CHAPTER 15: RAGE

GAINES’ POV

“Bastard!” I snarl the moment I step back into my packhouse, completely losing it.

The fury that’s been boiling inside me finally erupts, tearing through me like wildfire.

‘The disrespect!” I spit as I grab the nearest chair and fling it across the room watching as it smashes into the wall, splintering into pieces.

The sound is satisfying, but not enough- not nearly enough to drown out the rage pounding in my skull.

How dare she?

HOW DARE SHE?!

Louisa must have known I was there for her. She must have. And yet… yet, she didn’t come out Didn’t even show her face.

She let that bastard Travis stand there and mock me.

She let him humiliate me, like I was nothing, like I was beneath him.

“Her own Alpha!” I snarl, grabbing the edge of my desk and flipping it over. Papers scatter, a lamp shatters against the floor. I don’t care.

I hate her. I hate her.

I was going to give her everything. I was supposed to own her. She was mine.

And yet, she ran.

Like a coward

For thirteen years.

I should have found her sooner. I should have never let her slip through my fingers.

A growl rips from my throat as I punch the wall and watch as the drywall cracks under my fist.

I punch it again.

And again.

And again. Until my knuckles are bleeding, until the pain makes my head spin.

“Alpha, please—”

A voice.

I turn sharply, my vision going red.

It’s Harry, my Beta- the weak, spineless excuse of a wolf- standing there with his hands raised like he thinks he can calm me down.

“Don’t,” I snarl. “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down.”

“Alpha-”

I slap him. Hard.

The force of it sends him stumbling as he crashes against the overturned desk, his lip split, his eyes wide with shock.

I dare him to challenge me.

But of course, he doesn’t.

Pathetic.

Just like the rest of them.

Where the hell were they when Travis was insulting me? Why didn’t they do anything? They just stood there, letting him talk down to me like I was nothing.

They let him disrespect me.

I turn to the rest of the wolves standing near the door, watching me like frightened pups.

“Are you all useless?!” I roar. “Are you all just standing there because you enjoyed seeing your Alpha humiliated?”

They flinch. They look down. Cowards.

I grab the nearest object- some decorative vase someone put in here- and smash it against the wall.

Louisa should have come to me.

She should have.

But she stayed hidden.

In his pack.

Under his protection.

I feel something sharp twist in my chest. The betrayal tastes bitter in my mouth.

She was supposed to be mine.

I had plans. I had a vision. We would have ruled together. She would have been my Luna. I would have shaped her into exactly what she needed to be.

But instead—

Instead, she ran.

And now- now she’s been hiding under Travis.

With him.

I growl so loud the entire room shakes.

If she won’t come to me willingly, then I’ll drag her back.

And if she resists?

If she still refuses to be mine?

Then I’ll kill her.

I’ll rip her throat out myself.

I won’t be humiliated again.

If I can't have her, no one will.

I breathe heavily, my hands clenched into fists, blood dripping from my knuckles. The packhouse is silent except for my ragged breathing. The wolves around me are too scared to move.

Good.

They should be scared.

I need to think. I need to figure out the best way to break her. To force her back to where she belongs.

And then- an idea.

A cruel, wonderful idea.

I turn sharply to one of my men. “Bring me her parents.”

Harry stares at me in confusion, still cradling his face. “Her… parents?”

“Yes,” I snap. “Her mother. Her father. Bring them here. Now.”

He hesitates. “Alpha, we- we haven’t had contact with them in—”

“NOW!” I bellow.

He jumps and scrambles out of the room.

I breathe deeply, a smirk creeping onto my face.

If Louisa won’t come to me willingly, then maybe her precious parents can convince her.

She’s always been a good little daughter, hasn’t she? Always looking for their approval, always doing what was expected of her.

And if they can’t convince her…

Well.

Parents are weaknesses.

And weaknesses can be used.

I wait.

It doesn’t take long.

The doors to the packhouse open, and my men usher in an older couple.

Louisa’s parents.

Her father looks cautious, his jaw tight, his shoulders stiff. But her mother? Her mother looks terrified.

Good.

“Alpha,” her father says stiffly. “We came as soon as we were summoned.”

I lean back against the ruined desk, arms crossed, studying them.

“Did you know?” I ask smoothly. “Did you know your daughter has been hiding in Travis’ pack?”

Her father frowns. “No. How would I know? She vanished years ago. We haven’t seen her since.”

His voice is tight. Controlled. But her mother?

Her mother is staring at me with wide eyes.

She knows something.

I step closer to her.

“You,” I say. “You knew, didn’t you?”

She flinches.

“I—I—”

“Did you know?” I snarl.

Her father puts an arm around her protectively. “We haven’t had contact with her. If we did, we would have—”

“Enough,” I snap.

They’re lying. I can feel it.

No matter.

I smirk. “You’re going to go to Travis’ pack,” I say. “And you’re going to bring Louisa to me.”

Her father stiffens. “That’s-”

“That’s not a request,” I say coldly.

Silence.

Then—

“Yes, Alpha,” he says with a nod

“Good. Now I need you-” A knock on the door interrupts me and I turn to see who it is now.

One of my men steps in, looking uneasy.

“Alpha, there’s someone here to see you.”

“An outsider? Who?”

She says her name is Selene?

“Selene who?”

AUTHOR NOTES: Hello, my wonderful readers. A huge and gigantic thank you for selecting my book to read. It really warms my werewolf heart. I would love to hear from you all, your thoughts, opinions, feelings. Who pisses you off? Who do you absolutely love? Where do you think this story is going? I want to hear it all. So, please do comment and support my book. Your dear Author, Adeline Valois