The Alpha's Slave Mate novel Chapter 48

Daphne’s Point of View

Scarlet gives me one more big hug. I know that once the doors open to the house, and I will walk down the steps, turn left and meet Caleb in the rose garden. My anxiety has me worried that I am going to fall on my face even getting down the steps. I take deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. Everything is going to be fine; Caleb is here. Scarlet steps forward, but before she can open the door I reach out and stop her.

“Scarlet, I’m scared.” My anxiety is full force now. My heart is beating a million miles a second, and I am pretty sure that I am going to drop dead right here. Scarlet turns back and faces me with a smile.

“Daphne, you are the strongest woman I know, and you are going to be a great Luna. You have been mated with a good man, a strong man that I think loves you.” She smiles at me reassuringly and I must admit her pep talk helped. My heartbeat is slowing a little. She is right, everything is going to be fine.

The doors are open, and I feel a light autumn breeze flow in. This is it, the moment that everyone is waiting for. I am shaking a little as I begin descending the steps. There are so many people here that some of them are milling about the circular drive in front of the door. Everyone turns their head though when I make my way out of the house. I carefully walk behind Scarlet, slowly down the steps. I turn the corner, and immediately see Caleb.

Caleb is so handsome in his tuxedo. Scarlet was right, everyone else melts away and all I am focused on is Caleb. He stands proud with his hair pulled back, and his chest out. The button-down shirt looks like it is straining against his muscles, and I cannot deny the very sight of him brings a familiar ache to my womanhood. His eyes are locked with mine, and I can tell that he can feel the tension rising between us. I walk forward, intent on making this man mine and mine alone. He is my destiny, my mate.

The elder stands before us, performing the binding ceremony. Suddenly there is a long howl that echoes through the trees. Caleb stills beside me, and I believe he is using the mind link he shares with his warriors to gather information on the disruption. With out warning I see Dorian break through the tree line, behind Caleb. What shocks me the man standing next to him is my father.

Caleb turns and growls deep in his throat. I can see part of our pack immediately shift into combat mode and start to circle behind the intruders. My mind is spinning wondering why they are here.

“What the hell is the meaning of this. Coming here uninvited, interrupting my mating ceremony?” Caleb’s voice is colder than I have ever heard it before, as if ice is running through his veins.

“Alpha Caleb you have committed a grave grievance against the Cedar Woods pack, and against the Silver Moon pack.” Surprisingly, it is my father that has chosen to speak. I feel a hand on my right shoulder, and I look up to find Scarlet by my side, her face pale.

“What grievance do you have with me old man? As you can see my patience is wearing thin.” Caleb’s voice is thundering, and a chill runs along my spine.

“Firstly, you purchased a slave from me under false pretenses. You knew before you purchased her that she was your mate. You withheld that information in order to procure the murderous bitch at a lower price. Then you have the audacity to speak to my beloved mate as if she was a common wench. Now I find out that you are holding my precious daughter hostage, keeping her from her destined mate. Our laws demand that you answer for your petulant behavior.” My father has his chest puffed out in righteousness. He spews his false tale loud, as if hoping to garner support from those in attendance.

“I have heard enough of this. The contract in which I purchased a slave from you was witnessed by both of our Betas. You had the chance to ask for more money. You had the chance to ask me any question you wanted, and I would have answered them truthfully. You did not care though; you only wanted the deal done. You have your money; I have honored the contract. Now be gone, off my lands before you start a war that you will not win.” The tension is thick, I can see that my fathers face is red with anger. Caleb struck a nerve with him.

“You are a liar and a cheat. I have eyes, I can see my daughter right there. Her mate came to me last night with tales of your depravity. Hoping to have both of the sisters to yourself.” Caleb’s growl is lower this time, and I can see the seams of his suit jacket starting to tear. He is in danger of shifting and attacking my father head on.

“Enough of this.” My head swivels over to my sister as her words ring out clear in the night. “I am not a captive here; I am a guest. Alpha Caleb has been nothing but stellar in his treatment of me. It was Dorian’s foolish actions that got him banished from here. He is lucky that Caleb spared his life.” From the silence I can tell that no one expected Scarlet to speak.

