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“Alpha!” The Betas yell out and try to pull the crazed man back from attacking his sons. A commotion of fury and confusion grows outside the door as several loud knocks beat against the frame. It’s a trap. My pup’s wail is lost in the commotion as I desperately wish it would all end. Devin moves to the door and slams it shut as someone tries to enter. Jude pulls Owen’s shoulder with both of his hands and Owen attempts to shift. Luke has already shifted into a stunning white wolf and his jaws have locked around his father’s forearm.
All hell has broken lose. A fire of fear races through my blood.
“I’ll kill you all!” The Alpha sneers as he attempts to shift, but Jude slams his fists into his father’s chest, pushing him backward. His arm is ripped from Luke’s jaws, spraying dark red blood; it splatters across Jude’s chest and the table. Their father lands hard on the ground and rises quickly as a gray beast. He snarls, exposing his fangs and lunges at Luke. Jude shifts and circles the two wolves. Waiting for a moment to strike. Owen shifts as well but struggles to find an opening to safely attack without harming his brother.
My focus is taken from the unbearable sight as Devin’s body is shoved forward from the door being pushed violently open by the heavy shoulders of several men. The Betas run past us, on our side of the table to prevent the intruders from interfering. “Challenge!” It’s the only word that registers on my left through all the screams suffocating the air. Men and women crowd the doorway, but don’t dare to enter more than a few feet. Their eyes wide with the same fear that churns my gut.
Jude. Tears flow easily as all I can do is watch.
The two wolves, one white and one gray, spar with the desire to kill, snarling and biting into each other’s bodies. Luke whimpers as his father clamps his jaws around Luke’s back leg.
Jude’s wolf, a dark brown, monster of a wolf, attacks. He grips his father’s exposed throat easily in his jaws and clamps hard, digging his fangs into the flesh. But he doesn’t strike to kill. It’s a warning. His father doesn’t budge and instead a loud snap sounds through the room. Luke’s wolf howls in pain as his leg breaks. Owen’s wolf snarls and lunges for the leg of his father on a path of justified vengeance. A low growl resonates through the room from the dark brown wolf, halting Owen’s attack. The growl is one meaning death will come if he’s not obeyed. Their father slowly loosens his hold on Luke and the wounded wolf limps in pain. Owen runs to be at his brother’s side. He pushes his side against the white wolf, leading him closer to us, closer to safety.
Jude growls again and the sound is meant to be obeyed. My blood rushes with adrenaline as the room goes silent. Waiting for his father to submit or die. My vision is obstructed by the large table, and I find myself slowly walking close and leaning against the table to look at Jude’s father. The wolf’s eyes are crazed and his lip is curled back, revealing his fangs covered in blood.
He arches his neck feigning submission, and I can practically see the decision to trick Jude forming in his sick mind. Everything plays in slow motion before me and I haven’t the time to warn Jude. As his neck goes limp, Jude loosens his grip on his father and takes a cautious step back. The wolf continues to lay, surprising me. His eyes spark of fury. The room is so quiet that the sound of Jude’s paw settling in a small pool of blood is easily heard. And then the snarl from his father tears through the silence. But instead of attacking Jude, the wolf leaps off the ground and lunges for me.
My blood rushes hot as I scream and push my weight backward. Devin’s strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back as Jude leaps in the air, jaws open, and clamps around his father’s neck. They both land heavy on the table. I continue screaming and holding my crying baby closer to me as Jude rips his father’s throat out in front of me, in front of everyone. His wolf continues to claw against the dead wolf as a dark pool of blood spills down his fur and soaks into the table.
The only other sounds I’m vaguely aware of as I rock my body and try to calm myself and my son are the sounds of murmuring and then silence. It only lasts a small moment before I peek up at the sound of clothes ruffling as everyone in the room kneels and then bows. With all of the adrenaline still racing through me and my head clouded by the visions of what’s just happened, it’s hard to believe it’s over. That it ended just as quickly as it began.
