“I won’t,” April said between sobs. “I won’t become your mate. You can’t force me to say the words.”
I fixed her with an intimidating look and grabbed her by the throat, cutting off her air supply as I compressed my fingers. Her eyes widened as she struggled for breath.
“You will say the words, or I will kill you,” I commanded. The moment I released my grip on her throat, she sucked in a big gasp of air and began to cry once more.
“Killian, please continue,” I said calmly, ignoring the sounds of her hysteria.
“Today, we begin to fix what has been broken by the lesser wolves of Sparkle Hollow,” my second continued the ceremony as if there had been no interruption. “Jasper, please say your mating vows.”
“I, Jasper Sanders, Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack, take you, April Rose, to be my mate,” I said.
“April,” Killian directed his attention to her. “Please say your vows.”
She had managed to halt her crying while I said my vows, but she didn’t immediately speak when Killian instructed her to. I stepped toward her and placed my hand on her neck onceagain. This time, I only applied gentle pressure as a reminder of what I could do if she didn’t cooperate.
“I, April Rose,” she began tremulously, “of Sparkle Hollow, take you, Alpha Jasper Sanders, to be… my mate.”
“Alpha, do you wish to mark your mate?” Killian asked.
I nodded. Not all wolf packs marked their mates, but this was important to me. I needed her to be tied to me in every way possible so that she would be easier to control. Especially since she gave her mating bond unwillingly, it was better to be safe than have her try to fight against me. Her feelings about being my mate bore no weight in my decision.
With my free hand, I grabbed April’s arm to bring her closer to me. Although she tried to resist, it was no use. Not only was she bound by the ropes around her wrists, but she was bound by her new allegiance to me as her alpha. She had spoken the words, and now she was a part of my pack.
“Stand still,” I commanded. She had no choice but to obey.
I placed my teeth on her neck and bit down, tasting the blood as it entered my mouth. She whimpered at the pain, and I withdrew. Blood streamed down her neck and onto her shirt, but I knew it would stop soon. All wolves healed quickly, so the skin should start to repair itself soon.
“I present Alpha Jasper and his luna,” Killian concluded.
The pack began to cheer, and soon a chant begun. “Alpha, Alpha, Alpha!” they shouted.
I smiled at them, thanking them for their support. “Today is a great day for not just me, but for our pack,” I said, quieting them. “We will continue to fight for our rightful place—as leaders of all the wolves!”
“Alpha!” one wolf shouted from the back of the group. “Take your mate!”
The charge rose up among others in the group, all calling for me to take April into my cabin to complete the mating process. Hearing the jubilation from my pack warmed me to the core. Their unity reminded me of how things used to be, before the Moonstone Pack had been damaged by Aiden’s poor leadership.
These wolves had needed this familiarity more than I had realized up until now. As alpha, I was proud that I had gifted this moment to them. What I struggled to understand was why their request made me feel so uncomfortable.
“It is your right, Alpha,” Killian assured me, noting my uneasiness.
I nodded in agreement, but I couldn’t help feeling put off by the expectation. I eyed the shaking woman next to me, disgusted by the thought of being physically intimate with her. She was such a weak and dirty creature. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to bear touching her in such a way.
As I inspected her, I realized that the mark on her neck hadn’t yet begun to heal. I had expected the wolfsbane to be out of her system by now, but it seemed that was not the case. The effects had weakened her and delayed the usual healing process. The blood continued to trickle down her neck, mixing with the tears that flowed in a steady stream from her eyes.
Would sheeverstop crying? It was sickening.
We need to claim her body as we have claimed her bond,my wolf said.Why are you resisting this so much?
You know why, I snapped at him. I had been with plenty of women before, when the physical need had arisen andmy body had called for a release. But this was different. This reminded me too much of the darkest period of my life, and I had no desire to feel helpless ever again. I was not someone who could be forced into a situation like this. I was no whore.
It isn’t the same at all,Storm replied. He didn’t hide the irritation and anger in his voice as he spoke. I knew Storm felt pulled toward this she-wolf, but I had vowed I would never be forced to do anything ever again.
The pack wanted a show of strength, that was all. I would willingly give that to them.
I grabbed my mate by the back of her neck with one hand and held my other fist up in the air in victory.
“Dark Moon Pack!” I began. “Do your alpha the honor of celebrating my union while I take my mate back to her new home and give her the welcome she deserves!”