The Forbidden Mate

Selene;

My heart beat wildly in my chest as I darted through the forest, the moon providing guidance with its ethereal glow.

I was tired from all that running, but I just couldn't stop. I had to get away from him, from this place, from what I had done.

I heard an owl hooting and cast a furtive glance over my shoulder. I can't stop now, even though my heart feels like it'll pop out of my chest anytime now. Someone must've found him by now, perhaps one of those of His numerous friends who enabled him. Suddenly overwhelmed with fear, I pushed myself to the limits of my endurance.

________________________________

After walking for a few days, I came to a community. The problem was, I didn't know the name of this pack and I had to be careful, because the pack I came from, Hurst Pack,has been enemies with many other packs for some reasons I didn't know and didn't care to know.

I never had the luxury of sitting down under the moonlight like the other children to listen to stories about our pack.

I suddenly heard a sound and quickly hid behind a tree. I peeped from there but couldn't see anyone and the only sounds I heard were the sounds of birds chirping and the current of the lake ahead. I released a deep breath and limped towards the lake.

The only thing I had eaten since I left my home was wild fruits. I was fortunate not to have eaten a poisonous plant.

As soon as I was a few feet from the lake, I fell on my knees and winced as pain coursed through my entire body. I gently lowered myself to a sitting position as I glanced around my environment, my heart beating wildly as I recalled everything that had happened.

Three days ago;

I hid behind the door, my palms clamped tightly to my ears in a bid to shut off the agonizing scream of my mother as my father pounded her with his fists, like she was a punching bag.

Even with my hands on my ears, I still could hear her muffled screams and each one of them pierced through my heart. I swallowed a choked sob because I knew what would happen if he heard me.

My mother and I were just like slaves to him, subject to his maltreatment, and each time he punished her, he didn't like to be interrupted by my sobs, or else he'd turn back to me.

He continued beating her and I could see blood trickling down her nostrils. I muffled a sob that threatened to break free and decided that I'd had enough. She was In that situation because she tried to save me from him.

"Dad. Dad..it's ..it's enough," I stuttered as I stepped out of my hiding place.

He stopped and suddenly whipped his head back, glaring at me murderously.

"You," he snarled as he took a step forward and I gulped. I didn't need someone to tell me that I was going to be his new punching bag.

"Please...please stop..let her go," It came out like a whimper and I shuddered as I saw him clench his fist.

I stumbled backward and he lunged at me, wrapping his blood stained fingers around my slender neck and tightening his hold. I choked and no words came out as I tried to beg him, not like begging him would even do anything to help my plight.

My mother was curled into a ball on the ground and I saw her struggle to stand up.

"You stupid bitch!" he said through gritted teeth as he lifted me, high above the ground. I clawed at his fingers to be freed of him as I was feeling the life slowly waft out of me.

His eyes darkened as I saw him bring out a switchblade from his pocket, with his other hand.

I shuddered with fear. He had only used a knife on me once before when he saw me talking to the baker's son and assumed that I was begging him to sleep with me. He called me a stupid slut as he cut my thighs. That was the first day he gave me to his friends, telling them that I was just a whore and it was time to show my usefulness.

He threatened to kill my mother and me if I ever told her.

I blinked back tears that threatened to come out because he hated any sign of weakness, that gave him the motivation to even worsen his punishment

"Please...please I'll be good...please. I promise.." His eyes glinted with mischief and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. I didn't know what he wanted to do to me, but I knew very well that it would be bad, really bad!.

"By the time I finish with you, you'll be good," he shot out and I whimpered as he raised the knife.

Suddenly, I saw my mum's arm, holding his hand tightly, preventing him from cutting me.

"Stop..stop this, Mark.."

The anger on his face was unlike any I had ever seen as he suddenly dropped me, making me land Butt hard on the ground.

The next few seconds were a blur as I saw a raised knife stabbing through her chest.

Someone was screaming, but it didn't sound like it came from my lips. I felt myself going up and then falling back down on the hard floor, it was as if someone was hitting me repeatedly, but I was just too numb to feel anything and saw only a light, it was glowing so brightly that I wanted to be it. But then, the darkness finally overwhelmed me.

"Wake up! wake up, you stupid slut!" I suddenly jerked up and winced as a hot pain seared through my body.

Did I faint? I gasped as the events of the past hours came rushing back to me. My mother was dead...murdered by my father.

The tears started to drop and I realized I had been lying on the ground. My Dad was looming over me, glaring at me murderously and I glanced at the knife on his hand, still stained with blood...of my mother.

A hot pain seared through my thighs and I looked down to realize that my skirt had been ripped off, and my thighs had been slashed raggedly.

