Mated To The Beastly Alpha
Chapter 27

As soon as Nicole was better and discharged, she was swarmed with congratulatory messages from pack members. It was exhilarating because they celebrated her like she was one of them. The kinship in Dark Moon wasn't something she experienced in any other place. Crimson didn't have it, and neither did her parents. "Congratulations, Nicole," one of the pack members said, giving her a gentle tap on the back. "You've made history."

"I couldn't have done it without the training and your acceptance," Nicole said, looking at Alpha Liam, who was too busy grinning at his pack members to notice her. "You accepted me without questions. You gave me the opportunity, pushed me harder than any place I've lived in and it made me stronger."

"You're like a superhero," one of them said, looking at her with awe.

Nicole blushed at the compliment, but she knew that she couldn't let it go to her head. She had a responsibility to the pack now, and she had to make sure they were all prepared for whatever might come their way.

There was one thing she kept away though. It was her fear. She was afraid. The mental scars had made her very fragile on the inside and she hid it very well.

Nicole spent the next few hours after her discharge strategizing and planning with Asha, Garrett, and Liam. She was amazed at how organized and efficient the pack was.

They had a clear chain of command and a deep loyalty to each other. She couldn't help but feel a little envious of their close-knit community.

Even when she was at the centre of things at Crimson, she had always been a lone wolf. She was still psychologically damaged from what she went through in Shane's hands and she wasn't sure if she was ready to trust anyone just yet.

It was an internal struggle that she had promised to keep to herself. What she went through in Shane's pack, unconsciously made her shy away from belonging to anyone. She still relived the trauma in her head at night.

However, she was impressed by Dark Moon, and it made her yearn to be accepted. She also knew that she couldn't do it alone. She needed the pack, she needed Liam. But there was this fear eating her up from inside, yet she chose to hide it.

As they continued to plan, Nicole realized that her ancestry was a topic of interest among the wolves. She had mentioned before that her parents were lone wolves prior to when they sold her off, but she had never really thought much about it until now. "Can you tell us more about your family history?" Alpha Liam asked, his eyes fixed on Nicole.

Nicole hesitated for a moment before deciding to share the little she knew. "My parents were both lone wolves. They didn't have any pack affiliations and they never talked about their families. I don't even know if I have any siblings."

James frowned, looking concerned. "That's strange," she said. "Most wolves are deeply connected to their family and pack history. It's unusual for your parents to be so isolated."

Nicole shrugged. "I don't know. They never talked about it. They just sold me off. I never saw them again."

She didn't want to see them again either. The ordinary thought of them made her angry, she partly blamed them for everything she went through at the hands of Shane.

Alpha Liam leaned forward, his expression thoughtful. "Do you know if your parents were witch-bane werewolves too?"

Nicole shook her head. "I don't know. I didn't even know that was a thing until I met you guys."

The Alpha frowned, looking troubled. "It's possible that your parents were trying to protect you by keeping you isolated. Witchbane werewolves are rare and valuable and many would try to use them for their gain. It's possible that your parents knew the danger and chose to keep you hidden.

They were also hunted by werewolves and were almost extinct. Most of them cut off pack affiliations and became lone wolves to protect themselves. They also bred with normal wolves to hide their traits. It's why you're so powerful, yet you're an Omega." Nicole felt a chill run down her spine at the thought. She had always assumed that they simply didn't want her. She couldn't believe that they sought to protect her. If they wanted to, they wouldn't have sold her.

"What do I do now?" she asked, feeling overwhelmed.

Alpha Liam's expression softened. "You're here to stay," he said firmly. "We'll protect you. And we'll help you learn to harness your power. You're Dark Moon until this is over. After that, you can decide if you want to stay or not. You are under my protection, you are mine until then."

Nicole nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Her wolf was excited that he claimed her as his, even for a little while.

"The only reason why I've not given you the Mark of the Dark Moon is that you're already marked as my mate. If I dare to mark you again, the mate bond will be complete and a catastrophe will ensue, so, keep this in mind. You're mine," Liam commanded. For the first time in her life, Nicole felt like she had a place to belong. She wouldn't delude herself into thinking that it was permanent. She knew that when the witch was defeated and when the potency of the mark faded, she would have to leave. Yet, she was a witch-bane werewolf and she had a new purpose, so she would train as much as she could, fight with her last strength, and still do the odd jobs for Garrett because her new life meant everything. Nicole nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "What can I do to help?" she asked,

Her voice trembled slightly, but she hoped no one noticed it.

Alpha Liam narrowed his eyes at her. His territorial nature shot out. "You're a witch-bane werewolf," he said. "That makes you very valuable to our pack. We need to make sure that you're protected at all times." Nicole felt a surge of indignation. She didn't want to be coddled or treated differently because of her abilities. She wanted to be a part of the pack, to fight alongside her fellow wolves.

"I can handle myself," she said firmly. "I don't want to be treated like some fragile thing that needs to be protected."

"Yes Liam, I agree with her," James chipped in. "If you go around protecting her, how would she learn?"

Liam grunted and rubbed his face. Nicole looked at him admiringly. She ached to know more about him.

After a long while, Liam nodded. He had a glimmer of respect in his eyes as he spoke.

"I understand," he said, "But we need to be careful. The witch may know about your abilities and start looking for ways to use them against us."

Nicole nodded, understanding the danger. She knew that the witch might be ruthless and wouldn't hesitate to use any means necessary to defeat their enemies, including using her powers against her. "What does she want?" She asked,

Liam shrugged, their fingers brushed and she felt another shot of pleasure.

