Chapter 9

Alpha Atticus' POV

"Where is she brother?" I sneer at him. "How have you lost the only thing that I want in just mere minutes? I trusted you with one task Cain. One task that I would kill others for failing at so why should I not kill you?" I see the lump in his throat bobble. The fear flashes in his eyes. I have every right to be upset. I trusted him with my mate, to keep her safe until she found her wolf so I could bring her to Blood Moon and make her my Luna.

"Atticus, I tried to stop him. I swear but we think we know where she is. It's just gonna take some time until we can get her." He mumbles the last part. "And why is it going to take time brother? I want my mate now!!" He just stares at me, I can see the conflict in his eyes. He's fighting with his wolf, he wants to tell me while his wolf is not happy with the way I speak to my brother. I know how it works cause my wolf does the same thing when someone disrespects me but I'm to pissed to give a fuck.

Leo speaks this time looking between me and his Alpha. "Sir she's in Dark Moon. Lyle took her to Lakota." The blood drains from my face leaving me pale sitting in front of them. I stand from my seat and begin to pace across the room. "Brother. We will get her back." Cain says but I barely hear him as my wolf is howling in my head.

Zaraphine's POV

6 months later

I am no longer down in my cell. Alpha Lakota gave me a room next to his as long as I don't disobey him. He tells me I am to be his Luna in the next few months. I'm his own personal slave. If I do as he says I get rewarded, if not... well let's just say I don't ever want to anger him. He is truly a brutal man. "Sweetheart are you almost ready? The pack is ready." Its Lakota's 26th birthday today an he invited every pack around him to celebrate. "Yes Alpha. I'm coming."

I walk out into the hall and see him dressed in a white button up shirt with black slacks and shiny black shoes his black hair slicked back using way to much gel. I nearly chuckle at the thought but stop myself just in time. He smiles down at me warmly and says "You look beautiful." "Thank you Alpha." He picked out my dress. It's a floor length, light almost burgundy color (with way to much poof) gown with folds along the top. He takes my arm in his and leads the way down the stairs to the ball room on the first floor of the pack house.

As we walk in everyone stares at us, making a space through the center of the room for us to make our way to the stage. I keep my head down knowing I'll be punished if I so much as look at another person in a way he doesn't find suitable. With his arm still laced with mine he walks us up on the stage and goes towards the microphone to begin his speech. "Welcome everyone. Thank you all for coming. This is an unusual event as not only is it my birthday, I also want to officially introduce to you the soon to be Luna of Dark Moon and my chosen mate Zaraphine Knight!" His voice booms through the room. I slowly lift my gaze from the floor to see hundreds of eyes on me.

"Go mingle Zaraphine. Introduce yourself to everyone." Lakota says surprising me. "Yes Alpha." "But don't forget I'm watching you. Don't step out of place." "Yes Alpha." I say as I cast my eyes down. Walking down the steps I feel as if someone is staring at me so I look around but don't see anyone. I shrug it off and make my way through the crowd stopping at every few people to start a short conversation introducing myself to Alpha Lakotas pack members along with a few of the Alphas and Lunas who came tonight.

I've been walking around aimlessly for a few hours now and my feet are beginning to hurt so I make my way to the closest wall. Leaning against it, I bend down slightly pulling the strap of my heel off the back of my foot, rubbing it gently. I get the weird feeling of someone watching me again making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Cautiously I look up and see a familiar set of grey eyes staring right at me. Shit. This can't be good. He lifts a finger to his lips silently telling me to be quiet. Nope definitely not good.

I lean up off the wall and begin making my way through the crowd again. I see Lakota get up from his seat and walk down the steps in my direction. 'Did he see me looking at him? There's no way. I only looked at him for a second.' I thought to myself. "Would you like to dance, my love?" He asks as soon as he reaches me. "Yes Alpha. I would love to." I say smiling up at him. He waves his hand towards the DJ and the song changes to one that you slow dance to. He grabs my right hand with his left and places his right hand at the small of my back. Gliding us along the dance floor with the other couples brings a smile to my lips. 'If only this were real. If only I was dancing with my true mate.' I thought to myself.