Dominic's POV

They call me the devil's son; they fear and tremble in my presence. I have not seen or heard of a man or woman who wouldn't run into hiding when my name is mentioned.

Why play by the rules when I can make my own rules?

The rules are so cliché that I play by my own rules and get whatever I want. No one dares to stand in my way, not even the king, who is too damn lazy to handle his own affairs.

I am expanding my territories. I need more land to accommodate my people and realize my dream of bringing all werewolves under my rule. The Lycan king is just a lazy asshole who got to be king simply because he is a freaking Lycan.

Soon, I am going to get all the Alphas and their packs to be under me, and if he tries to challenge me, I'll fucking kill him. He can be the king of Lycans, I don't care, but he would never be my king.

"I, Dominic Rayleigh, would be the king of all wolves, and nothing would stand in my way."

The Blue Crescent Pack is my target right now. I just conquered the pack that's closest to their territory; now, it is their turn to fall under my command.

I asked the Alpha of the Blue Crescent to step down and renounce his title, but he kept being stubborn, bargaining with me, offering me many things in exchange for it. The dude even offered me his first daughter, urging me to mate with his daughter and leave his pack.

That had fucking pissed me off!

I never want to mate with any girl. I prefer a girl who knows nothing about me, not one who would be scared of me because of the stories she's heard. Every week, my boys go into the big city and get me some sexy human girls who can satisfy my sexual desires. Having them is way better than having a mate.

If I find that girl that the moon goddess wants me to mate with, I swear, I'll fucking kill her. I don't want a mate, and I most certainly do not want a Luna. No power-hungry bitch would share my throne with me. For all I know, she could be one of those scarred little girls who would run the other way when they discover that they are to be mated to Alpha Dominic.

I don't want any of that; my life is unfolding just as I planned, and that is all that matters to me. When I finally become the king, I'll get an omega to bear me a pup that would become the heir to my dynasty. Robert Delaney is so desperate to keep his title as Alpha that it proves he is unfit to hold it. I gave him an ultimatum, giving him some time to change his mind and come to terms with the fact that he is no longer an Alpha. Then I heard he wasn't planning to leave at all; instead, he was working on his security system, working with his warriors to try to stop me.

How stupid and pathetic!

It became obvious to me that he was one of the dumb ones who never listen, so I let him continue with his stupid plans, letting him believe he had a chance to escape. On one cold winter night, I decided to show him just how ruthless I can be.

I stormed his pack with my warriors, killing everyone who tried to run away, breaking through their stupid excuse of a security system. I found Robert Delaney meeting with his beta, his Gamma, and his head warriors. I guess they are still working on their strategies to evade my attack.

We took them by surprise, and I took out everyone who stood in my way, burning down their armor rooms and destroying every scheme they had devised to attack me. It was such a bloody battle, and as usual, I won the battle and conquered the Blue Crescent pack, forcing them to live under my reign.

I dragged him home to end his miserable life before his family. I had to make sure that no one related to the Alpha escapes me, so no one can challenge me when I dominate his people.

As soon as I stepped into his house, I caught the most beautiful and intoxicating scent that nearly turned my beast into a lovesick puppy. He began stirring in my head, drawing me deeper into the house until he pulled me to a stop at one of the bedroom doors.

I slowly opened the door, and the intoxicating smell hit me with full force, pulling at my heartstrings as my wolf kept on howling happily, wagging his tail as he chanted the words,

Mate mate mate mate

"Nooooo..."

I screamed in rage as I smashed everything in that room. "I'll kill her, I'll fucking kill her. I don't want a mate, I don't want a luna!"

I searched the whole room, looking for the bitch that the moon goddess wants to use to tame me and tie me down. I tumbled the entire room, searching every nook and cranny, but she wasn't there. I ran down the stairs in a rage, moving to stand before Alpha Robert Delaney.

"Where the fuck is that bitch?" I asked him in rage, toppling over him with my height as I stared down at him in disgust. He kept his head down, refusing to look at me and ignoring my question.

"Hand her over, and I'll spare your lives," I bargained desperately. I need to end her right now so I can be free of the shackles of the mating bond. I could already feel my heart softening as I inhaled her scent. How can I continue my mission to rule all werewolves if I become soft-hearted?

I can't let that happen, I'll never have a mate, never. She would only make me go soft and weak; she'll ruin all my hard work. She is not my mate; she would never be my Luna. The Alpha is ignoring me, and it's fucking pissing me off.

"Where is she?" I barked furiously, making the little girl scream as she hugged her mother even tighter, burying her face in her mother's shoulder. The Alpha wore a fierce, determined look. I knew he wouldn't budge; he's a stubborn man, but I'll teach him not to mess with me.

