CHAPTER 6

IA'S POV

Before I could sprint off, a firm grip clamped around my wrists, yanking me back. A sharp gasp tore from my throat as I was dragged across the ground, dirt scraping my skin. I twisted and struggled, but his hold was ironclad—completely unbreakable.

“Let go of me!” I snapped, my voice strained. The moment the guards spotted us, they rushed forward, pulling me away from him and forcing me back onto my feet.

“These guards… what exactly is your job?” the stranger said casually, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.

I shot him a murderous glare.

“Get her inside,” he added with a smirk. “Go on.”

One of the guards grabbed my wrist roughly and began dragging me back toward the house I had just escaped.

“No—wait! Let me go!” I struggled, but it was useless.

“Anybody home?!” the blonde man called out, his voice echoing through the building. My heart dropped. At the top of the stairs stood the Alpha. And beside him—Ember.

“Brother!” the blonde man called.

I turned sharply, my breath catching.

Brother?

“Yuli. You’re earlier than expected,” the Alpha said as he descended the stairs, his expression unreadable.

“Xavier, is that a way to greet your brother after so many years?”

“It’s only been four months.”

His gaze shifted to me—and instantly hardened.

“Why is she out of her room?”

“Oh, the little hunter you mentioned?” Yuli said lazily. “Caught her trying to escape.”

Xavier’s eyes locked onto mine, cold and piercing. A chill ran down my spine, but I refused to look away.

“Take her back to her room,” he ordered. “Seal the windows.”

“What—?”

“You are not leaving this place until I say so.” His voice dropped, sharp and final. “And I will not say so.”

The guards dragged me away, my protests swallowed by the walls.

XAVIER’S POV

“Wow. That’s tough. How are you managing?” Yuli asked, his tone far too light for the situation. I ignored him.

“Ember is making it difficult,” I said flatly. “She claims she’s pregnant… with my child.”

Silence fell between us, heavy and suffocating.

Yuli let out a sharp scoff. “That bitch. I told you, didn’t I? She’s no good. She’s lying.”

“Xavier… you’re really taking advice from your delinquent younger brother?”

My head snapped up. Ember stood by the doorway, arms crossed, a mocking smile playing on her lips.

“Get the hell out,” Yuli snapped, fists clenching. “We’re in the middle of something.”

“Oh, I know,” she said, walking in like she owned the place. She pulled out a chair and sat, crossing her legs slowly. “I heard my name.”

Her gaze locked onto Yuli. “So? What exactly do you have to say to me?”

“Ember…” I stepped in, my voice firm. “We were having a private discussion.”

She didn’t even spare me a glance.

“What makes you think I’m lying?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “Or does it bother you that you’ll never amount to anything? Talk less of giving this pack an heir.”

It happened in a second. Yuli lunged.

His body shifted mid-motion, claws out, fury blazing in his eyes as he tackled her to the ground.

“Yuli—!”

I shifted instantly, slamming into him and knocking him off her before he could do real damage. A deep growl tore from his chest, raw and furious. I stepped in front of Ember, shielding her.

No matter what I thought… if she was carrying my child, she was under my protection. Yuli’s eyes burned into mine, his breathing heavy, unstable. For a moment, I thought he might attack again. Then he let out a low, dangerous growl and stormed out, shoving past furniture and sending it crashing to the floor. The room fell silent.

Behind me, Ember trembled slightly. When I glanced back, her eyes were wide—shaken, but calculating. I turned away. This situation was spiralling faster than I could control.

And something told me… it was only going to get worse.

*********************

“The pack is not accepting her,” the elder said again, his grey hair glinting beneath the chandelier light. “Something must be done.”

I said nothing, my gaze fixed on the polished wooden table.

“Has she accepted you?” another elder asked.

The question I had been avoiding.

“With time, she—”

“Is she aware of the danger she is in?” the Chief Elder cut in sharply. “She is a werewolf hunter… in our territory. Yet she has gained the Alpha’s favor and believes she has the right to make choices?”

Even without looking up, I could feel the weight of her anger.

“We want to see her. Now.”

I lifted my head slowly. Their expressions were all the same—cold, expectant.

“She is unconscious,” I replied.

“Unconscious?” one of them echoed. “For what reason?”

“She attempted to escape. I had no choice but to sedate her.” My jaw tightened. “She is… difficult.”

Disapproving murmurs spread across the room.

“If you truly believe she is your mate,” another elder said, his voice lower, more deliberate, “then you must do what is necessary to break her.”

Silence fell.

“She is a threat to this pack,” he continued. “If she makes one wrong move, we will not hesitate to kill her.”

A low growl escaped me before I could stop it. His gaze met mine, unimpressed. “Let us hope it does not come to that.”

Then came the next blow.

“And your mistress?” he asked. “What is to be done about her… and the child she carries?”

The room stirred immediately, murmurs rising at the mention of Ember.

“Surely you are not sending her away,” another added. “She carries your heir.”

I clenched my fists beneath the table.

“There is no proof that she is carrying my child.”

Silence.

Sharp. Heavy.

“So you are suggesting she lied to the council?” the Chief Elder asked, her voice dangerously calm. I said nothing.

“You have a suitable alternative already,” she continued. “We understand the importance of a mate bond… but you can not discard your own blood.”

It was clear.

This was not a discussion.

It was a decision already made.

Chairs scraped against the floor as they rose to leave. Just before exiting, one of the elders turned back, his expression blank.

“If your mistress is lying…” he said quietly, “then she has already dug her own grave.”

The door shut behind them, echoing loudly.