Chapter 2

"Reject me."

The words echoed in the depths of his consciousness as Randall stopped abruptly in his tracks... The nerves...

Kellan instantly looked away, as he thought of how foolish Reyana was to have made that statement.

"What did you just say?" Alpha Randall slowly turned around to face her. He took a few steps towards her and stopped midway. Her eyes were still fixed on the floor.

"What did you say?" He counted his words through gritted teeth, hoping she wouldn't dare repeat those words.

For the first time since he entered her chamber, Reyana lifted her terrified gaze to meet his murderous glare. There was a predatory gleam in his eyes, a hunger that sent a chill down Reyana's spine and made her skin crawl with unease. As soon as her eyes rested on his, Randall felt a sharp thud in his chest.

Her large eyes framed by thick, long lashes shimmered like pools of liquid sapphire, blinking rapidly in panic. The depth and intensity of her stare was spellbinding. Randall's eyes shone a bright shade of red but it was quickly replaced with his usual green eyes as he gazed at the beauty of her eyes.

Randall didn't know why he felt this way. Reyana was no stranger. He'd known her for a while now. But the extra beauty she suddenly possessed made him wonder if he was going insane.

"Reject me," she mustered up all the courage she could, nervously licking her small, plump lips as she stared right into his icy green eyes.

She saw his eyes turn dark before he finally spoke.

"Kellan, leave us," he ordered in a calm tone as Kellan bowed and stepped out of the small chamber that was already heating up with different emotions.

With the speed of light, Randall charged towards her, slamming her hard against the wall as his large palm wrapped around her slender neck.

Reyana let out a weak whimper as she struggled to free herself from his deathly grip, her eyes welling up with fresh tears.

"You think I'd let you go that easily? Not when the Moon Goddess has given me the perfect opportunity to punish you for what you did to Valerie!" He spat angrily, tightening his grip on her neck, his face void of expression.

"Pl...ease..." She attempted, but she felt life gradually leaving her.

"I own you, Reyana. You are mine... Mine to torture... Mine to claim... Mine to punish... and nothing will ever save you from me. Not even death!" His words were heavy and true. He meant every word that came out of his mouth.

Shooting her one last glare, he let go of her, making her fall weakly to the floor as she desperately gasped for air.

Alpha Randall took a few steps backward, his breathing ragged and erratic, his bloodshot eyes regarding her one last time before walking out of her chamber.

Reyana knew that her doom had only just begun and that sooner or later, she'd die at the hands of the Alpha. But she wasn't willing to die this way.

***

Alpha Randall strode into his spacious chamber which was quiet and cozy. A sharp sigh escaped his lips as he undressed, feeling more at ease.

He stopped for a moment when he saw his reflection on the old mirror on the wall, his face contouring into a painful expression.

His fingers slowly traced the harrowing scar across his chest as he closed his eyes, fighting back the emotions that threatened to spill.

This was his space... His privacy... A place where he could be himself. But that wasn't enough reason to be weak. Even in his alone time, he could never show weakness.

There was a gentle knock on his door. He picked up his tunic and wore it over his leather hose.

"Come in," his calm voice betrayed no emotion.

A young woman in her mid-thirties pushed the huge door open as she walked in holding a small salver with a phial sitting on it.

"Alpha," she greeted with a bow, "your potion is ready," she motioned toward the huge oak table in the middle of the room and dropped it there with another bow.

"Klara, these potions don't work. I already told you," he walked towards the table, picked up the phial, and casually emptied its content in his mouth.

"I am working on something stronger, Alpha," she assured him.

Klara was the head of the Blood Crescent white witches. She's been the one in charge of making the Alpha's sleeping potion for years now.

"How long, Klara?" There was silence in the room as he strode towards the wooden window, staring blankly at the sky.

Klara didn't feel the need to answer that question because she knew exactly what he meant. All she could do right now was to pray to the moon Goddess to take this torment away from her Alpha.

"When will it all go away?"

***

Alpha Randall's deliberate footsteps could be heard in the empty hall of the fortress as he took long, purposeful strides, his steps bearing urgency.

He stood quietly before the huge wooden door at the far end of the dark passage as if waiting for the doors to feel his presence.

The heavy doors groaned as they slowly swung open, as if acknowledging his presence, granting him passage.

He stepped into a large space that looked almost like a different world from his own world, almost ethereal and peaceful... The calmness of the large room always sent peace to his soul.

He turned around when he felt the presence of the one he had come to see...

Shota. An immortal white witch...

"You've come to seek answers which are beyond me, Alpha Randall," her gentle voice spoke before Randall could say a word as if reading his thoughts.

"Yes, Shota. I am here to seek answers, and I know nothing is above you," Alpha Randall replied, his face giving a hint of his worry.

"I only reveal that which Selene, the Moon Goddess permits me to. I can't act against her," she slowly walked towards the large shelve holding some ancient scrolls, her delicate hand tracing each scroll on the shelve, paying attention to each one she touched.

Shota had lived for almost a thousand years now but she still looked like one in her mid-twenties.

"You are a man with a great destiny, and the fulfillment or destruction of this destiny rests in the choices you make. I can not interfere with that. I can only guide you when necessary, Alpha Randall."

Randall had heard this a thousand times already. All he wanted right now was to hear something new... Something different.

"The one who bears your mark becomes your blessing or your curse. She'd play a great role in the fulfillment or destruction of your destiny. You need to make the right choice," Her voice was calm and her words held a warning.

Alpha Randall stood still, paying attention to all she was saying.

She turned around to face him, "The one with the blessings of the Moon Goddess should bear the mark of the Green-eyed wolf!" Her tone was a bit firm, hinting at the importance of this prophesy.

"The Blood Crescent pack has experienced great blessings since the very day Visha stepped foot into this pack. She is obviously the one the Moon Goddess talked about in the prophecy," Alpha Randall replied without a doubt in his tone.

"Perhaps, she could be the one..." Shota let out a short laugh, "but, remember, she wasn't the only one who was brought into the pack on that fateful day."

Shota's words struck a chord of realization as the events of that fateful day flashed through his mind. Visha wasn't the only one who was rescued and brought into the pack on that day. There were others, and most especially, there was someone else...