Chapter 18
Alpha Jack
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I stand by the window, watching as my mate walks away without a single moment of hesitation. Her heavy bag of gold is slung over her shoulder, yet she carries it as if it weighs nothing. She doesn’t glance back–not even once. No second thoughts, no lingering doubts in her steps. Just pure determination, as if she truly believes she’s convinced she’s escaping. The thought irks me more than it should.
Did she really think I’d let her go that easily?
A bitter chuckle escapes my lips as lean against the frame. A part of me wonders–how the hell did a woman like her, strong and stubborn, come to possess that much gold? What kind of job could she have done? Because one thing is certain–she would never bow to an Alpha and earn such a fortune through obedience or dedication.
But more than that, what truly fascinates me is her audacity–the way she tried to reject me so heartlessly, so effortlessly, without even a flicker of hesitation. If I hadn’t silenced her with that kiss, she would have done it–slicing the bond clean through as if it meant nothing. That damn rejection
would have been cold–blooded, ruthless.
Still, there was one good thing that came from her little attempt-
Kali.
Her name. So damn beautiful. So fitting.
And the bond? Fucking electric. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt something like this. But she’s fighting it fighting me. And I fucking hate it.
A low growl rumbles in my chest, my wolf restless and agitated. “Are you seriously just going to stand here and watch her leave?”
I roll my eyes at his possessiveness.
“Yes. To gain her trust,” I mutter.
“Trust?” My wolf scoffs.
“Let her think we’re not the big, scary, bad wolf lurking in the dark.”
“But we are.”
I huff. “And if we act like it now, we’ll never have her. She’s one stubborn she–wolf. If we force her, she’ll fight harder. If we let her run…”
“Then we hunt,” my wolf finishes, his voice dark with anticipation but there’s no patience in him. I don’t care what she thinks. She is ours. She belongs to us. She should be in our arms, not running from us. Let’s claim her now. Mark her!”
A snarl rips from my throat, shaking the walls. “And what? Lock her up until she submits? Force her? You want to repeat our past mistakes? Do you want history to repeat itself?!”
My voice is laced with fury, but underneath it, there’s a raw edge–one only my wolf and I understand.
He falls silent. Then, a low whine escapes him, a deep, aching pain threading through our bond. A haunting agony that makes my muscles tense. The past is something we never speak of. The past is something we drown.
I exhale slowly, forcing control over both of us before speaking again. “Tell me… you enjoy the hunt, don’t you?” A cruel smirk tugs at my lips.
My wolf lets out a rumbling growl. “Yes. The thrill of letting prey think it’s free–letting it taste safety, only to drag it back into our jaws–it makes the feast
all the sweeter.”
“Exactly.” My smirk widens.
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Chapter 18
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I grip the windowsill, watching Kali disappear into the woods. “That’s what we’re doing. Letting her think she’s free. Letting her come back to us willingly. Letting her fight, struggle… and then break. We make her submit when the time is right.”
But my wolf isn’t satisfied. He growls low, restless. “And when will the time come? You saw the look in her eyes. You felt her wolf’s silence. She blocked me when I tried to reach her. She’s already planning to reject us the moment she gets the chance. You’re playing a dangerous game, jack.”
His desperation coils in my chest, making it hard to breathe. And I know he’s right. I saw it too. She’s strong–dangerously so. And if she keeps resisting….
A sharp pain explodes in my skull.
Blinding, searing pain.
Fuck! I clutch my head, staggering away from the window. It’s happening again. The pain. The loss. The madness.
I need to lock myself up. Now.
My wolf thrashes inside me, clawing at my mind like a rabid beast. His howls turn into deafening roars, my head splitting apart from the force of it. This isn’t the first time. Ever since her, my wolf has been broken. Unhinged.
That’s why I had the cage built deep beneath the packhouse–a place no one dares enter. A place to keep my own damn wolf from tearing everything apart.
