The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

AZRIEL’S POV

“If for some insane reason, you make it out alive today, do us all a favour and leave this pack,” I said to Athaliah, who walked with a limp, around her prison room.

“How is Zadok? Why isn’t he here? I need to thank him for sparing my life.” Athaliah said with an eagerness that made me want to slap her silly.

“Is that all you can think?” I asked in bewilderment. “You are on a death roll and you still can’t shut off the thoughts of Zadok?”

Frustration was evident in my tone but she didn’t care. What was I thinking? She never cared.

“Don’t dramatise it.” She said in a taut tone. “You know how I know I would survive this? Because If Zadok wanted me dead, I would be dead by now.”

“No shit.” I rolled my eyes. “Right now, the Alpha is out of the waters, and as much as I think you deserve death, I hope you don’t die. But don’t get your hopes up, the Alpha is as unpredictable as he comes. This might as well be the last time we see.”

Athaliah let go of her breath. “Azriel.” She began, “Why are you doing this?”

I felt like a fish out of water. “Why are you making things hard for us both?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, fearing her answer.

“This. All of this. Saving my life, getting me this room, all these good things you do out of the blue for me.” She said with a resident bitch face. “I already made things clear. My lifelong ambition is to be the Luna and I can’t have people thinking otherwise of us, especially the Alpha.” She explained with a serious expression on her face.

I gauged her with an amused expression, refusing to let her see the pain in my face. I swallowed a bile in my throat. “Don’t be flattered. I don’t give a shit about you.” I walked up to her, taking her face in my hands. “Everything I do, I do it for my wolf to be more at ease.”

She saw through my lies. I could see it in the eye-roll she sported. “Really? It’s because of your wolf? Surely, you can do better than that, Azriel. That has got to be the lamest lie I have heard in all my years of existence.”

“And why is that so?” I pushed back, not knowing when to stop. “Is it because of the other day? Because I pleasured you and put my dick in you? You think I harbour other feelings for you?” My eyes raged as the scenes flashed before my eyes. I wanted to do it again.

To feel her up close again. But I couldn’t do that in her condition. That was why she needed to stay alive. If not as my mate, but as someone who could scratch that itch when I needed it.

“Newsflash, Athaliah. I never finished. I only exploited that to get the truth from you, and like a fool, you were putty in my hands.” I smirked and added for good measure. “Literally.”

Athaliah’s face burned with anger, and the next moment, she threw a fire slap at me. It felt weak too weak for the Athaliah I had grown to know.

“Pathetic.” She spat, and it cut through me. “It’s pathetic how far you would go for someone who has rejected you. Even if I die today, I would die happy knowing I didn’t settle for less.” She said with an eye roll. “Do me a favour and keep those gory details to yourself. The last thing I want is for rumours to spread about giving myself to a measly beta who cannot handle himself in bed.”

“That was not what you said when you begged me to fuck you, Athaliah.” I reminded her and received another slap.

“Don’t you ever mention my name again? Get out.” She growled, but I stood with an amused smirk. “Don’t die and I will make you beg for it again. I promise.”

With that, I walked out of the room, telling the guards to bring her to the field while I headed for Zadok’s office, hoping for a glimpse of his thoughts before the event.

*******

A crowd gathered in the field as they awaited the Alpha’s presence.

After what felt like aeons, Zadok arrived at the field and I went straight to him. “Alpha.” I greeted and he grunted in reply.

That has been his manner of speaking to me since the arguement in his office. I was desperate now. I had to know the fate of Athaliah, I needed to know what he planned on doing.

“What do you plan to do?” I asked him outrightly for the first time.

He kept walking like he didn’t hear my question. “Is everything set?” He asked and I nodded affirmative.

“The people are here and the guards just came in with Athaliah.” It hurt to say her name out loud. “What do you plan to do with her?” I asked again,

“We are about to find out,” Zadok said, and parted ways with me, headed for the platoon where he addressed the people.

I stood by the side and watched him begin his speech, while I waited impatiently for his verdict.

“Rise.” He said and continued his speech. “I believe a number of you are wondering the reason for this sudden call, but rest assured that you will be answered shortly.” He began. “Three years ago, I went on a journey to the dark forest that saw to the discovery and loss of my mate. I returned to you sorrowing and a shadow of myself, sending many to their deaths in the quest to bring back someone we all believed to be dead.”

“Looking back at the mess I created, I remain apologetic for everything, and can now see how I forced many to act out in order to recover my sanity.” He beckoned on the guards. “Bring her up.”

Everyone turned around, and together, we watched Athaliah mount the Platoon, chained hands and feet. “A few months back, I came here and openly grieved my loss and marked a new chapter for Blood Hound Pack.” Zadok’s face turned grim. “However, I never told you the reason for such sudden change.”

“Most of you must know that the door to the dark forest mysteriously disappeared, but that was beside the point. Among the last batch of wolves, two survived, one dead, and the other, our very own Athaliah.”

The crowd was silent, you could hear a pin drop.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“I was informed of news that made me believe my mate was dead and hoping I could become a better person for your sake. Who would have known I was being deceived by the very people who walked side by side with me?”

Gasps filled the air at Zadok’s insinuation. I could feel the daggers that were getting thrown at Athaliah, whom they all believed to be the offender.

“I was made to believe my mate was dead for another to have a chance to take her place,” Zadok said. “The woman in front of you singlehandedly orchestrated the deceit. And today, I have decided to strip her from her duties as the Gamma of this pack.”

“Although she deserves death, I have decided to leave that to the gods. However, she is no longer a member of this pack and has been banished from Blood Hound. At any time she steps foot in this territory, she will be put to death.”

“No!” Athaliah shouted with her eyes the size of saucers. “Please! Don’t do this! I promise never to do such again. I swear! I have turned a new leaf.”

Zadok turned to me and ordered. “Take her away.”