"You stupid slut! don't you know it's time for me to have my breakfast!" he barked as he toyed with the knife.

"Or do you want me to cut off your ears?" I didn't need to be told twice, I quickly stood up, wincing as I did.

"You weak, stupid little slut! I just hope your mother taught you how to cook" he sneered and I swallowed hard.

He just killed my mother and was acting fine, like he didn't do anything like she was just something he got rid of.

I wanted to ask where he kept her body, I wanted to scream at his face, but I just couldn't.

"Hurry up!!," he yelled.

In Times like this when he was in one of his moods, it would be better not to upset him further as he would punish me again.

"I'm sorry," I muttered and scurried off.

I moved to the fridge and opened it up, to see what I could quickly fix. I sighed as there was nothing inside but water and an apple.

I hadn't eaten anything since the previous day so I quickly munched the apple when the door suddenly opened and I spun around to come face to face with my father who held a menacing look.

"What the fuck are you doing instead of fixing me, my breakfast?!," he thundered and I shuddered.

"There's no..," I couldn't complete that as I received a thunderous slap that deafened me for a minute.

"You stupid abominable slut!," he yelled as he began to kick me, my thighs began to bleed again and I curled in a fetal position, My hands on my head, to prevent him from hitting me.

The pain seared through my entire body and something else coursed through my veins. Anger, pure rage.

If I stayed here, I would end up like my mother, dead. I didn't even have the will to live anyway, but I had to, I had to try.

With every ounce of strength I could muster, I pushed myself up from the ground, suddenly fueled by my survival instinct.

I didn't know where he picked a knife from, but as the blade glinted and he held my arm, to cut me, I screamed,trying to free myself from his grip and made to run away.

"You stupid slut!!,you abomination," I heard him scream as I raced towards the door. I wasn't fast enough as he grabbed my arms, holding me back and muttering curses. The floor of the kitchen was now bloody and he raised the knife towards my face, I struggled as I kept pushing him away and his grip faltered as the knife dropped.

I saw that as my opportunity and I quickly picked up the knife, pointing it at him as I took a step backwards

"Don't come closer! Don't!," I said, cursing myself inwardly as my voice didn't come out as loud as I intended.

"Drop the knife, slut!" he yelled as he took a step forward.

I doubt he even knew my name. Slut was the name he had been calling me. If it wasn't slut, it was bitch or whore.

He lunged forward and the only thing I saw was blood, as I let out a blood-curdling scream. I did not...

I HAD JUST KILLED MY FATHER!!!. I stepped away from the scene, taking slow steps backward until I got out of the house.

I began to run. I didn't know where I was going, but I had to go. His friends would be back anytime soon and I didn't want them anytime soon. They'll kill me.

Everyone in the community was aware of what my father did to us, but they never did anything, the few who did were met with my father's fist. And Hurst pack didn't have an Alpha that cared about its people. So my mother and I were left to the mercy of my father's abuse.

My father wasn't like this at first, he was normal, and we were a normal family, until when I was thirteen, when he lost his job. He changed, he began to spend more hours in pubs and found solace in bottles of liquor. He began to get irritated and angry over little things, and then the abuse started. He started to beat Mother and then me.

And one day, he called me an abomination. Stating that he should've thrown me away when he found out. I was an Omicron wolf, the last of an extinct rare breed.

Omicrons are known for sending off intense sexual energy to wolves of the opposite gender. He claimed that it was why he had done what he did. He also said that it was why he had been trying to keep me from other men, to avoid assault from strangers. He preferred his friends to assault me. It was also because of that, I had to mask off my scent with heavy perfume.

Present

I heard a sound behind me, breaking my chain of thoughts and I glanced back in the direction of the tree, engaging my wolf's sensitive ears to listen for any sound of approaching footsteps.

I was still scared of my father's friends coming to find me here.

I began to walk into the town, conscious of how tattered I looked. I hadn't had a bath since I left.

It was early in the morning, so the streets were still lonely, but I could hear the sounds of laughter coming from the houses nearby and my heart sank, as I remembered how our house used to be.

I gasped and stood frozen, my breath hitching in my throat as someone tapped my shoulder, from behind.

Selene;

It wasn't any of my father's friends. It was a beautiful redhead with large brown eyes, who seemed to be about the same age as me.

"Are you okay?" she asked, a look of concern etched on her face.

Shit!. She must've seen me limping. Maybe she even knew that I wasn't from this pack.

"I'm fine," I mumbled but she didn't seem satisfied.

"Are you sure?,you don't look okay to me. You look like shit!, no offense," she blurted out and I glanced around, looking for an escape route. I would run if I had to.

