Page 17 of The Alpha’s Forced Plus-Size Mate (Silverfang Creek Wolves #3)

The world was different when I woke up the following day—maybe not for anyone else, but it would never be the same for me. I had marked my mate, and she had marked me in turn. Our bond was solid, and it seemed to bring color to the world that wasn’t there before.

I was inspired. I had planned to gather the pack this morning to discuss the demon threat, but there’s more I wanted to speak to them about, too. A change that didn’t just affect me but the pack at large. Something that would give them all a better future, even if it fundamentally changed the Red Canines forever.

I arrived at The Howler at a little past 11 am. The parking lot was already full—a good sign that everyone had listened when I called for an all-pack meeting. I rubbed at my neck as I put the kickstand on my bike down. The bite Naomi gave me burned in the best way possible, its heat pulsing in my veins like wildfire. It wasn’t just a mark anymore; it was a promise. Her loyalty. Her protection. Her love. She hadn’t said the words out loud, but I felt them with every fiber of my being. It made me feel unstoppable. Whatever challenges came our way—demons, rogue wolves, even traitors like Julian—I’d tear through them all. For her. For us.

Today, though, wasn’t just about me and Naomi. My pack needed to feel this strength, too. We’d been scraping by for years, clawing out our survival one turf war, one stolen shipment at a time. But love had done something to me. It had changed the way I saw the world. And I wasn’t going to stop until my pack felt the same fire that was now coursing through me.

Just like I thought, The Howler was packed to the gills. The air reeked of beer, leather, and sweat, just like always. My boots hit the sticky floor as I strode through the crowd, nodding at the familiar faces. Most of the pack had gathered. News of the demons had everyone on edge.

I climbed onto the worn wooden bar, my leather jacket creaking as I moved. Every eye in the room turned to me. Some looked hopeful, others wary. They needed direction. They needed their Alpha.

“Listen up!” My voice boomed, silencing the murmurs. I let my gaze sweep across them, lingering on their faces—wolves who’d been with me since the beginning. “By now, I know you all have heard about the demon attacks. Saul has been visiting pack houses to check for demonic residue and setting up warning wards when needed. At this moment, I don’t think the pack as a whole is in danger. The attacks seem to be focused on my mate, and while that pisses me off to no end, it means your daily lives shouldn’t be affected. Still, be on guard and report anything strange to me or Saul.”

There were some sounds of agreement among the wolves, but I wasn’t finished. I changed my tone to signify that we were leaving the demon discussion behind and embarking on something new.

“We’ve been through hell, haven’t we? Scraps with rival packs, cops breathing down our necks, demons at our doorstep. We’ve survived it all.”

A few heads nodded, but others looked confused at where this was going.

“But surviving isn’t enough anymore,” I continued, my voice hardening. “Surviving doesn’t protect our families. It doesn’t give our pack. Surviving isn’t what I want for you. For us.”

I paused, letting my words sink in.

“I’ve found something worth fighting for. Worth living for.” My hand brushed my neck where Naomi’s bite had marked me, though I didn’t need to say her name. They all knew. “Love. It’s not a weakness. It’s a strength. And it’s time we used that strength to turn this pack into something more. Something better.”

Chatter rippled through the room, doubt mingling with curiosity.

“I know some of you don’t trust me. Maybe you think I’ve gone soft.” My eyes flicked to a few faces I knew were still on the outskirts of the pack and who survived almost solely on the most illegal trades. “But let me make one thing clear—this pack is mine. Our legacy doesn’t end in survival. It starts with redemption. We’ve been thieves, outlaws, and rogues long enough. It’s time we build something we’re proud of.”

The crowd shifted, unease giving way to a spark of interest.

“Anyone who wants to leave? There’s the door.” I gestured toward it, letting the silence stretch. No one moved. “Good. Because if you’re with me, we’re not just surviving anymore. We’re going to rebuild this pack. We’re going to fight back against the demons and anyone else who dares to threaten us. We’re going to win.”

Applause broke out, hesitant at first but growing louder. A weight lifted off my chest.

The applause died down as I raised my hands, signaling for quiet. My pack wasn’t done hearing from me yet. Their faces were alight with something I hadn’t seen in a long time—hope.

“There’s more,” I said, letting my voice carry across the room. “Last night, I spoke with Hector, Alpha of the Silverfang Creek.”

That got their attention. The room grew so quiet you could hear the faint hum of the old fridge behind the bar. The Silverfang Creek were everything we weren’t—structured, respected, traditional. A stark contrast to our rough-and-tumble ways.

