's mate.

He knows his daughters deserved strong mates but he never thought that the strongest of them all would be her fated mate, alas he was their enemy.

"What was your intention for crossing the border?" Xander asked as Draken peered at the man.

He had heard enough about the Alpha Xander of the moon pack and then his twin sons. The two undefeatable Alphas.

"Was just overlooking. Preparing for the war," He said straightforwardly and Hunter gnashed his molars.

"Where's that f*cker Alonso, you must be keeping him safe," Hunter hissed coldly.

"I don't know," Draken said in his deep voice.

"Alonso is a power-hungry f*cker, his rampage is one thing but why did you join hands with him?" Rasmus asked and Draken gazed at the man emotionlessly.

"None of your concern," Draken said harshly.

"You should leave our territory as soon as possible if you don't want to get killed," Luca barked but Draken only leaned back on the sofa as he crossed his legs.

His aura screamed that he wasn't scared at all. Xander stared at the man. He behaves a lot like his son Hunter.

Fearless.

"I'd like to have a word with the girl," Draken said calmly.

"No!" Rasmus, Hunter, and Luca, all growled at the same time but Xander watched the man with keen observance.

"Are you going to reject her?" Xander asked as Draken faced him. His onyx eyes were emotionless but there was a flicker of gold in his eyes, perhaps Draken had thought exactly that.

"Let me talk to her," He said calmly. Hunter and Rasmus stepped forward in retaliation when Xander stood up.

"Very well," He said calmly and both Rasmus and Hunter stared at their father stunned.

"Dad-" Rasmus was about to object when Xander spoke up.

"He is going to reject her, so let him," Xander said calmly gazing at Draken who still had no emotion on his face but little did he know, Xander could see what others can't.

Rasmus and Hunter walked out first to get Aurora whereas Luca stood there, his hands fisted on his sides as he glared at Draken.

"Aurora, he wants to talk to you," Rasmus said gently and she blinked at him wiping her tears.

She didn't want to confront him but she knew he was going to reject her so it would be better to get done with this as soon as possible so that man could leave their territory soon.

Aurora wiped her tears and walked with Rasmus. She straightened her back as Rasmus opened the door for her. Xander and Luca were also out of the room.

"We are just here. If he tries anything just say my name and I'll be there," Rasmus assured her and she nodded her head.

With a deep breath, she stepped into the room as the door closed behind her. She found him standing in the middle with his back to her.

She fidgeted with her fingers and refused to say anything. He slowly turned around and she felt shudders running down her spine when she felt his intense gaze on her.

"Are you willing to come to my pack?" He asked coldly and she bit her lower lip hard while bobbing her head negatively.

She would never go to his pack. He was the enemy of her pack. The cold ruthless man. She didn't want to be with him at all.

"I'm not rejecting you if that's what you want," His voice tore through the silence like a lethal blade causing her heart to beat faster. She wasn't looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on the floor.

But her insides churned in anxiety at his words. "I...I... d...don't w..want-" She was stammering in her timid voice when he cut her off.

"Think before rejecting me!" His voice was full of menace causing her to flinch back.

The back of her eyes sting but she refused to cry. She will not be weak in front of this man.

"Those guys think I would reject you, pretty stupid of them." He said plainly.

'You stupid, piece of a rotten potato.'

She thought but didn't say it out loud. "T...they a...are not s...stupid," She stuttered.

"I, A..Aurora Colt of M...moon pack re-"

A large hand roughly clasped around her mouth as he shut her up. His hand was so big that it covered more than half of her face. When did he get so close to her?

Her eyes widened and he clenched his jaw as sparks flew wildly at the touch.

She tried to pry his hand off but he grabbed the nape of her neck with his free hand pulling her closer causing her eyes to broaden in fear.

"Listen here and listen good, you are going to come with me to my pack and if you refuse I'll kill each and everyone in this pack. My men are aligned right outside your borders awaiting my orders. I was here to attack your pack but you ended up showing and ruining my plan. Now you've two choices," He snickered, lowering his face down so he was glaring down at her and her face was almost towards the ceiling. Big fat tears of horror poured out of her eyes.

He was hovering over her like a cruel beast.

"Either you agree to go with your mate or else you can reject me and let me kill your whole damn pack, it would be a massacre. And after that I would still take you with me," He spat in low menace causing her heart to cease beating then and there.

He let go of her rather roughly causing her to stumble back as she breathed heavily. Her heart thumped so wildly that she was sure it would burst out of her ribcage.

Her back touched the door as she grasped the doorknob tightly in her hand. Her head was lowered down as she stared at the floor terrified. She could feel his gaze drilling holes in her form.

This can't be.

Every cell in her body was trembling in fear. He would kill her pack. But what if he was lying? Then why would he be here all alone? He wasn't lying, he was truly there to attack her pack.

If she tells her brothers. They would fight him head-on. He was alone and she had her brothers, her father, Luca. He can't beat all of them but what if?

What if he killed someone? A chill ran down her spine as she recalled the death of Sarah. It was a brutal blow to all of them, they barely survived it. How could she even live knowing that someone died because of her?

If anything happened to Rasmus what would she say to Catherine? More importantly, would she ever be able to forgive herself?

What about all those innocent people of her pack who would lose their life just because she wasn't willing to go with her mate?

She knew her life would be ruined once she left the safety of her pack but could she be cruel to make innocent people suffer for her safety?

She cannot be selfish.

But she can't be stupid either.

"I...I... need t...time to think," she whispered while her gaze was still down.

She would ask Rasmus to send the warriors to the border and check if Alpha Draken was lying or telling the truth. If there was no backup out there then they would try to capture him. One can't fight against so many skilled warriors and among them all, two were the Alphas and one beta. They would surely be able to capture him. She would then reject him and her brothers would decide his fate.

