Semua Bab Trapped In The Alpha's Shadow: Bab 31 - Bab 40

AdashaI woke up alone, the events of the night before lingering in the air like a whisper. The rough sheets against my bare skin were the only tangible reminder of what had transpired between Kai and me.I should have felt worried—perhaps even ashamed—but instead, a flutter of excitement stirred within me. His words, spoken in the heat of passion, replayed in my mind: I won’t let you go.Whether it was a fleeting promise or something he truly meant, it had defined my night. In his arms, I had felt something rare—wanted, valued. For once, the weight of my past had lifted, replaced by the intoxicating hope that maybe, just maybe, there could be more between us.But hope was a dangerous thing, and I knew better than to cling to it. My baggage was too heavy, my circumstances too complicated.Whatever this was, it wouldn’t last. Still, I resolved to savour it for as long as I could, to live in the moment until reality demanded otherwise. I had no secrets left to hide.I was about to rise

Adasha Thinking it over, I realized it was more convenient for him this way. A relationship without deep ties, with someone who was already mated—someone who wouldn’t ask for much or demand any form of lasting attachment. I was convenient. I could understand why Kai preferred it, but understanding didn’t make it hurt any less. A sharp sting settled in my chest, and I blinked back the tears threatening to fall. Standing frozen in place, I debated whether I should turn and leave or walk in and face whatever awaited. “I’ll be taking this up with the Alpha Council,” the man inside declared, his voice filled with fury. “Just because you’re the Regional Alpha doesn’t mean you’re above the laws. We have rules, Alpha Malachi, and even Regional Alphas must abide by them! I won’t stand by while you disrespect my daughter and cheat her out of her rightful place. She is the Luna of the East and South. You will comply, or there will be unrest in our regions—severe unrest!” There was a pause,

RandyPamela’s red, swollen eyes brimmed with fear, and Jacob instinctively stepped in front of her, his stance protective but wary.“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice low and venomous, each word laced with seething rage.“Randy, calm down. No one knows where she is,” Jacob said, his tone placating. He was trying to de-escalate the situation, but his words only fanned the flames of my fury.“You think I’m sick? You think I need help? Is that what you believe about me—your Alpha?” I stepped closer, glaring at Pamela. “Where did you send my wife, Pamela?”“Alpha, please, calm down,” Jacob interjected, his voice firm but trembling at the edges. “I promise I’ll help you find her. Just… spare Pamela. It wasn’t within her control.”His words only deepened my sense of betrayal. “My own Beta conspired against me!” I snarled, fists clenching tighter.“Don’t say that!” Jacob began, his voice pleading, but I cut him off, unwilling to hear his excuses.“I shouldn’t say that?” I hissed, my tone

RandyI was still trying to figure out how else I could find Adasha when Jacob’s voice came through the mind link."Another way to find her— is to publish her image and offer a handsome reward for her," Jacob’s voice came through the mind link, steady but tinged with hesitation.I could feel the weight of his guilt pressing down on him. He was trying to redeem himself and his wife, to salvage the damage they’d done. But the betrayal still burned.They had let me down, and I didn’t plan on letting that slide."That should be the last resort," I responded curtly. "Like I said, she isn’t safe out there. Her past might catch up with her.""It’s the only way to broaden our search," Jacob shot back, his tone resolute. I growled under my breath, knowing he was right. This course of action would stir more trouble than I cared to handle, but what choice did I have?"Fine," I said reluctantly. "If you think it’ll work and won’t drive her into deeper hiding, then go ahead. But I want this nightm

KaiIndeed, Aunt Ingrid had contested the position with me, citing every possible reason why she deserved to be next in line. But her arguments had been futile.Succession wasn’t up for debate. It was a lineage thing, and as long as my father had an alpha-bred heir, she was automatically out of the running.It didn’t stop her bitterness, though.“Could it be possible she’s doing all this to prove my incompetence?” I asked aloud, the thought cutting through my frustration.“If she can convince the South that I’m not a man of my word, that I can’t handle my responsibilities, it’d be easy for her to get them to throw their support behind her. She’d frame herself as the stabilising force they need.”Darius and Gabe exchanged a look but said nothing. Their silence wasn’t from disbelief—it was from the uncomfortable truth that they were thinking the same thing.Finally, Darius spoke, his voice calm but measured. “All I can say is that you should still try to reach out to Laura. Even if it f