Blood Moon Rising

I walk inside the Lockwood hotel where all pack meetings are held with my dad. I'd never imagined being in a place like this before, huge lights and other wolves in expensive clothes.

My name is Iris Caldwell and I am a member of The Silverbane Pack and my father is the alpha's close friend. The alpha, George Nash is completely untouchable and he is a billionaire too so as you can guess I felt untouchable too.

“I need a shot of Tequila,” my dad Charles Caldwell ordered the waiter.

“Make it two,” I say softly.

“No princess, you just turned 19, you should be making friends with others now off you go,” he said.

I try protesting but I know daddy would not budge. So I wandered around, met the girls and they were chatting about meeting guys. They talked about meeting a handsome sexy mate and some even said they wished the alpha's heir would be their mate. I stay silent through the conversation and observe them, and it bored me. It felt like a waste of time chatting about a guy who would not even look at any of us twice.

“Iris, what are your plans for a mate, who do you have your eyes on?” Blonde haired Lily asked me.

“I don't know why you guys are bothered about having a mate, let's just enjoy ourselves now. I have a strict father so I don't know when next I can feel free,” I tell her. And I observed that she was not listening as her eyes focused on the door.

The Nash family walk in grandly and everybody stares like they're looking at a ghost. I look at the guy that had all my friends giggling a while ago.

Derek Nash, he wore a suit that probably cost more than my father's car and no, the girls didn't lie. He's got all the requirements to make a lady drool. Broad shoulders, chiseled jaw and the detour on his suit that bulged because of his chest. He even left some buttons of the white sleeve beneath the suit open making me and all the other girls imagine the rest.

And suddenly his eyes meet mine and before I could compose myself he removed them. Everyone now moved around, the men shook hands while the ladies hugged themselves in their gowns. I notice the noise disappear as the alpha stood up for a speech.

“First of all, I welcome all my brothers and sisters to attend this great meeting. Although the main purpose of It has been concealed from most of you here but I would love to break the ice. It is with great joy and happiness in my heart that I announce a union between two of our pack’s wolves. Many years ago a friend owed me something and I've come to collect the debt.” Some people laughed as his deep voice boomed throughout the hall.

“So if I may, I present before you all, a betrothal.” Everyone gasps in shock.

“Between my family and another. I call forth my son Derek and Iris Caldwell.”

The ladies now stare at me with hate in their eyes while everyone else stays busy clapping their hands.

I froze with shock. You see, I had not subscribed to this whole mate, bond and all those things. They are real I know but I had other plans for myself, I wanted to be my own woman. I look at my father as his face beams with pride.

“No,” I said and everywhere suddenly turned silent.

“I was never asked if I want this or if I want him. I'm a wolf too, not a pawn everyone can use when they like..” My father stood up now threatening me to keep quiet.

“Escort her to the balcony let her catch her breath, she's still a stupid child,” Alpha George said dryly and everyone laughed at me.

I sat on a chair at the balcony looking across the hotel, to the rest of the city. I realise that what I did was wrong, disobeying the alpha in public and he will punish me. I notice a tall shadow walking towards me and to my surprise it's Derek. He put his hand on the bannister and then he bent his neck low towering above me.

“Why did you not refuse this?” I ask.

"Look, I don't want this. I don't know you so I probably don't like you too although I can't say the same for you. It's duty, pack politics, we have to stand by it,” he says looking forward.

He continues now, “Just accept it, we don't have a choice. And don't fight it.”

“I can't, and just so you know I don't like you too.” I say with anger. My voice must have risen but it's not my problem anyway.

I walk inside, some people paused to say congratulations and I look them straight in their eyes and tell them how happy I am.

I don't know if I'm thinking straight but I walk to my room, lock the door and I start arranging my things. I'll see if I can sleep over at a friend's house because I'm willing to do anything to prevent this.

Hours passed before it became silent again. Everyone had gone. I open the door silently and walk on the balls of my feet to minimize sound. My heart throbbed in my chest now like a wolf in a cage as I locked the door. And a bright light shining in my direction would have blinded me if I hadn't used my hands to cover my eyes. And the light disappeared now showing it came from a car. The door opens slowly and to my horror Derek comes out. I tried to explain but the bag on my shoulder gave me away. He drags me with his strong arms towards our parents and explains that I was about to run away.

“I've had enough” alpha George bellowed at me.

“You'll be punished. Put her in the car, she's coming home with us, her things will be brought over tomorrow morning. Living together with your husband should put some sense in your head. You'll go to school with Derek every morning and volunteer for community work after school. Now leave my presence.”

I cried now and my father begged but the alpha would not listen. My tears did nothing to stop Derek from shoving me in the car and driving me home in silence and showing me to an empty room. It all happened fast. I thought as I sat on the bed now in my room in Derek's family house. I try sleeping but I already know it won't work. And I forgot my phone at my dad's place. Stupid me

Someone knocks on the door now and I rush to open it, maybe the alpha had changed his mind or maybe I didn't want anymore issues.

Derek appears at the bedroom door. “Look, Iris, I didn't know about the debt your father owes the alpha,” he says softly. Faint hope rush across my chest, maybe I get to go home.

Then he adds: "But now that you're here... I'm not letting you go. There's nothing anyone can do about it now. You're mine now Iris." He walks away and but I didn't bother to check the direction because what he said stunned me.

And that's when I realize that I'm trapped with a billionaire werewolf who's claiming me even if we don't want each other.