Page 65 of Fated to the Alpha Warrior (The Wolf’s Forbidden Mate #1)
Kieran
The message from Pack Sapphire arrives at dawn, carried by a messenger wolf who looks like he hasn’t slept in days.
More fae sightings near their borders, more whispers of dark magic and broken bargains, more madness hitting those who bargain with the fae.
My father’s betrayal has left ripples that spread far beyond Pack Jade’s borders, and our fight isn’t over yet.
There are other high fae out there leading groups into battle, doing what they can to sow division and destroy us from the inside.
“They’re testing our alliances,” Aurora says, reading over my shoulder. Through our bond, I feel her sharp mind working through the implications. “Seeing which packs will stand together and which they can pick off alone.”
She’s right, of course. My mate’s political instincts have proven as keen as her combat skills.
Setting the message aside, I pull her into my arms, breathing in her sweet scent of lilac and honey, a smell that goes straight through me.
“Then we’ll show them exactly how strong those alliances can be. ”
The morning passes in a flurry of activity as we prepare to receive representatives from neighboring packs.
I watch with pride as Aurora organizes everything, her natural leadership showing in every detail.
She’s assigned returned exiles to handle hospitality, giving them a chance to prove their worth to the pack while showcasing their skills and encouraging them to see pack members as individuals instead of a whole.
Through our bond, I feel her satisfaction as the plan comes together. She’s done more to heal our pack’s divisions in a few days than my father managed in years of heavy-handed rule.
“Stop staring at me like that,” she says without looking up from her notes. “I can feel your smugness through the bond.”
“Can’t help it.” I drop a kiss on her temple, grinning at her mock irritation. “I love watching you work. If having a mate like this makes me smug, well, what else would I be?”
Before she can respond, Dana appears in the doorway. “They’re here. All of them.”
The great hall fills quickly with pack representatives.
I recognize many faces: Pack Diamond’s new alpha, still finding his footing after the fae attacks.
Pack Sapphire’s seasoned warriors, their scars telling stories of recent battles.
Even Pack Amethyst sent envoys, despite their own struggles with rebuilding.
Taking my place at the head of the hall, I’m acutely aware of all the eyes on me. They’re looking for weakness, for signs that Pack Jade’s new leadership can be trusted after my father’s betrayal. But I’m not alone anymore.
Aurora stands beside me, her presence steady and strong through our bond. She’s wearing cold iron jewelry that marks her as a fae hunter, and her ash-blonde hair is pulled back to show off our mating mark. The sight of it still fills me with pride, knowing that I’m worthy of her, chosen by her.
“Thank you all for coming,” I begin, letting my voice carry through the crowd, lacing it with authority. “We face a threat that no pack can handle alone, which is why we don’t plan on going it solo. The fae are getting bolder every single day, testing our borders, seeking weaknesses to exploit.”
Murmurs of agreement ripple through the crowd. Through our bond, I feel Aurora’s quiet support as I continue.
“Pack Jade offers its full support to any pack facing fae incursion. My mate’s unique abilities, a bite from Pack Onyx shifter lines that is venomous to the fae,” I gesture to Aurora, watching their eyes widen at the mention of her venomous bite, “give us an advantage few others possess. But more than that, we offer our knowledge, our resources, and our commitment to standing together against this threat.”
“Pretty words,” Pack Diamond’s alpha says, although his tone is more thoughtful than dismissive. “But can we trust them? After what your father did?”
“You can trust that I am not my father and never have been.” The words come easily now, weighted with the truth of my convictions.
“And you can trust that we understand better than most what will happen if the fae overtake us. We almost lost our entire pack to them, and I’ve traveled across the territories, seeing with my own eyes what the fae can do. ”
Aurora steps forward then, her voice clear and confident. “We’ve all suffered losses to the fae. All felt the touch of their madness, their bargains, their tricks. But together, we’re stronger than they expect. Through unity, we can protect ourselves from them.”
Through our bond, I feel her drawing on her own experiences—the pain of rejection, the strength found in survival, the power of acceptance. Her words carry weight because she’s lived them.
“Pack Jade offers more than just military alliance,” she continues.
“We offer a chance to share knowledge, to learn from each other’s strengths and teach each other what we know.
My own journey has taught me that different isn’t weak—it’s an advantage our enemies won’t expect, especially since they’re so bad at working together. ”
I watch the other packs’ reactions with interest. Some nod in agreement, while others look thoughtful. Through the pack bonds, I sense a shift in the energy of the room.
“And what exactly are you proposing?” Pack Sapphire’s lead warrior asks.
“A formal alliance,” I answer. “Not just between alphas, but between packs. Shared training, shared resources, shared intelligence about fae movements and activities.” Looking around the room, I add, “The old ways of isolation and competition nearly destroyed us all. It’s time for something new.”
The tension in the great hall is thick enough to cut with a cold iron blade as the pack representatives consider our proposal.
I can feel Aurora’s steady presence through our bond, her quiet confidence bolstering my own.
She’s come so far from the outcast shifter who couldn’t shift—now she stands as my equal, commanding respect not through dominance but through wisdom and strength.
“And what of the madness?” Pack Emerald’s alpha asks, his voice carrying across the hushed room. “How do we know it won’t spread through these… closer associations?”
Before I can respond, Aurora steps forward. “The madness isn’t contagious—it never was. It’s a fae trick, designed to isolate us from each other. To make us fear our own kind.” Her mismatched eyes sweep the room. “I should know. I grew up being feared because everyone thought I carried it.”