“Scarlet shut your mouth.” Dorian barks at her.

“No Dorian, I have been silent for far too long. Your monstrous ways end tonight. You have driven our pack into the dirt. Tormenting the young women, cheating and rutting around on me. You have depleted all our money with your glutenous actions. Hell, most of our pack has turned rogue just to escape from you. You are not half the man that Caleb is.” Scarlet’s face is as red as her hair, and I am in rapture of her at this moment. My attention is quickly snapped back to Dorian though as he goes to move forward.

Pushing the thought from my mind, I scan the battlefield again intent on finding Caleb. I quickly recognize Theo’s wolf holding its own against two wolves attacking him. Then I spot Caleb and I know that he is going head to head with my father. I start sprinting towards him determined to help him win. I am less than ten feet away when I see another large wolf come up from behind Caleb and jump on his back. Caleb’s whimper of pain spurs me to move faster. I can see my father moving in to rip his jugular out, using every ounce of energy I can I leap into the air, and jump on my father. The motion was enough to knock him off balance and we both go tumbling over.

I hit my head on a rock as I attempt to get up. I am dizzy but try to shake it off as my father’s attention is on me now. He has hated me since the day I was born, and I can see the rage in his eyes. I have never before raised a hand to him, and yet here I am openly challenging him. He wastes no time in his attack and jumps forward. I am able to move to the side, but I feel his sharp claws puncture and tear skin by my rib cage. Pain shoots through my body, but I have no time to nurse the wound. He is once again circling me, looking for a weakness. He goes with a frontal attack swiping my snout, I move forward as well attempting to get my claws into his throat. I do not hit my target though, instead I puncture his chest. He moves again this time quickly going for the side that he has already damaged. His claws sink into my ribs, and I cannot help but howl in pain. He takes advantage and jumps on my back trying to bite my neck. I try to buck him, but his wolf is too big. I can feel him get a superficial bite into my neck. I know that if I do not find a way to get out of this that he will kill me. I throw myself onto my injured side, throwing him off balance and getting him off my back. He is stunned by the movement, and his head is thrown back. Taking advantage, with adrenaline pumping through my veins I waste no time lunging for his throat. This time I do not miss, this time my teeth sink in, tearing and ripping until he does not move anymore.

I do not have time to think about what just happened. My sole focus is on Caleb. I have lost him again in the foray of battle. Then out of the corner of my eye, I spot him. He is still fighting the large wolf that had attacked him with my father. I charge after them, intent on helping my mate. Before I can get there a smaller red wolf leaps from the other side and has the black wolf by the throat. Everything happened so quickly that I am stunned.

Caleb shifts back to his human form and quickly covers his manhood. I do not understand what is happening. Looking at where the black wolf was, I can see Dorian’s body is in its place. I glance behind me and see that my father’s body is also in its human form. I hear the wolves howling around me, as people start to shift back into their human forms. Caleb approaches me.

“Baby it is ok. You can change.” I see that he has fetched a shirt from somewhere for me to cover up with. I change back into my human form, utterly exhausted. Caleb quickly wraps me in the shirt that he has found and quickly pulls me into his chest. This whole night has left me confused.

“Caleb, I thought that you were going to die.” My voice is hoarse, and I am choking back sobs. From behind me I can hear our people gathering. The ones that were in the house are spilling out. Theo comes up beside Caleb.

“We have been able to detain a few for questioning. From what I have been able to gather so far Dorian enlisted the help of some rogues, his warriors, the Silver Moon pack, some warriors from the Mission pack, and some warriors from another pack from California. They were under the false pretense that you were holding Scarlet hostage.” Theo is all business, quickly reporting to Caleb what he knows. Caleb is only half listening though; he is staring intently behind me. I turn so that I can see what has captured his attention, and my heart breaks.

I watch as the red wolf that ended Dorian’s life shifts. In its place is my sister. Tears start streaming down my face as I watch her reach out to his lifeless body. I can hear her heart wrenching sobs, and I know that there is nothing I can do to ease her pain.