The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ITHRA

Zadok’s words struck a chord within me.

It was the first time I had heard about such a thing. Not only was the forest hostile to witches, but it only gave one opportunity to visit.

Which meant I only had one chance to achieve my goal – one chance to get my power. I couldn’t fail. If I did, I might as well kiss my powers and clan goodbye.

The only way I could be free from the Blood Hound pack was if I got hold of my powers.

“What do you say? Are you willing to put the past behind you and work together?” Zadok asked.

I could hear the desperation and vulnerability in his tone.

He wanted me to choose him. He wanted me to help him break the curse and get the ghost orchid.

I wondered how he would feel if he knew that the ghost orchid he needed to break his curse was the same way I needed to protect my clan.

There was a conflict of our interests. As much as I’d love to help, I couldn’t do that to the detriment of my people.

“This alliance cannot work.” I finally said, “I think we both should go our separate ways.” I said again, and all my being kicked against it.

I would die if I ventured into this forest alone. That was clear to both me and Zadok. But I couldn’t deceive him to think I was on his side.

He was vulnerable to me, and the last thing I would do was take advantage of his situation. I knew first-hand how it felt to get betrayed. The last thing I could do was betray his faith in me.

“Why?” His tone was bitter, “Does it irk you so much to help break the curse that your people placed on me?”

“There you go. Assuming the worst of me because I have witch blood flowing through my veins.” I fired back. “You see this/” I motioned between us, “This will forever be why we cannot work together. Our instincts are pit against the other, and no matter how good or close we are to each other, it will always bite us in the ass.”

I turned away, but he held me back.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Let me go, Zadok. It’s best like this.”

He shook his head, “I was truthful to you. I told you everything and bared it all to you.” He gritted his teeth, “The least you can do is to give me an actual reason. Stop hiding behind the war of our kind. Tell me why you don’t want to do it. The actual reason. Why are you so persistent on remaining here?”

I felt caught – Exposed with nowhere to hide.

I took a deep breath and prepared to speak. “Do you want to know?” I asked rhetorically, “There’s no such thing as hiding behind the war going on between our kinds. We are two parallel lines, Zadok! It would be a sin for us to work together. Even the universe frowns at it.”

“I don’t care if we are two parallel lines, Ithra! I will bend over a million times if that means getting my mate. There is nothing I cannot give up, not even this pointless war.” He drew close to me, “All it takes is for me to say the words, and it ends now. No more killing of witches, no more predating on clans, everything ends. As long as I have my mate with me.”

His voice grew desperate, pained. “Please, speak to me. What does it take to make this work.”

For the first time, I saw a different side of Zadok. Not the proud alpha – and not the heartless beast I grew up to believe.

I saw a broken man who wanted his love. A man who will do anything if it means reuniting with his love.

Growing up, I read a lot about the wolves. Those books were to help us kill them, but I came across one that mentioned the irreversible bond werewolf mates shared.

One look at Zadok told me the books didn’t do justice to the mate bond. I could see how Zadok revered the thought of ever meeting his mate.

He hadn’t met her. He didn’t even know what she looked like or if he would fancy her physical appearance. And yet he was in love with her.

For the first time, I felt envy for whoever would end up at the receiving end of that love. I envied the lady that would be his mate.

“I need the ghost orchid to repair the wall.” I find myself saying. “When I entered your lands, I was supposed to be on my way to the dark forest, but for some reason, I ended up in your territory.”

Zadok’s eyes widened, but I didn’t let that derail me.

“That’s why we can’t work together.” My eyes connected with his, “The sole reason you met me in the first place was because I wanted to get the ghost orchid. If I can get my hands on the orchid, I will use it to repair the wall that protects my clan.”

Zadok shook his head, “You can’t do that.”

“Exactly why we can’t work together,” I made to leave, but he stopped me again.

I was getting tired of this.

“We can strike a balance.” He said, “I will protect them with all I have.”

“I’d rather get the orchid and protect them myself.” My answer was taut, “No.”

“You can’t say no to me, Ithra!” His voice rasped,

“You don’t get it, do you?” I moved closer to him. “You are not the only threat the Celtz clan faces. The wall hinders other deadly species from coming in and preying on our people. We might be free from your kind, but how about the likes of the Sirion when they come knocking?”

My voice raised, and I continued, “It’s not all about you, and there’s only a handful you can protect us from.” Zadok tried to speak, but I cut him off. “I will always place my people first. The same way you would your people.”

Zadok’s silence proved that I was right. Had he been in my position, he would have chosen his people regardless of what I faced.

“Let’s make a deal,” Zadok said. “We stay together and work together. When we get there, we’ll decide who gets it.” Our eyes connected. “Deal?”