I let the tension simmer for a beat before continuing. “He offered us something. Something I think this pack desperately needs. Once the demon threat is dealt with and this territory is secure, Hector and his mate Faye, their pack witch, will help us bring the mate match ritual to Red Canine soil.”

Gasps rippled through the room, especially from the older members. My gaze landed on Vince, an elder who’d been around longer than I had. His gray brows furrowed, skepticism etched into every line on his face.

“The mate match ritual?” he echoed, his gravelly voice cutting through the murmurs. “Danny, we’ve never done anything like that. That’s not who we are.”

I nodded, expecting the resistance. “You’re right, Vince. It’s not who we’ve been. We’ve been outlaws, loners, barely holding on to this pack by our claws. But look around—how many of us are without mates? How many pups have been born in the last five years?”

The weight of my words sank in. Heads lowered, and a heavy silence fell.

“The mate match ritual will change that,” I continued. “It’ll bring female wolves to our territory. It’ll give us a chance to grow, to build families, to thrive. This pack isn’t just about scraping by anymore. We’re going to turn the page and start fresh.”

A younger wolf near the back, Mark, stood up. “You really think it’ll work? That wolves from other packs would want to come here?”

I met his gaze. “If we prove we’re worth it. If we protect our territory, clean up our name, and show them we’re more than a gang. We’re a pack. A family. And family means something.”

Excitement buzzed through the room, spreading quickly. Mark sat back down, nodding, and others followed suit.

“Think about it,” I said, letting my own excitement shine through. “In a few years, this bar won’t just be filled with us. It’ll be filled with pups running around, mates laughing together. It’ll be the start of something new. Something we can all be proud of.”

The roar of approval that followed was deafening. Even Vince, though still skeptical, gave me a slow nod. My pack wasn’t perfect, but they were mine. And for the first time in a long time, I believed we had a future.

The pride that had been building in my chest faltered the moment I caught sight of Julian. He was huddled in a dark corner near the back of the bar with a handful of other pack members—ones I trusted about as much as a demon’s handshake. Their body language was tight, aggressive. Shoulders squared, heads close together, voices too low to hear but heated enough to make my instincts bristle. My speech hadn’t gone down well with everyone, apparently.

This was supposed to be a moment of unity, of moving forward. So why did it look like Julian and his crew were plotting a coup? I had to break up whatever was going on, and fast.

I stepped off the bar, my boots hitting the floor with a thud. The Howler wasn’t all that big, but the crowd was tight, and I was going to have to push through it to reach Julian and his cohorts.

“Danny, that was amazing—” one of the pack members started, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Thanks,” I said quickly, brushing past them. A few others tried to stop me, their words blending into the noise of the bar. Questions, congratulations, excitement—I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on Julian and his group. By the time I pushed through the crowd, they were already moving. I saw them slipping out the back door, their leather jackets gleaming in the dim light.

“Damn it,” I muttered, picking up my pace.

The bar’s door slammed behind me as I stepped into the cool air. My eyes immediately scanned the parking lot, catching the flash of taillights as motorcycles roared to life.

“Julian!” I shouted.

If he heard me, he didn’t show it. He was already straddling his bike, revving the engine. The others did the same, their movements quick and deliberate.

“Julian, stop!” I barked, running toward them. But they were too far gone, the sound of their engines drowning out my voice. I skidded to a stop just as the last bike peeled out, the pack crest on the back of their jackets disappearing into the distance. My fists clenched at my sides, and I swore under my breath.

What the hell was going on? Julian had been my second for years, my brother in all but blood. Sure, we’d butted heads recently, but this? Skulking around with dissenters and riding off without a word? It wasn’t just a bad feeling—it was a betrayal.

***

I hadn’t planned on telling Naomi about my fears with Julian. I knew she felt guilt over it and thought that her presence had caused the rift in our friendship. But I also knew that she’d feel like I was hiding things from her if I didn’t open up. So, reluctantly, I explained the entire morning to her while she prepared dinner.

My mate was thrilled with the reaction of the pack to the mating match, but her shoulders slumped, sullen, when I got to the part about Julian and his little group of assholes. I tried to reassure her, and while she smiled, I knew she was still holding on to her guilt.

Dinner was quiet, tense. The kind of quiet that comes before something snaps. The chicken Naomi had made was good, but no one was really eating, just picking at their plates. Even Saul, who usually ate like he hadn’t seen food in weeks, was unusually slow, his fork scraping against the plate every now and then. Faye sat across from me, her shoulders drawn tight, her gaze distant.

