All Chapters of Alpha's Power Bottom: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

I had never liked the way the last bell sounded.By the time the sound faded into the hallways, my stomach had already tied itself into a knot. I packed my bag slowly, buying time, watching Derek from the corner of my eye as he leaned back in his chair like he owned the world.Like he hadn’t kissed a girl this morning... which still hurts me.Bri nudged my arm. “You’re zoning out again.”“I’m not,” I muttered, slinging my bag over my shoulder.She raised a brow. “You do that thing where you look like you’re physically here but spiritually fighting demons.”If only she knew.We walked out of class together, into the rush of bodies and noise. Derek stepped into the hallway a few feet ahead of us. His shoulders were stiff, jaw tight, eyes scanning like he was always calculating threats.Hunters were supposed to be heartless, but when he glanced back and caught my eye, something flickered there.Outside, the air was cooler. Late afternoon sunlight stretched across the parking lot. Student

Bri stared at me like I had just ripped the floor from under her.“What do you mean someone was controlling me?” she asked again, softer this time. “Ethan, explain.”Derek didn’t say anything, but his attention sharpened. He was focused and assessing.The cabin felt too small suddenly.Dust floated lazily in a shaft of light cutting through the cracked window, but the air felt heavier than before. Like the walls were listening.Bri stepped closer to me. “You said you believe someone else was controlling me. You don’t just say something like that and stop. I want to know what you mean.”I rubbed the back of my neck, pretending to hesitate.She grabbed my wrist. “Ethan.”Her eyes were wide.“I deserve to know,” she whispered. “I’m a witch. Apparently.” She gave a shaky laugh. “There’s no reason to hide it from me anymore.”Derek’s jaw tightened at the word witch, but he didn’t interrupt.I sighed.I had to tread carefully.“I’ve heard stories,” I began slowly.“From who?” Derek cut in.

“I said there’s nothing here,” he repeated, voice controlled.The taller one snorted. “And we said we’ll decide that.”They walked deeper inside, boots thudding against old wood. Each step echoed too loudly.I shifted slightly, pressing Bri further behind the stacked crates and broken shelves while fearing that if they looked straight ahead, or if they leaned a little to the left, they would see us.The shorter Ashbound ran a finger along one of the ancient blades mounted on the wall. “I really don't understand why you had to come here. It's taking a lot for me not to beat the shit out of you right now for trespassing. You know you aren't allowed here anymore,” he muttered.“I don’t need permission to breathe now, do I?” Derek replied.The taller one laughed. “You need permission to exist, half-blood. It's only at the mercy of your father that you're alive. And even he is considered a fool amongst us... I can't imagine fucking a witch.”My jaw clenched.The insult rolled off Derek’s b

Bri still didn't move. She just stood there, staring at me like the world had shifted on its axis, and she was trying to feel the tremor beneath her feet.My lungs burned, dragging air in and out too fast. My body felt raw with my skin hypersensitive after the shift, every nerve buzzing. Blood—their blood—coated my chest, my arms, streaked down my legs. It was drying already, sticky against my skin.I swallowed.I thought to myself to say something, explain, or maybe even apologize, but what exactly was I supposed to say?Sorry you just watched me turn into a wolf and rip two men apart?My mouth opened slightly, then closed again.She still hadn’t blinked.Should I walk toward her?No.Absolutely not.That would be the stupidest thing I could do. I was naked. Covered in blood. Standing a few feet away from two very dead bodies.Not exactly comforting.So instead of speaking, instead of moving toward her, I did the only thing that made sense in that moment. I turned away.The lake wasn

“I…” Bri started, then stopped.Derek was the first to snap out of it. He blinked twice, and then to my complete disbelief, he burst into laughter.It was the kind of laugh that came from someone who had just narrowly escaped disaster and didn’t quite know how else to process it.“Oh my God,” he said between breaths. “Bri.”She looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “What?”“Can you do that again?” he asked, gesturing wildly toward the tub. “Like—at the front? With the blood?”Her eyes widened. “What? No!”“Just... touch it!” he insisted, half-laughing. “Maybe it’ll just… turn to dust!”“I don’t even know how I did that!” she snapped. “I slipped! I was trying not to fall into a corpse!”Derek pressed his lips together, still grinning. “Still. That was—”“Terrifying,” she cut in.“No... it was beautiful,” he corrected.I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.Derek sobered slightly and ran a hand over his face. “Okay. Fine. No magic ash tricks. Then we do this the old-fash