"We don't know what she wants. She talked about Liam's ancestry and how she's going to end him," Garrett added.

"I've heard about old witches. They're powerful." Asha muttered,

Nicole felt quite chilly.

"What can I do to help?" she repeated.

Alpha Liam looks at her thoughtfully. His blue eyes blazing with arousal and admiration, "We need to replace out more about your ancestry," he said, "There might be clues in your family history that can help us understand your powers better." Nicole's heart fell, the last thing she needed was to meet her parents.

"No, you're not going to meet them," Liam promised. "Your ancestors are the original witch banes. We'll start from there."

Nicole nodded, feeling a sense of usefulness. She wanted to know more about her ancestry. She wanted to understand her powers and how she could use them.

She worked with Asha and other members of the pack to research her family history. They dug through old records and talked to other packs, trying to piece together the puzzle of her past. It was difficult because most of the records of her kind were burnt and destroyed.

Slowly, they began to uncover the truth about her ancestry. It was like the myths said; The witch banes were a sect who were known for their ability to resist the power of witches. They had been hunted down and wiped out by fellow werewolves who feared their abilities.

They had the capability of learning magic and were indifferent to the dominance, but as they procreated with normal werewolves, their ability to resist dominance was watered down.

As Nicole learned more about her powers, she began to experiment with them. She discovered that she could reflect magic back to its source. She could also sense the presence of magic and detect the use of spells.

The pack prepared for the inevitable battle with the witch. Nicole trained with the warriors, learning how to harness her power and fight in her wolf form. She was amazed at how quickly she picked up the skills, her body seeming to instinctively know what to do. Nicole worked closely with Liam to train the other pack members. She showed them the techniques she had used to fight the witch's control, and they all marveled at her power.

Asha became her closest friend in the pack, teaching her about the different pack dynamics and wolf politics. They spent hours talking about everything from the history of the pack to the best way to hunt for prey. Nicole had never had a friend like Asha before, and she was grateful for her kindness and support.

Another matter was that of her relationship with Alpha Liam. Since they had to work and train together, they spent more time than ever. They worked closely together, training the pack and discussing strategy. Nicole found herself drawn to him more and more, but she couldn't let herself get too attached.

Then there was the fact that she was very afraid of him. She had started relating with other pack members well, but she still trembled in his presence. Alpha Liam was the alpha, and despite what she was or had become, she knew that there was no future with him. He had also stopped trying to get with her since discovering that she was a witch bane. She saw him try to control his urges and it scared her the most.

One day, as they were training, Garrett pulled her aside.

"Nicole," he said, looking at her with a serious expression. "There's something I have to tell you."

"What is it?" she asked, feeling a little nervous.

"I've been doing some research about your complication with the mark from Alpha Liam," he said, his voice low. "And I've discovered something."

"What?" Nicole asked, feeling a knot form in her stomach.

"It can fade," he said, looking at her intently. "If you stop feeding into it."

"Fade?" Nicole repeated, feeling a chill run down her spine. She didn't want it to fade, she was hoping that Liam would finally acknowledge her. Yet her fear of him made her think it was a good idea.

At first, she had thought whether it was the Mark that made her tremble, or perhaps her attraction to him, but when she tried to separate what the mark made her feel and her true feelings, she realized that it was true fear.

"Yes," he said. "You mixed things up by staying close to each other. If you continue to indulge in these things, the bond from the mark will only grow stronger."

Nicole felt her heart racing. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What does this mean?" she asked, feeling a little overwhelmed.

"It means that you should stay away from him," Garrett said.

Within, Nicole's wolf snarled at Garrett. Nicole blinked in disbelief.

"That's not possible. Why are you doing this, Garrett? Why are you so keen?"

Garrett sighed and shook his head, "Because I know what it is like to be you. I'm from a horrid past too. I want to help you. Do not be deceived by your position as a witch bane. It makes you no greater before Liam. He's a ruthless beast that doesn't want to be tamed. When all these are over, he will kick you to the side. He's not capable of love, Nicole. So, as soon as you see a chance, do both of you a favor and walk away. After all you've been through, you deserve better. Don't settle for less."

Nicole nodded slowly, tears welled in her eyes but she held herself from crying. This was the most heart-wrenching thing she had heard in forever, but she knew that Garrett was right. She realized that she was still a slave until she bought her freedom and she deserved to be free.

"Okay," she said finally. "I'll do whatever it takes to set myself free."

Garrett smiled sadly at her. "That's what I like to hear," he said. "We'll start by working on your control. You need to control your urge for him, like you need to learn how to shift into your wolf form on command. I've also told Liam this and he has promised to keep his hands to himself."

Nicole nodded, feeling determined. She was pretending to be strong when inside her head someone was ripping things apart. All her life, she had always felt like an outsider in the pack, and now she had a purpose, she still had to protect herself. She may be a Witch Bane, but still, she was the slave Omega girl. It was up to her to make sure she saved herself.

Over the next few weeks, Nicole trained with Alpha Liam every day. She worked on her control, practicing her shifts and learning how to harness her power. Alpha Liam and James pushed her hard, but she could feel herself getting stronger with every passing day. She was trying hard to follow Garret's advice but as they trained, Nicole began to see a different side of Alpha Liam. He was still tough and demanding, but he was also kind and patient. He would take the time to explain things to her and he never made her feel like she was less than anyone else in the pack.

She also began to notice the way he looked at her. His gaze would linger on her a little longer than it should, and he would sometimes stand a little too close.

She tried to ignore it, knowing that she could never be with him. But it was difficult, especially when her wolf was so drawn to him, yet she was still terribly afraid of him