Chapter 26
The training grounds were buzzing. The Dunk Howler’s pack was out in full force, the air thick with anticipation, and every packmember’s face held a mix of excitement and judgment—Goddess, soine even made licets What the hell!
Today was the day—the battle for the Chief Beta position. Scott, my stepather’s son, had been waiting for this moment like it was his birthright I should been rooting for him, right? That I wasn’t, not really.
Dorian, of course, made it all worse. He insisted–no, demanded—that I sit on his lap during the fight. On his throne. In front of everyone. “Sit with me. Selene.” he said, voice low and full of that promise he never kept light. “Or Scott won’t stand a fucking chance today”
So, here I was, flushed with embarrassment, sitting on his lap, with the entire pack glaring daggers at me. Great What’s she doing up there? Why i
she with him!
I was wondering the same thing, honestly
I shifted uncomfortably, trying to ignore the hate–filled stares–especially from Amara who’s trying to comfort their child crying for his father’s
attention
wanna be up there with Daddy!” He cries out,
Oh, Goddess. Please know I have no pat in this. This feels shitty
The sun was beating down the horizon, casting shadows over the training grounds, but the platform where Dorian and I was shaded, like we were royalty watching peasants fight for scraps.
Below us, Matias and Scott stood ready, circling each other like animals about to tear each other apart. The fight hadn’t started yet, but it was obvious who the crowd favored. And it sure as hell wasn’t Scott
Today, we will witness the birth of the new Chief Beta with two of our strongest contenders up front The host announced
Dorian wasn’t even paying attention to the battle. His focus was on me much to my distaste, his arm casually draped around my waist, pulling me closer on his lap. His breath ghosted the back of my neck, sending chills down my spine eyen though I was trying my damned hardest to ignore
This is the last time I am bonoring your requests like this. You have a wife and a child. Grow up, Alpha” I murmur.
“You nervous?” he whispered in my ear, his breath hot against my neck.
About Sron! Not really,” I muttered back, trying to shift off his lap, but his grip only tightened
He chuckled. “I wasn’t talking about Scott.”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to shiver at the feel of him so close. Focus, Selene.
In de arena, Scott was alrearly showing his cards. I instantly held my breath when he charged an Matias with all the grace of a drunk bear. Matian sidestepped easily, making Scou stumble like an idiot. The crowd laughed, and I could see my stepfather’s face amongst the crowd tightening with every second that passed.
Fuck, I thought, watching Scott flail around. He wasn’t just losing—he was embarrassing himself. Matias didn’t even break a sweat as he dodged every wild swing Scott threw, moving effortlessly, like this was some kind of warm–up for him. The pack was practically rolling their eyes at this
guy even down there? My niece can
nice ran for the candidacy and wasn’t even given a spoil
sure as hell know T’in stronger than that man!TM
The heat was unbearable, and even though I was in the shade, I could feel my face burning–though maybe that was just from the humiliation of sitting here, on Dorian’s lap, while Scout, the guy Fm barking up turned this fight into a joke.
ther sather hand, was still laser–focused on me. His hand moved up my side, resting on my hip, his thumb tracing lazy circles on my skin. “You should be wan lung the fight,” I hissed quietly, trying to squirm out of his grip
He clanckled softly “Tm more interested in you?
I clenched my jaw, any body tense as I tried to focus on the bande instead of the heavy weight of his gaze, just then, Scott lunged at Matias again.
chual force, but Matias was too quick. In one butal nuwe, Matias kosockel Scott to the ground with a sickening thud, the sound of hour İsitting din making the crowd cap
Scom didid get back up.
My stepfather Marcuc’s lace went pale bevondad
sil, then red. He looked like he
really in murder somer
Manas stood tall barche wanded, while Scott lay in the dirt like a lanken toy. The entire pack was whispering, and I could see the sneers and judgment in then eyes, not just for Scott bad for his father, fon. Yet that same lather’s eyes was already on me. Becane, of course, I was the reason
Dorian finally tore his gare from me to glance at the scene below. “Well, that was pathetic,” he muttered, his tone bored.
I didn’t respond. What could I say? Scott had lost, and I wasn’t surprised. My stepfather Marcus, though–Marcus was furious. He stormed the platform his face twisted my rage, and Helt a knot form in my stomach. I knew what was coming.
toward
Turely had time to Mand up Clancing at Dorian. “T–I’m going to the bathroom.” I stutter. I looked up at me, those sage green eyes burning with suspicious before he dropped it and nodded. “Please be quick. I want you back onto my cock” Pervert
fault. You didn’t help him, did you?”
a barely had time to reach the tent before my father caught ups “You,” he spat, venom in his voice. “This is your f
1 opened my mouth to argue, but his hand struck me hard across the face. “You sneaky bitch! You weren’t actually helping my son, were your I told you the consequences—
“I’m the pack doctor.” I interrupted, my voice shaky but firm. “I’m going to help him now.”
stomach twisted Hasard
He stormed off, and I grabbed my medical kit, hurrying to where Scott was being dragged into the tent. My hands shook, but I pushed through. Thus wasn’t about Scott–it was survival.
tent, I knelt beside Scout, cleaning his wounds while replaying my father’s slap. Yeah, like it’s my fault your son’s a useless pig
Scott groaned as I pressed a cloth to his face. “You did great out there,” I muttered sarcastically. “Really showed them who’s boss.” He didn’t respond. Not that a mattered,
None of das did. Not really.
