“He thinks you’ll end up joining him.” He shrugs. “But we know you’re never going to do that.”
“If I could cut him off, I would,” I rasp before clenching my jaw.
Felix nods in understanding. “I know. And you’ve got a pack to protect.”
“It’s better to pretend than be honest, and I know that makes me a coward, but I don’t stand a chance against him and his powers.”
Knowing my father has mind control and telekinesis powers is a tough pill to swallow. He’s not like most wolves; he’s his own kind and could tear this world in two. My grandparents were both hybrids—wolves and witches—meaning he somehow absorbed Goddesslike abilities from their experiments with dark magic.
But instead of using his powers for good, he uses them to inflate his ego even more. It’s a terrible imbalance of justice. To give something so incredible to someone so evil. I’ll never understand. There isn’t a single paternal bone in his body. All he knows is violence, authority, and control.
A knock at my office door stirs me away from my thoughts as Carson, my head guard, steps inside. “Alpha, I think you should see this.”
I curse under my breath, stand from the desk, and follow him out of the room, Felix close behind me. Zara, Felix’s mate, meets us on the way down into the main hall, where I find my old pack members fighting with my new pack members.
Guards are trying to pull them apart as I flare my nostrils.
“Enough,” I bellow, causing the room to vibrate.
They step away from each other as my guards move between them. I flick my gaze around and clench my fists. “What on Earth is going on?”
“We don’t want to be here with you,” someone pipes up. “We wantourAlpha back.”
I raise my brows. “Fine, you don’t want to be here? Then go. I won’t stop you. Find another pack that will take you in, but it’s not going to be as easy as you think.”
The guy squares his shoulders to me but says nothing more before folding into himself as I stare him down.
“You guys don’t trust me,” I say simply. “And I get it. But I haven’t chained any of you up or rationed your food. I understand it’s a change that will take a while to get used to, butit’s either this or find your way out there as a rogue. It’s your choice.”
A few of them blink up at me but keep their mouths shut. I don’t want a pack that is terrified of me. I want a pack that knows who I truly am.
“If I see any of you fighting again,” I say heavily, “then there will be severe consequences. Packs don’t turn on each other. Do I make myself clear?”
A gulp can be heard from the silence until they say, “Yes, Alpha.”
“Good. Save the fighting for training.”
5
EVAN
The next morning, I head down to the kitchen early in the hopes I’ll have some peace and quiet, but as soon as I walk through the door, I’m met with Lucy, Jaxon’s sister, and her baby, Albie.
“Morning, Evan,” she says with a smile.
“Morning.”
I take uneven steps to the fridge as her eyes follow me.
“Why are you hobbling?”
“Dead leg,” I lie.
Before I realise what’s happening, she walks towards me, reaches for my hoodie, and pulls it up. She hisses at the sight as she peers around me. “Holy shit.”
I knew it wouldn’t be pretty; I didn’t bother cleaning it up yesterday.
“You need to get this looked at.”
