The pernicious effects of the famine had overcast the village in a morose state of distress. The wife of the noble Beta, whose pack was suffering from the famine, was wandering through the woods.

The fragrant scent of strawberries enticed her to follow it to the proclaimed treasure. Her pendulous stomach confirmed that her pregnancy influenced her decision to seek out the fruit. Her hand tentatively on her round stomach as she moved swiftly through the woods, the ethereal scent tempting her further though the woods.

The image of emerald hedges that perched succulent strawberries, made her mouth water and her pace quicken. She scurried to reach her treasure, the crimson fruit luring her in. The strawberries finally at hands reach, she bit into the mellow fruit, the sugary liquid ran down her chin. She relished the taste of the sweet strawberry, her hands picking more from the bushes as she hungrily ate to fulfill her stomach's craving.

Nature's frosty, biting breath enveloped her body, the icy breeze caused a chill to sprint down her spine. The heavy trudging of footsteps made her perk up in awareness. The atmosphere was pungent with tension and the scent of unfamiliarity stifled her. In an instant, she called out to her mate for help.

'Jacob, where are you?' She asked her mate desperately through their bond.

'Elena, where are you? Are you alright?' Jacob's voice echoed through her head, worry saturated his tone.

'I am where the Soren's Territory meets the Knight's Territory. Where I am, smells of The Knight's Territory. I may be in their land. Jacob, I hear people coming and I'm scared.' Elena replied, frightened of what would happen.

'You're in the Knight's Territory?' He asked her alarmed, 'I'm coming there now, you're not far away from where I am. Don't worry.' He said trying to console her. At her stage in the pregnancy and due to her conditions, she should not have been worrying or it could be fatal to her unborn child.

'Please hurry, Jacob.' She anxiously replied to him before she heard the rustling of a nearby bush.

She was seemingly far into the Knight's Territory and it was too late to escape as the scent of Knight wolves invaded her sense of smell, alerting her she had been caught.

Her head snapped to the bushes, a gust of wind sent her hair flying. A strong hand wrapped around her arm and carelessly turned her around.

"What are you doing on my land Soren? Are you aware you're trespassing on Knight Territory?" A tall burly man with taut muscles asked Elena in a low threatening voice. His stance poised for the kill of an intruder. His face contorted into disgust and a sneer ebbed his face.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know I was trespassing. I just wanted a few strawberries. We're in a famine." She said shakily, words tumbling out trying to explain herself as her small frame convulsed in fear.

"I don't care! You come into my land and you take our food?" The man said in a deep baritone, a dangerous ring to his words making it known in his question that he was the higher ranking wolf.

"Al-alpha Knight I'm so sorry." She said feebly, frightened to the bone for her unborn child as she recognized this wolf.

Her mate just a few meters away, unable to enter the territory as to not cause anymore trouble.

"Alpha Lennox," Jacob bowed respectfully,

"Alpha Lennox, what is the meaning of this?" Another burly man has appeared at the side of Jacob.

"Aaron Soren," The Alpha muttered, purposely not addressing him with his respectful title.

"It's Alpha for you," the man bellowed.

Ignoring the proclamation, "I caught one of your savages stealing from my territory. I have half a mind to just kill her to teach you Sorens a lesson."

"Please let her go." Jacob pleaded to the alpha.

"Do not tell me what to do. You Sorens are the ones who cause the trouble." The Alpha said referencing their ongoing feud.

"Please, just don't hurt my baby. She's my only child." Elena said pleadingly, willing to let him kill her right after she'd given birth.

"She?" The alpha questioned lowly, "State your rank." He commanded.

"I am Elena Soren, Beta Female. Wife and Mate of Beta Male; Jacob Soren." She said as confident as she could.

"Alpha Lennox, surely you would not kill a pregnant wolf." Alpha Soren stayed.

"You don't know me. You'd be surprised by the things I would do," Alpha Lennox sneered in response.

"This is my Beta, she is valuable to the survival of our pack and a Soren legacy. I am sure we can come to a reasonable agreement." The other Alpha narrowed his eyes and made his tone steely.

"It's funny how you speak like you weren't planning to wage war on our packs a few months ago." Lennox countered.

Alpha Aaron growled lowly, the sound spreading throughout the forest. Jacob stayed quiet on the account of the Alpha's command.

"Tell me, who is she to you?" Lennox asked, twirling a strand of her brown hair and looking at her face.

"My sister," the Alpha gritted out.

The alpha seemed deep in thought before he spoke once more, "Tell you what, since I have a sister myself, I will give you two options. One, I kill her and attack your pack for treason."

Alpha Soren's growl reverberated throughout the forest. Lennox chuckled darkly.

"Or?" Jacob asked.

"Or two. Betroth your daughter to my son and when your daughter is at the age of twenty she will be brought to the Knight's community and be claimed to my son, the future alpha."
He spoke seriously.

"You can't be serious," the Soren Alpha belted out.

"But here's the thing, I am," he said as a dark mischievous glint, sparkles in his eyes.

"But what about their mates?" Elena asked shocked.

"It doesn't matter. The beta blood that will flow through your daughter's veins will be a powerful match for my Alpha son. The heir to our pack will be powerful and ensure the survival of us. A direct descendent of a Soren will create an alliance that will ensure peace and stop this feud. Unless that's not what you want." He said seriously.

"You don't know what I want," the Soren Alpha said maliciously.

"It's your choice." The Alpha said as he let his fingers morphed into claws, readying himself to kill her if she disagreed.

Jacob looked pleadingly at his Alpha. He wanted his mate to be safe. He knew this would cause war either way, but he also knew they could not win.

Elena's eyebrows furrowed and her eyes watered. Her only child would be forced to become a Knight. At least she would get twenty years with her daughter and that was better than none. This was the best thing she could do. Her daughter would also secure a partner who would probably provide well enough for her and their children.

"On one condition," Aaron said.

"You're not in the position to bargain," Lennox gritted out.

Nevertheless, the Soren Alpha continued, "You must promise the safety of this child when she is taken to your territory."

"Because I'm an honorable wolf, I can promise you that,"

'Say you choose number two Alpha! There is nothing to think about.' Jacob contacted his Alpha mentally.

"Time is ticking." The alpha growled out and frightened Elena.

"Then we will accept the conditions of number two." The Alpha said before nodding his head in acknowledgment .

"Good choice." The Alpha said with a daunting voice.

"Give me your arm." He bellowed to Elena.

Elena stretched out her arm shakily, giving him it and he snatched it forcefully. His free hand came up, his claws still present. He took one claw and scraped her ivory skin, marring her flesh with the letter K on the inside of her palm. She let out a strangled cry.

"Elena!" Jacob cried in fear as he watched his wife suffer .

"This scar represents the promise the Sorens have made to give your daughter to my son. It will only disappear once you have fulfilled it. If you do not, I will hunt you down and murder you and your pack. Your daughter will be the Sorens retribution." The Alpha bellowed before releasing her arm.

Elena rushed to the other side of the boundary line to the embrace of her husband, tears pouring down her face. Alpha Soren stepped up to the boundary line.

"Until then." The Knight's Alpha said before walking away.