just needed to get through this. Finish patching him up, do my job, and get the hell out of here
wiping the blood from Scott’s busted lip when I heard the heavy footsteps behind me. The tent flap flew open, and there he was–my kiepfather. Marrus once again. But this time, lie’s carrying an envelope. Did he just follow us here! Goddess,
“You think this is
The barked, sttorining toward me “You think cleaning him up after he’s already humiliated himself makes up
for
YOUE
I glanced at him, hands still working medically, bandaging Scott’s hand. Here we go agai
“I did what I could,” I said through gritted terik. “He wasn’t going to win, father. You know that.”
hand down at to me, grabbing my a hard enough that I felt the bruise forming. “Your mother,” he h your für king inconprimer. Do you want that Do you wait her to be punished because you didn’t ilo enought?” My Bean drogged into my stomach
hussed,
mention of my mother, and I felt my hands shake, the bandage slipping from my grip. “Leaver her out say trying to pullany autu back. Laur his grips only tightened.
dorian” he said, his voice low and venomous. “And begging won’t be enough anymore?
per you talking about
to sit in that position, you hear mer
Yourkite what I’m talking about, belene. You’ll go to h, and you’ll do whatever it fucking takes for Scott to sit in t livrpes gleamed with something sick “Stop Seduce luni. Make yourself useful for one.”
not doing that. El never
with a cruel Langels, slashing the was off the brown envelope in his hand. You think you’ve got a choice?” I
He pulled out something,
khair Bright, wide
ryes from lils father
3:36 PM et
Chapter 26
My breath caught in my throat. Maric. His lale face stared back at me from the ground, shitstormin swiding around him. His cheeks still had that baby softness to them, his small l- 1could bear was the nash of blood porsling in my ears.
“Where the hell dal you get this?” I demanded, my voice barely a whisper.
rable, completely unaware of the
og a stuffed wolf toy I’d left with him. And all
He pulled out more pichars, each one of my son, each one making my chest tighten. “I’ve had eyes on him from the moment you left him with that witch in Seattle, he said casually, like he wasn’t thuratening the only thing in the world that mattered to me.
“He’s with a witch.” 1 stapped, though iny voice w
voice wavered. “She’s strong. She’ll protect him.”
witch can’t stop a bullet–wolfsbane. I’ve got my man waiting for my orders, Selene. One command from me and.
He let the threat hang in the air like poisonn
My heart pounded in my chest, panic clawing at my insides. I couldn’t breathe. He’d do it, I knew he would. Marcus was twisted enough to hurt my baby just to get what he wanted.
I pressed the photo to my chest, bile rising in my throat. The image of my son’s face seared into my mindd, hell I was trapped in
his innocence so far removed from the
“So he continued, standing over me like a fucking king. “you’ll go to Dorian You’ll do exactly what I said. Or your son dies.
I wanted to scream 1 wanted to rip ham apart right there, but instead, I nodded, numb. I had no choice.
Marcus turned and left without another word, leaving me kneeling in the dirt, surrounded by pictures of my son. I couldn’t risk it, I couldn’t lose
Alaric.
1 dabbed at my mother’s forehead with a cool cloth, trying to ccalm my racing thoughts. The room smelled like stale air and the mix of herbs d been using to keep her fever down. My hands were shaking, though not because of her. My mind was on Alaric. How the hell did Marcus get someone close to him? Eva was supposed to be powerful, safe. But Marcus didn’t bluff. I couldn’t risk it.
“Selene” My mother’s voice was weak, barely above a whisper.
I glanced down at her. She looked like she was hanging on by a thread, pale and worn out, but her eyes were sharp, still too aware,
“How did you survive?” she asked, her hand trembling as she reached for mine her question instantly brought years of memories
I hesitated. How much weas I supposed to say? I didn’t want to dump everything on her, not when she was like this. But I knew the question had been coming sooner or later. I’d avoided it long enough.
“I got lucky,” I said, keeping my voice low “I ended up in Seattle. I was on the run… father was coming after me, you know that.” My throat tightened, but I pushed through. “A witch family found me, took me in”
Her eyes flattered closed for a second. She seemed to be absorbing my words, waiting for more. I swallowed, hating where this was going
“There was a guy” I continued. “He helped me Saved me, really
“They too me in, as pregnant as I was” I braced myself. “I gave birth in their house. To a son, his name’s Alaric.”
I paned. “They too mir
She deduct react at first, probably too draained to take it all in. This next part… Clod, how was I supposed to tell her this!
Her eyes snapped open. She jerked up in bed like I’l hit her with a bolt of lightning, the fever be damned. “Alpha Dorian’s?!” Her voice cracked, but Har shock in her face was real. Well, my stepfather though tit was of a lustard, afterall.
Turpped back, trying to breathe through the panic tightening my chest. “Yes, he’s Alpha Dorian’s son”
ared at me, the weight of my words crashing down on both of us. I could see her mind racing, putting pieces together.
“You have to tell him she said, her y
voler rasping
shook my head, feeling that familiar tension creeping up again. She didn’t let go of my hand, her grip firm now, “Selene, listen to me. Alpha Teoman’s his father. If anyour can protect Alaric, it’s him. You know that.”
whed. She wastet woong, anal fluit was the problem. Thalan had the power, the resources, the entire slamın pack behind him. But letting him
That sprued up ude dûferent mess I wasn’t ready to deal with
“I don’t know it l du that,” Eimateard, backing away from the bed. The room felt suffocating, and her words kept circling my brain like a trap I
3:26 PM
Chapter 26
couuldn’t escape.
“You have to she pressed, her voice stronger now. “For Alaric. He deserves to grow up safe, and he needs his father for that.”
Her words hit hard, the truth stinging. What if telling Dorian was the only way to keep Alaric safe? Could I trust him with that? I didn’t know, anfd the thought scared the hell out of me. He already has Amara and another child with her.
I stared out the window, my hands clenched into fists, Could I really hide this from Dorian forever?