"I'm fine!," I half yelled as I found a pathway. I would run away anytime now.

"Well, I'm Sera," she said, holding out her hand.

I hesitantly took it. "I'm Megan," I said. I couldn't risk telling her my name, in case those men came for me.

"I'm new in this town. What about you?, she asked and I heaved a sigh. She was new, like me. Perhaps this would be a fresh start.

"Same." I said and then as an afterthought added, "What town is this?" I needed to know, to enable me to survive.

She stared at me suspiciously. "You..you don't know?"

I gulped. I already looked suspicious. Not knowing where I was, is even more suspicious.

"I. I don't know where I am. I just walked around and found myself here, and I can't remember most of the things that happened before then" I lied.

"You lost your memories?"

"Kinda...not all. I still remember some things."

"I'm sorry! That's too bad. No wonder you look like this!" she exclaimed as she held my hands.

"Do you have a place to stay?" She asked and then quickly stated. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry,you said you lost your memories."

"I don't have a home either...," she confessed. "I was actually on my way to the Alpha's mansion. I heard they are looking to hire maids," she explained.

A maid?, I don't mind doing that and I would be protected since I would be working in the Alpha's mansion.

"What pack is this?" I asked, hoping it wouldn't be our rival pack.

"Since you lost your memories, even if I tell you? you won't know. It's a Redvine pack. The current...."

She trailed off, but I stopped listening. Redvine pack was our pack's arch-enemy. Growing up, we were told that we must avoid them. If the people of Redvine had found out who I was, I'd be dead before my father's friends even got to me.

'Father's friend won't be able to find you here," my wolf, Kita suggested and my face lit up. Yes!, this was a chance. They'd never venture into Redvine.

"I'll go with you," I announced and she smiled widely.

"Then let's go!" she said, excitement lacing her voice.

________________________________

As we approached the huge mansion, my eyes widened in awe. It was huge and adorned with intricately carved details. A garden with beautiful flowers of different colors surrounded the mansion, with two fountains by its side.

It was like something out of a fairytale.

"It's beautiful," I whispered.

"I know! it's like something out of a children's storybook," she agreed.

She grabbed my hand and we strode purposefully towards the gate. There was a guard there and he glared at us.

"Your business?" he questioned, grumpily.

Sera cleared her throat. "We are here to work as maids."

He narrowed his eyes, looking at us suspiciously.

"What are your names?"

"Sera Fadden and Megan..," she turned to me. "Do you remember your last name?"

"Yes, yes. Megan Archer," I provided.

"Are you both from this pack?," he demanded and I swallowed hard, wondering if all these questions wouldn't make them find out who I was.

"No, I'm from the crescent pack," Sera replied.

The crescent pack was close Allies with the Redvine pack. I racked my brain, searching my memories for any pack I knew that was close to the Redvine pack. I had never really cared to know about the Redvine pack, all I knew was that they were dangerous. I couldn't possibly tell them that I'm from Hurst pack.

"Sky pack."

I knew the sky pack to be peace-loving people. I had heard that they didn't have any enemies.

The guard allowed us to enter. "Go there," he said, pointing to a large building and we walked briskly towards it. Sera suddenly turned to me.

"You're from Sky Pack?" she asked, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Yes"

"I always wanted to go there. I heard it's peaceful and beautiful over there. Why did you leave?," she questioned and I bit my lower lips as I thought of a lie.

"I lost my parents..so I figured there's nothing there for me and I needed a fresh start. So...here I am," I replied and she nodded sympathetically

"I'm an orphan too. We should be sisters!" she said, grabbing my hands as we walked.

I smiled, this would be a new beginning for me! A sister I never had and a secure job. What more could I ask for? Perhaps this was the moon goddess compensating me for all I had been through in the past. I felt a bit bad about lying to her, but that was to protect me as well as her.

-------------------

The mansion was filled with people who assembled in different corners conversing excitedly.

Everyone was dressed up nicely, but the females, the ones without mates, were mostly dressed in skimpy gowns, exposing half or even more than half of their cleavages. There was a reason for that.

The new Alpha was finally coming home from England, where he had gone to study and everyone was here to welcome him.

The new Alpha, whom I'd been hearing about for the past two weeks since I came here, was apparently drop-dead handsome, and at thirty-five, he was still unmated. But he had to take a mate immediately when he arrived or risk losing the position to his stepbrother. The women were dressed scantily to capture his attention and become the lucky ones.

All females were allowed to participate, except the maids of course. Not that I wanted to anyway. I still have a phobia for men, after what I went through in the hands of my father.

