Damian
My lord, we're ready for the attack. Light Moon Pack is hosting a party today. Other alphas who still refuse to accept us as leaders are present there too. It's a good opportunity to take more packs into our regime.
My second command, Jacob, informed me. He looked more excited than me about this whole thing.
A party. Hmm. Seems like they're not fearing me anymore. "Really is going to be fun, isn't it, Jacob?"
He smirked. "Yes, my lord. In the North, packs are more glamorous. I've heard about this place, and it does look good. Werewolves here are more powerful too." He paused, his smirk widening.
"Our secret insider told us most of the alphas are kind. So there's a high chance they'll surrender without fighting. Their kindness won't let them shed blood."
He chuckled after that, like it was the funniest fucking thing he'd heard all week.
Too bad kindness always leads to less power. And I'm far from these kinds of things. Nothing can bind me or stop me. People call me heartless. Well, I don't have a heart in the first place, so they're not wrong. Attacking the East was supposed to be my last destination, but something was attracting me to this place. It felt like a magnetic force was pulling me there, demanding to go there.
I changed my plan at the last moment. Fuck. I didn't understand why I couldn't ignore this feeling, this invisible power that wanted me here. Maybe I'd get some tasty blood out of it.
I rolled my shoulders and cracked my neck. "Let's go. More packs are going to be under my rule. One day, I'll rule the world." I looked at Jacob, then at the others. "Either they accept my leadership, or war is still in our favor."
The vampires behind me shifted, ready. Hungry.
Soon, the werewolf packs came into my vision. Unlike our Shadow Land, their place was filled with color. Lights strung between trees. Laughter echoing in the distance. Music. Our territory looked gloomy and depressed in comparison. Dark. Dead.
Damn. This magnetic pull became stronger the closer we got. It was like something was clawing at my chest, dragging me forward.
I didn't like it.
"Attack now," I barked the orders to the other vampires. My voice cut through the night. "But no need to kill anyone. First, we scare them. Show them we're more powerful than these animals. If they're ready to accept me as their king, then we leave them alive. If not" I let the silence hang. "Kill them. Understood?"
"Yes, King," they said in unison. I sighed. It would be the seventeenth pack under my leadership. It was my fucking dream to rule all supernaturals. Well, basically it was more my father's dream, but he couldn't fulfill it. Someone killed him before he got the chance.
No one knows who killed him. But whoever that person was, I'm so fucking grateful. My father deserved it. I was never close to him. His ideology was different from mine. But one thing was common between us—we both wanted to rule the world. I guess soon it will happen. Soon, everything will be mine.
"My lord." One of my vampires approached, bowing slightly. "Alpha Samuel is ready to accept our leadership, but he wants some conditions with this arrangement."
I raised my eyes. They still think they have the power to negotiate with me?
"And what are those conditions?" I asked, my voice low.
"He didn't tell us. He wants to tell you directly."
Fuck. Why the hell does he want to meet me? Does he have a death wish? If he does, I'll fulfill it gladly.
I never meet any alpha personally. My vampires and Jacob were always enough to handle them, to kill them if needed. Jacob was capable of making deals. Besides, I rarely met with other creatures. I didn't need to.
But for some reason, I really wanted to go there. Why was that? My inner beast wasn't letting me have my peace. Damn it. I'd go there. Let's see what this alpha wants.
In the blink of an eye, we stood at the front door. I could hear many heartbeats, all racing at an unsettling pace. It seemed like they were scared of me.
Good. It was already a win if your enemies feared you before you even showed your face.
"You can't do this!" A feminine voice rang out before I stepped inside.
"If you think we're scared of your king, then you're delusional because we—" she stopped suddenly,
Someone seemed brave. Let's see if she can say the same when I'm standing in front of her.
"Oh really, young lady?" I said as I stepped through the doorway. "So you're not scared of me?"
Her back was facing me. Everyone gasped. The room went suddenly quiet. Her heartbeat increased impossibly faster, louder than before. She gasped softly and turned around.
Our eyes collided.
Fuck.
Those innocent, beautiful hazel eyes locked into mine.
Her eyes widened slightly, perhaps because of fear. But damn, this woman was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her long auburn hair reached her waist, shining under the dim lights. She looked like a princess. Like something out of a dream I'd never had.
Her look was far different from other women. And her scent—fuck, her scent—it made me want to close the distance between us. To bury my nose into her neck. To take her in my arms and never let go. What the fuck is wrong with me? I never thought about any woman that way. How the hell was I having these thoughts right now? Something wasn't right. Something was different about this woman.
She stared at me in disbelief too, like she couldn't believe her eyes. Like she was seeing something impossible.
The room stayed silent. Everyone watched us. Waiting. But I couldn't look away from her.
I took a step closer. Her heartbeat spiked again. She didn't move. Didn't run. Didn't look away. Brave or stupid? I couldn't tell yet.
Jacob cleared his throat beside me, breaking the moment. "My lord, Alpha Samuel is waiting."
I didn't answer him. I kept my eyes on her. On this girl who dared to speak against me. On this girl who smelled like something I didn't know I needed.
"What's your name?" I asked, my voice was rougher than I intended. She swallowed. Her lips parted, but she didn't say anything.
"Enough." An older man stepped forward, his hand reaching for her arm. Alpha Samuel, I assumed. He looked at me with fear.
"My apologies, King Damian. She didn't mean to disrespect you."
I still didn't look at him. I kept my gaze on her.
"I asked her a question," I said slowly. Dangerously.
"Not you."
Samuel's hand dropped, but he didn't back off.
The girl lifted her chin, and I saw fire flash in those hazel eyes. Fear, yes. But also defiance.
Interesting.
"My name is none of your concern," she said quietly. But I heard every word.
A smile tugged at my lips. A real one. I couldn't remember the last time that happened.
"We'll see about that," I said.
And I meant it.