I Didn't Buy You

CHAPTER 6 – “I Didn’t Buy You”

“You killed them.”

Eryx stared at the red streaks on the stone. Mara’s body. Thane’s. Necks torn wide. Eyes frozen in shock.

Kael towered over them, breath rough. Hands dripped blood.

“They threatened you.” His voice stayed flat. “They’d have taken you. Used you. Couldn’t let it happen.”

“So you murdered elders.” Eryx’s voice shook. “In your own house.”

“Yes.”

No excuses. Just quiet.

Eryx stepped back. Bumped a chair. Grabbed it to stay upright. Power buzzed under his skin,restless from the awakening. Sharper now. Stronger.

But fear hit harder.

*The pack won’t let this slide. They’ll come with armies.*

“Let them try,” Kael said. Eyes still glowed wild. Untamed.

“For what? An omega you rejected? One you bought cheap?”

“Don’t.” Jaw tight. “Don’t twist it like that.”

“Then say what it is.” Eryx shoved off the chair. Fists balled. “Truth. All of it. No riddles. No prophecies.”

Kael breathed fast. Blood dripped from his fingers to the floor.

“Now.” Eryx snapped. “Or I walk out and never look back.”

“You won’t reach the gates.”

“Threat?”

“Fact.” Kael moved quick. Pinned Eryx to the wall. Hands flat by his head. Caging him. “Think I’d let you go? After all this to keep you safe?”

“Safe?” Laugh came bitter. “You broke me public. Let them chain me. Sell me like trash.”

“I set it all up.” Growl low. “Every humiliation. Every pain.”

Words slammed home.

“Why?” Tears burned, held back. “To your own mate?”

“Worse waited.” Forehead dropped to the wall by Eryx’s head. Too close. “Claim you then? They’d kill you in days.”

“Elders.”

“Everyone.” Pulled back, eyes locked. “Council. Packs. Anyone seeing what we’d become.”

“True pair.”

“More.” Fists pressed stone. “Pair under rare stars. Awakened omega with endless Alpha power. You get it?”

“No.”

“Means we’d shatter the system.” Eyes fierce. “End omega chains. Level the field. Let them choose. Refuse. Live free.”

Freedom. Word felt fake. Impossible.

“You knew.” Mind raced. “Before the ritual.”

“Since you hit eighteen.” Quiet admission. “Felt the bond lock. Your power like lightning. Watched you since.”

“Watched.” Stomach turned.

“Protected.” Firm. “Kept others blind.”

“Till ceremony.”

“Till they cornered me.” Face darkened. “Elders found out days before. Choice: reject public or family dies.”

Gut dropped. “My family”

“Safe.” Voice softened. “Relocated. New names. New pack. They think rogues got you.”

“You let them mourn me?”

“Grief beats dead hope.” Jaw set. “Hope means search. Search means slaughter.”

Cold logic. Eryx hated its truth.

“So you staged it all.” Voice empty. “My fall. The sale.”

“Tracked you every step.” Quiet. “Shadow market mine. Rigged bids so only I’d win.”

“Minimum price.” Hit cold. “Knew no one wanted damaged.”

“Made sure.” Flat. “Rumors of weakness. Broken wolf. By auction, you were trash.”

Hands shook. “You wrecked me total.”

“Yes.”

“Shamed me. Made me nothing.”

“Yes.”

“Do it again?”

Eyes steady. “Yes.”

Truth cut deepest.

“I hate you.” Voice cracked. “For the pain. For making me believe I earned it.”

“I know.” Raw. “I’ll earn forgiveness forever. But no sorry for your life.”

“This life?” Voice rose. “Prisoner. Owned. You claim it’s good?”

“Didn’t buy rejected trash.” Eyes burned. “Bought the spark of war.”

“What war?”

“One to remake packs.” Quiet certain. “Old ways cling,crush omegas, hoard Alpha power. Others push equal. You prove it. Goddess made no chains. We did.”

Head spun. Sides forming. Him at center.

“Never asked.” Voice broke. “Wanted normal. Mate. Happy.”

“I know.” Fingers grazed his cheek. Soft. “Hate I stole your moment. The bond you dreamed.” Thumb brushed skin. Gentle ache bloomed.

Tears fell. “You took everything.”

“Saved you.” Caught a tear. “Only way I saw.”

“By breaking first.”

“Made you vanish.” Forehead to forehead. “Till I could claim right. Shield you from users.”

“You use me.”

“No.” Fierce. “I shield with me. Big difference.”

Froze. Heat close. Chest buzzed wild. Wolf whined. Craved.

“Should run.” Whisper. “Never return.”

“Try.” Lips near. “Gates open. Guards won’t stop. Go free.”

“Liar.”

“Never lied.” Eyes held. “Hid. Rigged. But truth always.”

“Then truth now.” Voice broke. “No games.”

Kael studied him. Searched.

“Truth: wanted you since bond hit.” Bare whisper. “Watched two years. Every smile. Laugh. Joy I’d crush.”

Hand cupped cheek. Tender.

“Truth: burn world before they touch you.” Eyes glowed. “Truth: you scare me worst.”

“Why?”

“You’d end me.” Voice shook. “Not claws. Rejection. Hate. No forgiveness.”

Watched this Alpha. Killer if needed.

“Can’t say I forgive.” Ripped out raw. “Can’t trust again.”

“I know.” Forehead pressed harder. “But stay. Let me prove. All for your life. Your safe.”

“No?”

Eased back slight. Gaze claimed deep.

“Run if you want.” Quiet weight. “Won’t stay gone.”