Chapter 24: Ultimatum

Wolfgang

After Montana Craton’s death, I’d done everything I could to keep as far away as possible from Aurora.

To my pack, I was in an official relationship with Tallulah, even though neither Max nor Remus thought that was a good idea.

As if I needed to gain their permission in my personal life.

Max and Aspen had bonded with my mate as if they were longtime friends, and even Remus had grown closer to her.

Of course, he had also been looking into the theory of her being a descendant of the Moon Goddess, but I knew he acknowledged her as equal as well.

Aurora somehow had that power, to wrap people around her finger and befriend them easily.

I had to order Mrs. Kala to keep certain males away from her, to make sure she wouldn’t talk to them.

She was, after all, an unmated she-wolf, and the moment she went into heat she’d be targeted by all the unmated male wolves in our pack.

~“She’d be safe if we marked her,”~ Cronnos said.

~“I’m not going to mark her. Get it into your thick skull that I won’t acknowledge her as my mate,”~ I growled at my wolf.

He only huffed in annoyance before disappearing into my subconscious.

But he was right. If I didn’t reject her or mark her before her heat, she’d be in danger.

I was sitting in my office late one evening when a knock distracted me from my computer screen and my circling thoughts on Aurora.

“Come in.”

The door opened and the three elders came in: Leto, Aldo and Radolf.

“Alpha Wolfgang.” They bowed before me.

“To what do I owe the presence of your graces?” I asked them as I continued my work. It was strange for all three of them to come by my office at this hour.

“Alpha Wolfgang, we’ve come to the awful realization that you have yet to find a mate.” Alpha Leto, the eldest of the three spoke first.

“As alpha, it is imperative for you to secure the lineage of the Fortier Gagliardi clan. Therefore, we suggest that you begin searching for a suitable prospect and proclaim her as the future luna as soon as possible.”

“I don’t need to seek out anyone to name the luna of the pack. Right now, my main concern is getting rid of that rogue army that’s threatening us.”

~“Besides, you already found your mate, but are too much of an idiot to admit it,” Cronnos huffed in my mind.~

“The rogue army is the very reason why it is so important that you name a luna for the pack. We must ensure offspring, in case you don’t come back,” Elder Radolf said.

“And who says I won't come back?” I finally lifted my gaze and met all three pairs of eyes.

“We don’t know what might happen! If you leave without procuring an offspring for the pack, you’ll be putting the entire village in jeopardy.” This time, it was Elder Aldo who spoke.

“I will come back. I will destroy the leader of the rogue army, and come back to continue ruling the pack,” I told them, making sure the authority in my voice was clear.

“We will not allow an army to leave the village and fight against the rogues unless you sort the situation of being mateless,” Elder Leto said. I glared at him.

I knew he was serious.

I was the alpha, but because the elders were past rulers, they were the ones who made the final decision when it came to confrontation or wars with other packs.

If they ruled that sending the warriors out to hunt and kill the rogues wasn’t the best choice, I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Fine. I’ll search for someone suitable to proclaim as the future Luna of the Blood Moon pack,” I told them, annoyed at being forced.

They seemed satisfied, as they bowed their heads and left the office shortly after. I couldn’t help the sigh of exasperation that left my mouth as I leaned back in my chair.

I was stressed, and exhausted, by all of this mate nonsense.

That night, as I was heading to my room, her heavenly scent crept up my nose as I came close to her bedroom door.

My body immediately reacted, and I felt my muscles contract.

With a howl, Cronnos suddenly appeared in my mind. Tail wagging incessantly, he ran up and down in my mind.

~“Mate! Mate! Mat! Mate! Mate!” he shouted in my head.~

~Shit…this can’t be happening right now!~

I tried to ignore the scent, tried to force my feet to keep walking to my room.

There, I could take a cold shower, and try to keep her out of my mind.

But I couldn’t move. I was trapped there, in front of her door.

Her scent captivated me; I lost all sense. Cronnos battled me for dominance.

My hand unconsciously lifted, and I knocked at her door.

“Yes?” I heard her call from the other side, but I didn’t answer. A few seconds later, the door opened. And there she stood, in all her beauty.

Her long chestnut hair was in a braid that hung to her side. She wore a simple sweatshirt with black tights that hugged her every curve perfectly.

“Al—alpha Wolfgang. Did you need something?” she asked.

I didn’t dare answer her, because I did not trust my voice at the moment.

“A—Alpha?” she asked again.

My eyes darted to her rosy lips as she dipped her tongue out and passed it over them. This little action aroused me even more.

I could feel the heat that her body was emanating, which meant that she definitely was beginning her heat.

She squirmed under my gaze, and I felt her heat increase. I took a quick breath. I was losing all control. Cronnos was winning dominance.

He forced my body to take a step toward her, but she backed away. I took another step closer, but then I was able to get back control of my body.

I stepped away from her and dashed away from her door. I sprinted to my room, slamming the door behind me.

I ran into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stood under the cold water, trying to control my carnal urges.

‘What the fuck was that?’ I shouted at my wolf.

I watched him trying to gain control of himself. He was panting heavily. Finally, he lifted his gaze and looked at me.

With a growl, he walked out of sight. Back into my subconscious.

This was getting out of hand. I’d almost tried to mark her.