Forced Alpha Mate (Silver Valley Arranged Mates #2)

Chapter 1 - Owen

We have been at the manor for five days, and still we know nothing.

I look around the council chamber, disturbed by how deep the shadows are, and that my eyes aren’t keen enough to pierce them. The council sits around the table before me, all of them looking as weary as I feel.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work,” Faye says. “All we can do is try again.”

“We have done this ritual six times already!” Darla snaps. “And absolutely nothing has happened. Repeating the same actions and expecting a different result is a form of insanity, you know.”

“But we haven’t repeated the same actions,” Neville says. “We’ve changed it a little each time. We’re doing something wrong, and we just need to figure out what it is.”

“It worked for Rhys,” Rafe says. “We did it exactly the same, and it was an immediate match. I don’t know what else we can do.”

I sigh heavily. All my arguments have run out, and I’m completely done with suggestions—not that I had many of those in the first place. Part of me feels frantic, like I want to scream at them, but I simply don’t have the words, and the rest of me is wondering if we should be doing this at all.

None of us really knows how magic works. I’m still not convinced that this is the right thing to do. Magic is evil… isn’t it?

“We should not be engaging in this filthy enchantment, anyway,” Darla almost spits, echoing my thoughts. “It’s beneath us.”

“It is, so far, the only thing that’s ever worked,” Neville replies, his voice hard. “And you might want to consider the fact that your attitude could be what’s getting in the way.”

Darla glares at him, and Neville glares right back. The strength suddenly goes out of me, and I almost stagger to the table to take a seat and put my head in my hands.

“Are you alright, Owen?” Sylvie asks.

I nod but don’t raise my head. “I’m tired,” I mutter. “And my head aches, worse every second. I know all of you feel it, too.”

The silence that greets my words is absolute. It’s as if no one in the room even breathes.

We truly don’t know where to go from here. The situation is nothing less than horrific.

In the months that followed Sadie’s spell, Rhys’s pack improved and fully regained their health. We were all happy for them at first, but it quickly became obvious that the magic had not extended to the rest of us.

I still am happy for them, but how can I appreciate their recovery when my own people are dying?

I look up around the table, see the elders looking drawn and sick. All of them have incredibly pale faces with dark circles under their eyes.

Faye and Rafe, members of Silver Valley, look somewhat better than the others, but unlike the rest of their pack, they have not healed completely.

“We have to do something soon,” Thorne says. “I can feel my own vitality waning, and I’m becoming truly afraid of what will happen if we can’t stop the spread of this disease.”

“Curse,” a loud, strong voice rings through the room, and all of us turn at once to see Sadie entering from the corridor.

As she strides towards us, I’m struck by her presence and power.

The meek, hesitant girl is gone, replaced by a warrior queen.

With her head held high, she crosses the room with long, firm strides, her gown rippling around her and giving the impression she can cleave apart the bad vibes in the room with the power of her will.

She most likely can. I’m not imagining it.

“What?” Darla growls.

Sadie tilts her head to her, smiling. “Curse,” Sadie says, clearly. “It isn’t a disease, it’s a curse, and until you start understanding how this works, you’ll continue to suffer.”

“Didn’t you break the curse?” Thorne asks.

“For myself and Rhys, yes,” she answers. “But I never said it would fix the entire problem. The other alphas need their mates, too.”

“We have tried,” Faye says. “We have attempted the ritual exactly as we did it for you, but it isn’t working.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Sadie replies, smiling. “Give me the scroll.”

The elders all look at each other as if reluctant to agree, but eventually, Faye slides the scroll across the table. Sadie picks it up, taking it to the floor in front of the fireplace to spread it out.

“Come and join me, Owen,” she says.

I drag myself out of my chair to stagger across the room and slump onto my knees beside her.

“I know you’re in pain,” she says. “But trust me, please. I know I can help. Do you know what to do?”

I shake my head as Sadie hands me a small knife. “I’ve done it a few times now,” I answer. “But I wouldn’t say I know what I’m doing.”

