Chapter 54
As we walk deeper into the Alpha house, i nearly gap
Ugh
The place reeks of them–Diana’s cloying scent still clings to the walls like decay. Grace’s scent–bitter and spoiled, just like her lingers in the air, mixing with the faint musk of Travis.
It’s nauseating. Overpowering, Suffocating.
instinctively, I move closer to Jack, pressing against his side like I want to crawl under his skin. And gods, I really do. He doesn’t say a word, just lets me cling to him.
Thank the Goddess for his scent–clean, woodsy, and darkly intoxicating. It slices through the stench like a blade, grounding me, keeping the bile from vising in my throat.
“I swear,” I mutter, half–laughing. “If I breathe this in for one more minute, I might start throwing up Grace’s name.”
Jack chuckles, deep and amused, then leads me toward the glass doors that open into a wide garden. It overlooks the entire pack territory, bathed in silver moonlight. The view is stunning–if you can ignore the underlying rot,
He holds the door open for me with a mock bow, and I grin as I step outside, breathing in the fresh air like salvation.
“So…“1 ask, glancing up at him as we walk. “Are you really planning to run this place yourself now? The big bad Alpha of two packs?”
Jack scoffs, letting out a dry laugh. “Hell no.”
I raise an eyebrow.
He leans against the stone railing, arms crossed over his broad chest, looking out at the land like it’s just another burden to carry. “Handling Blood Fang is already a pain in the ass. I became Alpha too young–thrown into the fire after my uncle betrayed us. I’ve been cleaning up his messes ever since.”
I reach out, my fingers brushing against his arm. His voice sounds… tired. And that’s rare. Jack doesn’t do tired.
He glances at me, a half–smile tugging at his lips. “So no, I’m not taking over Red Night. I’ll observe while I’m here. See if anyone’s worthy. Someone strong enough to lead without needing to grovel. When we have a son, I’ll step down from Blood Fang and let him carry the legacy.”
1 blink.
A son?
My face instantly heats up. I bite my lower lip, trying to hide the smile threatening to break through the blush. Jack notices, of course, and smirks.
“Thinking about it already?” he teases.
I roll my eyes. “I’m not giving you pups until you prove you can handle me first.”
He laughs–loud, genuine, and free.
But then, without warning, my thoughts drift to someone I haven’t seen since the moment I returned to this pack. Caspian.
My best friend. The only one who ever treated me as more than the pack’s leftover scraps. Strong, level–headed, fiercely loyal. If anyone deserves to lead this place, it’s him.
I smile slowly, turning to Jack with a flirtatious flutter of my lashes. “I have someone in mind.”
Jack lifts a brow, “Do you now?”
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sheng, stugding not to smile again. “Okay, maybe he had a huge crush. But that’s not the point.
He grumbles something ander his breath that sounds a lot like, “Why is every damn imam in love with her?”
“Because I’m irresistible,” I say it a wink, poking his side
Before he can fire back, the door behind us creaks open. A water steps cut and bows his head respectfully
“Alpha,” the man says, his eyes ficking triedy to me before returning to Jack. “We’ve confirmed it. The Aphta of Red Night is out on a business.”
Jack straighters immediately, his face hardening,
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*Then make sure he doesn’t find out this pack is under siege,” he says coldly. “If he recoms with reinforcements or calls for allies, we have a full–scale war on our hands want no one escaping this pack. Sience every route.”
“Yes, Alpha
I watch Jack in profile, the last light of the setting sum casting shadows across his face. And in that moment, I understand just how dangerous he truly is He’s not just a possessive, jealous Alpita with a sharp temper and a mouth constantly want to shut with a kiss.
He’s a strategist. A ruler. A weapon.
And he’s mine.
Jack turns to me, sensing my gaze. He brushes a knuckle softly along my cheek 71 be right back. I need to handle this personally
Inod, reluctantly letting go of his hand. “Go. funderstand.”
He brushes his lips lightly over my forehead and disappears through the door with that predator’s grace he always carries.
remain there, standing in the moonlight, gazing out over the pack that once treated me like nothing. The cool night air brushes against my skim as I lean on the balcony, inhaling deeply. It’s the only thing tonight that doesn’t reek of rot or betrayal–just clean, crisp air, faintly laced with pine and moonlight I close my eyes and let it settle over me.
But then… footsteps.
1 don’t need to turn around to know who it is. I knew that scent–warm, lavender, and a little like old books. My mother
I turn slowly, and there she is, arms folded, a gende smile tugging at her lips.
“I didn’t want to interrupt the moment you were having with your mate,” she teases. “You two looked….. very much in love.”
My cheeks instantly flush, and I fidget, locking away with a huff of a laugh “Mom.”
“What?” she says, stepping closer, nudging my shoulder. Tm just calling it like I see it.”
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13:31 Sat 21 Jun
Chapter 4
troll my eyes, bin Fean’t stop snilling Whige have you been, anyway? I didn’t see you after the whole. Diana situation”
“Oh, someone had to make sure that woman was actually doing her jobs,” she says, brushing invisible dust off her dress with a smug look. “It’s almost dinner time, so i had her cook us a feast.
blink, a short escaping me “Wait–Diana? You made her cook?”
“Of course, she’s now out slave.” My mother raises an eyebrow like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
um,” say, chuckling “what if she poisons it?”
“She’s tasting, it before we eat,” she says dryly, waving a hand. “And besides, I had one of Alpha Jack’s warriors from Blood Fang watching her every move. She sneezes wrong, and she’s done for.”
That does it. I laugh. Really laugh. That kind of laugh that makes your eyes sting and your chest light.
My mum laughs with me, and for a second, just a second, it feels like everything is okay.
I pull her into a hug without even thinking, wrapping my arms around her tightly, pressing my face into her shoulder. She’s smaller than I remember- maybe because life has weighed her down–but she’s warm and real.
“I missed you,” I whisper.
“I missed you more than you’ll ever know.”
I don’t want to let go, but eventually I pull back and look at her face. There’s peace there now. A quiet strength that makes me feel both proud and a little
sad.
She studies me like she’s seeing me for the first time. Then she tilts her head and says, “Kali… how on earth did you bag such a man?”
I blink. “Huh?”
“Alpha Jack,” she says, still sounding a bit incredulous. “Of all people, he is your mate? I don’t mean it in a bad way, but… I can’t believe it. The one person I warned you never to cross paths with. And yet here you are. Still breathing.”
1 laugh under my breath, glancing back out at the garden. “Yeah… it’s a long story, Mum. And trust me, he’s not as bad as everyone says.”
She arches a brow, waiting for more.
I sigh, shaking my head. “It’s unfortunate I’m only just starting to see that.”
She hums. “I can tell. I saw how he looked at you… like the stars don’t shine without your permission. And the way he holds you. Possessive. Protective. Are you in love with him?”
I go quiet. My lips part, but I can’t speak. Not immediately.
“To be honest, Mum…” I say finally, “I don’t know. I feel something, something I’ve never felt before. But love? I… I’m still figuring that out.”
She nods, understanding in her eyes. “You will. In time.”
Then I smirk, switching the topic. “Enough about me. What about Beta Logan? Where’s that bastard hiding?”
I still need my revenge on him.
My mother’s expression changes instantly. Her smile fades, and her eyes lose their sparkle.
“Your father… is in the hospital.”
I blink. “What?”
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Chapter 54
“He’s bedridden.”
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