Wrath of the Young Alpha

Prologue

"He's her mate." Ciera felt her heart fall, fear and denial bubbling up as Aislinn said the words she was desperately trying to deny. The word her mind and wolf was screaming since she had caught the hint of his scent even among the layers of filth, death, and sweat.

Mate.

At that point, it was nearly as hideous as Alpha. Her thoughts flinching from the word, from the stupid ridiculousness that her life had suddenly become in fifteen minutes. And all because her stupid brother was a power-crazy psyco nutcase!

He just had to go dark side and get his ass killed and now she was stuck – her mind stuttered on the thought, not even able to comprehend what her brother and Aislinn had pointed out. It was madness!

"Shut up! No, he is not." Ciera snapped at Aislinn, ignoring the eyes that had all turned to stare at the wolf behind her. She was quite happy to never look at him again. And she definitely okay with pretending he didn't exist. Of course, then he went and ruined that too with a single word.

Hearing him, she whirled finger pointed in his direction, her face stopping him in his tracks. Halting his attempt to move towards her. "Don't even think about it buddy!" She ordered with a sharp glare for good measure. She eyed him for a minute until she was sure he was listening, cautiously she turned back making sure to keep him in her sights, like some feral animal on the verge of attack. "Aislinn my absolutely favorite sister-"

"Your only sister."

Ciera fought down a wave of annoyance and desperation. Forcing her voice to remain level and reasonable. She needed cooperation and understanding, "Whatever." She conceded with a wave, irritation snapping at the blatant amusement on her sister's face at her predicament. "Favorite sister, only sister, the point is; I saved your life like three times now-"

"Once." Aislinn interrupted, lips twitching and hinting at the grin she was trying to hide.

Ciera let out an irritated noise before biting out, "Twice."

"Fine twice." The queen conceded with a small nod, eyes dancing unabashedly now.

Ciera bit back a growl. "Thank you. So, we agree, I have saved your life twice now, I think you owe me."

"And what is it, that you would you like, in return for your humble service?"

Ciera grumbled, still watching her mate. As if Aislinn didn't already know! As if she hadn't listened to every word going on in her head this whole time! The smirk on the Queen's face as she leaned back into her mate's arms confirmed Ciera's thoughts exactly. She narrowed her eyes only for the Queen to widen her eyes in fake innocence. She's going to force me to say it!

"I want you to command, that – that, puppy-wolf thing-"

"You mean your mate?" Aislinn asked sweetly.

"No!" Ciera barked. "No. He is not my- just shut up!"

"Ciera!" Richard cried in exasperation from somewhere behind her. She didn't really care, in reality she'd forgotten about everyone around them, her attention fixated on her current problem, who was discreetly trying to inch closer to her and softly scenting the air, and the one person who could save her. Who was currently looking smug and all to satisfied with herself.

"Seriously Richard? Right now?! Really. I'm kinda in the middle of something here, and I don't have time to deal with your overbearing political correct nonsense so just shove it for a minute!" She snapped at the guardian. The hand that hadn't still been pointing a finger at her mate, gesturing uselessly toward the Beta wolf in all his floppy glory. She took a calming breath, "Aislinn, just like, use that mind control crap you've got going on, and tell him to stay the f*ck away from me, please."

"No."

Ciera spun to face her completely, ignoring her mate for a moment shock and betrayal warring. "No?" She repeated.

"No." Aislinn said again. "I will not command your mate to stay away from you. You're an Alpha now. Not only do you need a mate, but you need someone who you can count on. Someone who will be able to support you and we would feel more confident sending you back to Pack Bellator knowing you will have someone at your side who will protect and keep you safe. Besides fate is fate, and I will not interfere with that. You may curse and rebel however you wish or want to against it, but take it from someone who knows, if you were destined to be together then you will." Aislinn said, turning her head to look up at her own mate who was staring down at her, love and devotion in his eyes as he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.

"Hey! Stop that right now!" She yelled at her brother and his mate arms waving in the air desperately. "Stop all that mushy lovey-dovey crap! I'm supposed to be the overemotional romantic one, you're supposed to be the cold distant stoic silent-type one! What the f*ck woman!" She seethed, staring at her sister in fury. Of everyone she thought she would understand. Would understand what she was feeling, how much she wasn't ready, not nearly ready for any of this.

I do understand, better than you know, and that's why I can't give you what you ask for.

Ciera ignored Aislinn's words, refusing to pay attention to the soothing emotions and feelings she was sending along with them over the mind link. She was not in the mood for soothing, or comfort, or any wise words on the pleasantness and benefits of mating. Ugh! She was going to strangle them!

Huffing out a breath, she flung a finger at both her and her brother, "And by the way this conversation is not even close to being over! I am not your flippen Alpha and I am certainly not taking Mr. Golden retriever here anywhere!"

"Ciera!"

"What Richard!?" Ciera said in frustration.

"You need to take the oaths."

Ciera stared at him in silent astonishment for a beat, before throwing her hands in the air, spinning on her heel. Anger rolled from her as she stormed off, stomping her feet as she made her way back to where they had come from, flipping them the bird over her shoulder. And muttering threats and curses under her breath at their chuckles.

She was nearly to the fleet of SUV's that someone had ordered be brought up from the pack house, when she felt him behind her. She would have been content to ignore him but them he had to go and ruin everything – again.

"Mate."

She spun, only to take a step back when his chest was only inches from her face, "Have you never heard of personal space?" She demanded, trying desperately to capture her fraying emotions.

"My apologies." He said, head dipping as he took a step back.

She stared at him stunned, words stuttering out at last. "Are you serious right now?" She took a step forward only for him to retreat. "You are!" She threw her head back and let out a humorous laugh, "I'm being a ridiculous spoiled brat right now. Not to mention treating you like shit, and you're – you're – apologizing to me!"

"You are allowed to be upset. It can be an emotionally thing to discover your mate." He said calmly, head tilting as he watched her with obvious concern.

"Nope." She said a finger poking him in the chest. When he simply allowed it, it only infuriated her more. She didn't even understand what she was mad at anymore. She was just mad, and he was just so damn – so damn calm! "No. You don't get to rationalize this for me! I'm being crazy! I'm being a bitch!" He just looked at her a slight frown on his face at her cursing. She growled. He blinked calmly. "Ugh!" She threw her hands in the air. "This is not happening! You are not-" She trailed off, tried again, "We aren't –" She waved to the space between them, "You are not happening!" She finally got out in a huff.

He cocked his head to the side, waiting for her outburst to end. "We are mates."

"You are insane."

He didn't argue simply watched her with some mix of awe and fascination, and she decided she might be the first she-wolf in history to strangle her mate to death.