THE ALPHA'S RELUCTANT MATE

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pulse with the blood moon's glow. She kept her head down, refusing to look at the faces leering at her. If she met their eyes, if she let them see the fear, it would only feed them. Omegas weren'

ade her wolf quiet, made that bond twist tighter around her chest. She'd heard stories of how it felt when you met your mate, of the warmth

urrounded it, their flames licking at the night sky. Alphas stood in a loose circle, some already paired, others eye

reath, his gaze flicking over Lena with a mixture o

e," Kian s

"I thought you wante

ed willing.

er heart raced with fury or that her voice screamed inside her head. None of it would matter to them. Not to these

d back. The elder stepped forward, an old wolf with silver hair and pale, clouded eyes. He he

restless pack, "the Alpha of the Blackclaw Pack shall claim his fated mate.

nted t

as nowhere

ack, do you accept the

eet and curse them all. But she wasn't stupid. Defiance meant death. And even if death sounded merciful, ther

on't," sh

r rippled thr

ers. His bloodied thumb pressed over the faint pulse at her wrist, and she felt the sharp sting of the dagge

said, his voic

tated, then ga

-hot rope around Lena's heart. She gasped, stumbling as the magic surged through her

her against him. His scent was everywhere, wr

t her ear, voice rough, almost r

vision, hot and us

kno

t for Lena, there was no joy. Only the terrible weight of the bond she coul

p inside, her

't a sound