Chapter 4: Claimed By Two Alphas
Maureen
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. The forest was dark, cold, and quiet except for the sound of my heart beating fast inside my chest. My breath came out in sharp gasps, and tears filled my eyes, blurring my path.
I wouldn't stop running. I don't care if I tripped. I don't care if I got hurt while running.
All I wanted was to get away from Damon. From the truth I didn't want to believe.
Mate? No, I couldn't be his mate.
No, it couldn't be true. They must have been a mistake made by the moon goddess.
A mistake which I know she'll realize and settle in just a matter of time.
The pull I felt towards him during the ritual was real. Strong z and terrifying. The moment our eyes met under the full moon, something inside me shifted. My wolf started howling in my head. Repeating the words mate again and again.
But I didn't want it. I didn't want him. Not after everything he had done to me. The pain, the fear and the way he treated me like I was less than dirt. How could the moon goddess be so cruel to tie me to the same man who broke me?
Behind me, I heard his voice, deep and angry.
"Maureen! Stop running!"
His tone sent shivers down my spine. He sounded so angry. And there was also something in his voice too. Desperation.
My wolf pushed me harder. Run, Maureen, she whispered. Run safely.
My feet kept moving until the trees started to thin out and the familiar scents of another pack hit my nose. My heart skipped as I recognised it. The blue moon pack. Stefan's pack.
Stefan, my first mate. The one who once rejected me. The originator of my pains. My downfall.
I know it's stupid of me to go to him, but I had no choice. I would rather face Stefan's coldness, than Damon's rage.
When I finally reached the border, I couldn't run anymore. My body gave up. I fell to my knees, gasping for air. My heart is pounding painfully. My clothes were covered with dirt and torn. My hands were covered in scratches too.
And in a second, a few guards appeared before me.
"Who are you?" One of them demanded.
"Please…" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Tell Alpha Stefan that Maureen is here. Tell him I need to see him."
The guards exchanged confused looks for a while. One of them ran quickly while the other two stayed, watching me carefully. I could feel their unease. They knew who I was. Alpha Derrick's daughter, who turned into a slave overnight.
Minutes later, Stefan appeared with them.
He looked exactly how I remembered. Tall, proud and unreadable. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead and his sharp eyes locked onto me with a surprise.
"Maureen?" He said, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
my knees trembled, and before I could stop myself, I ran straight to him. I wrapped my arms around him tightly, not minding if he would push me away and broke down in tears.
He is the only one that can save me.
"Please,... help me," I sobbed. "He's coming. Damon's coming. Don't let him take me."
For a second, Stefan didn't move. His body was stiff against mine and I thought he would push me away. But then I felt his hand touch my back.
"You're safe here," he said quietly and I couldn't believe my eyes. Those words almost made me cry harder. Hearing it come from him.
Safe? I hadn't felt safe in so long. But unfortunately, the moment was caught short.
A deep growl echoed from behind us. My whole body froze instantly. I turned slowly, and there he was, Damon. The one person I have been running away from. He was standing a little far away from us. His eyes darkened with anger.
"Let her go, Stefan," Damon's voice was low but dangerous. "She's mine."
Stefan stepped in front of me protectively.
" Not in my territory," he said firmly. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me first."
And for the first time I felt so safe,so relieved and calm. Knowing no harm would come to me.
The air between them became thick with tension. Two Alphas, two powerful wolves both staring at each other. One who was my first mate, but rejected me. The second one who's my second chance mate and chasing after me.
"She's my mate," Damon growled. "The bond has been sealed by the moon goddess herself. You can't break it."
No! I shook my head. My tears are falling again. "No, I don't want you, Damon. I'll stay with Stefan!"
I know I sound stupid right? Choosing the one who ruined my family, then the other one whose intention was to have possession of me.
The look on Damon's eyes shows he wasn't going to give up without a fight. And to prove him I had made my choice, I leaned towards Stefan, apologised to him and proceeded to kiss him.
Stefan froze for a moment but he didn't push me away. Damon's eyes widened open, and a deep growl escaped his throat.
"You'll regret this. Maureen," he snapped in anger. "Both of you will." Then, without hesitation, he turned around and disappeared into the forest. His scent is fading with him.
In a second, I realized what I had done. I thought I would feel relieved now that he was gone, but instead, I felt heavy. Like a stone was about to fall on me.
Stefan's voice pulled me back to reality.
"Don't think this changes anything," he said sharply, and pushed me away from him, disgust clear in his eyes. " I haven't accepted you and I won't ever do that. You're just my slave. My property." He added.
"You hate me, don't you?" I summoned the courage to ask, my heart panting in anticipation.
He didn't answer, he turned his back on me and began to walk away.
"I'll have someone prepare a room for you," he said over his shoulder. "Don't cause trouble."
The guards led me away to one of the guest rooms near the pack house. The room was so much better than the hunt Damon put me in. The room has ceilings, a small bed and a fan. Unlike the one Damon gave me.
So far, Stefan doesn't seem like a really bad person. I wonder what my pack did to him that led to the attack.
Maybe he hasn't shown me his real character yet, but whatever it might be, he's so much better than Damon.
********
The rapid sound of the knock jerked me off from my sleep. As usual, Alpha Damon has requested my presence. He wants me to pleasure him again, as usual.
But unfortunately, I was wrong. The environment looks different from the one I used to be and in a second, everything came crashing back.
I wasn't in his pack anymore but in the blue moon pack.
The sounds of the door came again and I quickly rose to my feet to check who it was.
The moment I opened the door, a hand slapped my face, making me look up to see who it was.
Lol and behold, it was a new face. But the way she was looking at me and smiling, I knew this lady knew who I was. And she seems to be someone of high status.
"So she's the one?" I thought the question was directed at me until I heard another voice responding to her.
"Yes ma'am. She's the daughter of Alpha Derrick."
"Nice to meet you Maureen. I have been w
aiting for you. Anyway, I am Danika. Alpha Stefan mate and Luna, starting from today, I would be your nightmares."