Chapter 5

Alaric’s POV

“Come with me,” I said, already walking ahead.

Hazel followed quickly, keeping pace without a word.

We walked through the hallways, the sound of our footsteps echoing. She stayed just behind me, quiet.

“Why were you late?” I asked, my eyes forward, my tone even.

“Um… I was taking care of Aurella,” she said. Her voice was soft, hesitant. “She was insisting on coming to see you, but I thought you’d be asleep, so I didn’t let her yet.”

I nodded slowly, processing her words. “Is she warming up to you?” I asked, glancing at her out of the corner of my eye.

“Yes… really fast, actually,” Hazel said. “She even let me feed her.”

I stopped walking abruptly and turned to look at her. Hazel froze mid-step, watching me carefully.

“She let you feed her?” I repeated, my voice low.

Hazel nodded slowly.

I studied her for a long moment. That was new. Aurella had always been picky and very particular. I had been just as picky when it came to her caregivers. Some were too harsh, some incompetent—like the last one who fed her granola after I specifically said she was allergic to nuts.

None of them had lasted three months. The last one only lasted a week. I would never compromise Aurella’s health. If they slipped up even once, they were gone.

I started walking again. “You should freshen up and meet me in the throne room,” I said.

“The throne room?” I heard her ask.

“Yes,” I said simply, not stopping my pace.

I returned to my room. The bed was already dressed, my bath prepared. I took my bath quickly, then made my way to the throne room.

I sat down.

Dominic would be there soon, bringing Vincent with him. Vincent was going to have to explain everything.

After a few minutes, the door opened and Dominic stepped in, Vincent trailing behind him. Dominic gave me a nod and took a seat, while Vincent stopped just short and bowed deeply. My gaze darkened as I fixed him with my stare.

“Vincent,” I said, my voice sharp. “I believe you know why I called you here.”

He didn’t respond. He just stood there, expression neutral, as if he couldn’t understand the intensity of his actions.

I leaned back slightly, letting the silence stretch, letting him squirm under it. “Let me cut to the chase,” I began. “I called you here because I received some foul reports about you.”

At that moment, the door opened again, slower this time, and I lifted my gaze to see Hazel peeking in. Her eyes met mine, and I gave a slow nod. She stepped in quietly, hands clasped in front of her. I watched Vincent’s eyes flicker toward her before he refocused on me.

“Were you, or were you not, aware of the exploitation of the workers?”

Vincent lifted his gaze. “I was not aware,” he said.

I smirked, letting my patience wear thin. “Of course you weren’t. You’re in charge of the workforce here, Vincent. And yet, for three months, the slaves were abused, underfed, forced into hard labour, even into… sex work. And you claim you didn’t know? You never once checked in or requested reports? Too busy?”

“That’s not it, Alpha,” Vincent replied quickly. “I’m not the only one working there. I have assistants. I had no idea… same as you didn’t notice.”

I clenched my teeth, the veins in my hands tightening. “I am the Alpha of this pack. Alpha to millions of people. You’re in charge of a few hundred workers. I trusted you to manage that area. And now, you give me excuses?”

Vincent lowered his head. “I didn’t mean it that way, Alpha. I just… I wasn’t aware.”

I turned my gaze to Hazel. “Have you seen this man before?” I asked, pointing at Vincent.

Hazel’s eyes met his briefly. Vincent’s own widened. She didn’t answer immediately.

“Don’t be scared. Answer the question,” I pressed, my voice harder.

“Yes,” Hazel said slowly. “I’ve seen him at the shed a few times.”

I let the words hang in the air, letting them hit Vincent. “You heard that. There’s no way you could have visited that place and not known what was happening.”

Vincent’s jaw clenched. “Alpha, I can explain—”

“Shut it,” I cut him off sharply. “I blame myself for being too occupied with other areas, yes. The rogue attack diverted my attention. But that does not excuse your negligence.”

“It’s not your fault, Alpha,” Dominic suddenly spoke. “You are only one person. You can’t be everywhere at once. I should have monitored that area as well. I take responsibility.”

I nodded slowly at Dominic, acknowledging his loyalty. Then I turned back to Vincent, my voice colder than ice.

“I am highly disappointed in you. My father trusted you to be his Beta up until his last day. And you, greedy, short-sighted, and foolish, betrayed that trust. If your daughter were Alaricg those slaves, would you have let this happen?”

Vincent looked away, shame and fear written across his face. “Alpha, I just… I wanted extra money.”

“Extra money?” I echoed. “You are paid handsomely. Even if a greedy man earned a billion a month, he wouldn’t be satisfied.”

He didn’t answer.

“You will be punished for this,” I continued, my voice sharp. “From now on, you’re stripped of your title as former Beta, workforce leader, or anything else. You are now a commoner. You will have no authority over official matters, no access to meetings, no supervision of recruits or borders. For the next two weeks, you will not leave the pack house. You are under strict confinement.”

I turned to Dominic. “Prepare an official notice. I’ll stamp it. Make it clear to everyone.”

Dominic nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”

Finally, I looked at Hazel. “You may leave.”

She bowed slightly and walked away.

I was pissed the entire day.

The anger didn’t leave me, not after dealing with Vincent.

So I went to the forest.

Hunting always helped. It gave me something to focus on, something to channel the frustration into. I didn’t need to do it, but I did it anyway. It was one of the few things that cleared my head.

By the time I returned in the evening, I had caught enough meat. Blood stained my hands, the scent of the forest clinging to me. As I stepped into the compound, a few guards hurried forward, bowing.

“Alpha, you didn’t have to—”

“It doesn’t matter,” I cut in, tossing the meat toward them. “Send it to the kitchen.”

“Yes, Alpha,” they said quickly.

I walked past them and into the pack house.

The dirt, the sweat, the lingering scent of blood—all clung to me. I needed a bath.

As I made my way toward my room, irritation crept back in. I already knew what I would find when I stepped inside. One of the maids, most likely. They always found excuses to linger in my room, waiting for me to return, hoping for attention and trying to throw themselves at me.

It disgusted me.

I was already preparing myself to send whoever it was out without patience.

But the moment I stepped in, I stopped.

It wasn’t a random maid.

It was Hazel.