"Sort this out, Dwayne, I can't stand them anymore. I'll meet you guys at the pack house." I ordered my Beta before turning to head for the exit. When I moved to turn around, I caught sight of a family portrait on a little table in the corner. I was pulled toward the table, my eyes fixed on a particular face smiling so brightly in the picture.

"Holy Sh*t!" I swore within me. She is so damn gorgeous, so beautiful, with her blonde hair that screams perfection, making her blue eyes stand out, drowning me in their pools, calling me in.

Oh no, it's happening, I'm falling for her already. This is why I hate the mating bond: it makes you lose yourself, fall hopelessly in love with her, disregard everything else, and spend time with your mate.

That's never going to happen to me. I'll find her, and when I do, I'll kill the bitch. With her gone, I can now focus on my plans to be king of all wolves. I'll never let her come into my life and mess things up for me.

"Comb the pack's entire territory. I need this girl found before tomorrow. Close every border, search every damn house until you find this girl. She is a threat to everything I've worked for. Find her or I'll have your heads!" I ordered fiercely, then threw the portrait at Dwayne before storming out of that house in a rush.

Her scent was suffocating me in that house. The longer I stayed in there, inhaling her scent, the more I longed for her presence in my life. Her scent brings me peace of mind, and it calms my troubled soul. It makes me want to have her all to myself, it makes me want to have her in my arms and kiss her, moving my lips down her...

Oh my God!

Oh my God!

What am I thinking about?

I don't want her in my life, I want her found so I can get rid of her and move on with my life. That is exactly what I want to do with her, nothing else. I want nothing to do with her, right?

Fuck!

I'm going insane already. Damn her and Damn the moon goddess.

Bethany's POV

Sleep had evaded me all through the night. From my hideout in Carl's basement, I could hear the turmoil and chaos from our pack members. Everyone was scared, and they were trying to escape from the wicked Alpha, but there was no escape because the whole pack was surrounded.

I heard shuffling from the stairs leading down to the basement. I looked up in fear, thinking it was the warriors from the wicked Alpha, but it turned out to be Carl,

He looked frightened as hell as he walked past me and pushed at the broken cabinet leaning against the wall in the corner.

Could it be weapons that he needs to fight off our attackers?

"What are you doing, Carl, what do you have behind that door?" I asked once more, reaching out to turn him to face me, noticing he had been avoiding my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Bethany, I have failed you, and I have failed your father, our Alpha. I know I promised to stand by you and protect you, but I can't fight the wicked Alpha alone. He is too strong, and his warriors surround him; there is no way to defeat him. You have to leave here before it is too late."

"My father used to trade with the humans without the Alphas' knowledge; this is the path he used to sneak out of our boundaries. The cave leads to the other side of the woods, outside our boundary. When you emerge from the cave, follow the lonely path on your left; it leads to the train station, where you can board a train to the big city where the humans reside. Avoid the path to your right at all costs; it leads to the Red moon pack, and Alpha Dominic has already conquered that pack." He cautioned me seriously, sounding so strict.

I stunned. I deeply regretted that I was weak and needed everyone to protect me, but I know that I also want to live. These two contradictory thoughts left me unable to express myself.

I know Carl is right. I can't fight the wicked Alpha on my own.

Carl was shoving me through the door, urging me to leave quickly. I ran through the door, but after a few steps, I stopped when I realized Carl wasn't following me. I had to head back to where he stood, looking hopeless.

"Come on, Carl, we have to hurry, we need to get out of here before they get here." I urged him urgently, tugging at his hand, trying to pull him along, but he stood adamant, and he pulled his hand away from my grip, causing me to look at him in confusion.

"I can't leave with you, Beth. Someone needs to stay back here and hold them off. They know about us, my love; they are coming over here as we speak. Sooner or later, they will find this hidden path, and they'll come searching for you. I need to stay back and stall them for as long as I can. Go, Beth, save yourself before they find you. If I survive this, I'll come to the human side to search for you. Promise me, Bethany, promise you'll wait for me to come find you." He pleaded softly as he brought his hands to cup my cheeks.

The tears flowed freely down my cheeks as I shook my head vigorously. "No, Carl, you can't do this to me. I just lost my family, Carl, I can't lose you. Please come with me. If we leave now, we can catch a train before they catch up to us. We can get away if we hurry and leave now."

He pulled me into his arms and held me tight to stop my squabbling. He leaned down and captured my mouth in a passionate kiss, backing me up against the wall as he kissed me with so much passion, pouring all his affection into it.

"Listen to me, Beth, the longer you remain here, the more risky it's going to be. You're making it worse by staying here; you're actually risking our lives by delaying your departure. If you leave now, you'll be safe, and I'll have a better chance of getting away. Leave now, my love, I promise, I'll find you once I get out of here. It may take some time, but I'll find a way to get out of here, and I'll come find you." He placed his forehead against mine as he whispered soft, comforting words to me.

