Prologue
~Prologue~
~Jordan~
“Don’t do this.” He vehemently shakes his head back and forth, his fists banged against the shatter proof glass, his hunter green eyes glassy from the un-shed tears.
I would if I could.
But I can’t take it back, he more than anyone new the laws of a challenge must be upheld. My hands were tied and I would end it.
I tired to plead with him with my eyes, trying and failing for them to convey what my words could not. I couldn’t trust my voice. Not when I was like this, but more importantly I knew I was hurting him. Me. Like this, hurt him.
I was all too familiar with that look in his eyes.
We had a bond of our own. I loved him, but not the way he wanted me to. Duty and Respect above all else. He's my brother's second in command, but he was also my protector.
“Jordan,” he whispers my name softly as one would with a prayer. His soothing voice filter’s my mind, but I quickly push him out before he can change my mind.
Alpha's weren't the only ones with special abilities. If I let my guard down Christian would penetrate my already weakened walls and make me forfeit.
Like hell I would. I an Alpha female forfeit to a damn Gamma no fucking way. Over my dead body would I ever forfeit.
I looked down between my dry ashy legs at absolutely nothing. The white marbel floor was dull, but it was clean. You could tell they weren't used very often if at all. I staired at the hooks that bound my body to the hard, cold marbel wishing I was anywhere but here. I wanted the sun. I wanted to feel the heat on my skin as it tanned. My wolf needed air and the cool forest ground.
But no, I was locked up and chained all because of a mate that hated me for being his mate.
I also had no choice in the matter. Not when I wasn't the one to issue the challenge.
Christian couldn't connect with me through our link. I purposefully weakened myself and this was one of those reasons.
He wouldn't understand. If he continued and begged me....I'd drop it, but I had something to prove and No! I wouldn't do it for a mate that didn't choose me. That didn’t wait for me. I had to prove it to the she-wolf that dared to challenge an Alpha.
My birthright meant I couldn’t. I wasn’t born to submit to no one.
Although both human and wolf parts of me faught, and boy did Jade fight, right down to the minutes she was no longer coherent. She dulled inside me weakened because of me.
I fight through the tears that threaten to leave my eyes. I can’t stand seeing him like this. Please, please go. Please leave me alone. I silently pray, but I don't let the tears fall.
I couldn't afford to let him see me break down. He would use it to his advantage.
I weakened myself and my wolf so she wouldn’t do something stupid, so Jay couldn’t take over and do what she desperately wanted to do.
Goddess not like that. If he didn’t want me Goddess then so be it. I'd accept my fate and stand in the challenge circle with my head held high, but this, they couldn’t stop this.
Nobody could!
And I wouldn’t either.
I’m an Alpha,
I will myself not to move or make a sound. I hated the sound of rattling chains, but this was my only option.
Nightshade burned like hell through my body. I drank a dose and I injected another into myself.
Christian, Linden and Pogue couldn't bring themselves to do it for me.
So I was on my own.
Nursing my broken heart and keeping Jay at bay.
And my mind going over and over the moment he turned his back on our bond, on me.
It’s like fire burning you from the inside, but I had to contain the beast that had permanent residence inside of me. She wanted him desperately, but he wanted another and after it’s all said and done I’ll reject him even if it killed me. I promised myself and my Goddess that I would. I wouldn’t die an honorable death, but at least it would be by my choice.
They weren’t going to take my choice.
He was going to hate me regardless.
What was one more reason?
“Please,” Christian pleaded. “Don’t do this.” He’s visibly shaking. It tares me apart to see him like this, but he shouldn’t shed a single tear for me.
It’s over for me.
His Mate was out there, waiting to find him. His thread was still intact, he just didn’t believe he had a mate.
Stupid Males.
At this point Christian wanted to break through the glass, but it wasn't going to give. This glass was impenetrable especially made to contain us. Nothing and no one was going to break through it or out of it.
I locked the titanium door from the inside so he wouldn't be able to open it. We'd both break.
My heart is breaking, breaking because this beautiful man wants me to stand down, breaking because he wished I belonged to him, breaking because my bloodline wouldn’t let me, breaking because some sick part of me longed for someone that didn’t want me in return.
“I’m sorry,” my voice cracks.
“I’m so very fucking sorry.” I can’t stop myself or my emotions.
You’ve been such a good friend to me. You have no idea what you mean to me, but I have to do this. I have no choice. I wasn’t born to submit to no one. I wanted to tell him, but I had to hold it back or else he'd tell Pogue to get me out.
“I have no choice.” My voice raspy from lack of hydration. Ironic how nightshade works, not only does it supress your wolf but it deprives you of your own saliva.
It was the purest form of agony, but I would bare it for Christian’s sake. He wouldn’t see me wreath in pain.
But he knows how challenges worked.
Christian couldn't hide his fear, to be perfectly clear, he’s not afraid for me. He’s afraid of what I’m going to do to her. I’ve trained my entire life and being an Alpha I have advantages she doesn’t. My strength and speed are greater for one. I was taught and trained by a fierce warrior since I was a pup. She didn't stand a chance shifted or not.
A challenge is fought to the death. He doesn’t want blood on my hands.
Of a death to haunt me for the rest of my life if I survived rejection.
She shouldn’t have challenged me then.
Because it’s not going to be my death they’re about to mourn, it’s going to be hers.
And then I’d succumb to my Fate!
