The Rejected Alpha's Vengeance

[JER]

For an entire week, Jeremiah Warner had tried to make it all make sense. He wasn't sure what the hell was going on anymore but one thing he did know, was that he would give everything up for his Malika.

Maybe that made him a coward for choosing one woman over a pack so powerful, but then with the circumstances, there was nothing left for them to do other than face reality.

"Hello, I'm Atticus. We have not been formally introduced," the man in front of him greeted and Jer stood there wondering if he was in another dimension. There was just no way that in this time and hour, there was someone called Atticus, right?

"My name should be the least of your worries, young Warner. As it is, you haven't seen your mate for more than two weeks, no? I was sent to open this door for you, given my sister is indisposed at the moment," the man, Atticus, said nonchalantly.

They were currently standing before Hawi's suite, the one place that had Jer's sweet little mate. He had waited to see the woman and if this was his chance to get to her, then he wouldn't refuse it.

At the end of the day, he was just another lover, someone who wanted was best for his mate but he wasn't sure how the fuck to do it with all that was currently going on in the damned pack.

No one had told him that this would be so hard, but then it wasn't like he imagined that betraying the Sicarios would never come with a price. The instructions had long been clear and he was painfully aware of them too.

"Your sister?" Jer asked as he stared at Atticus. He was sure this man was familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had seen him. It was already a madhouse in Sicario but maybe he was an ally?

"Yes. Razia Greyson happens to be my sister. I understand that you had a deal with her and you failed to fulfill it, that is why she killed your little mate. I have come to open the door, to let you say your goodbyes;

"And to collect on what was promised when you failed to fulfill your mission with Razia," Atticus said and Jer paled. Maybe it was because of the renewed reality that his Malika was no more or because another shadow warlock was with him.

For years he had been dealing with Razia alone and it hadn't been hard, but seeing Atticus and how simply the man had talked of his mate's death He knew he was in for something that he would not like.

The warlock before him was smug-looking and filled with scars despite the magic he had. Perhaps magic never really took away the scars of battle and it also seemed like Atticus was really proud of all his scars.

"What?" Jer asked and Atticus chuckled.

"I have heard rumors about how stupid you are, but I refuse to believe that you could be that stupid. How the fuck do you lead an entire pack like that then? Or what is it you ask of me?" Atticus said and Jer sighed.

There had to be a mistake somewhere. There had to be something that he had missed out on, something that could help him save his mate, but why did it feel like the doors were slowly closing and the walls were gripping him a little too hard?

The man before him was not the kind to make bad jokes, like his Luna's death, but there was just no way that his Malika was dead. It just didn't make any sense to him and he had to figure it out.

"Can you open the door?" Jer asked and Atticus chuckled darkly like he was playing a game with Jeremiah Warner. There was nothing that the man couldn't do, but like everything else, there was a price attached to this.

"Of course. I can feel your mate's breath slipping away. And while I can't exactly bring her back to life, no matter how dark my magic is, I can however grant you a chance to be with her for a little longer.

"You just have to do something for me, young Warner. With that, we could seal a new deal," Atticus said and Jer looked at him hopefully. He was desperate for the final moments and more than anything, he was desperate to figure out a way out of this.

Surely his Luna couldn't be doing, though? Theo's blade had hit Rukiya Greyson, hadn't it? Or maybe there was something else?

"Why is she dying? Theo killed Rukiya Greyson… My Malika should be fine," Jer said with a pout while Atticus stared as if this man was the dumbest piece of shit that he had ever had to interact with.

He had so many questions about the very existence of this young Warner, but more than anything, Atticus wondered whether out of all the people that they could have used for their endeavors, they just had to choose the most brainless of them all.

This was our torture for him, and he hoped that he would be rid of this alpha once and for all. But until then, he had to play nice and wait for the right moment, before he could strike and get his wins.

"You stupid boy. Your warrior did hit Rukiya Greyson, but she didn't die, because she got mated to the white wolf… Who also happens to be your ex, and given the oath you made with Razia was a blood oath, your sweet little mate gets to die.

"Is that understandable or do you want me to break it to you in simpler ways? I don't mind doing that, but there's a chance that by the time I'm done with explaining this shit to you, your mate will be dead, dead and dead," Atticus said.

Jer wanted to think it was a ploy. He wanted to think that this man was fucking with him, but then even he had seen the skies for the past twelve days. He had seen how the universe had changed and he knew it wasn't normal.

More people were migrating away from the region than ever and it could only be attributed to the fact that a bigger war was headed their way. Some didn't need to be a part of the war, while others just didn't care.

Everyone had a life to live and if the war came, they wouldn't be able to live. And as much as being collateral damage in a war they knew nothing of seemed noble and interesting, it just wasn't worth it to most.

This was something that most of the wolves knew and they were already preparing for. But the only questions that lingered in the air were whether they would survive it, or if they would have to fight fire with fire.

"What is the condition?" Jer asked, seeing as he didn't have time for a history lesson. He had a mate to be with, even if it was for a few more minutes. He needed her, he would always need her and if this was the last time, then he would do whatever.

"You kill Awuor Hawi."