Chapter three: Mate To My Enemy

Vine

He didn't ask questions and my head snapped, my cheek felt like it'd fall apart.

I tasted blood too because that slap busted my lips.

I would have fallen but the guards caught me like this was the right time to appear.

"You dare touch my daughter!" He roared, even his voice would cause an earth quake.

 I spat out blood. "I didn't hurt her"

"Liar!!" He roared, taking another step. He was taller than me, older, stronger.

"You embarrassed my family. On my daughter’s wedding day." He grabbed my neck as I gaggled.

My feet weren't even touching the floor as I grunt, writhing.

"You will pay for every drop of her blood."

He shoved me aside right where wema was pulled out from and the broken glasses pierced my back.

I couldn't tell what next was happening as my head spinned, the silence was eating me up.

"Arrest her. Now" I heard next and immediately, hands grabbed me, pulling me out.

"Let me go!!" I struggled. "I didn't cause that! She did it!" I protested writhing out of their hands.

"Jose!!" I screamed like he'd save me. "Tell them to stop! I want my pack back"

But he was with her, carrying her in his arms and taking her away.

"And when she’s in that cell, make her watch" the alpha continued even as they walked me out.

The wedding? I thought until he added;

"Let her watch her pack burn for the scratch she put on my child."

No!!

"No supreme alpha! You can't touch my pack over this!"

He didn't look at me again, he was going after his daughter, in fact everyone here were terrified of him and dare not lift their heads.

"Don't!" I protested but it was useless. How could he hurt my pack for a slight mistake that wasn't my fault!

Wema knew her father would react! It was all a set up but why? All I did was come for my pack.

I yelled until my voice was gone until my eyes were blinded by the lights from cameras.

My wolf was restless, but she couldn't do anything. The supreme alpha ruled all.

***

It had been four hours in the holding cell somewhere in the supreme palace. 

It smelt like rust and bleach, no window, no time.

The tears I'd held up kept falling uncontrollably, I'd paced to and fro, slamming the rods, still screeching like a banshees.

I knew they’d killed them. I just didn’t know how.  

Every device on me was taken. I couldn't have access to call anyone.

It had gotten to five hours more if I guessed correctly when a guard shoved a tablet through the slot.

I paused when my eyes saw the screen. It was my council hall.

On fire!

First, I lost air, secondly, my soul left me and finally, my wolf was gone.

My eyes danced at the bodies being pulled out.

A banner in the corner "BREAKING: 40 DEAD IN KEANE PACK MASSACRE. EX-LUNA IN CUSTODY.`

I've heard rumors about the supreme alpha, cruel and wicked.

He takes out packs over little matters but I never thought it would be this deep.

A reporter goes on "Police sources confirm Vine Keane was arrested hours before the attack. Motive unclear, but tensions were high after the pack’s debt scandal..."

I'd dried up.

"Alpha’s orders, you watch." He buttressed no pity.

The door opened and the supreme alpha steeped in. 

He stepped in casually like he was just coming back from a meeting.

He didn’t look at me at first. He just adjusted his cufflinks.  

Then he crouched and dropped a photo on the concrete between us.  

Children, elders and all with my signature nailed above them.

"You wanted to make a scene, girl" he said in a voice The kind of soft that makes you colder than shouting ever could.

"Now you get to watch the whole world blame you for it. Because no one messes with my family" he tilted his head.

There was no reaction on me, my tongue felt heavy until grief and shock shot through me.

He did. The rumors were true, all of them. He'd eliminate a pack because a woman challenged him, made a beta disappear because he looked at him wrongly.

He erases people over late taxes and he'd erased 40 of mine over a slap.

The very 40 I came to fight for.

I hated him, hated everything and without a second thought, I lunged at him.

I didn't know what I thought I’d do. Scratch him? Bite him? Die trying? 

Two guards caught me before I'd gotten halfway and pinned me to the concrete.

He just watched, amused like I was a dog that had to be put down.

"Let her go" he said and they did, just then I collapsed to the floor.

I had no tears, but my eyes were red, my blood boiled yet I accept fate, the betrayal.

And the pain came last, it settled in my bones. I'd killed them.

I looked up at him through my eyelashes.

"You’re a monster," I retorted, too weak to pull myself up.

He smiled wickedly.

"Monsters keep their families safe," he defended picking up the photo and then tapped it with his finger.

"And i'd be your end" I fired, with a troubled heart.

The supreme alpha chuckled, he turned to one of the guard who was shaking in his boot.

"I'd watch you try" he responded amused. He didn't even retaliate, like he knew I was too broken.

And my wolf didn't howl.

"What should we do to her alpha?" One of the soldiers asked, so eager to be my own end.

I was barely breathe.

"She's free, she'd die anyway" he scoffed. "Or commit suicide for her loss"

I was literally dead before he made that statement and the last I heard were retreating footsteps.

The guards injected me in that position with poison, maybe.

They'd left the door open for me, and after a few minutes, when I thought I'd die, I found myself on my feet.

Hatred and pain made me rise, even though I was staggering from the poison they'd infuse in me.

The bodyguards around didn't even stop me, they watched to entertain their eyes.

Like I was already dead and they were just waiting for the body to catch up.

Please. I don’t want to die. Not like this.  

Blood drool from my nose as the poison was eating me up and every step sent nausea rolling through me.

The corridor was endless, the florescent lights overhead made my vision swim.

Cold air from the vents bit at my sweat-soaked shirt but I didn't stop.

Halfway down, a bodyguard stopped. He'd almost opened his mouth.

"Leave her," another cut in from a part of the room.

"Wherever she drops, we’ll pick up the corpse."  

They burst into laughter but I just kept going deep, away from them, towards the darkness which I now see.

My feet caught on something and I fell, I'd expected to hit the floor but I didn't.

Rather, I fell into strong arms, warm wrapped against me.

A tingle flushes down my skin and I fell to a chest. His scent made my lost wolf lift her tail.

"Vine."

His voice, it was husky, like he hadn't used it in days.

I forced my eyes open, and the world stopped.

I was staring at two blue eyes, wet hair stick to his forehead, a black t-shirt clinging to him, soaked with sweat, or maybe rain.

And claw marks healing across his collarbone.

He was beautiful in a way that hurt to look at and terrifying in a way that made my wolf go silent.

I'd assumed he was alpha dumelo but he was younger.

My brain couldn't think, but I sense it was him.

The son with his father's orders in his blood. 

"I found you," he muttered, his arms tightened around me the more as though scared to let go.

Found me? To finish me? I tried to break out, but it was useless, my bones were already worn.

"At last. Mate"

His declaration hit me harder than the poison, the way he stared at me like he had been waiting left me baffled.

"M...mate?" I rasped. Rage boiled up through the pain as my shaky hands came up to push him away.

But I ended up pouring blood from my mouth on his shirt.

He shuddered yet didn't let go, held me closer like I might disappear.

What's happening?

"Hey. Hey, stay with me, Vine." His thumb brushed my cheek, carefully as he sounded scared.

"Don’t you dare close your eyes."  

I stared up at him again, but I'd only see a man who shared a last name with the monster who burned my pack.

Yet the only person in this house which wasn't smiling while I died.  

"I hate you," I could only say, hiccuping as my eyes spun.

I meant it. So much it felt like it would kill me.  

And with that, I drew in one last breath and my eyes shut.

In the dark, I saw her. My mom, the Luna, standing in our kitchen, smiling.

"It's time to come home"