Chapter Six: Alpha Under Pressure

The knock on my little office door came too early. Way too early for the kind of conversation I totally knew was coming.

"Come in," I called out, not looking up from the patrol schedules spread across my desk.

Jace walked in and closed the door behind him. The soft click sounded loud in the quiet room.

"We need to talk," he said.

I kept my eyes on the papers. "About?"

"You know what about."

I finally looked up. Jace stood with his arms crossed, his face serious. My best friend since we were kids. My beta. The one person I trusted more than anyone.

And right now, he looked disappointed in me.

"Say what you came to say," I told him.

"The pack is talking, Axel. They're questioning your judgment."

Something cold settled in my stomach. "Who?"

"Does it matter? It's not just one or two wolves. It's spreading."

I stood up, pacing to the window. Outside, I could see some of my pack members working on their bikes. Normal morning stuff. But everything felt different now.

"What are they saying?" I asked.

"That you're thinking with your dick instead of your brain."

I spun around. "Excuse me?"

Jace held up his hands. "Their words, not mine. But Axel, you have to see how this looks. You bring in some random woman, claim she's under your protection, and won't explain why."

"I don't owe them explanations."

"You're their Alpha. Yes, you do."

The words hit harder than they should have. Because he was right. An Alpha's job was to protect the pack. To make decisions that kept everyone safe.

But every time I thought about Calla, my wolf went crazy. Not just with want. But a crazy need and something deeper that I couldn't really name.

"She's different," I said quietly.

"Different how?"

I ran my hands through my hair. How could I explain something I didn't understand myself? That her scent drove me wild? That looking at her made me want to burn down the world to keep her safe?

"Her scent," I said finally. "There's something about her scent."

"What kind of something?"

"I don't know yet. But it's old and somewhat powerful. I can smell it on her."

Jace studied my face. "And that's worth risking the pack for?"

The question hung in the air between us. Was it? Was some mysterious woman worth more than the wolves who'd followed me through hell and back?

My wolf snarled at the thought. She was worth everything.

But my human side knew better. Knew that a good Alpha put his pack first. Always.

"I won't abandon her," I said.

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to think clearly. The bounty hunters are getting closer. Michael is stirring up trouble. And now the pack doesn't trust your judgment."

Before I could answer, another knock interrupted us. Harsher this time.

"Alpha." Michael's voice carried through the door. "Need to speak with you."

Jace and I looked at each other. This was what we'd been dreading.

"Come in," I called out.

Michael entered with three other pack members behind him. All older wolves. All respected fighters who'd been with me since the beginning.

This wasn't good.

"We have concerns," Michael said without preamble.

"About?"

"The woman. The outsider you've brought into our home."

I felt my wolf rise, hackles up. "Calla is under my protection."

"Why?" This came from Marcus, an older wolf with gray streaking his beard. "What has she done to earn pack protection?"

"She doesn't need to earn it. I'm Alpha. My word is law."

"Your word used to mean something," Michael said coldly. "Now we're not so sure."

The insult hit like a physical blow. Around me, the air grew thick with tension. Jace stepped forward slightly, ready to back me up if needed.

"Careful," I warned, my voice dropping low.

"Careful of what? Speaking the truth?" Michael crossed his arms. "You've lost focus, Axel. Ever since that woman showed up, you've been distracted. Weak even."

"I'm not weak."

"Prove it. Send her the fuck away."

The words came out before I could stop them. "No."

"Then you're choosing her over your pack."

"I'm choosing to protect someone who needs protection."

"She's not one of us!" Michael's voice rose. "She's human. Rich. Soft. She'll get us all killed when her husband's people come looking."

"Let them come."

"You hear that?" Michael turned to the other wolves. "He's willing to risk all our lives for some stranger he met yesterday."

Murmurs of agreement came from the others. My chest tightened.

"She's not just some stranger," I said.

"Then what is she?" Marcus asked. "Your mate?"

The word hung in the air like a challenge. Because that's what this was really about. The mate bond that I could feel growing stronger every hour. The pull that made it impossible to think straight when she was near.

"That's not your business," I said finally.

"It is our business," Michael shot back. "Because your personal feelings are affecting pack decisions. Bad decisions."

"Like what?"

"Like keeping bounty hunters' target in our home. Like marking her with your scent so everyone knows she belongs to you. Like making claims you can't back up."

Each word was like a punch to the gut. Because he wasn't wrong. I had been making decisions based on what my wolf wanted, not what was smart.

But I couldn't help it. Every instinct I had screamed to keep Calla close. To protect her. To claim her completely.

"I know what I'm doing," I said.

"Do you?" Michael stepped closer. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're about to tear this pack apart for a woman who doesn't even want to be here."

That stopped me cold. "What do you mean?"

"She asked about leaving. Multiple times. Asked if she was a prisoner. Does that sound like someone who wants your protection?"

My wolf whined. Because he was right again. Calla had seemed scared of me. Of all of us. She'd tried to rationalize everything away instead of accepting what was happening.

"She's confused," I said weakly.

"She's smart enough to see what you can't," Marcus said quietly. "That this won't end well for anyone."

"Enough." I used my Alpha voice, letting power fill the room. "I've made my decision. She stays. End of discussion."

"And if we disagree?" Michael asked.

The question froze everyone. Because it wasn't just a question. It was a challenge to my authority. The kind that could split a pack in half.

"Then you're free to leave," I said, hating every word.

Michael smiled, but it wasn't friendly. "Maybe we will."

He turned and walked out, the others following. Only Jace remained.

"This is bad," he said quietly.

"I know."

"If Michael leaves, others will follow. The pack could fall apart."

"I know."

"Is she worth that?"

I closed my eyes, thinking about Calla. Her scent. Her soft skin. The way she'd tilted her head to let me mark her. The fear in her eyes when she'd asked if she was a prisoner.

"I don't know," I admitted. "But I can't let her go."

"Why?"

"Because..." I struggled to find words that made sense. "Because something inside me will die if I do."

Jace was quiet for a long moment. "I can pretend to understand you but alright if you say so."

"."

"What are you going to do?"

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed. A text from one of our scouts.

Bounty hunters spotted at the diner. Three vehicles. Armed. Asking questions about a woman.

My blood went cold. They were finally here. In Ravenridge.

"Shit," I muttered, showing Jace the message.

"How long do we have?"

"Not long." I was already moving, grabbing my jacket and keys. "Get the pack together. All of them. We need patrols on every road leading in and out of town."

"What about the ones who just walked out?"

"They're still pack until they officially leave. They'll fight if we're threatened."

At least I hoped they would.

I headed for the door, then stopped. "And Jace? Keep an eye on Calla. Don't let her out of your sight."

"Where are you going?"

"To buy us some time."

I left him there and headed for my bike. The engine roared to life, and I peeled out of the compound.

But even as I rode toward danger, my thoughts kept drifting back to Calla. Was she safe? Was she planning to run? Would she even be there when I got back?

The mate bond pulled at me, making it hard to focus on anything else. Making me want to turn around and go back to her.

Which was exactly what Michael had been talking about. I was compromised. Distracted. Making decisions with my heart instead of my head.

But I couldn't stop. Couldn't turn off these feelings even if I wanted to.

The bounty hunters were closing in. My pack was falling apart. And I was caught in the middle, torn between duty and desire.

Something had to give. Soon.

The question was what would break first - my pack, my heart, or my control?