Naomi, though, kept trying. She passed the breadbasket, filled water glasses, and asked if anyone needed seconds, even though no one did. She was trying to keep us together, keep some semblance of normalcy, and it gutted me because I could see how much it cost her.

My phone buzzed on the table, breaking the uneasy silence. I glanced at the screen and saw Hector’s name. I had a bad feeling, but I had to answer.

“I need to take this,” I said, pushing back from the table. I stepped into the hallway and answered. “Hector.”

His voice was sharp; no time for pleasantries. “Danny, we’ve been hit. Demons. At least six of them.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Are you okay? What about the pack?”

“We held them off, but it was ugly without Faye. They’re targeting my strongest fighters and anyone with magical blood.” He hesitated, his voice dropping. “Something tells me that they’re after Faye and Naomi and are hitting the two most likely packs where they might find them.”

It wasn’t anything I hadn’t already concluded myself, but hearing it said out loud still made my stomach clench. Demons after my mate—it was a nightmare. “I agree. Unfortunately.”

“They’ll come for her, Danny. They’re going to hit your pack again after not finding either of them here. You need to be ready.”

I closed my eyes, my teeth clenched. “We’re ready,” I lied. “Let me know if anything changes.”

When the call ended, I stood there for a moment, gripping the phone so hard I thought it might break. The demons weren’t just after us—they were targeting her. Naomi. Where Faye had magic to protect her, Naomi was just a woman and a wolf. The thought of losing her, of them taking her away, made me feel insane.

I shoved the phone in my pocket and walked back to the dining room, my face like stone. Naomi looked up, her fork paused mid-air. “Who was it?” she asked softly.

“Hector,” I said, my voice rough. “The Silverfangs were attacked. Demons.”

Faye shot to her feet, her face draining of blood. “What!? Are they okay!?”

“Yes, everyone is fine. Hector and Sierra are fine.” I quickly reassured her, and Faye settled back into her seat, weak with relief.

For a long moment, the room was still. Saul put his fork down, wiping his hand on his napkin. “How bad was it?”

“Bad enough,” I said. “They’re after Faye and Naomi. Hector thinks they’ll come for us next.”

It wasn’t a surprise to anyone, but knowing that the demon attack was basically inevitable now sucked any hopefulness or peace out of the room. Everyone was on edge. There was nothing to do but wait.

“We’ll handle it,” I said firmly, looking around the table. “Saul, keep doing what you’re doing. Faye, I’ll need your magic to strengthen whatever wards Saul sets, but don’t overexert yourself. We want you at full power when the attack comes. We’re not giving those bastards a chance to get close.”

Everyone nodded, but Naomi stayed frozen, her eyes wide. I walked over to her, crouching so we were at eye level. “Hey,” I said softly. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

“Danny, it’s not just about me.” She swallowed hard, her hands gripping the edge of the table. “This is my fault. If I hadn’t left the Silverfangs—”

“No,” I said, cutting her off. “This isn’t on you. This is on them. And we’re going to make them pay for every step they take toward us.”

Her eyes searched mine, and after a moment, she nodded, though her hands still trembled.

***

The house was quiet, but sleep wasn’t coming for either of us. So far the night had been uneventful, and I had security heightened to almost a comical level. We should have been able to sleep just fine. In fact, we needed to get rest for the battle ahead, but it simply wasn’t coming.

Naomi lay beside me in bed, her head resting on my chest, her breathing uneven. I ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm her, trying to calm myself.

“Do you think they’ll come tonight?”

“They’d be stupid to try,” I said, though the truth was, I didn’t know. I hated not knowing. “Not so soon after attacking the Silverfangs.”

She shifted up onto one elbow, looking up at me. “Do you ever think about what happens after this? After the demons?”

The question caught me off guard. I had only recently started allowing myself to think that far in the future, and Naomi was the only person in the world I would even consider discussing it with, mainly because she herself was my future. “I think about you. About us. About building something real.”

Some of the anxiety bled out of her expression, replaced by affection, and she reached up to trace her fingers along my jaw. “I never thought I’d have a mate, you know?”

“I get it. Neither did I—until I heard your name for the first time. Then you were all I could think about.”

She pressed closer, and for the first time that night, her breathing evened out. But I stayed awake, listening for the sound of claws or footsteps in the dark, ready to fight for her if it came to that.

I’d die for Naomi if I had to, but I’d much rather live for her and get to experience what our bond held in the years to come.