Dark Heart

2.

When the Lunar Alpha returned to his Pack with a mate, everyone wanted to see who she was. Who could be matched with a heart as dark as the blackest nights? Perhaps she was the devil herself? Instead, they had gasped when they saw a small girl with hair as white a fresh snow and eyes the most beautiful shade of emerald.

She was beautiful, her skin a golden brown, but they saw the sorrow she held. Her eyes were rimmed with red and cheeks a blotchy pink. Her hair was like a light in the Lunar Pack, a light they had been begging for.

The Alpha held her in his arms like a bride, her arms wrapped around his neck and head tucked into his neck. She was asleep and he glared at any wolf that looked at her too long. They watched in awe as his face softened as he looked at her. Something they had never witnessed before.

Did they dare hope?

Then they became scared.

They knew her innocence would not last. That it was already chipped. A gentle flower like her could not last in this dark place. Hope certainly did not last.

The Lunar Alpha's mother and sister greeted him at the castle entrance. They were surprised to see the Alpha holding a woman in his arms, every few moments he would lean his head to her neck and breathe deeply.

"Who is this?" his mother asked. Seeing the white hair, she knew the woman must be from the Solar Pack. It was one of their defining features.

The Alpha just gave quick orders to his warriors and ignored his mother, instead he started walking to his room. His sister and mother followed, continuing to ask questions.

"Is she from the Solar Pack?" his sister said.

"Elias, is she hurt?" his mother interjected.

"Who is she?

Elias growled low in his throat, shutting up the two women. He could feel his temper rising, but he didn't want to yell at his mother and younger sister. They were the only people who he cared about. But he didn't want their chatter to wake up his mate who had started to stir in his arms. "Enough," he said. "Her name is Ophelia and I'm sure you can tell who she is by scent alone."

The woman looked at each other in shock then remained silent the rest of the way to his room. When they reached his room, his sister opened the door and he gave her a silent nod of thanks. He couldn't remember the last time he openly thanked someone.

He gently laid Ophelia on his bed, watching as she breathed deeply and turned onto her side, clutching a pillow close to her. She was wearing his shirt that came down to her thighs. They had traveled for three days to reach his home and he didn't want her to continue to wear old clothes that stank of sweat and ash.

He nearly groaned when she curled one of her legs, hitching the shirt a bit higher. Cruel, beautiful vixen, though he was sure she had no idea what she was doing him.

His mother and sister came up behind him, staring at his mate. "Is it true? She's really your..." his mother trailed off.

"Yes," Elias said. "She's my mate."

"What about her family? Her pack?" his sister asked. "Did you kill them?"

He looked to his sister who just had sad eyes. Sometimes, he wished they looked at him with disgust and contempt, to admit that he was long gone. Yet he felt like they still expected good from him. Like he would turn back to the young boy he was before.

He turned and went to leave. "The Solar Pack is still there. Her for the Solar Pack."

His mother gave one final look to Ophelia before he closed the door with a click. He could feel her sadness for him. "She didn't come here willingly?"