This way they could capture their enemy and no one would die hopefully but she...

Deep inside it hurts to plan something like this against your mate but he was an enemy. The one who wants to butcher her pack. She would not let him do that at all costs.

"You can have a whole damn minute," He gritted out, causing her wide eyes to meet his dark gaze.

What?

"N...no," She stammered as her hold on the doorknob tightened.

"I n...need m..more time," She stuttered and he tilted his head, narrowing his dark eyes at her. She gulped, her insides churned in fear as yet again her gaze dropped down to the floor. She was scared.

"Forty seconds," He dictated the remaining time.

This wasn't how she thought it would work out. She needs to think of something soon or else she would be in great trouble.

Her eyes darted around the room to look for a weapon. If... if she could hurt him a little, it would be easier for them to bring him down.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," she stiffened as he took a threatening step toward her. Crossing his muscular arms over his chest, he glared down at her. Her throat became parched as she took the huge frame of his.

He would kill her before she could even touch his single hair.

"Times up," He gritted out and her heart fell into the pit of her stomach when he took two steps closer, so now he was standing in her personal space, hovering over her like a cruel beast.

"What is your decision?" He asked coldly and at the same time, the doorknob twisted. Her arm was taken in a tight hold and he yanked her away from the door on time as it burst open.

"You f*cker!" Hunter snarled as he stalked into the room.

Aurora rubbed her arm where Draken had held her roughly. She watched as her brothers, her father, and Luca stalked in. They all looked furious.

Draken narrowed his eyes at Hunter coldly and before Hunter could charge at him in rage Rasmus stepped in.

"You were alone then how come your men are on our borders?" Rasmus asked menacingly and her heart dropped down to the pit of her stomach.

He wasn't bluffing.

Her throat dried up all of a sudden and it was as if a stone got stuck in her throat. She couldn't even breathe properly.

"I was here to attack but then after finding her I changed my mind," He said calmly and her eyes widened in shock as she noticed the duality in his personality.

Why was he pretending as if he was happy to find her?

"I'd like to take my mate with me to my pack," He said calmly and her stomach dropped into the pit of her stomach.

Why was he acting?

"No, f*ck no!" Hunter snickered as he pushed past Rasmus and stood in front of Draken, glaring at him coldly.

"My sister will reject you and you'll f*cking leave," Hunter menaced but Draken remained calm to such an extent that it terrified her.

"I'll be taking my mate with me," Draken said adamantly and with each of his fake words, her heart dropped even more.

This man was no normal guy. He was a devil in disguise. How could he fake all this?

Xander was silent like a night as he watched Draken with narrowed eyes.

"You're not taking her anywhere," Luca hissed as he stepped forward and Draken's attention fell on the guy, who seemed way too pissed. He can assume that this man was their beta. Luca.

He has done his research on the moon pack before coming here.

"You can't decide for her," Draken gritted out and suddenly, all sets of eyes fell on her as she stiffened under their gaze. She dropped her eyes down. Her heart was pounding in her ears.

"Reject him, Aurora," Luca said and she bit her lower lip hard.

All of a sudden Draken grabbed Luca's collar roughly in a warning and Luca did the same as they glared at each other viciously.

"I...I... w..will go with him," she whispered shakily and everyone stiffened.

Rasmus's eyes widened as he stepped toward his sister. Grabbing her elbow he gently pulled her to the side.

"I will kill him if you're saying this because he threatened you," Rasmus said slowly and she abruptly shook her head. Tears brimmed her eyes.

"H...he s...said he would kill you all if I refused to go and then he w..would still take me with him," She whispered in a small voice. Her heart stiffened and she felt it when his dark gaze fell on her.

Rasmus's wolf showed in his eyes as he turned to face Draken with a cold enraged look, ready to tear him apart, and not only Rasmus everyone heard what she told Rasmus.

Luca growled ready to punch Draken when he grabbed his fist mid-air and glared at him viciously. His eyes shone with hues of gold, his wolf surfacing as he pushed Luca away.

"I'll kill you," Hunter snickered, ready to lunge at him when Draken spoke up.

"She is my mate. I'll take her with me." Draken snickered in menace.

"Over my dead body," Hunter growled as his claws extended.

"Leave, Aurora," Rasmus said calmly as he glared at Draken.

Her legs were frozen but she forced herself to move. Just when she reached the door, he spoke up.

"I'll reject her," Draken said calmly. The calmness of his voice was enough to have her on the edge as she kept her back to him. She was afraid to even look at him.

"But she'll die," his voice was low but calm.

Xander gnashed his molars because he knew Draken was right.

"She's a hybrid. My wolf can't even feel her wolf. Her body can't bear the pain of my rejection." He said calmly as if he knew it all along.

She was frozen like ice. She hasn't told her family that she can't feel her wolf. Agatha had said she would feel her wolf after turning eighteen but she still couldn't feel it. She didn't want to admit it but he was right. She'll die a slow painful death if he rejects her but it was okay. As long as her family and pack were safe, what was she doing?

She was putting their lives in danger.

"I'll g...go with him," she whispered. Because now her family knows it and they won't want her dying. She couldn't even imagine them begging this monster for her life. She had to be strong for them.

She didn't want her family to know this but now they know she would die because of his rejection and this thing alone had put her brothers in a worse situation.

"No, we'll find another way," Rasmus said as Xander fisted his hands on his sides.

"There's no other way," Draken said coolly, causing Hunter to clench his jaw.

"We can make a deal," Draken suggested.

Whereas he seemed calm and composed, Rasmus, Hunter, Luca, and Xander had their hearts in their mouths. The piece of their heart was at the mercy of that f*cker Draken.

What could be worse than that?