Page 32 of Ruthless Reign

She pockets it before threading her fingers together. "So, you're Alpha Cade's mate?"

"Not really," I quickly answer. "I don't know. It's all very complicated."

Annabelle nods, seemingly understanding. "Also, not the most ideal for first introductions."

I can't help but laugh at her statement, feeling relaxed for the first time since being dragged here. "Not at all."

More words threaten to fall from my mouth, but I do my best to curb my tongue—not wanting to insult her alpha and risk ending this nice interaction.

To my astonishment, I feel the anti-heat medicine working already, my body significantly cooling down as the tension in my stomach eases. Well, at least I wasn't poisoned.

"Come grab lunch with me," Annabelle offers. "There's this cute little café around the corner that does the best wraps and milkshakes."

"Are you sure I'm allowed?" I ask hesitantly.

She frowns at me for a second, as if I've puzzled her with my question. "Of course, silly. Besides, it was Alpha Cade's idea."

Chapter Thirteen

Cade

This woman is going to be the death of me.

At least it will be interesting…

She's horribly stubborn—more than I could have anticipated. Troublesome doesn't even cover the gist of it. But still, she's exciting and even more so, intriguing.

Nyx wasn't wrong when she called me a psycho. In fact, I'd agree with no hesitation. It's one of my many traits which the pack loves to remind me about. But it's not the type of psychopathic that's blood-spilling and savage, it's the kind that loves a challenge—a mental masochist if I had to label it.

I'm quickly becoming obsessed with her.

I was waiting to see how long it would take her to break the chains downstairs. There was never any doubt in my mind—which is why I had ordered for her to be taken there. I wanted to see just how strong she is, how similar she is to the legendary tales of Ophelia. After dismissing my inner circle for the night, I waited in the dark for the first glimpse of her.

I didn't have to wait long. Even from outside the house, I heard the faint, distant sound of the door. Then, it was just a matter of following her.

I'm very familiar with the boundary line that I had Marie set. So, I let her run, waiting until the prime moment to let her know she wasn't alone. There was something about the chase that was thrilling—especially when I knew I could catch her easily. But I didn't want to…

However, it took me by surprise when she absolutely steam-rolled me. Then again, perhaps there was no shock at all.

Any expectations I had ceased to exist the moment I laid eyes on her in the cell. But at the same time, I knew that whoever my mate was, they would be someone that entwined with my personality perfectly. Mates are designed to be soulmates—not necessarily someone who is exactly like you, but the other half of two souls that compliment your existence. And as a leader, that someone would always be the person who challenges me, makes me stronger.

Even though I was eager to find my mate, I was never in any particular rush—I knew I'd find them when the time was right. But suddenly I realized one day that time might not be on our side anymore.

It wasn't until Ezra had made a comment one afternoon during a meeting that his eldest would be approaching his twenty-first birthday in a few short years. He made an off-handed comment, a joke, that knowing their luck, his mate would be from another pack—and who knows where that pack would be when the time came. At the rate that packs were evaporating into thin air, it was only a matter of time before things needed to settle or reached a breaking point.

The whole meeting got me thinking. We had a number of members who had reached the prime age of twenty-one and we're still mate-less. It was entirely possible that their mate justhadn't hit the same age yet, but alas, I felt it was my duty to ensure they met their life partner with the concerning celestial events hanging over our heads.

Sawyer and I started charting out the history of everyone's fated mates, trying to establish any patterns or existing relationships that could have indicated a pairing. And while doing it, the thought dawned on me that perhaps my Luna was not a New Moon member waiting to reach their twenty-first birthday. There had been no multi-pack connection between former alphas and their mates since the Great War, however we quickly came to the conclusion that times were changing, and we needed to take a step back and reassess our options.

When Marie pointed out the historical knowledge about our lineage, I had a gut feeling that she was right about repeating events. We had already heard a rumor that somewhere out there, a young wolf had just turned twenty-one and already had more than one mate. And when we went digging, imagine my astonishment when we found out it wasn't just any mate—but an alpha, two at that. From different packs, no less.

Another alpha had mentioned the news to me during a catch up while discussing the latest updates on vanishing packs. While I haven't been too concerned about my pack disappearing, you can never be too careful.

But if there's one thing about the hierarchy of wolves, it's that they love keeping up with appearances and news about other packs—anything that will provide strength and the upper hand when it comes to negotiations and trades. That's when I decided I needed to find out if this unique individual was my mate.

It felt like a long shot, but Ophelia's lineage had long fizzled out from the New Moon Pack. Over many years and generations, her ancestors had mated with wolves from other packs, eventually dwindling out her bloodline until only the alpha remained. But then, he suddenly passed before he couldmeet his mate and produce an heir. My grandfather at the time was his Beta and was voted by the pack to take his place since the alpha had no other surviving family members.

When we heard about Nyx, there was no doubt in our minds that she was a descendent of the Goddess Ophelia, and if the universe was indeed repeating history, it gave solid reason to believe that her bloodline would return to the New Moon Pack.

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