Chapter 3 - Kayla

Breakfast is done and cleaned up, while lunch and dinner are started. The maids have been given their chores, and the castle is set for the day.

I have about an hour to relax before jumping in to help. Just because I'm an Alpha does not mean I sit back and watch. I like to keep busy. I NEED to keep busy.

My brain goes in circles as it always does. Why did my life turn out like this? What did I do wrong that the Moon Goddess allowed this to happen?

Because of an Alpha she-wolf's actions of vengeance against an Omega, so many died, and others had their lives shattered. Me included.

I can never have children, and I'm sure my mate felt what happened to me. If I ever meet him, he is sure to reject me. It's one of the reasons I never leave my pack lands. I don't want to meet him.

It hurts to see the wolves that are coming of age, so excited to meet their mate. My cousin, the Blood Alpha, has stopped asking me to help the young ones. He can feel my pain.

I stop to stare up at the beautiful blue sky and decide to head to the coffee cafe in our little town for a much needed comfort drink.

I'm a few steps away when my wolf starts to go crazy. I stop and lean against a wall while taking a few deep breaths.

In my pack, we are taught how to prevent our wolves from taking over and shifting. This skill saved my life once upon a time. I used it now as she desperately wanted out so we could find our mate. He was in danger.

My heart hurt so badly, but I don't know who or where he is. There wasn't anything I could do for him. I may not want to meet him, but I don't want him hurt either.

I fought for control as she wouldn't let up. After a few minutes of this, my head hurt as bad as my heart. I started to slide down to my knees just as the most horrible pain hit me.

My scream and my wolf's howl came out of my mouth simultaneously. I knew what was happening as I had lived through this nightmare. He was losing his innocence without his consent. The tears streamed down my face as I yelled my anguish.

My fellow pack members surrounded me. Someone was holding me as I sobbed my torment, but I didn't know who. My wolf was no longer fighting for control, just releasing her own loud cries.

I would never wish this on my worst enemy, and it was happening to my own mate. Just as I thought I couldn't handle more, my heart physically skipped a beat, which is a pain I never want to feel again, as my entire body shut down.

That monster just marked my mate.

Over the next hour, I drifted in and out of consciousness. Alexander, my Blood Alpha, had brought me to the couch in his office and was holding my hand while linking me emotions of peace and assuring me he would do whatever was necessary to help my mate.

"I don't understand how, but I still feel the matebond. Why didn't it break? I felt him being marked by someone else!"

"I don't understand it either, Kayla. I'm going to call my contact within the Mahani. Hopefully, they can help." Alex said.

He put his phone on speaker after he dialed.

"This is Mahani Delta Nine. How may I help you?"

"This is Blood Alpha Sinclair. My cousin felt her unknown mate being raped and marked about an hour ago, but the matebond is still there. How is this possible, and what can I do for my cousin?"

He knew from experience to give simple and direct answers to the Mahani. They just want enough information to start an investigation. They will do more questioning as they need it.

The Delta seemed to take a big breath before answering with, "Can you give me an exact time?"

Alex looked to me as he answered, "About 9:05."

"Please hold."

Alex and I looked at each other in silence. I had a feeling I wasn't going to like the answer to his questions.

"Hello, Alex."

My heart sped up at the amount of power I could feel in this person's voice. He was definitely a powerful Alpha.

Wait. Did he just call him Alex?!

"Good day to you, Sam. I'm concerned that my questions were routed to you."

"I'm always available to my fellow Blood Alphas."

Fellow Blood Alphas?! My wolf whined within me. We were speaking to one of the seven Blood Alphas of the Mahani. I feel sick. This can't be good.

"May I ask who the she-wolf is who felt this?"

"My cousin, Kayla."

There was a delay before he spoke again.

"May I have permission to enter your land? I think we need a face to face conversation."

Alex took a big breath before answering. I could tell he was calming his wolf.

"Of course. When should we expect you?"

"Give me about 30 minutes. I'll arrive on your front lawn."

"See you then." The call disconnected as my wolf voiced her whine aloud.

"I know. My wolf is objecting to his presence, too. Breathe, Kayla. We need answers."

Alex hugged me, rubbing my back. We stayed that way for a few minutes until my brothers came in, my parents not far behind.

"What happened?" My mom said quietly as she sat on my other side.

"Her mate was raped and marked." Alex whispered.

Tears slid down my mother's face as she leaned in to hug me from behind. I felt so loved but so scared.

"Blood Alpha Cooper is arriving in about 20 minutes. Lachlan, clear the front lawn."

My oldest brother, Beta, and second in command, just stared at our Blood Alpha. They were all dumbfounded at this turn of events.

"Why is he coming here?" My father asked.

"I have no idea. He said we needed to talk."