I stagger through the packhouse, biting back a snarl as I shove open the hidden entrance to the underground chamber. The moment I step inside, the scent of silver burns my nose. The walls gleam with a deadly glow, and the cage in the center of the room stands open, waiting for me. The pain will be unbearable, but it’s necessary.
With a snarl, I step inside and slam the door shut, locking myself in before the madness takes over completely. My hands grip the bars, knuckles turning white. My wolf howls, thrashing violently, but the silver keeps me from shifting fully.
Hours pass before he finally stills. Not calm–never calm–but restrained. My breathing is ragged, my body drenched in sweat, but once again, I am in control. I mind–link Fury, my most trusted warrior. Unlike his name, he’s eerily composed–a silent killer beneath a calm exterior.
“Track my mate.”
A second later, a quiet, deadly voice replies. “Alpha.”
“Follow her. Stay in the shadows. Report everything to me.”
“Understood.”
I close the link and straighten, rolling my shoulders as the last remnants of pain fade from my body,
With a sharp exhale, I unlock the cage and push open the door, careful not to touch the silver bars.
As I step out, my mind drifts back to Kali. I wonder where she was heading before those rogues led her here. If my former commander hadn’t killed them, I might’ve spared one–forced answers out of him.
But none of that matters now because no matter how far Kali runs, no matter how much distance she thinks she’s put between us-
Soon enough, she’ll realize there is no escape. Only death can stand between us.
Speaking of death…
Today marks my father’s death anniversary.
Cursing under my breath, I make my way to the house I built for my mother beside my father’s grave. She has dedicated her entire life to honouring my father, as she should. A woman of obedience and submission. Unlike Kali. If only she were like my mother, things would be so much easier.
When I arrive, I see her already performing the ritual, her hair falling in long strands as she shaves it off, her hands steady, her expression serene. Once
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Chapter 18
the ritual is over, we bow together, and she leads me inside for tea.
“You don’t always have to come, Jack,” she says as she pours my cup. “I can do this alone. I know you’re busy fulfilling your duties as Alpha.”
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I take a slow sip, letting the warmth chase away some of my tension. “This is one of the only times I get to see you, Mother. And I’m not just here because
of Father.”
She smiles knowingly. “You’ve grown so much, my son. I was scared when you became Alpha at such a young age, but you’ve done far greater things than your father. I know he would be proud.” She places a gentle hand on mine. “Now, you just need to find another mate–this time, a strong but obedient Luna, like I was to your father. Then no one will ever question your authority.”
I exhale sharply. There’s no hiding anything from her. “I already found my second–chance mate.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but before she can speak, I continue, “She’s a stubborn she–wolf. She tried to reject me.” My jaw clenches. “But over my dead body will I let that happen.”
To my surprise, my mother’s expression shifts. “Jack,” she says calmly, “I think it’s for the best that your mate is rejecting you. Accept her rejection.”
I freeze, completely taken aback. “What?”
She sighs and sets her teacup down. “This is an opportunity, Jack. You should ask the Alpha King for his only daughter’s hand in marriage. We both know he won’t hesitate. You are the best candidate for that position, and I have no doubt that he and his daughter will accept. After all, you would be doing him
a favor. You are the strongest and most ruthless Alpha out there.”
The Alpha King had two daughters, but one had gone missing–something no one dared to speak about for fear of their lives. It was a forbidden topic.
“Marry his daughter,” my mother continues. “Make her your Luna. Solidify your power. Once you do, you can finally end your uncle and crush your enemies beneath your feet. No one will ever challenge you again–not even the Alpha King himself.”
She leans closer, her gaze sharp. “The Alpha King would be honored to have you as his son–in–law. You are everything a ruler should be–powerful, feared, and relentless. With his daughter by your side, you will be unstoppable.”
I sit in silence, staring into my tea, slowly processing her words. Marry the Alpha King’s daughter? Secure my rule? But most importantly I would make Kali regret ever thinking she could walk away from me?
A slow, wicked grin spreads across my lips.
“I’ll think about it.”
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