The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ZADOK

“I’ll give you another chance to tell me who you are, Ithra.” I said into her ears, enjoying the look of horror in her eyes.

“Not that I do not know, but I’d like to hear you say it…” I spun the witch band in my pinkie finger. “Who are you and what is your real motive for entering my territory?”

Ithra gulped and it was the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

Focus, Zadok. Focus.

I shook my head, trying to get the odd thoughts away.

Ithra remained silent, an act that didn’t go down well with me. I thought that by now, she would have learned her lesson about crossing me.

“You must feel very confident.” She croaked, surprising me.

Her voice wasn’t the sweet and sultry one I’d come to know her for. It sounded parched, broken and overused.

Why did she sound like that?

“Unlocking that band has got to be the stupidest thing you’ve done since the beginning of your existence, Zadok” She said, eyeing me warily.

I saw through her act. Behind the tough girl persona, was a girl scared she had been found out.

“You mean the smartest thing I’ve done in a while.” I got up, and my voice hardened. “How long did you think you could fool me, Ithra?”

Walking around in circles, I continued.

“You must have enjoyed playing this game didn’t you? Having us wary of you, placing a witch band on your wrist, treating you like some powerful being.”

“What are you talking about?” Ithra asked, still acting ignorant.

Moved by anger, I grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully. “You tell me, Ithra. Tell me why a proclaimed witch is unable to cast a spell.”

Her eyes widened, and there and then, it was confirmed. She couldn’t cast a spell. And she knew it too.

I didn’t know what to do. I guess a little part of me was holding on to the fact that they might have been wrong. That something must have gone wrong.

That Azriel was somehow fooled by the faery. But seeing her react to it, I was certain she was unable to cast a spell. She was exposed.

Questions danced in her eyes, questions she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Reality dawned on me. She was harmless. Defenseless. And most importantly, under my mercy.

A surge of power reverberated through me at the implications of what her powerlessness meant. She couldn’t even be called a witch.

She couldn’t cast a spell on me. She wasn’t a threat.

How then could she lead us to the dark forest? How could she be the chosen one if her state was this pitiful and weak?

I needed to see Shilhi.

“I’m guessing that’s not a surprise to you. So I’m going to set things straight.” I began. Letting go of her arm as I spoke.

“So far, we know you are from the Celts Coven, and you aren’t the most welcome there, despite being the daughter of the enchantress.”

She sneered at my words, but I couldn’t care less.

“We also know you cannot cast a spell and that means you are totally vulnerable and under the mercy of the blood moon pack.”

“Thirdly, the force field that protects your people from invasion is halfway down, which means, if I do desire to eradicate the Celts Coven, I can.” I said with so much certainty that she visibly shook.

In the back of my mind, I wondered why she cared so much about people who are definitely not so fond of her.

The horror in her eyes fed my ego. The other times I spoke to her, she always held an air of confidence, although it was little, but it was there.

However, as I spoke to her, there was no shred of confidence around her. She seemed like one who had their carpet pulled from underneath her legs.

Unsettled, fidgety, and scared.

Just how I liked it. I could tell she believed I meant every word. So I let her believe that, for both our sakes.

“I’m going to make you a final deal.” I continued, wearing a serious expression. “Pledge your loyalty to me and the bloodMoon pack. Pledge your loyalty to me and preserve your life and that of your clan.”

“Believe me, it’s only a matter of time before that forcefield goes down. And when it does, I’ll be waiting to finish off the only witch clan exempted from my rampage.”

Ithra opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her lip was broken, dried and all shades of unattractive.

Yet I wanted to stroke it. To kiss it alive. So much so I tightened my fist to get a grip of myself. Why couldn’t I get a grip around her?

“I believe you’ll need time to think about your choices.” I said when she didn’t speak. “With how malnourished and ugly you look, I can imagine how hard it is to think looking and feeling like that. So I’ll give you some time.”

“I’ll give you some time to think about your choices carefully. This is the third and last chance you would get, Ithra. So you should examine your choices clearly. Afterall, what do you have to lose?”

I walked out of her cell, leaving her room to think. And decide.

“Also, don’t you think I’ve forgotten about what you did, hurting a member of my pack. Your actions shall be punished duly. And until I see you show remorse for what you have done, you shall be remanded here.”

I tutted, “For the next two weeks, you will be on hard labor, and just because I’m in a good mood, you’ll be allowed a meal per day. Do anything funny, and you’ll lose the meal. Let’s see how far your human, not so human body can take you without food.”

With that, I walked out of the cells. Ordering the guards to see to it that my words were carried out.