Chapter 7 – Found My Mate

Blaze

When my eyes locked onto her, my wolf rumbled.

"Mate! I know she's near!"

That scared and shivering little wolf was gone ad now replace with a fiery spirit, eyes burning bright despite the years apart.

Selena. My mate.

.The one I had searched endlessly for, haunted by visions of her suffering at my hand.

Seeing her again unleashed a storm within me - the feral alpha side desperate to claim what was mine, the remorseful part aching to atone. I strode forward, uncaring of the gaping mobsters around us.

"Selena?" I breathed, barely able to believe this wasn't another cruel dream. She was really here, so close I could drink in her intoxicating scent.

Relief like I'd never known washed over me at finally finding her again. But it was short-lived as another male - some preening suit - stepped between us, snarling his possession over her.

The wolf within me raged at his insolence. How dare he try to keep me from my mate! A rumbling growl built in my chest as I glared him down.

"Who the fuck are you and what do you think you're doing? take your dirty hands off my fiancée." he growled, his voice low and tempting.

"She's my mate," I stated with lethal certainty. "I'm simply taking what's mine. Selena, come to me."

The foolish pet didn't back down, his hand inching towards a gun as he spat feeble threats. Did he not realize who he trifled with? I was her mate and her Alpha - she belonged to me alone.

Part of me hungered to tear his throat out for even laying a hand on what was mine. I could feel Flame, my inner wolf, straining for release, aching to shred any who got between us.

Easy brother, I cautioned him silently. "Let me handle this first. I'll bring our mate home where she belongs - then you can have your fun." I reassured.

Flame gave a low, menacing chuckle in response. "Oh, we'll have plenty of fun once I get my teeth into that Bastard keeping her from us. He'll reap the consequences for his arrogance."

My fists clenched, itching to spill blood. But for now, I held back the instinct to fully shift and destroy anyone in my path. Selena still looked at me with wariness, perhaps even hatred. It cut me deeply to see the damage I had wrought, the trust I had shattered between us.

But no more. I would bring her back into the fold, my perfect mate and mother of the heir I had foolishly spurned before. She would be worshipped, revered as she was always meant to be at my side.

Once I made her see reason, showed her the truth of the bond we shared, she would realize her place was with me.

Even if I had to break her first to rebuild that sacred connection between us. No matter what price I had to pay, what sacrifices were required - Selena would be mine again. This I swore on my ancestors' souls.

Those who defied me would reap the consequences. Starting with this fool who thought to claim her for himself...

"Selena,Come to me."

She remained stoic, like she didnt recognize me. "I have no idea who you are," she stated firmly, her tone icy. "We have no interest in whatever fantasies you've concocted. Excuse us, we have important matters to discuss."

Enzo's jaw clenched with barely-contained fury as he observed the tense interaction, fists tightening at his sides. "You heard her," he spat, venom oozing from each word. "Let go of her now, or I'll decorate these walls with your brains."

My eyes darkened with frustration, the little patience I have wearing thin as I fought to keep composed. "I refuse to let her go. She belongs with me!" I snarled through gritted teeth.

My chest tightened as Selena rejection ND feigning she doesn't know me, her eyes filled with apprehension and hurt. Flame growled low within him.

She hated us, brother. After all you put her through, can you blame her?

Blaze winced at the words, knowing they rang true. "I was a fool, a monster to my own fated mate. I have much to atone for."

Do not dwell in weakness, Flame chided. You are Alpha. Take what is yours by rights. Remind her of her place at our side.

"No," Blaze shook his head adamantly. "Not like that, not again. I'll make her see the truth through patience and devotion this time. She'll come to me of her own will once she understands."

Flame gave a derisive snort. Softer words for a tough regret, little brother. You cannot undo the damage so easily.

Blaze's jaw clenched, self-loathing burning through him as flashes of Selena's treatment resurfaced - the contempt, the callous disregard he had showed his own mate.

"I know," he growled lowly. "And I will spend every day making that up to her if I must. She is sacred, beloved. I was arrogant and cruel."

"Then prove your resolve," Flame insisted. Fight for her, hunt her down, battle any who would keep us apart. An alpha takes his mate.

Blaze's gaze sharpened to steel. "Have no fear, brother. By whatever means required - ruthless, bloodshed, seduction - I will make her mine again. This time forever, as she was always meant to be."

