Chapter 9

Fidgeting with my trembling hands, I remained seated on the chair opposite the Alpha's desk, who stared at me intently. "Your mate is on his way here. Considering the distance between our packs, he'll be here any minute from now and just to warn you, he is furious".

I swallowed hard, trying to maintain a semblance of composure despite the turmoil brewing inside me. The Alpha's words sent a shiver down my spine, and I could feel my heart racing in anticipation. I glanced around the room, my eyes darting towards the door as if expecting Tristan to burst in at any moment. The Alpha's gaze never wavered, his eyes boring into mine with an unnerving intensity. "I'm shaking in my boots," I said, trying to humor the situation , but my voice came out barely above a whisper, showcasing the real fear I feel inside.

" You should be".The Alpha's response was low and even, but it sent a chill down my spine. He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a warning. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, do you?" he said, his voice dripping with menace. "Tristan is not a wolf to be trifled with. He will not take kindly to you being harmed, and I fear for your sake that you will be the one to bear the brunt of his wrath."

"He'd never hurt me"

The Alpha's expression turned skeptical, and he raised an eyebrow. "You're either very brave or very foolish," he said, his voice laced with doubt. "Tristan is a powerful alpha, and when he's angry, he's not to be underestimated. You'd do well to remember that." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "But I suppose we'll see about that soon enough."

The door slammed open, and Tristan strode in, his eyes blazing with fury. His gaze swept the room, locking onto me before shifting to my bandaged arm . His face was set in a fierce scowl, and his muscles seemed to ripple beneath his skin, as if he was barely holding himself back from shifting. "What. Happened," he growled, his voice low and menacing, each word dripping with deadly intent.

"Your mate trespassed into my territory, I would have killed her if she didn't bare your mark"

Tristan's eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step closer to the Alpha, his fists clenched. "You would have killed her?" he repeated, his voice rising in outrage. "She's my mate, under my protection. You had no right to touch her." He took another step closer, his eyes blazing with fury. "And as for my mark, it's clear you recognized it. You should have shown her respect, not attacked her." my heart warmed as he defended me

The air in the room turned electric, suffocating. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He was barely holding himself together—and I wasn’t sure he should.

Tristan’s eyes snapped back to my arm. He didn’t speak for a beat, his silence more terrifying than anything. Then, cold and flat: “Which one of your men did this?”

The Alpha's expression turned grim, and he nodded towards the door. "Ben," he said, his voice firm. "He was the one who... intercepted your mate." Ben, who had been standing silently by the door, stepped forward, his eyes locked on Tristan's, a hint of wariness in his expression.

Tristan lunged for him within a blink of an eye.

Ben eyes widened in alarm as Tristan's hands closed around his throat, slamming him against the wall. The Alpha's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't intervene, seeming to understand that Tristan's actions were a necessary response to the threat against his mate. Ryder's face turned red as he struggled to breathe, his eyes locked on Tristan's, filled with a mix of fear and apology.

My eyes widen as my whole being shook with fear. Tristan was gonna kill him at any moment from now if I don't stop him. I took a step forward, my heart racing with fear, and placed a hand on Tristan's arm, my touch gentle but urgent. "Tristan, stop," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "Please, don't hurt him." I looked up at Tristan, my eyes locking onto his, pleading with him to release Ben. His gaze flickered to mine, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity, but he didn't move, his grip on Ben's throat remaining tight.

"Please"

Tristan's gaze held mine for a moment, his chest heaving with ragged breaths, before he slowly relaxed his grip on Ben's throat. Ryder slumped against the wall, gasping for air, as Tristan's eyes never left mine. The tension in the room was palpable, but Tristan's expression softened slightly, his face still etched with a mixture of anger and concern.

He moved closer to me, his hand cupping my face " Are you ok? Does it hurt?". guilt clouded my heart at his words.

I nodded, still feeling a bit shaken, and leaned into his touch, finding comfort in the warmth of his hand. "I'm fine," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Just a scratch." I looked up at him, my eyes searching his face, and saw the worry etched on his features. I reached up, my hand covering his, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm okay, Tristan," I reassured him, trying to calm him down.

Tristan's eyes lingered on mine, his gaze intense, before he nodded slightly, seeming to accept my reassurance. His hand slid from my face to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as he leaned in, his lips brushing against my forehead in a gentle, soothing kiss. "I'm taking you home," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

His eyes flashed with a hint of pain, and his grip on the back of my neck tightened slightly, as if he was hesitant to let me go. "Our home," he corrected, his voice low and rough, his eyes burning with a mix of emotion and determination and his gaze piercing and unyielding, as if daring me to contradict him. Daring me to tell him that it's his home not mine.