“It’s okay,” Sadie says, scattering the herbs across the scroll. She nods to me, and I cut my finger—next to previous cuts that have not yet healed—and let one drop of blood fall onto the parchment as I say the words.

“I, the alpha, begin the search for she who is dearest to my heart. Our souls are entangled, and our strength is shared—by becoming one, let all curses be undone.”

To my shock, the drop of blood hisses and shoots around the page, moving as if it has a will of its own. Sadie watches intently until it comes to rest at a certain point on the map, then spreads out to bloom into a flower-like shape.

“Oh my God,” she whispers.

“What is it?” Sylvie asks, from behind me. I jump a little, not realizing that the elders had come over to watch.

“That’s where my friend Trina lives,” Sadie replies.

“How can you possibly tell that?” Darla snaps. “It’s an ancient map, with no buildings on it.”

“I recognize the lay of the land,” Sadie says, waving her hand above the map. “And I can feel the energy flow through it. Remember, Lynette drew this map, and I have her blood.”

“I still think it’s far-fetched,” Darla mutters.

Sadie shakes her head and points at the mark. “It’s right on the spot where her house is,” Sadie says. “I know the place, as well as being able to feel her energy. If you need any more convincing, the mark is clearly a tulip, and they are Trina’s favorite flowers.”

“So, what do we do now?” Faye asks.

“You should go!” Neville says excitedly. “You should go to her, right now!”

“Wait,” I say, shaking my head. “Trina is human.”

Sadie nods. “Yes, she is. I work with her every day, and she is completely human. I sense no magic in her at all.”

“Then this has to be wrong,” Sylvie says. “We were skeptical when you were chosen,” she says to Sadie, “but obviously, that result was because of your blood and connection to the packs. This is just some random female.”

“I agree,” Sadie says. “But I felt the magic move through me. I believe the spell worked.”

“I’m not crazy about bringing a human into the pack,” Thorne says. “Owen’s line is strong, and he deserves better.”

“I’m not crazy about completely disrupting my friend’s life,” Sadie says, her voice hard. “She doesn’t deserve any of this—especially if she’s innocent and this was a mistake.”

“What do you suggest?” Faye asks.

Sadie sighs. “Let’s wait twenty-four hours, then try again. I think it’s worth doing. I want to be absolutely sure about this before we upset Trina.”

“Agreed,” Darla says. “Except about the upsetting-Trina part.”

Sadie turns to look at Darla, and the two women glare at each other. Eventually, it’s Darla who looks away.

“Okay,” Faye says. “Everyone to quarters. We will meet tomorrow evening again.”

The elders shuffle away, some of them back to the table and others to the corridor that leads to the main house. I stand up to follow them and stumble a little. Sadie takes my arm.

“You okay, Owen?” she asks.

“Yeah,” I reply. “I just want to get out of here. I’ve never liked this room.”

“It used to be a dungeon,” Sadie says. “Although there is another room below this that is somewhat worse.”

“Worse?”

“Yes,” she says, her voice low. “It was a torture chamber.”

“Shit,” I reply as we head down the corridor. “I never knew that.”

“Oh, your wolf king Darien had quite a setup here,” she says. “He went crazy after the betrayal with Lynette.”

“Oh,” I answer. “How much do you know about that?”

“Not much,” she says, leading me through the dark passage. “But when I’m here, I dream about it. I’m slowly going through the library, because I think discovering our past will heal the Rift for good.”

I don’t answer, I just let her lead me outside. The night is deep and black, with no moon in sight.

“Will you be okay?” she asks. “I’m staying here with the council, at least until tomorrow. Since we need you, too, why don’t you stay?”

“Sorry,” I answer. “I like running water and electricity. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Fair enough,” she laughs. “Are you okay to drive?”

“Yes,” I answer, even though I’m not sure. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for everything you’re doing for us, Sadie.”

“It’s my pleasure,” she says, hugging me. “And my duty. Helping you helps put Lynette’s soul to rest—and Darien’s.”

