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RHETT

Ever since I was younger, I’ve been made to believe that power comes with silence. But I beg to differ. Power comes in screams, usually that of someone else.

And tonight, I hear too many.

The scent of blood trails behind my boots as I walk through the halls of Blackwood Tower, an empire I built from the ground with my bare hands. I worked myself to the bone to get to my current position. With blood, with my claws, with silver tipped contracts and an obscene amount of corpses beneath my throne to silence even the most obstinate council members—I earned it all.

But it seemed even that wasn’t enough to keep them from making such an abhorrent decision.

“How bad was it?” I asked my beta, Killian, as I unbuttoned my shirt and sat stiffly on my throne.

He stood ramrod straight, a fierce but loyal expression on his face as he gave me an answer.

“Bad,” he started. “Two soldiers died at the western borders. Ten civilians were killed. Work is underway to inform the deceased’s families and lay them to rest.”

I let out a heavy sigh at that news. My claws were extended, still carrying remnants of the blood of my enemies. I’d made sure they paid for ever thinking of attacking my pack as I tore their innards from their bellies.

Mercy wasn’t something I’ve ever believed in and I wasn’t going to start now.

“Well at least it wasn’t thirty, right?” Nikolai said from the pillar he rested against, a maniacal smile on his face as he flipped his blade across his extended claws. I wasn’t surprised by his retort. As my Gamma, he was in charge of the soldiers’ training, but sometimes, he acted like a pup on a constant sugar rush.

“Now’s not the time for jokes, Nikolai,” Killian barked from his position beneath the throne. I could sense the hostile energy coming from the both of them and it forced my hand.

I let out a pulse of energy, overwhelming in its power, causing the both of them to turn the necks in subservience, exposing their throats to me. I didn’t relish in the use of my gift, but they really pushed my buttons too often. And, besides, I only used a fraction of it.

“Enough,” I commanded, rising from my throne. “We need to focus on the issue at hand.”

I let my power recede into me slowly, freeing them from its forceful hold.

“Yes, Alpha,” they replied in unison, their head still bowed.

“Who?” I asked, turning to my Gamma. A growl escaped Nikolai’s lips. I already knew who the person was.

“Declan Hale.”

There it is. That fucking name. The Creed Pack called him The Shadow. He was a ghost. An assassin for hire. People whispered his name in secret like he was some god. But to me, he was just a feral mutt that needed to be exterminated.

I didn’t bother asking if they caught him. I knew they didn’t.

He just had to go ahead and ruin my fucking plans. I had a harem of male and female wolves waiting for me in my chambers, ready to be fucked, and he had to do this.

“And the council expects me to mate him?” I barked, my eyes glowing an electric green with rage. “The ruination of my people. My pack!”

“Well, in their defense, the boy is pretty,” Nikolai said.

I didn’t hesitate to throw a blade toward him. It nicked him on the cheek before embedding itself deeply into the pillar he leaned on.

He let out a loud laugh and swiped a finger through the blood on his cheek, smearing it as wound rapidly healed.

“You could do better, Alpha,” he said while flipping his own blade with glee.

“We both know if I wanted to kil you, you’d be dead right where you stand.”

There was a moment of silence, before Killian spoke up.

“As feral as he is, Alpha, the bond is important. It must be done.”

I ran a hand through my hair, its colour as dark as the shadows wrapping around me. Killian wasn’t finished though.

“He’s loyal to no one. He was raised by cartels and rumor is, he killed his stepfather for trying to sell him.”

As he should, I thought before turning to face Killian again then turning my face away. “We both know he’s never going to kneel. At least not that easily.” One would not expect me to back down from a challenge that easily, but even I knew when to pick my battles.

“He doesn’t have to though,” Killian said, a glint in his eyes. “All we need is to make you bleed.”

I turned slowly and faced him completely. “I need you to be clearer.”

“Rumor has it that Declan is a latent wolf,” he began. “Omega by blood, he has successfully hidden it since birth. It can only be triggered by—”

“A true Alpha’s blood.” I finished, raising my head up in realization. “So, he’s not just an assassin. He’s a key.”

Killian nodded.

"And the council's going to put you two in a room and see what unlocks," Nikolai added with a chuckle, swinging his legs like an agitated cat. "Kinky."

I ignored him and stepped to the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down over the city that I’d made bend to my will over time. Somewhere below, Declan Hale was being dressed in ceremonial chains. Soon he would be brought through my doors like a present. One I didn’t want but was slowly starting to desire.

I should be angry. I actually am angry. But beneath the anger, something simmered. Ancient and familiar.

I have never feared death. But this? This is something else. A bond. A mate. A prophecy sealed in blood centuries before I was born. And it dies with me.

There's something in that reality that settles into my bones. Like a piece of me—a piece I wasn't aware was missing—just slid into place. I hate the idea of being tied down, but I also can't ignore the possibility that Declan Hale is more than a menace. More than a wild killer. He might be my destruction… or my deliverance.

Killian clears his throat, and I'm yanked back to the present. "You don't have to like it, but you'll have to survive it. Tonight, he's yours."

Mine. The word tastes bitter on my tongue, but it lingers longer than it should. The bitter taste transforming to something sweet.

No! I’ll kill him first before I ever think of him in that way. I just need to shed a little blood, and I already know he’s going to help me do that.

"Prepare the council hall," I command. "Open it to the public. If this goes sour, I want witnesses."

Nikolai applauds. "Oh goodie, a wedding and an execution in one. This is going to be fun."