Because of the party, we had to work extra hard and I was beginning to have a headache. Besides, some of the men were already drunk and making passes at me.

Everyone has been kind to me since I came here, especially the former Luna, Susan. She was sympathetic to my plight as an orphan suffering from partial memory loss. I sighed, shifting my attention to doing the dishes.

I was already so lost in thought, that I didn't notice a man standing behind me. It wasn't until I spun around to grab a bowl that I saw him.

I gasped in fright as his eyes darkened when they landed on me. He was tall and had dark brooding eyes, that seemed intimidating. I quickly averted my gaze.

I wondered who he was and what he was doing in the kitchen, but there was something about his looks that disturbed me.

"Get me a glass of water," he barked and I shook, visibly frightened.

He then turned on his heels and left the kitchen, leaving the door open.

I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding.

I quickly grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and a glass from one of the shelves and placed them on a tray as I stepped out of the kitchen to find him.

"Ughh," I groaned, as the loud music threatened to rupture my eardrums. I glanced around, wondering how I was going to find him in the crowd.

I held the tray as firmly as I could, to avoid bumping into anyone as I passed the crowd and went out to the garden. Perhaps I'd find him there.

Suddenly, a Man appeared in front of me, blocking my path. I huffed in annoyance, expecting him to leave, instead, he smiled mischievously.

"I've been looking at you," he said, his eyes fixed on my boobs.

My eyes scanned the environment, looking for an escape route.

"Please. Just let me go," I said calmly.

"I can take care of you baby..all your needs..."

Before he could complete his sentence, the same deep, smooth voice that spoke to me in the kitchen interrupted him.

"Mine," he growled and I shook, taking a step back in fright.

The man who had been harassing me spun around quickly, his eyes widening.

"I'm..I'm..I'm...sorry Alpha, please have mercy ," he stuttered in fright.

Alpha?. I glanced at him, with my mouth wide open as he delivered a powerful punch to the man.

He was dressed in a dark blue Armani suit and white dress shirt with the buttons at the collar opened, revealing his tattooed skin. I think it was two snakes entwined. He had a strong jawline. He looked like a sexy giant on a runway. It wasn't just because he was handsome, I've seen others, but there was just something about him. Some kind of connection and my heart ached. I shouldn't feel this way for any man!

Now that I looked closely, he looked a bit like the Former Luna.

I gasped. This was Damien, the New Alpha

Damien;

Through the tinted window, I could see the town coming into view.

I got the news two weeks ago that my father had died and it was time I came home to rightfully claim what's mine. Being an Alpha.

I didn't miss my father. He was the reason why I didn't study in the country, I wanted to get away from him. He mistreated my mother and me. He married another woman and that's one of the reasons I had to come back quickly. If I don't find a mate quickly, my stepbrother will become the Alpha and I couldn't let that happen.

As we got closer to the mansion, the ache I had been trying to ignore since I left England heightened and rubbed my chest, in a bid to lessen the hurt. I would see a healer discreetly in order to ascertain what the problem was. I couldn't risk anyone finding out that their new Alpha had a strange ailment.

It was the loud music blasting from speakers that welcomed me. Pack members in small groups were chatting excitedly and I was about to walk in when another strong ache seized me

"Don't you think you should inform your mother?," Liam, my beta suggested as we walked through the back door, not wanting the others to notice my presence yet, until I felt better.

I nodded and was about to walk to my mother's room when a certain smell halted my steps.

It was a mix of jasmine and vanilla and as I inhaled it, the ache in my chest began to lessen and I longed for me. Whatever this fragrance was, I needed to find it.

"What's wrong?," Liam asked and I sighed.

"Nothing."

I made to walk but my wolf, Raf, wouldn't budge.

"Follow the scent," he urged as he suddenly became excited.

"Is it worse?," Liam asked, I didn't even realize I had been standing there for a while.

I began to walk and then the pain came back much more stronger this time. RAF whimpered and I clutched my chest tightly.

"Mmm...go on ahead, I need to check something," I said to Liam and he walked towards me, concern etched on his face.

"Are you.."

"Go!," I growled and spun around, towards the direction of the fragrance. The more I got closer to where it was coming from, the more Raf's excitement bubbled.

I was curious to know what it was and why it dulled my ache.

As we followed the fragrance, it led us to the kitchen door and Raf moaned excitedly.

"What scent is that?" I growled.

"Open the door. She's in there. I can feel it, she's the one," he stated.

"Who?"

"She's our...," I didn't let him complete the sentence as I barged open the door.

My eyes landed on her. She seemed to be lost in thought and I stood still, content to watch her like I did.

