Redeeming his Debt

RED MOON PACK

ALPHA MATEO

"Alpha Mateo, you need to get yourself a mate! The kingdom is at risk!" Liam's voice rang out, each word heavy with a sense of urgency.

His eyes bulged slightly, his face a mask of seriousness that bordered on desperation. But I am Mateo, Alpha of the strongest clan, and no one tells me what to do.

"Liam, I know that. I'm working on it," I replied, my voice booming off the palace walls, reverberating down the long corridors. My nonchalance wasn't feigned; I genuinely saw no reason to rush. Love had never been something I believed in, and the thought of finding a mate under pressure irritated me deeply.

"When you say 'working on it,' Alpha Mateo, do you mean sitting on your throne and issuing orders all day? Because that's all I see you do," Liam lamented, his frustration palpable.

I growled inwardly at his question.

"Or are you actually making plans to get a mate? The kingdom is at stake. We have only two options: an heir you sire or an heir selected from the most promising men of our clan." Liam stated, even when he knew that I was aware of that.

"No heir will be as promising as mine!" I thundered. "My heir will lead this clan, and none of the men in our ranks can match my strength. You expect them to rule? They can't even stand against me!" I growled.

"Why not kill us all and ensure our extinction? It would be quicker than leading us into peril!" Liam's voice rose, his desperation breaking through. This was one topic I despised discussing, and my irritation was quickly turning to anger.

"Alpha Mateo, please! The clan is declining. We're losing people every day. The death toll is rising, and our food is scarce. We can't continue like this. You need to act, Alpha," Liam pleaded, his eyes searching mine for any sign of agreement.

But he couldn't find any.

Realizing that Liam would keep harping on this until I took action, I relented.

"Fine. Prepare some of the royal guards. We will search for a mate today." I stated calmly.

"I have someone in mind," Liam said, his voice steadier now.

My claws itched to extend, to tear at something, someone.

"And since when do you make decisions for me without my permission?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous.

"Alpha Mateo, I made no decisions without your knowledge. It involves someone you know well, an old friend," he replied, his confidence unwavering.

"What are you talking about?" I demanded, my interest piqued. I racked my brain for any outstanding obligations or promises but found none.

"Alpha Mateo, do you remember Alpha Lucas?" Liam's voice dropped, and I saw him shiver slightly.

"Was this guy just out to mock me?" I thought inwardly.

"What does he have to do with this?" My temper flared again, gripping the arms of my throne tightly.

"Everything, Mateo. He's partly to blame for our current situation. We all made a deal. The time has come to redeem it. You need to take something precious from him, something that will wound him deeply. And that can only be her." He said, his tone firm, yet I could see him panicking.

"Who?" I asked, though a part of me already knew the answer, a name that had haunted the edges of my consciousness.

"Jane. She should be your bride, your mate. It's the only way to handle this and come out on top. We should go to her now." He said in determination.

"I'm not willing to go, not now. She resembles her mother so much," I confessed, the pain of old memories gnawing at me.

"Mateo, you should punish her for her mother's wrongdoings, for putting you in this precarious position. And you know taking her would be the best way to hurt Lucas." He suggested, choosing his words carefully.

"The last report from my spies indicated that he hates her. She doesn't even stay in the palace. Their relationship is far from loving. How will taking her affect him?"

"He hates her, but he can't bring himself to kill her. She stands in the way of his daughters inheriting the throne. The people won't allow it as long as she's alive. Killing her would leave him wracked with guilt forever." Liam pressed on.

He was becoming more clever as the years passed on.

"Fine. We'll depart for Silver Moon pack now," I agreed, knowing that Liam wouldn't give me any peace until I acted. We exited the throne room together, striding purposefully toward the stables.

The Royal guards bowed respectfully as we passed by.

As we reached the stables, My horse sensed my determination and was as eager to go as I was. I mounted swiftly, followed by Liam and some royal guards.

We rode out, our horses' hooves thundering against the ground and echoing through the quiet Palace fields.

As we rode by the village streets, The villagers watched us, their eyes showing both fear and hope, a mix of emotions that gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.

As we got closer to the borders of Lucas' Pack, memories of past fights and old anger started to rise up in me. I pushed them down and tried to stay focused on what we needed to do. We finally arrived at Luca's territory, which was full of people carrying out different activities.

Old memories of battles we had fought and lost filled my mind, but I shook them off and kept my attention on our mission. The village behind us faded into the distance, its people left to wonder about our fate.

Suddenly, my eyes caught sight of something, and a deep frown creased my brow. I balled my hands into fists by my sides, jaw clenched tightly.

Was Alpha Lucas deliberately leaving that there to spite me? I could feel my wolf threatening to take control. My mind suddenly drifted, various thoughts swirling in my head.

"Alpha Mateo," Liam's voice broke through my reverie.

I didn't respond, my eyes still fixed on what I had seen. Liam's gaze followed mine, and when his eyes landed on the same spot, I heard him gasp.