Flame gave a rumbling chuckle of dark amusement. "Now that's more like it. Let's go retrieve what belongs to us, Blaze . Our mate will be ours once more - even if we must drag her back kicking and screaming."

"I told you we won't use force." I warned.

My eyes locked onto Selena and a firestorm erupted within me. There she was - my mate, the one I had ruthlessly driven away. Flame, my inner wolf, gave a furious snarl at seeing her kept from us once more.

"Easy, brother," I cautioned him silently. "Let me handle this first."

Flame raged in response. "Handle it? You already bungled our bond with her through your arrogance! Now some Bastard dares lay claim to what is ours?"

I flinched, knowing he spoke true. In my past blindness, I had scorned and abused my fated mate, the sacred bond between us. But I would not make that mistake again.

Striding forward, I drank in Selena's intoxicating scent, felt the pull of her presence like a vortex. "Selena, I know you feel the bond."

But before I could say more, the fool beside her bristled and blustered, daring to threaten me over her. Flame's hackles rose with outraged fury.

"This wretch dares keep us from our mate?" he spat with contempt. "Tear his throat out and take what is ours!"

The instinct to fully shift and destroy any who stood in my way flooded my veins like molten steel. I could already taste the metallic tang of their fear, smell the rich copper of their blood coating my muzzle.

Restraining myself was agonizing. Selena still looked at me with wariness, even dread. It cut me deeply to be the source of such apprehension in her eyes.

"Calm down, Flame," I managed in a strained tone. "Not like before. We'll make her see the truth gently this time. She'll come willingly when she understands our bond."

Flame gave a dismissive growl. "You grow weak, pup. An Alpha takes his mate by any means. If she refuses to bend, we break her until she does."

The words made me recoil, flashing back to the horrors I had put my beloved through. I would not, could not inflict such suffering again. Not on her.

"No," I stated firmly. "I won't violate her sacred trust like that again. This time, it will be done right - with patience, tenderness. She is to be cherished, revered as she was always meant to be."

For a long moment, Flame was silent. Then..."Very well. We'll try your softer tactics first. But make no mistake - one way or another, our mate will be ours again. No one will keep us parted this time."

The fury burning in me banked to a low, smoldering promise. "Agreed. No matter what prices must be paid, what sacrifices made - Selena will be at my side where she belongs. This I vow on the souls of our ancestors."

Those who dared defy me, attempt to steal her away, would reap the direst of consequences. Starting with the arrogant fool positioning himself between us...

Enzo's fist cracked against my jaw with staggering force, bringing me back to reality, the blow sending me reeling backwards. I could taste the coppery tang of blood on my tongue as rage swelled in an unstoppable tide.

How dare this insignificant worm strike me! Flame's howls of outrage reverberated through my mind.

"He'll pay for that insolence with his life!" my wolf brother roared with unbridled fury.

In an instant, the world dissolved into a haze of red as the warehouse exploded into mayhem around us. Gunshots rang out like thunderclaps, the pungent scent of gunpowder and fear saturating the air.

Bodies dropped all around as my own men engaged Enzo's forces in the chaos. But I had eyes only for the pretender trying to steal what was mine.

With a feral snarl, I lunged through the fray, clawed hands outstretched to seize Selena by the throat. She was leaving here with me, one way or another.

"I know you feel our bond, Lena!" I roared, backhanding Enzo aside with brutal force. "Don't deny it!"

Selena yanked her hand away with all her strength. She struggled wildly, those beautiful eyes I had once adored now wide with strength.

Part of me recoiled at her hate for me. Flame only blame me.

"Yes, little mate," the wolf purred darkly. "Struggle for me. This defiance will make catching you all the sweeter."

I bared my fangs at the dazed Enzo as he tried to rise. "The lady isn't going anywhere with you, puppy. Or don't you know who I am?"

"You're insane!" Enzo spat, fingers fixing his gun. "Selena is my fiancée, you sick f--"

The gunshot cut him off with a meaty thunk as my bullet tore this shirt as it scratch his arm. He winches as more of his men converged, weapons raised. Protecting him.

"Watch your tongue when addressing the Alpha, boy," I snarled with cold relish. "You just signed your death warrant."

Whirling back to Selena, I gripped her hand. "As for you, my mate... you'll be coming with me." I smiled at her but her reaction next make me know she's not the weak little Half-ling I ordered years ago!

No this is the Selena the Mafia Queen, leader of the Thorn Queen gang!