Through our bond, I feel the old hurt those memories bring, but also her fierce determination to prevent others from suffering the same fate. My wolf rumbles with pride.
“Besides,” she continues with a slight smile, “I can cure it now. My blood neutralizes fae magic—another gift from my Pack Onyx heritage and the unique protection magic that I carry with me.”
That gets their attention. Several representatives lean forward, their interest piqued. I hide a smile, knowing Aurora has them exactly where she wants them.
“But that’s not all we offer,” I add, moving to stand beside her. “Each pack has unique strengths, knowledge passed down through generations. Pack Obsidian’s hunting techniques.” I nod to their representatives. “Pack Sapphire’s defensive strategies. Pack Amethyst’s combat training.”
“And what does Pack Jade offer besides a venomous bite?” someone calls out from the back.
“Change,” I answer simply. “The courage to admit when old ways aren’t working.
The strength to try something new.” My hand finds Aurora’s, our fingers intertwining.
“Look at what we’ve accomplished already.
My father would have said a shifter who couldn’t shift was weak.
That a pack divided by exile was strong. He was wrong on both counts.”
Through our bond, I feel Aurora’s love and support wash over me. It gives me strength to continue.
“The fae are counting on us to stay divided. To cling to old prejudices and fears.” I let my gaze travel around the room, meeting eyes both friendly and hostile.
“But they don’t understand what makes us truly strong, even stronger than they could ever be.
It’s not our individual powers or territories.
It’s our ability to adapt, to grow, to stand together against common threats. ”
A murmur of agreement ripples through the crowd. I can sense the pack bonds shifting, realigning as old barriers start to crumble.
“Pack Jade offers leadership,” Aurora picks up smoothly. “Not through dominance or fear, but through example. We’ve learned the hard way what happens when we let pride blind us to truth.” Her fingers tighten on mine. “We’ve paid the price of isolation. Now we offer a different path.”
“And what of those who refuse this alliance?” Pack Amber’s representative asks, although their tone holds more curiosity than challenge.
“Then they stand alone against the fae,” I answer honestly. “We won’t force anyone to join us. But we won’t compromise our principles either. The old ways of fear and control are over.”
“What exactly would this alliance entail?” Pack Diamond’s alpha leans forward, interest clear in his expression.
Aurora and I exchange glances, then begin laying out our proposal.
Regular meetings between pack representatives.
Shared training programs focusing on fae defense.
A network for sharing intelligence about fae movements and activities.
Most importantly, a commitment to standing together against common threats.
As we speak, I can feel the energy in the room shifting. The initial skepticism gives way to cautious interest, then growing enthusiasm. Through our bond, Aurora’s satisfaction mingles with my own.
“There’s one more thing,” I add as we wrap up our presentation.
“We think we should have regular gatherings between packs—not just for warriors and leaders, but for all pack members. A chance to learn from each other, to build connections beyond traditional pack boundaries and keep our friendships strong.”
“Like the old festivals,” an elder from Pack Sapphire says thoughtfully. “Before the packs grew so isolated.”
“Exactly.” Aurora’s smile is warm. “A celebration of our differences as well as our common ground.”
The discussion that follows is intense but productive. Questions are raised, concerns addressed, details hammered out. Through it all, Aurora and I work in perfect sync, our bond humming with shared purpose, our wolves happy to have us together and strong.
By sunset, we have the beginnings of a formal alliance.
Not everyone is completely convinced, and we’ll have to work hard to iron out the details, but enough packs have pledged their support to make it real.
As the representatives file out, many stop to offer congratulations or express interest in further discussions.
“That went better than expected,” Dana comments as she joins us, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Although I think the part about Aurora’s venomous bite sealed the deal. Nothing like a secret weapon to get people’s attention.”
Aurora rolls her eyes, but I can feel her pleasure through our bond. “As long as they understand it’s not just about fighting. We need to change how we think about strength, about belonging.”
“They’ll understand,” I assure her, pulling her close. “You’re living proof that different isn’t weak.”
The Great Hall empties slowly as pack members drift away, leaving us in comfortable silence. Through our bond, I feel Aurora’s contentment mixed with determination. We’ve taken the first step toward real change, but there’s still so much work ahead.
“Ready to face whatever comes next?” I ask softly, brushing a kiss against her forehead.
She turns in my arms, blue and amber eyes meeting mine. “Together? Always.”
The bond pulses between us, strong and true. Looking at her now, I can hardly believe I ever thought rejecting her was the right choice. My father’s voice about strength and weakness seems distant now, replaced by the quiet certainty of knowing I’m exactly where I belong: next to her.
“You’re thinking deep thoughts,” Aurora observes, reaching up to trace the scar on my cheek. “I can feel it through the bond.”
“Just thinking about how far we’ve come.” I catch her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “And how grateful I am that you gave me a second chance.”
Her smile is soft but knowing. “We’ve both changed. Grown stronger by accepting who we are.”
She’s right, of course. The broken boy who let his father’s toxic influence push away his mate is gone, replaced by someone who finally understands what real strength looks like.
And the outcast shifter who couldn’t shift has become a leader in her own right, teaching us all that strength comes in accepting you’re different from others.
Through our bond, I feel her love and acceptance wash over me. It still amazes me sometimes, how complete this connection feels. How right.
“Come on,” she says, tugging my hand. “We have work to do.”