“Do you think we’ll ever know the truth?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

She hugs me again as we say goodbye, then I get in my car and head down the small track towards the main road. Even though I had every intention of going home, a restlessness rises in me, and I know I won’t be able to sleep, no matter how exhausted I am.

My heart pounds, and every throb of blood through my body makes my vision waver like an oncoming migraine. I can’t explain it, but something inside me is pulling me into Silver Valley.

I have to see Trina.

I reject the thought almost immediately, but as I come to the crossroad that leads to Diamond Springs, I find myself turning towards Silver Valley instead.

Humans are so weak… I have barely tolerated Trina’s presence every time I’ve seen her. The ritual can’t possibly change that. It was a mistake, I’m sure of it.

My blood starts to burn, my heart rate rising the closer I get to Trina’s house. I’ve actually been there once before for a party, but even if I didn’t remember the location well, something inside me is pulling me irrevocably towards it.

Towards her.

I can’t marry a human!

Something dark turns over in my chest as I think about being with a human, in any capacity. I can barely stand them in everyday life, and the idea of living with one is making my stomach churn. Still, I can’t stop driving towards her house.

I will just take a look at her. That’s all. Then I can go home and get some rest to prepare for the ritual again.

Trina’s tiny house is at the end of the street in a tiny cul-de-sac.

It looks like an old church converted into a house, just a little building with a steepled roof.

I park on the edge of the corner and approach, looking at the warm light spilling through the front window.

Even though I try to be stealthy, my feet shuffle noisily through leaves and I leave an obvious trail through the garden.

Is this how humans feel all the time? Clumsy and inept? How do they even survive?

I’m drawing level with the tree line when I hear the front door squeak. I stop just in time to see Trina come out onto the front step, a white silky robe wrapped tightly around her as she hugs herself against the light chill.

Crickets sing around me and nightbirds trill as a soft breeze blows down through the leaves above, but I feel none of it. The world keeps turning, but I suddenly find myself standing in a place outside time. All I can do is keep staring at her, taking in every tiny detail.

Trina steps off the low porch and takes a few steps out onto the path. She looks up, smiling as she focuses on the stars above. As she gets used to the night air, she relaxes, letting her hands fall to her sides. The white robe stirs around her, giving her an aura of mystery and magic.

What the fuck is happening to me?

My heart suddenly pounds, one huge, incredibly powerful beat that seems to hammer against my breastbone. Light flashes through my vision and pain cuts through my temples. I stagger forward, grabbing my head as sweat breaks out down my sides.

When I look up, I’m shocked to realize I can see every single fine detail of Trina now. I can see the soft pink curve of her lips, the shimmering sapphire and emerald depths of her eyes, and the light blush across her high cheekbones.

My wolf vision—it’s back!

Standing still in the shadows, knowing she won’t see me, I examine her even more closely.

The white robe is made of a very thin, white fabric, and silhouetted against the light as she is, I can see her curvy shape clearly defined against the contrast. She leans back, stretching her hands out behind her and thrusting her chest forward, and I can see the hard peaks of her nipples pointing through the silky gown.

She shakes her head a little, and her long, dark blond hair shimmers with points of gold from the glow of the porch light. She’s a figure of beauty illuminated in the night, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my muscles tense all over as if I’m about to leap into attack. Keeping my eyes on Trina, I realize that all my wolf senses have returned, and I’m reacting to her scent.

Lush and thick, like rose petals and lavender, her scent rushes across my face, borne by the night breeze.

I take a deep breath and hold it, rolling that sweetness across the back of my tongue.

I close my eyes for a second, and all I can think about is plunging my face between her breasts, or her legs, to drown in that smell.

When I open my eyes, I see her still standing with her head tilted back as if she’s admiring the constellations. The breeze shifts her gown again, clinging to her soft curves, and my desire rises in me, almost grabbing me by the throat.

I can’t believe I’ve looked at her so many times, but I’ve never actually seen her.

Before I realize it, I’ve begun to take slow, purposeful steps forward. There is not a single rational thought in my mind, and all my will narrows to one sole purpose.

I must have her.