Alpha's search for his Luna

Chapter : Mate

Tanishq leaned back in his chair, the weight of the impending meeting pressing heavily on his shoulders. The air in the office was thick with tension, the kind that only comes before important negotiations. His betas, Arav and Samar, stood to either side of him, their expressions serious. The gammas and omegas filled the room, creating a buzz of anticipation that mirrored Tanishq's own racing thoughts.

He glanced at the door as the Alpha of the Rinnay pack entered, accompanied by his beta, Vaibhav. The alpha was a man nearing fifty, with a well-groomed beard peppered with gray. His face bore the marks of experience—lines etched deep from years of leadership. Vaibhav, on the other hand, was in his late forties, with a robust build and a keen gaze that seemed to assess every situation with precision. They were both seasoned leaders, having held their positions longer than most, primarily because they had chosen to have pups later in life. Their eldest son had yet to turn eighteen, a situation that had kept them in power longer than anticipated.

"Where are my kids?" a confident voice broke the tension, and Tanishq turned to see a woman entering behind the two alphas. She had a scar running across her cheek, a permanent reminder of a battle fought—one that had been instigated by a wolf.

Tanishq's brows furrowed as he exchanged glances with Arav. "Who is she?" Arav asked quietly.

"I am Tara, Daksh's mother and the twin sister of Priyal's deceased father," she stated firmly. "I raised her."

Tanishq's gaze hardened. "Which pack does Priyal belong to?" he asked, cutting straight to the point.

There was a brief pause before the alpha replied, "The Hemis pack."

"Impossible," Samar interjected, disbelief etched across his features. Tanishq felt his own astonishment bubbling beneath the surface as he pieced the information together.

"She is the daughter of the dead alpha," the Rinnay pack's beta, Vaibhav, added. "Under Rinnay pack's protection."

"She is in my protection now!" Tanishq asserted, his voice firm. "She is my mate."

The alpha's gaze sharpened. "Leave others," he commanded. "We will give you the answers you want."

Tara stepped forward, urgency in her tone. "Let me meet Priyal," she demanded again.

"You can't be near our Luna," Arav warned, stepping protectively in front of Tanishq.

Tara met his gaze without flinching. "If you want her to recognize the mate bond," she stated, "you'll take me."

Tanishq glared at her, knowing that she was right. The idea of Priyal recognizing their bond was what he wanted most in the world.

Another man in the room spoke up, "I am Arjun, the previous beta of Hemis." He turned to Tanishq, his expression imploring. "Let her meet Priyal."

"I'll go with her then," Tanishq said, making his decision. He mind-linked Arav and the others to stay back, knowing this moment was crucial.

As they made their way upstairs, Tanishq turned to Tara. "Why are the rogues after her?" he asked, his voice low and steady.

"Because she is special," Tara replied cryptically.

Tanishq felt a knot of anxiety in his stomach. "What do you mean?"

She continued, "Do you know why Hemis was a special pack?"

Tanishq shook his head, urging her to explain.

"The females in our pack could help werewolf couples conceive," she stated matter-of-factly. "We helped Rinnay pack in having pups."

"I still do not understand," he admitted, his confusion deepening.

"The women in our pack," Tara clarified, "can give birth to pups of other males who are not their mates."

Tanishq's heart raced. "What?" The revelation shocked him. The Moon Goddess only blessed true mates with pups. How could this be?

"We always had spare females among ranked wolves. The Moon Goddess designed the Hemis pack to help other packs where the Luna died or could not conceive," she explained.

He clenched his fists, anger boiling within him as she recounted the horror. "The Xian pack's narcissistic alpha killed his own pregnant mate and then tried to force Priyal's mother. She resisted and died. Our pack faced the wrath."

His heart sank. "He eyed Priyal, the six-year-old daughter of Hemis's alpha."

When they reached Priyal’s room, Tanishq could see her through the slightly ajar door. Tara pushed it open, and as she entered, Tanishq watched in awe.

"Oh my love!" Tara exclaimed, and Priyal jumped up, rushing to embrace her. For the first time in a while, Priyal looked truly happy.

Tanishq felt a warmth spread in his chest, but it quickly evaporated as he noticed the thread binding Priyal’s wrist. Tara sensed it too, glancing at Tanishq with a mix of disbelief and hope. "Did you? Is she pregnant?" she asked, her eyes wide.

"No," he replied quickly, wanting to put her concerns to rest.

"That was to keep her controlled," Kaya added, stepping into the room.

Tara’s expression shifted to understanding. She cupped Priyal’s cheeks and recited a hymn that seemed to erase whatever block had kept Priyal from recognizing their bond.

"Tanishq, come closer," Tara instructed, and Priyal, her eyes glistening, whispered, "Mate."

Joy lit up Kaya and Misha’s faces, but before Tanishq could pull Priyal into his arms, Tara held her hands in hers. "I am so happy for you! You got a mate and a pack that can actually protect you!"

Hearing those words snapped Tanishq back to reality.

"Protect from whom?" Kaya asked, her tone suddenly serious.

"Xian pack," he replied, a growl slipping into his voice.

Priyal's expression shifted, revealing that she knew nothing of the danger that surrounded her.

Without thinking, Tanishq stepped forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, hoping to reassure her. Then he turned to head downstairs, ready to face the challenges ahead.

The thought of another aged wolf trying to forcefully mate Priyal sent a wave of disgust through him. He vowed then and there to protect her with everything he had, no matter the cost.