Alpha Bond

Ella’s POV

“You blocked the mate bond.” The hurt in my voice surprises me, but then I realize the pain in my voice is of Blaze because especially to her it seems as if her mate doesn’t want to acknowledge their bond.

The pull of the mate bond is much stronger for our wolves than it is for us. We feel the attraction, but for our wolves, these feelings are intense. So what I am feeling is a fraction of her pain.

“I have to.” He closes his eyes and lowers his head, “Nobody can know about this, Ella.”

“Are you ashamed of me...” Swallowing the hurt which his words have caused, I look at him calmly, “Ashamed of me being your mate?”

He has guardian blood in him, even if I am an Alpha, but his position in our society is still more powerful than mine.

“No.” He looks appalled, “If anything, I feel I don’t deserve to be your mate because you are you. The most amazing, headstrong, and fearless person I have ever met.” His gaze holds nothing but affection and pride as he glances at me.

“Please, tell me, why have you hid this truth from me?” Taking a hesitant towards him, I hold his hand.

“Because I can’t let anything happen to you.” He cups my face in his palm and presses his lips against my forehead.

Closing my eyes, I lean into his touch, allowing myself to feel the comfort of his presence.

“If anyone found out about our bond, then nothing will come good out of this.” Leaning back, he looks into my eyes, “I don’t care about me, but I will never let anyone hurt you. Your family has done so much for me, and I am forever indebted to them. I can’t let anything happen to them. Accepting the bond will only expose their lives to danger because we are not allowed to go against the orders. If we go then, they will not hesitate to eliminate the reason of our rebellion.”

“Why do you think that they are going to kill us?” Holding his wrist, I hold his gaze, trying to figure the reason behind his fear.

“Because they killed my parents.” The pain in his voice pinches my heart, and for a moment, I see a small boy standing in his place who has witnessed the death of his parents. “My parents went against the former Superior’s orders, and they are dead.”

Even though I want to tell that the bastard also got what he deserved as even he was killed, instead wrapping my arms around him, I hold him trying to lessen his pain. My heart skips a beat when for the first time, he embraces me as if he is seeking comfort from me.

Pulling away, he caresses my face with his fingers while staring at my face.

“My parents accepted their bond; look what happened to them. They were killed mercilessly.” Clenching his jaws, he looks ahead while hatred seeps into his voice, “They should have known it better, the outcome of their actions. They are dead because of their mate bond.”

I look at him in disbelief because it is obvious he is condemning their choice. I can understand that he still grieves about his parents, but he can’t hate them for accepting their bond.

“Your parents chose their bond because they knew that nothing is above the bond with which our souls are tied.” Moving away from him, I give him a pointed look, “They were killed not because they accepted each other, but because they chose to walk away instead of fighting as they never wanted to hurt these people whom they considered as their family.”

“But you and me, we are not them. If somebody tried to threaten me or our bond, I would not hesitate to write death in their fate.” I can feel the dark emotions rising inside me with anger, “I am not going to run away because I am going to hunt and kill anyone who dared to come between my mate and me.”

My gaze locks with his, and I feel like my anger simmering down when I see a hint of hope in his eyes.

“I wish I could be as strong as you.” He looks at me in awe as he speaks to himself. “But I promise you that I will never fall weak when it comes to protecting you.” The sudden determination in his voice is surprising yet scary. However, there is a strange fear in his voice that doesn’t sit right with me.

“Bonds, feelings, emotions, nothing matters to them.” He whispers while his eyes roam around my face, “Mating is just like an alliance formed for the benefit and for strengthening the force. True mate bonds are nothing but an inconvenience in their eyes because these bonds make the wolves weak and force them to keep the welfare of their mates above every command. They just mate to breed, to increase their numbers, and strengthen themselves. I never wanted you to be a part of such a horrendous thing.”

Even though I am aware of these things, but hearing all this from his mouth raises anger in me.

"Our duty is to protect, but when it comes to choose between protecting our mate and others... a true mate will always protect their mate because nothing is above the true mate bond." A hint of smile tilts the corner of his lips, as he holds my gaze unwaveringly.