"Take this," he said, handing me a very large envelope. "It contains some clothes and cash that you can use to start up a new life while you wait for me to come find you. Your old phone is in there, but you can't turn it on yet; they could track your phone to find you. There is a new phone that I bought for you earlier in that envelope. I had wanted to give it to you on your birthday, but I think you need it right now. I'll call you on your new phone to check in. Try to blend in with the humans; don't draw any attention to yourself, or you'll get exposed...

Pam... pam... pam... pam... pam...

At that moment, a resounding knock at the door alerted us to the presence of our enemies. I panicked immediately and would have screamed in fear, but Carl was faster. He used his hand to shut my mouth firmly as he pushed me back against the wall.

"You're stronger than what you think, Bethany! Leave!! Right now!!" he scolded and yelled at me as he pushed me through the door, prompting me to leave immediately. I hesitated a little as I turned to look at him with my tears flowing down my cheeks. The pounding on the door kept increasing, and I heard angry voices outside calling to him, screaming his name so loudly that we heard it clearly from the basement.

He was right when he said they had found out about us; they sounded so sure that I was hiding in here. I was about to turn around and run as Carl had instructed, but I stopped in my tracks when I was hit by the most delicious scent ever. It was so intoxicating, so delicious. Like a magnet, his scent pulled me to him, calling to me. I don't know who the scent belongs to, but it's messing with my head, making me feel things that I've never felt before, things I never felt with Carl.

My wolf, Alexia, was howling and wagging her tail with joy as she screamed, but I couldn't risk my life for a mate who hadn't come to claim me all these years. I defeated the wolf instinct and chose survival and reason.

In shock and fear, I suddenly laughed out loud. How ironic this was! At this time, I have to separate from the person I love most, with an uncertain life or death. The mate comes, is there any meaning? My Luna?

Carl devoted himself entirely to me; no other guy could replace him. I turned to gaze at my love one last time, smiling sadly as my heart tugged at me, begging me to stay back.

"Go, my love, I'll come find you soon, I promise," Carl muttered softly.

I shifted into my wolf, picked up my large envelope in my mouth, and ran deeper into the hidden path, away from everything and everyone I ever knew, toward an unknown land I'd never been to in my whole life. I don't know what awaits me on the human side, but it's way better than being killed by Alpha Dominic.

"We don't need a mate, Alexia. Let's get far away from here before he finds us."My wolf wouldn't stop whining and whimpering sadly, telling me to go back to our mate.

Things have gone on until now, I don't believe in Mate anymore. If I had such good luck, how could I rely only on myself in the world? Why couldn't he have shown up sooner to help me get out of this?

This is an utterly unfair fate, one that will kill me. I want to escape from this fate, so I will not admit this, Mate. I want to live for myself, then take my revenge on Alpha Dominic.

I'll wait for my love on the other side, and I'm sure he'll find me. When he comes back to me, we can plot a way to get revenge on Alpha Dominic for all he did to my family. He will pay with his life, I swear it.

Dominic's POV

I never knew I would be this desperate to find a girl that I don't even want. I had waited to turn around and leave so Dwayne would search for her, but something in me just wouldn't let me leave. I want to find her and make sure she's okay.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Why can't I leave?

I had my men combing through the woods, searching every house, every corner, searching for her. I did not stay back as I had earlier intended; I went along with some guys, searching for her.

With the way I'm searching for her, you would think I have other motives for searching this hard; you'd never know that I want to put an end to her miserable life, send her to the afterlife.

That's why I'm searching for her, right?

I don't even know anymore. This whole thing is messing with my head. I need to get rid of her so I can get my head back in the game. Something big is coming, there is a war coming, and I need to be ready for it. The lycan would forever subdue our entire population. I don't need any distraction right now, and that is exactly what a mate will be to me, a distraction.

I'm sure she is somewhere in this lack, and I'm going to find her. As I went around the pack, searching every house, I realised that the people were not being honest with me; they were not cooperating with my warriors and me, so I resorted to threats and torture, just to get them talking. It's obvious that they know exactly where she is, or at least, they have an idea of where she could be, but they are hiding her location from me because of their loyalty to their Alpha, a misplaced loyalty, if you ask me. I'm going to be the Alpha king, so they should have more respect for me because their loyalty and allegiance belong to me, only me.

I had stood aside and watched while Dwayne supervised the warriors as they rounded up the Alpha warriors and questioned them. When one of them finally agreed to talk, I focused my attention on him, and that was when he said the words that got me so pissed that I kicked at everything in my path, using my boot to scatter everything in my way. The truth is, I don't even know why I am this pissed, but I just am, and here's the funny part: I can't stop this anger within me; it's so upsetting that I can't control it.

The stupid Alpha just got on my last nerves!!!

