The Pack Politics

The pack house always felt crowded, but tonight it was

suffocating. Every glance, every whisper scraped

against my skin like claws. I kept my head down as I

carried a plate to the long dining table, pretending not to

hear the gossip circling behind me.

“Did you hear? Ayden’s walking funny after Damien got

to him.”

“Serves him right.”

“Still—Becca’s not wrong. She doesn’t belong here."

I gritted my teeth, about to say something.

“Just ignore them,” Naomi whispered at my side, sliding

into the seat across from me. “They’re jealous.

Especially Becca.”

As if summoned, Becca strolled into the room, Hannah

glued to her side. Both carried smug smiles like they’d

won some invisible game.

“Oh, look,” Becca said loudly enough for half the table to

hear. “The stray decided to eat with us after all.”

Laughter rippled across the table. My fingers tightened

around the fork.

Before I could speak, Alpha Damien’s voice cut through

the noise like steel. “Enough.”

The entire room fell silent. As he stepped into view, his

presence pulled the air taut. His gaze locked on Becca,

sharp and unyielding.

“If you can’t respect your packmate, you’ll eat alone.”

He boomed.

Becca’s smirk faltered. Hannah tugged her arm,

muttering something under her breath. They both slunk

off to the far end of the table, whispering furiously.

My cheeks burned, I hated the attention, hated needing

anyone—especially Alpha Damien—to fight my battles.

Still, when I glanced up at him, something in his eyes

made her chest tighten.

He didn’t sit right away. Instead, he paused behind my

chair, his hand brushing the back of it, a silent gesture of

claim. “Eat,” he commanded softly. “You need your

strength.”

I swallowed hard,my pulse quickening. I wasn’t sure if it

was an Alpha command or something else that made

me obey without question.

Naomi wiggled her brows from across the table, grinning

like she knew exactly what was happening.

I shot her a glare, but it was useless.

Later, as the pack drifted to bed, I lingered outside under

the moonlight. The night was cool, the ocean wind

carrying salt and secrets. I thought she was alone until a

shadow moved beside her.

“You can’t let them get under your skin,” Alpha Damien

said quietly.

I startled, glancing up.

“Easier said than done. Becca made sure everyone

saw—”

“I don’t care what Becca does.” His tone was sharp,

final. Then it softened. “I care about you.”

My heart fluttered. The Alpha didn’t say things like

that—not to anyone.

“Alpha……” I searched his face, but his expression was

unreadable, caught between authority and something far

more dangerous.

For one dizzying moment, I thought he might close the

distance between them, that he might let his control slip.

But then he stepped back, jaw tightening.

“Get some sleep, Maya. Tomorrow will be harder.”

He walked away, leaving me with a racing heart and a

question I couldn’t answer:

Why did his words feel like both a promise and a

warning?