The Alpha's Claimed Mate

I couldn’t help but look at Zak in disbelief. What did he mean by proposing a candidate at the start of the meeting? It should have been done at least a month ago. And who would be even proposed as his Luna? I was the only female he had brought here.

‘Wait a second…No way.’

It couldn’t be? Right? It would have made sense if he knew I was his mate, but he didn’t. I calmed myself down. Maybe it was someone else. But that thought angered me, too. I just stood there blankly, not processing what was being said.

“Alpha Superior Zakariya, could you please explain? The rules say that the candidate must be investigated at least a month before the selection. Even with your status, you can not propose a candidate now,” Alpha Enya said politely. She was the first to regain her composure after Zak dropped that bomb.

“She has already been investigated, since she is the candidate of another pack.” Zak looked at Enya with a stony gaze.  

Gasps resounded around the room. I clutched onto Mika tightly. The possibility of the candidate being me rose. I wanted to grab the collar of Zak and shake him, then ask what the hell he was thinking.

“You have the right to choose first as an Alpha Superior, yes, but are you sure you want to take away another Alpha Heir’s woman?” Enya asked again. Zak gave a curt nod. 

“Then it has been decided. Are there any objections?” Her voice rang through the noisy hall. Everyone went silent at that. Not a single person dared to raise their voice against Zak even though it might be their Luna who would be taken.

“Then, Alpha Superior Zakariya, please say the name. I will open the list now.” Enya took out a thick sheet of paper from out of nowhere. An inventory spell, I guessed.

Everyone waited with bated breath for his answer. I was hoping he would not say my name yet, saddened that he might say another’s. The room was in pin drop silence.

“Ashley Diamante,” He said, giving me a sideways glance. I blinked, trying to process what he just said.

‘Did this dude just say my name?’

I screamed internally. Mika patted my chest, as if to calm me down, but it couldn’t hold down the boiling rage that was bubbling from within me. That’s it. My life was over. My mate decided to ruin his life on his own. 

The entire room broke into whispers, trying to figure out which packs Luna Candidate ‘Ashley’ was. Some pointed to me. Alpha Wilbur held down Jared forcibly. Jared was truly a sight to see. He was seething, alternating glares between me and Zak, but not daring to do anything stupid.

I looked down at the man who caused this havoc. Zak was silently trying to hold the paw of Mika, who was snarling at him and burrowed into my arms. I smacked his hand away from my precious cat instinctively.

Zak raised an eyebrow but obediently put his hand down. 

“Alpha Zakariya, I assume that the female next to you must be Ashley Diamante. I give you my congratulations on your new Luna. It seems that Alpha Heir Jared might need to find himself another mate this year,” Enya said, amusement glinting in her fiery blue eyes. 

Zak spoke as he got up, “Yes. I simply couldn’t bring myself to let such a capable Luna get into the hands of another. Since my business is done, I will be leaving now. I’ll see you at the ceremony, Alpha Enya.”

He gave her a nod and grabbed my hand.

“I see that the answer was Zakariya,” Rafayel murmured. It took me a moment to remember what I had said earlier about my type being my mate. I shook my head at the rabbit-like guy. He was still hung up over that?

“Congratulations, Zak. And you must be Ashley. Nice to meet you,” Rafayel said with a grin. I nodded at him in a daze, still not processing what was happening. 

“I will fill you in on the details later, Rafayel,” Zak spoke.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the ceremony, then.”

Rafayel cheerfully waved us goodbye as Zak dragged me out of the room awkwardly. 

‘Ah, what the hell happened to my life’

I shed tears internally, trying to think of ways to get out of this mess. We teleported into another room during the time I was distracted by my thoughts. I looked around the fancy room, which had a huge, comfy looking bed in the middle. Mika jumped out of my arms and climbed up onto the bed. 

I assumed that this was the room Zak had been given during his stay.

“You! What have you done?” I yelled at Zak, pointing at him accusingly. 

“How long did you think you could hide from me?” Zak asked back.

I blinked at him. 

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, you are still going to pretend?” He chuckled and snapped a finger. I flinched as something evaporated from my skin and went up in smoke. My face blanched in fright.

He knew.

ZAK’S POV:

I cast a spell to remove her scent masking potion. She turned pale as if she realized it finally. Her scent spread throughout the room as soon as the potion’s remains disappeared from her skin. 

Ash’s unique scent was as enchanting as her lure scent. They combined to give off a seductive smell, which was just like her. The aftermath of a thunderstorm, a sweet, sharp aroma, hit me like lightning as the word mate resounded in my mind.

I wanted to taste her. 

“So, Ashley. Tell me, how long were you going to hide that you are my mate?” 

Ash stiffened. Her eyes flickering between me and the window. 

‘Oh?’ I tilted my head in curiosity.

“So, forever. Were you planning on escaping?”

“When did you figure it out?” She asked in a grim tone.

“Did you really think your potion would be enough to hide you from me?” I knew from the moment I met her, something was unusual. Never had I ever experienced such a powerful pull to a woman. Although I could only confirm it now.

“Let’s talk this out, Alpha Zak. I have my reasons.” Ash said, backing away.

“I wonder what reason a person would have to run away from their soulmate?” Cold fury ignited within me at the thought of losing her, even though I hadn’t had her for long. A true mate bond was the last thing I expected on the trip here, but now that I had her, I was not planning to let go of her.

Ever.