Mated To The Scarred Alpha

LUCIAN

The crash comes fast, almost unbelievable, with metal crunching, and tires screeching. The second the SUV flips, my instincts scream. I don’t wait to assess the situation, waiting could be dangerous. I kick open the mangled door before the dust settles. My lycan is already snarling and clawing to get out.

“What the...” my words get stuck in my throat as I see at least a dozen wolves, maybe more, crawling out from the treeline. At first I think they’re wolves, but as they get closer, I see that they aren't, no rogue would dare attack the Lycan Alpha's convoy. There's something off about them. Their eyes are pitch black, no whites, no irises, just black. An evil aura pulsing from them from afar.

“This better not be what I'm thinking”, I snarl. They charge, and I meet them halfway. My body moves on instinct. One leaps at me, and I catch him mid-air, slamming him down hard enough to shatter his bones. I hear them snap under my weight. Another claws at my side, teeth catching my ribs. I turn, grab his snout, and twist it. With my free hand, I slash at his throat.

Just as I turn away, two of them jump on me, pinning me down. As I try pushing them off, I see one grabbing heading to the other side of the car, tearing open the door.

“Leah”, I muttered, panicking. My heart flinches. Within a split second, the wolf grabs her, dragging her by the arms. Her head lolls, eyes fluttering like she’s fighting to stay conscious. Something snaps in me. My lycan begs to be let out as he sees our mate being dragged like prey.

I leap over the hood, my eyes catching the tail end of her scream as the wolf drags her from the passenger side. I shift pushing the wolves pinning me down with a heavy shove. Rage fills me as my pupils dilate, gold flaring in my irises. Every sound dims around me except for her helpless voice.

The first wolf doesn’t even get the chance to turn. My claws split him from collar to hip. Another lunges and I crush its skull with a single swipe. Blood splatters across my fur, warm and slick, but I don't stop. I can’t stop.

I tear through the mass, my growl louder than the chaos. My Lycan, Fenrir, has never been this blood-thirsty. Leah's sweet scent, laced with blood calls to me. I roar, shaking the trees violently.

The wolf dragging her looks back a second too late. I hit him like a storm, aiming directly at his throat. I tear his lungs out with one furious bite, his screams echoing.

Leah tumbles from his grasp, crumpling onto the leaves. She’s covered in scratches. Her arm, and head are bleeding. Her eyes flutter slowly. Fenrir pouts as he sees her in pain. I lower my snout to her face. Thank the Goddess, she's still breathing, relief nearly breaks me.

I shift halfway, my arms forming enough to cradle her. "You're safe," I mutter, my throat raw and bitter. My mind is a blur of blood and the pounding of war drums in my ears.

Dark snarls rise around us. The wolves regroup, trying to circle me. Smart, but not smart enough. I bare my teeth, still holding her. I can't shift fully now, not with her in my arms. But I fight anyway as three more wolves charge at me. I spin, using my body as a shield for Leah. My claws rip open a chest. Another gets close, and I throw my weight, crushing him beneath me. The third lunges for her. Big mistake. I lunge back, my jaw snaps shut on his spine.

A shrill howl cuts through the noise, backup. About damn time. My Beta, Theron bursts through the trees, leading a dozen warriors, all of them shifting simultaneously.

"Secure the perimeter!" he shouts before he shifts unto his wolf form too. The rest scatter, attacking the black-eyed wolves. Screams and yelps of pain fill the ear as I hear bones snapping and flesh getting ripped. The remaining black-eyed wolves begin retreating, vanishing into the trees the same way they came.

I drop to my knees, still cradling Leah. She's half-conscious, blood matting her hair.

Theron lands beside me, panting. He drops a shirt and a pair of shorts beside me “You good?”

“You're late”, I snap at him. I glance down at Leah in my arms. She’s barely breathing. “I need a medic,” I growl.

“Medic!" Theron bellows.

A healer rushes over, his pack uniform soaked with sweat. He kneels beside me, and reaches for Leah. His hands hover over her, too close. I growl low in my throat making hands flinch.

"Alpha, I need to examine her."

I say nothing, but my eyes say “touch her wrong, and you’ll lose your fingers.”

He nods, swallowing hard, then begins tending her head. Leah groans softly, her eyes blinking open.

She looks up at me first.

And the Goddess help me, I feel something shift in my chest.

"Lucian?" she whispers.

"I’m here," I answer, my voice coming out hoarse.

Theron appears behind me again, frowning.

"They knew exactly how and where to hit us. This attack wasn't random."

"No shit," I snap. "We were compromised."

His eyes flick to Leah. "Are you sure about this”, he says, gesturing to her. “She’s weak”

I stand slowly, leaving Leah in the medic's arms and slipping on the clothes Theron brought. My muscles tense as I tower over him.

"Say that again," I murmur.

Theron glares. "You know I’m right. She’s barely a wolf."

My fists clench, and my jaw ticks. As much as I want to deny it, Theron is right. Leah isn't exactly Luna material. She's weak and too tender. But then I remember I haven't told Theron the truth about her.

He stares at me blankly, his eyes searching mine for answers. Theron has always been the wise one. He's not just my beta, he's my younger brother. He knows there's definitely something more to my decision, but he hasn't asked because he respects me as his Alpha.

Knowing it would do me no good to keep hiding the truth from him. I take a deep breath and come clean.

"She might be my second chance mate”, I mutter.

Theron goes still as the words hang heavy in the air.

His eyes widen, his mouth opens like he wants to say something, then he stops. He takes a step back.

“Are you sure?” He asks softly.

“Yes”, I reaffirmed.

I look down at Leah again as Theron’s eyes still widen in shock. She's pale, and fragile.

Fenrir pouts softly, mine.