10. HAIRPIN.

Kayla.

“I’m not sure you can handle it.”

His voice echoed in my head long after the words left his mouth.

It wasn’t just what he said, it was the way he said it, like he was certain of it, like he believed I was weak, fragile… beneath him.

The arrogance in his tone made something hot and furious rise inside my chest.

Who the hell does he think he is to teach me manners?

The thought burned through my mind like wildfire.

My jaw tightened as anger slowly replaced the brief shock from being shoved against the wall.

He stood so close that I could feel the heat of his body pressing into the space around me, trapping me between him and the cold wall behind my back.

His hand still gripped my chin, forcing my face upward. The gesture alone was enough to ignite every ounce of hatred I had tried so hard to bury.

He had no right.

None.

He was the one who took everything from me.

Him.

And his brothers.

The memory flashed across my mind so suddenly that my chest tightened painfully, my parents, their faces, their voices, all…Gone. Taken from me because of the cruelty of the wolves standing in this very mansion.

And now…Now he dared to stand here and speak about teaching me?

How dare he even think of taking their place.

The anger inside me surged violently.

His lips hovered close to my ear as he spoke, his breath brushing against my skin. The warm air against my neck made my stomach twist, not out of nervousness, but irritation. Every second he remained this close only fueled the storm building inside me.

“Alpha Sage,” I said slowly, my voice controlled despite the rage boiling beneath it. “Teaching me manners is not the issue.” I paused briefly, my eyes hard as they remained locked on his. “Staying away from me is.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I moved, slowly and carefully.

I forced my hands behind my back, making the movement appear almost natural, as if I were simply trying to balance myself against the wall.

But my fingers were searching, reaching until they finally brushed against the small, cold object hidden beneath my hair.

The sharp hairpin.

I had placed it there earlier, tucking it carefully out of sight, just in case...Just in case a golden opportunity like this ever appeared.

And now…It had.

My fingers wrapped around the thin metal piece tightly. My heart began to pound louder in my chest as I slowly pulled it free.

He was distracted, too focused on intimidating me, too confident in his strength.

That arrogance would be his mistake.

Without giving myself time to hesitate, I raised my hands swiftly, aiming the sharp tip directly toward the corner of his neck.

One precise strike.

That was all it would take.

But before the hairpin could even reach him…his hand shot forward.

Fast.

Too fast.

His grip clamped down on my wrists midair, stopping the movement instantly. The sudden force made my arms jerk painfully as he held them firmly in place.

My heart skipped for a second, not from fear but from frustration.

His eyes darkened instantly as realization flashed across his face.

“What did you think you are doing?” he demanded.

Anger filled his gaze as his fingers tightened around my wrists. The pressure was strong enough to hurt.

I felt my grip loosen slightly and then….the hairpin slipped from my fingers. It fell to the floor with a loud metallic thud that echoed through the quiet room.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

His eyes dropped briefly to the object on the ground before slowly lifting back to my face. The anger in them had deepened.

But I didn’t look away.

Not even for a second.

My breathing was steady as I held his stare, refusing to show even the smallest hint of regret.

“What does it seem like I am doing?” I asked calmly, my voice carried no apology, no fear.

Only the raw defiance that still burned fiercely inside me but before I could say anything else, his grip tightened around my wrists.

The anger in his eyes darkened into something far more dangerous.

Then suddenly…he shoved me.

Hard.

My body slammed back against the wall with a loud thud, the impact sending a sharp burst of pain shooting through my spine. The force knocked the air out of my lungs, and for a moment my vision blurred.

Pain spread across my back like fire.

My legs lost their balance under the sudden force, and I slipped downward helplessly until I fell straight to the floor.

The cold surface met my knees and palms harshly, but I barely had time to recover.

“How dare you?” His voice thundered above me, filled with pure fury.

I looked up just as he stepped closer. Before I could move away, his hand shot forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair, the sudden pain made my scalp burn.

He yanked my head upward roughly, forcing me to face him.

I gasped slightly, my hands instinctively reaching up as I tried to pry his fingers loose.

But his grip was far too strong.

I struggled against him, my fingers clawing at his wrist, trying desperately to break free.

It was useless.

His strength was overwhelming.

Before I could even brace myself….He swung my head toward the wall. My skull struck the hard surface instantly. A sharp crack echoed through my ears as a wave of pain exploded across my head.

For a moment, everything spun.

The room blurred around me.

My head throbbed violently, the pain pulsing through my skull like a drumbeat.

Rage burned in his eyes as he glared down at me, his chest rising and falling heavily.

He looked ready to tear me apart.

But instead of screaming…Instead of begging…A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

The sound surprised even me, It was soft, broken but unmistakable.

For a brief second, confusion flickered across his face.

His hand immediately released my hair.

I slumped slightly where I sat on the floor, my head still spinning as strands of hair fell across my face.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” he demanded.

His voice carried both anger and disbelief.

I slowly lifted my gaze to look at him, my mind raced. I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

I couldn’t die here, not like this, not in his hands. My revenge had barely begun.

If anyone was going to die, it would be him.

And his brothers.

But for that to happen…I had to survive.

No matter what.

The pain in my head continued to pulse, but I forced myself to remain calm. Then slowly…Very slowly…I plastered a smile on my face, It felt so unnatural, almost painful but it was necessary.

It seemed feigning submission and acting weak was the only way to get him off guard.

At least for now.

“Alpha Sage,” I said quietly, my voice came out softer than before, carefully controlled. “I had only wanted to put the pin back in my head.”

I gestured weakly toward the hairpin lying on the floor nearby.

“I needed to scratch my scalp.” I paused briefly before adding the final piece. “But you were too close… and I didn’t want to irritate you further.”

The moment the words left my mouth, silence filled the room.

His expression froze.

For the first time since the confrontation began, uncertainty crossed his face. His shoulders stiffened slightly as he processed what I had said. The anger in his eyes flickered, replaced briefly with something else, something closer to hesitation.

He looked down at the hairpin on the ground.

Then back at me.

For a few long seconds, neither of us spoke.

I held my expression carefully, maintaining the same harmless smile, even though my head was still throbbing painfully.

“You…” his jaw tightened as he muttered before finally stepping back.

Without another word, he turned abruptly and stormed toward the door.

The door swung open with force and he walked out.