Jude’s wolf calms and paces on the table, staring at the Betas who have kneeled and lowered their heads. He shifts with his back to me. His muscles ripple and glisten with sweat as he wipes his face with the back of his hand. I stare at the blood on his hand as he turns, taking in all the people bowing before him. My baby finally calms, still making small sounds of irritation, as I continue to rock and pat his back. I feel distant; the shock makes my body tremble.
As his eyes land on me, I realize I haven’t bowed to him. I’m the only one not on my knees and my mouth falls open in horror. My hand leaves my son’s back and cradles his head to me, and I quickly attempt to kneel. I swallow thickly, feeling his eyes bore into me as he jumps off the table, landing on both feet directly in front of me. I try to lower my head in submission, but his hand cups my chin and brings my eyes to his.
“You will never bow to me.” My lips part in shock as his handsome face leans down as he kisses the crook of my neck. I close my eyes and breathe in his masculine scent, knowing exactly why he’s kissing me there. As I look into Jude’s eyes, our son wiggles in my arms. It’s hard to miss that all eyes are on us. Jude’s hand curves around the baby’s head and he leans down to give him a small kiss.
Jude looks me in the eyes and says, “Don’t you ever put yourself into danger again.” The admonishment nearly has my knees buckling under me. His dominance radiates off him and my body involuntarily shakes. His arm wraps around my waist and pulls me closer to him. He whispers in the hot air between us, “You scared me.” His soft lips press against mine. “I never want you two in danger ever again.”
My shoulders collapse inward and I fall against his chest. With one hand stroking my back and the other holding my son, Jude leans down and kisses each of us again.
JUDE
None of the emotion has dimmed inside of me. I can’t believe she’d tempt fate like that. My wolf’s fear of seeing her in danger is still very much present. I’ve never known fear like that. The very idea that she could be harmed … it brings me to my knees. I never want to feel that again. I lean down and give my mate and our son a kiss and do my best to calm myself. My shoulders bristle and inside my wolf continues to howl.
My brothers are the same. Although their mate is far more wounded than my own.
She’s up and conscious but being human is really going to take a toll on her healing. I can’t help but to feel guilty. Had I known how fucked my father had become, I never would’ve stood for bringing our mates. With my shoulders rising and falling heavily, I resist accepting that what’s done is done. None of it feels real and yet, with the bond pulsing in my blood, I know damn well this is what fate has brought us all.
I catch Owen’s eye and speak through our bond, “Is she all right?”
“No, she’s too fucking stubborn.” A moment passes before he lets out a breath and offers a nod. “She’ll be all right.” A small smile plays at my lips. They both dote over her, and she pushes them away, assuring them she’s fine. The cut on her cheek looks pretty bad, but a healer will make sure she doesn’t scar. Owen shakes his head. “She’ll be fine.”
“I wish she’d fucking listen.”
I hear Devin snort and then respond to Luke. “You and me both.” Although his arm is wrapped around Grace’s waist casually, it’s all too apparent she’s shaken. Everyone in the room is, yet there’s a sense of peace in its finality.
Looking between Devin and Luke as the conversation continues, I realize we’ve all bonded over this. It’s not unheard of for several Alphas to bond, but it is extremely rare.
The realization is slow to wash over me, as I take in the room of faces that seem familiar and all of them watching us.
I’m Alpha of this pack now. I challenged and killed my father. A cold sweat breaks out along my skin. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I look around the room and watch as the Betas clean the mess I left of my father. We’ll build him a pyre and bury him as an Alpha should be buried. A sickness churns in my stomach. What have I done? It’s impossible for me to know what I’ve set into motion and what will come next for us.
“Do you want us to stay for a while?” Devin’s question disrupts my thoughts. I struggle to respond. I’m not sure I want this at all. I look around the room again and recognize nearly every face. My heart clenches. I only wanted to save them from a horrible decision my father made, but I wasn’t prepared to lead them myself.
“You know when I first saw you, I wondered how long it would take for you to join my pack.” I stare back at Devin. His hand comes down on my shoulder. “And then I got to know you and I started wondering when you were going to leave.” I place my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. He tells me, “You are meant to be an Alpha.”
Words escape me and I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing. I pull him in for a quick hug, making sure to hit him hard on the back so we don’t look like pussies.
