Chapter 9: Chapter 9

“What do you mean your mate?” Kade was the first to speak after the deafening silence that followed Cahir’s words. He took an involuntary step towards me and I stepped back.

Nervousness made my heart pound a fast rhythm that made my heart ache in no time. Everyone was looking at me now and unused to attention, I wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and hide.

A frown contorted Kade’s features, the doctor and Aristo had matching looks of surprise while Warren – The former Alpha looked calculating. Cahir growled as Kade took another step towards me.

“Alpha Kade, one more inch –“ He left the threat open, crossing his arms in a false laidback display.

His corded muscles bulged through his shirt as he crossed his arms tight, glaring at Kade.

I felt a storm brewing in the room and by the look of things, I was not the only one feeling the incoming eruption between the two incumbent Alphas in the room.

“Why do we have to deal with all these people now,” Asena sighed, annoyed with the intrusion. “If this bastard did not barge in, we could be wearing Perseus’ mark by now.” She purred at the prospect but I felt dubious.

Kade did not want me and he never let me entertain any doubt about it. Just the other day he was telling me how he would love to breed me if there wasn’t the risk of me tainting his Alpha bloodline by giving him omega children. He was delusional to think that I would have accepted him after he made my life miserable for years, but his words came back now to haunt me.

Cahir kissing me did not mean he would want to be with me. As an Alpha of a pack twice Silver Moon, he had more at stake than Kade. I wouldn’t be surprised if he rejected me despite the hot and scorching kiss we shared minutes ago. Blinding lust would not make an Alpha like himself settle with an omega like me.

“What the hell are you even thinking?” Asena growled in me head, her voice angry and unkind. “You are more than a worthless omega, you have been kissed by the goddess!” She snapped angrily.

“Asena, I don’t want to get your hopes up for a mate like the last time only to be rejected. It’s better not to expect anything, that way, no matter what happens, we aren’t hurt.” My voice was quiet in my head.

All my life, I thought if I put in more effort, if I worked harder to please my father, to show my relevance to my pack, they would accept me. I wanted my father to look at me with pride in his eyes the way he looked at Kade and Felicity who weren’t his children. Nothing I did was ever good enough for him, the stain of killing his mate too strong for him to ignore. With my father, I expected things and the crushing weight of disappointment and the heartbreak that destroyed me everytime he gave me nothing wasn’t something I wanted to experience again.

Kade was out of my league, but Cahir was out of even Kade’s league. There was also the fact that Cahir was a renowned murderer who also had no place for weakness in his life. Me? I had tried to be strong for a long time but Silver Moon broke my spirit at every chance they got. I would be nothing but a burden to a man like Cahir. The thought alone made my eyes water.

“I wish I did not understand your cynicism.” My wolf sighed. “But I want to believe Perseus isn’t as bad as Flint.” Asena mentioned Kade’s wolf.

“Sihana is a member of my pack. I am her Alpha,” Kade’s growls made perk up in surprise. “Thus, I have the right to refuse her a mate like you,” he finished and my eyes widened.

He swore to me that I would serve as the slave of his pack. He promised I would never know freedom and that he would never let me leave the pack on no account. As my Alpha, I knew he had immerse control over my life and how I lived it, but could he refuse me from mating?

“On what grounds?” Cahir asked, faint amusement curling his words while his face remained blank.

“You are a murderous tyrant. As her Alpha, I cannot let her be with a man like you.” Kade raised his chin, his eyes sparkling a deep red that used to terrify me up until minutes ago.

In this room, with three Alphas, only one of them had the choking aura that made me want to hide or pretend to be asleep, dead, anything to make sure I was secure and safe from him. Only one Alpha here could make the rest of us tremble just by breathing. That Alpha did not belong to Silver Moon pack.

“Will a man like you be better?” Cahir’s soft and quiet voice cut through the still air. His words were barely above a whisper, barely audible, but the power behind them made them carry, resounding around the room like he had spoken with a microphone. “Do you want to fight me for the right to mate with Sihana Asena?” He uncrossed his arms and shoved his hands deep into his pocket.

“Alpha Cahir, please, let us take this to my office. There is no – There is no need to talk about fighting when things can be settled in a simple way.” Alpha Warren cut a sharp look at his son as he tried placating Cahir.

“The simplest way –“ His warm baritone started, eyes fixed intently in Kade, “Would be to slit his throat and burn this pack to the ground.”

“Is that a threat?” The other two Alphas growled at the same time.

“A promise,” he replied without missing a beat.

“How dare you –“ Alpha Warren took a step forward. “We invited you as honorary guests to celebrate with us but you have the audacity to walk on our land and threaten us?” The Alpha’s growls rent the air and since Kade had not completed the initiation as the Alpha, my wolf was still linked to Warren’s and she whimpered at his anger. It rent the air and the tension in the room reached an all time peak.

Alpha Warren was a cunning man who hid his emotions and thoughts behind the mask of amiability and niceness. It was rare to see his mask slip but I guess he could not sit back and smile when someone threatened to burn his pack to the ground.

“You don’t seem to understand the position you are in,” Aristo said, crossing his arms with a goofy smile that had me on edge. He did not carry half as much danger as Cahir, but his smile and simple tone still had the hair on my arms straining. “By insulting our Luna, you insult Alpha Blood. If there is anyone with audacity here, it is you.” He took one step towards Warren. “How dare you.” The smile on his face and the venom in his words were contrasts.

“I think it will be best to discuss this in an office!” The doctor exclaimed with a nervous laugh. He was a fat man who was already sweating from the tension in the room. He popped the button on his jacket and laughed again. “This is – The patients may be disturbed.”

My eyes darted across the empty ward. The hospital here did not see a lot of patients. This ward was empty and from the silence of the place, I was sure the whole floor was also empty.

“Lead the way.” Cahir’s quiet baritone was directed at Alpha Warren. The Alpha’s eyes flashed but he gave a quick smile, hiding again. What a rat.

Cahir grabbed my hand and my heart stuttered as we left the hospital. His big warm hand enveloped mine and I marveled at how well we fit.

Second chances were rare. After Kade, I expected to live out my days alone, but with Cahir beside me, I felt foolish to have ever considered that and it made me nervous. It had only been a few hours. Why then did it feel so natural to hold his hand?

“She can stay outside. My office does not have enough seats.” The rat smiled, his smile not reaching his eyes.

“If you have a seat for me, you have a seat for my mate.” Cahir brushed into the office, his hands still firmly holding on to mine.

When he said that, I did not understand what it meant, but the minute he pulled me into his lap after taking his seat, it became clear to me what he meant and it made my skin burn.

“Alpha –“ I muttered, ducking behind my hair as heat spread through my skin.

“Call me by my name.” He mumbled, his lips close to my skin. I nodded but I dared not speak his name.

“Now, Alpha –“ Warren said as he took his seat opposite Cahir, Kade standing behind him and Aristo seating beside Cahir and I.

“For the crime against my mate, Avalon and her family will serve Alpha Blood pack until their third generation.” He got right into business.