Chapter 9

Alaric

Trying to tough it out wasn’t fucking working.

It had been days, and still... The mistake clung to me. Seared into my head. The bite. The mark. The goddamn pull that kept crawling under my skin like a sickness. Every time I so much as closed my eyes, there she was... that stubborn little Omega... pressed beneath me... that soft throat... and worse... the maddening ache that made me want to pin her to any flat surface I could find and—

Fuck.

I blew out a hard breath, dragging both hands over my face. The pressure building in my head was relentless. Not even training had dulled it. Not even blood.

And I still hadn’t told Cade about it. Not one damn word. How the hell could I? I was Alpha. I didn’t fuck up. And yet here I was... already marked her... when we hadn’t even begun the fucking breeding process.

I cursed under my breath and pinched the bridge of my nose. It was supposed to be simple, no connection between the Alpha and the breeder, she wasn't going to be my Luna, a fleeting thing that's what it was supposed to be, but he i messed it up badly.

The door swung open.

Cade stepped in, eyes sharp, expression tight.

I could tell just by the way he moved—he was already tense. Word was spreading through the territory. Packs that once cowered were now stirring... and the smell of war was creeping in.

"Alpha," he said, giving a small nod.

I motioned for him to speak.

"You can't believe they’re moving," he said without sitting. "Some of the packs we attacked before... the ones that lost females when we were hunting the special Omega... they’re getting back at us."

I sat back, the leather creaking beneath me.

"How bold?"

"More than two packs. Maybe three. it seems they formed an alliance ... possibly more gathering behind them. The informat say they’re planning to strike us."

I scoffed.

"They wouldn't fucking dare."

Cade hesitated. "Normally... no. But this time it’s different. They’ve lost too much. They’re desperate. Word is spreading that Nightshade Pack is growing too strong. And that game attached to your name is really bad"

I leaned forward slowly, resting my forearms on the desk.

"Desperate wolves make stupid mistakes, and being called cruel and ruthless is not so bad," I said flatly. "Let them come. I’ll wipe out every last fucking one of them."

Cade’s mouth tightened, but he nodded.

Arrogant? Maybe. But I had reason. Nightshade wasn’t just some backwoods pack living off scraps. We ruled this side of the territory for a reason. No pack would stand against us and survive.

I could smell Cade’s worry though. He never said it out loud, but he was calculating... always three steps ahead.

"I’ll double the patrols," he said. "Reinforce the east border."

"Do it."

Cade lingered for a second, then cleared his throat.

"And the Omega?"

I arched a brow.

"You’ve barely asked about her," he went on, watching me. "You sure about this one? She’s... stubborn. More than most. The process... it will be harder."

That made me grin before I could stop it.

It was fucking true.

Even caged, even broken down to the barest pieces, she still burned. That fire in her eyes. The bite of her voice. And beneath it... that scent that refused to leave me.

I leaned back again, fingers drumming lightly on the desk.

"I chose her."

Cade raised a brow.

For the first time, I said her name out loud.

"Celine."

Her name rolled off my tongue easier than expected. It suited her. Sharp. Pretty. Defiant. I liked the sound of it more than I should have.

Cade caught the shift in my tone.

"Pretty name," he said carefully. "And fitting... for one so difficult."

I smirked.

"She won’t stay difficult for long."

But Cade didn’t look convinced.

"You’ve already kept her longer than any other we’ve brought in," he said slowly. "Usually you would’ve had this done by now."

I shrugged, casual.

"This one’s worth the time."

Cade’s eyes narrowed, just a flicker of something passing there. He knew me too well.

I could almost hear what he wasn’t saying.

What the hell is wrong with you?

But he said nothing.

He only gave a small nod, though the stiffness in his shoulders didn’t ease.

"Just be sure," he said after a pause. "If she breaks wrong... there are others. All the Omegas we took are still secured. It’s not too late to choose another."

"No," I said firmly. "I chose her."

The words came out sharper than intended.

That caught him off guard for half a second. His mouth pressed into a thin line.

I knew what he saw.

I knew how it looked.

The great Alpha Alaric... acting like a fucking pup, circling an Omega he barely knew.

But it wasn’t that simple.

That mark... that damn mark. I could still taste her skin in the back of my throat. The bond pulled at me, twisted beneath my ribs. It was too late to undo it now.

No one dared question me aloud. Not yet.

But Cade... he suspected something was off. I could see it in his eyes.

I needed to keep it together.

"I’ll take care of it," I said coolly. "The process will begin soon."

Cade dipped his head again, though I saw the flicker of hesitation.

He stayed standing there longer than usual. Watching me. Studying me.

That was unlike him.

Finally, he spoke again. "You sure you’re not being... compromised?"

That got a low growl out of me before I could stop it. I shot him a cold glare.

"Careful, Cade."

He held my gaze, unflinching. "I serve you. You know that. But I also speak the truth when it’s needed."

Silence stretched between us.

Then... I leaned back, voice low. "I’m not compromised. I’m in control."

Cade gave a slow nod. "As you say."

He turned as if to leave... then paused again.

"Word from the breeding wing... she’s refusing food again. Threw the tray at one of the maids. Nearly caught her in the face."

That made me chuckle.

"Of course she did."

"She’s going to fight you the whole way," Cade warned. "You sure that’s what you want?"

"Yes," I said. No hesitation.

I could still picture her... pacing that room, eyes burning with defiance. Planning her next little rebellion.

She would fight.

She would claw.

And when she finally broke... when that fire turned into something else... into hunger... submission... mine...

That would be the sweetest fucking victory.

Cade said nothing else, but I could still feel his unease as he left the room.

And in the quiet that followed, my thoughts drifted... back to her.

Celine.

Alone in that wing... probably still glaring at the guards. Probably refusing food again. Probably planning a way to attack me, I'm even surprised she hasn't made any attempts.

A small grin tugged at the corner of my mouth.

Defiant little thing.

She had no idea what was coming.