The warrior just told us that Alpha Rowley had betrothed his daughter, my mate, to a mutt named Carl. They have been for a while now, and they planned to get married a few months from today. Can you believe that?

He gave my mate to another guy, a lowlife, and I know certainly that she is still with him right now. She must have gone to spend the night in his house, for all I know, he could be with her this minute. That damn weasel, I'm going to kill him. I could feel my anger rising as I pictured that angel, that beautiful damsel I had just seen in her picture. I pictured her in his arms, and it was so infuriating.

The snitch pointed at Carl's door, and I smiled in appreciation for his help. Then I walked up to him and took away all his weapons and the crest that identified him as a warrior. "What is your name?" I asked him fiercely, staring deep into his eyes as he shivered in fear at my presence.

"My name is Blake Williams, my Lord." He stammered out shakily, with fear radiating off him in waves.

"Do not call me 'Lord', never in your life. As of today, I rid you of every privilege of a warrior; neither you nor anyone from your lineage would be allowed to serve a warrior because no snitch is fit to be a warrior under my service." I spat out fiercely, watching as his face drained of all colour.

I lunged forward and kicked Carl's measly door so hard it flew off its hinges with little effort. As we entered Carl's house, I saw a man by the door. It looks like he was coming from his bedroom, and I lost all rational thought as I lunged forward and punched him hard on the face, sending him flying in the other direction. He hit the wall on the other end of the room, and I followed him right there, toppling on top of him as I dealt him several blows to his face, punching him so hard as I kept yelling at him in both anger and frustration,

"Where the fu*k is she right now? I'll kill her, and I'll kill you too. Where is she?" I yelled continuously, punching him as I screamed like a lunatic. The fact that he is so handsome is even more infuriating, and it made me punch him even harder as I imagined my mate admiring his stupid face.

The worst part of it all is that I don't even know why I am this furious, I mean, I don't even care about her and I don't want her by my side. I don't want a mate, ever. I should be letting him have her because I never want to be shackled by the mate bond, but the mere thought of her being with another guy is driving me crazy. I can't even bear to imagine it, I can't stand it.

"You are Carl? Where is the Alpha's daughter?" I asked him once more, sounding so stern and fierce.

"Alpha's daughter? Oh, you mean Bethany?" he asked back. It could be his injuries, or maybe I am too furious and not thinking straight, but I think I can detect sarcasm in his tone, or maybe I'm just hearing things.

Bethany... I love her name. It sounds beautiful. Beautiful, gorgeous, stunning Bethany. No.. No.. No.. No.. I can't be having these nice thoughts about her. I can't let the mate bond control me. She is not beautiful, and I hate her name. I don't even want to hear that name; I want nothing to do with her or her stupid name.

"Now you listen to me, you dumb head, I don't care what her name is, I don't care about her. Tell me where she is, or I swear I'm gonna rip out your heart from your chest." I threatened angrily. I don't even know why I was telling him I didn't care about her; I guess I was trying to convince myself I really didn't.

"Jeez, stop screaming so loudly. We met briefly in the woods before all this started. I asked her to hide in the woods until I come to get her. I'm pretty sure that she is still hiding in the woods." Carl responded smugly, but I wasn't paying attention to his expressions, so I just pulled him up from the floor and pushed him towards the door.

"Take me to her, right now!" I ordered sternly, standing back as I watched my guys push him forward, taking him deeper into the woods. Carl smirked as he kept leading us into the woods.

Wait a minute,

Why is he smirking?

That snitch had told us that they both loved each other so much, he wouldn't be this happy to sell her out, would he?

We were deep in the woods now, but I wasn't feeling okay. Something doesn't add up. I felt her presence while we were in his house, but as we moved farther away, I felt the warmth slowly fading; it was as if my heart were melting into lava, and I felt torn from my mate. I could feel her presence in these woods, and I could tell she frequents them, but her scent is faded here; it was stronger in his house. I stopped in my tracks and studied the footprints around us. With my heightened eyesight, I saw our footprints clearly, but we were smearing any others as we kept stomping forward.

"Stop!!!"

I yelled at the top of my voice, causing everyone to stop in their tracks. I move forward, with Dwayne following closely behind me. We moved a few feet away from the crowd, then I saw their footprints, a male and female footprint, and they were heading back the way we came. To be sure I wasn't mistaken, I asked Carl to step forward, and when he did, I confirmed that his footprints matched the ones I'd seen just now, which meant the lady's footprint belonged to my mate, Bethany.

She had followed him back; she had been in his house all along.

Carl must have known I had caught on to his lie, and he tried to back away, but it was too late. I grabbed him and punched him so hard in the face, sending him flying the other way as he hit his back against a tree. I was standing in front of him within seconds, and I held him by the neck and lifted him off his feet, staring deep into his eyes,

"Where is MY MATE?" I asked him fiercely.