He hid our bond, to fulfill the duty of a true mate by trying to protect me. Even though I don't agree with his way, but he did what he felt right to protect me. How can I be angry with him, when even I would have done the same thing if I was in his place?

We both turn our heads towards the entrance when we sense someone approaching us.

“We have to keep our bond hidden.” Holding my shoulders, he quickly speaks, “Things are not as simple as they seem. I know what these people are capable of doing. So, for now, we can’t let anyone find out about this. Until we found a way to deal with them.”

I already know the way to deal with them, a way which involves a lot of bloodsheds. My wolf completely agrees with me, as more than anyone, she would be happy to serve them their punishments.

"Calm down, my little Alpha." He presses his lips against my forehead while chuckling softly as if he has read what's going on in my mind.

Then locking away his every emotion, a stoic mask slips onto his face as he moves away from me, creating a distance between us.

A moment later dozen of high-ranking guardians enter the room and behind them walks in the coward.

My face twists in rage as my eyes land on Burton.

This person needs to be reminded who he is messing with.

“I need an explanation why my pack member was being tortured by one of your men?” I give some control to Blaze as I need my Alpha wolf’s strength to show these men my dominance, “And above that, who gave him the orders to punish my pack member?”

Technically, I am speaking the truth. As an Alpha, the safety of the pack member is my responsibility, and no one can punish them without discussing their crime with me.

“He is an enforcer, and it is his responsibility to make sure everyone stays in line for that he doesn’t need my permission to carry out punishments.” Prune points towards the guardian who was torturing Oliver, “Emerson has gone against the rules, so he was just performing his duty so that Emerson never override the commands again.” He sharply stares at Oliver as if the last line was meant as a warning for him.

“Mr. Burton, I would like to know how do you deal with someone who overrides your power and punish your clan member without your knowledge.” Walking towards that guardian, I stand in front of him. I clearly remember him standing among the guardians in front of whom I have accepted Oliver’s wolf as a part of my pack, so he knew that he didn’t have the right to punish him.

“We execute them,” Burton answers firmly, and the challenge in his tone makes me want to laugh.

“Then I don’t think you or anyone else would have an issue with this.” A smirk tilts the corner of my lips, and then without missing a beat, I slit his throat open.

He falls to his knees while his wide eyes hold shock.

I can feel the darkness spreading inside me, demanding to be unleashed, to flood this place with the blood of everyone who goes against me.

Walking behind him, I grab his head between my hands as I lock my gaze with Prune. Tightening my hold, I yank his head, separating his head from his body.

Kicking his body away from me, I walk into the center of the room.

My hands are covered in warm blood, but this doesn’t satisfy my hunger for blood. Fighting the urge, I gain control over myself, still feeling high on killing that bastard who inflicted pain on Oliver.

My Oliver.

“He chose his death the moment he decided to punish Emerson. Because Lord Emerson might be your guardian, but his wolf is mine. His wolf belongs to me. And I will not let anyone get away after hurting who belongs to me.” I glance at everyone in their eyes so that they know I am not someone who is going to back down from the fight.

Shifting my eyes momentarily at Prune, I watch his hardened features as he struggles to keep his anger in control, then my gaze moves to Oliver.

“Shift,” I order him while keeping my gaze locked with him.

I want to show my claim on Oliver... I want each one of them to know that he doesn’t belong to them. Oliver belongs to us... and he belongs with us.

Just before my eyes, he shifts into his majestic wolf, proudly towering over everyone in the room.

“Next time if anyone tries to hurt my wolf, then I will make every moment of their life worst than death.” Coldness in my voice is completely in contrast to the warmth that is engulfing my heart.

Oliver is mine, his wolf is mine, and I will be damned if I will let anyone hurt him.

A smile forms on my face when Oliver walks towards me and lowers his head in submission. His gesture shows everyone in this room who has power over him.

Placing my hand on his head, I stroke his fur feeling the warmth of our bond.