06

Chapter 6

Alpha Dante struggled over the years with his sadness. However, taking the life of the murderer who killed his father and mother brought him a sense of relief and vitality. What troubled him most was the fact that his mate was the daughter of his enemy. The entire pack was aware of how much he had kept them waiting in making decisions regarding the last surviving soul from the recent raid, battle, or whatever it could be called.

The next afternoon, around 2 p.m., Alpha Dante walked out of his office. He noticed the calmness that enveloped the small pack house, a calmness he could only associate with the aftermath of his parents' deaths and the burning of the mansion that had incited jealousy among others.

As he stepped outside, he encountered his beta, Ravi, who always seemed to be waiting by the door. "Good afternoon, Alpha," Ravi said upon seeing him.

Alpha Dante was a strict man, known for making rational decisions that aimed to benefit the entire pack.

"I want you to order three guards to get a very good, large bed for me," he said, not wanting to open up to his beta immediately.

Beta Ravi appeared surprised and hesitated to respond. "Sir, I'm not really commanding you," he began, pausing to meet Dante's gaze.

"You dare to question me, boy? You know I am a strong man, capable of breaking your bones if I choose," Dante mumbled, then glanced away, wondering why the situation had turned tense.

"Your highness, I apologize. I just wanted to ask why you need a new bed now. We bought a new one last week, and you want another this week," Ravi said, bowing his head. He knew better than to press the issue with Alpha Dante, fearing his wrath.

"Does that concern you in any way?" he snapped, irritation creeping into his voice. His stern demeanor made Ravi feel even more uncomfortable.

"I’m sorry, your highness. I understand I don’t have the right to question your demands. I just wanted to know why you need to change the bed again so soon," Beta Ravi replied cautiously.

"Oh, you're making a lot of sense, a whole lot of sense," Dante retorted. "But you know what? It doesn't matter." He felt his wolf stir within him. "You should know that I can do whatever I want. You don’t control me. I am your master, your alpha, and you should show me the respect that my position warrants. I will forgive you this time because I’ve never retaliated against you before. But the next time you challenge me, you will regret it. Remember, we are not mates."

"In a way, by position," Ravi replied, which only fueled Alpha Dante's annoyance. How could anyone think they could speak to him like that? 

"Fine, by position. And you know, in the 20th century, this matters a lot. Position means everything. You can imagine what position has cost the lives of many innocent people. And screw you for saying that. Get out and do what I asked you to do right now," Alpha Dante growled, his irritation palpable. The tension in the room hung like a thick fog, and Ravi could feel the weight of his Alpha's anger pressing down on him.

He wouldn’t tolerate any nonsense from anyone except Irene, the only woman who had ever impacted him in such a profound way. Her presence was a comfort amid the chaos of his thoughts, but now, all he felt was frustration.

"Okay, my Alpha," Beta Ravi said, hastily leaving the room to carry out Dante's orders. Though he had questioned Dante's authority, he knew he had no choice but to obey.

As Ravi walked down the corridor, the atmosphere in the packhouse felt heavy. Whispers echoed from the other wolves, and Ravi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Dante, meanwhile, was grappling with an overwhelming sense of dread. He had never experienced such turmoil in his life. Discovering that his mate was the son of his enemy added layers of complication he never anticipated. It was infuriating to realize that he was now taking insults from his beta over a matter that was supposed to bring him strength.

He recalled the previous night, when he had desperately begged Ruby, something he would have never imagined doing. That plea had left him feeling exposed and vulnerable, as if he was losing pieces of himself in the process.

One hour later, as he was about to head home, his guards following closely behind, he suddenly stopped, sensing a strange presence nearby. It was a man; dark and muscular, standing ominously in the shadows. Who is he? Dante thought, confusion mingling with unease. He had never seen this face before. Was it the darkness casting a veil over him, or was it the ghosts of those he had killed recently? This had to be trouble. No, no, no, it couldn’t be. How could a ghost threaten his soul? He shook his head, trying to dismiss the irrational fear as he recalled the tumultuous events with Ruby, that wicked girl who had turned his life upside down.

"Who are you?" he was about to demand when the man abruptly vanished. Fear coursed through him like ice water, and the purity in his heart, which was a mere flicker, slipped further away. All that remained was a growing hatred for the figure that had seemed to taunt him.

"Our Alpha, what is happening? Are you alright?" the guards asked, confusion showed across their faces as they rushed to his side.

Alpha Dante pushed them aside, a storm brewing within him. "If you come any closer again, I will slice your meat for dogs to feed on. Trust me when I say this; I am serious now. Inform everyone to trace any ghost sightings in this packhouse and around my territory," he commanded, his tone urgent and fierce.

"Okay, your highness," the guards replied, sharing worried glances. 

The two guards exchanged bewildered looks, concern furrowing their brows. "What the heck is wrong with the Alpha? He has been acting strange ever since he met that new demon lady," one of them mumbled, disbelief creeping into his voice.

"You better let’s go inform the others right now. They need to check for the ghost that the Alpha and his great-grandfather saw," the other guard replied, rolling his eyes as they hurried away to carry out the command, leaving Alpha Dante alone with his chaotic thoughts once again, the weight of the unknown pressing heavily on his shoulders.