She suddenly spun around to take something and our eyes met. Her rosy pink lips parted as her olive green eyes widened, seemingly in shock. Her eyes held a mix of shock and fear. Her very black hair was pulled up in a messy bun, away from her face.

"Mate," Raf completed. "Ours!" He growled possessively.

My eyes widened in shock as I stared at her, her head was bent, possibly to avoid staring at me and I let my gaze roam around her body. She was beautiful, not the kind of beautiful that was obvious, but the kind that came with innocence and she was curvy. My eyes roamed from her enchanting eyes to her boobs and then down to her smooth, shapely long legs. The pale blue dress she was wearing stopped just below her knees.

My trance was broken when I noticed the dishwasher on her hand. Her beauty that had blinded me quickly faded off, giving way to resentment and I scowled.

"No. Not this one," I said to Raf

"She's our mate," he whined and I realized that it was her I've been looking for, for 35 years. She was my destiny. But I couldn't. Not with a maid!

It was then that I noticed that the fragrance was now even more overwhelming than before when I had first inhaled it. It dominated the other scents In the mansion.

"She is a maid. A mere maid, she doesn't belong in our lives," I said to my wolf.

"She belongs to us. She is ours! Ours!," he growled, possessively but I would not listen to him.

I wasn't about to lose to my stepbrother. Nobody would serve an Alpha who took a maid as his mate.

The attraction I had felt towards her was now replaced with disdain, having been shattered by her extremely low status. She didn't even seem like an Omega. Perhaps she was human.

I stood still, glaring at her while Raf continued whining and urging me to make her mine. But I couldn't budge, I wouldn't. My decision was final. An ordinary maid had nothing to do in my life.

"Get me a glass of water," I barked, before exiting the kitchen.

I went to the garden to clear my head as Raf kept whining, trying to make me claim her.

Suddenly the familiar fragrance began to waft through the air and I moved towards the direction, against my will.,I heard two voices, a male and a female, I stood still, listening to their conversation and I clenched my fist.

The man whom I couldn't recognize was staring at her lustfully and making lewd remarks and Raf acted, growling at the pathetic man who pleaded for mercy, but Raf wouldn't have any of that as I began to punch him, before letting him scurry away.

She seemed to be in shock and I walked past her, going back inside to find my mother. Raf kept on whispering as longing filled me.

I wondered what kind of wolf she was for her not to have sensed that I was her mate, or she was just too scared of me. She should be anyway because I would never have anything to do with a maid.

"My son!!," my mother's voice came out all bubbly and excited. She pulled me into her embrace.

"Mama," I said as she pulled away. She stared at me again.

"You've grown so big, I can hardly recognize you!" she gushed, raising her hands to pinch my cheeks, but she couldn't due to my domineering height. She wouldn't even reach my shoulders and I chuckled, catching her hands in mine.

I lowered my head and pressed a kiss to her palms.

It's been almost ten years since I last saw her and I really do miss her. I smiled, staring into her blue eyes. I looked like my mother, except for the eyes, I had my father's eyes.

"I've missed you so much, Damien," she murmured as she wrapped her hands around me.

"I've missed you too Mother," I hugged her back. "I'm here now, to stay for a very long time," I added and she pulled away and nodded.

"You should go address the pack. Everyone's waiting for you...and there are many people I want you to meet," she chirped, excitedly.

"Yes, mother."

I made my way to the ballroom where everyone was gathered and stood at the front and as soon as they laid eyes on me, the room became quiet.

"Good evening to you all." I paused and glanced at their faces. Everyone had a smile on, they were very excited to see me.

"I am grateful that you all are here to receive me warmly after many years of being away," I smiled and continued. "I swear to lead you all in fairness and justice. As your new Alpha, your safety will be my top priority."

The sound of resounding applause filled the room.

I smiled and raised a hand, beckoning on them to be quiet before I continued."I promise to restore the value of Redvine. I will make Redvine the peaceful community it was known to be."

"The issue of the pack's Luna," I glanced at the crowd and I saw the females, all smiling and adjusting their dresses, more like pulling down the dress to reveal more cleavage.

They all looked like hawks, ready to catch their next prey. I felt irritated at the thought of having to marry one of these women, but they would be befitting of the position as my Luna and mate. Rather than a mere maid.

"As you all know, I just got back. I don't...," my eyes caught sight of the maid, I didn't even know her name. She was carrying glasses filled with drinks into the room and my chest suddenly began to ache again, this time,the pain worse.

The room was silent as everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to continue my speech, but I couldn't speak, I tried,I didn't know what was happening to me, all I felt was a very strong urge to throw her over my shoulders and take her away from everyone!. She was mine!