The Alpha's Shatter Zone

“Alpha Elbert, my dear. I thought you had figured that out by now,” he tutted in a silky yet equally gravelly voice, and paced around her slowly, eyeing her like she was wild game caught for dinner.

The man was smooth and sophisticated, but lacking the muscular veracity of a true Alpha. Maybe back in his prime he was considered strong and worthy for the position, but right now he only had aged refinement on his side.

“You have no right to that title. It’s Kaiden’s,” Chesca growled out between clenched teeth.

“Is that so? Indeed,” he folded his hands and paused in front of her. Elbert’s careful scrutiny of her was unpleasant, making her skin crawl and her stomach heave. She tried wrenching her hands free again, but when a blinding pain shot through her shoulder and down her arm, she remembered the arrow wound. Looking down, she saw that the sharp piece of steel had been removed and crudely bandaged up. Still, blood seeped onto her stained and ripped shirt.

“I did instruct my men not to hurt you too much, but Guard Stanley can be a little...overzealous when it comes to carrying out my orders,” Elbert motioned to her shoulder, then glared at something behind her head.

“You didn’t tell me she was an Alpha! I had to use more force,” the warrior called Stanley argued, clasping a hand to her shoulder and squeezing hard. She cringed but bit her tongue instead of crying out.

“Yes, yes,” Elbert chuckled dryly. “I underestimated you, Chesca. You killed two men. Some of my best warriors.”

She snickered. “They were your best?”

Elbert’s smile froze. “You’ve made me wait a long time for this conversation, Chesca.”

“So sorry. Did dinner get cold?”

Elbert’s face remained passive at her cutting remarks. Then in a measured tone, as if weighing his words precisely, he said, “I see the pain doesn’t diminish your sarcasm. Perhaps you need something stronger.”

“I’m only here for one thing. Give me my mate, then leave us alone.” Her vision faded in and out for a moment, and her head throbbed, but she wasn’t going to let him know that he was winning in this sick game of his. Whatever he wanted, she didn’t care. She only cared about finding Kaiden and getting out of here alive.

“I’m afraid it’s not going to be that simple. You see, you’ve already taken both my sons from me. Why would I give—“

“Taken?” Chesca asked in pure confusion. His choice of words left her head spinning.

“Yes. First Kaiden, when he ran off to be with you, forsaking his pack and duties. Then Elah, when you killed him on your territory.”

“I killed him?!” she yelled in shock. “You have some atrocious sources for information. That boy of yours raped a girl. What do you think a protective brother is going to do other than avenge his sister’s honour? Elah was asking for it.” She spat on his shiny polished floor, her veins seething with righteous anger.

Elbert leaned closer and narrowed his eyes at her. For a moment, she thought he might slap her for her harsh words. But what was one more shame? It didn’t matter to her if he strung her up by her toes for calling him out on his son’s sins.

“My son would never hurt a woman,” was all he said coldly instead, a condemning gleam in his eyes, as if she were the guilty party here.

Her gaze never faltered from his, and besides the hammering of her heart and the many possibilities running through her mind of how he could twist this onto her, she wasn’t afraid of him. She hadn’t survived hell to be broken now by this piece of trash.

“Tell me where Kaiden is.” The command fell weakly from her lips despite her effort to be strong. Strong for herself and for her mate. Because all she wanted right now was to be with Kaiden, and make sure he was okay. She could feel him close by, her wolf was telling her that he was in pain, but the poison from the arrow was dampening most of her senses. Elbert was messing with her head and she hated him for it.

“No. But I can assure you he’s in good hands and being well taken care of. I would do anything to protect my son, especially from a bad influence such as you.”

“Excuse me?” Chesca blinked. He wasn’t making any sense. Why did he think she was bad for Kaiden? Was that was this was all about? He didn’t want Kaiden to be her mate and move to her pack, instead of staying here as Alpha of his own? “What are you protecting him from? Your own warriors shot him with an arrow. The scars on his back were inflicted by you,” she emphasised and pinned the unreadable wolf with her sternest glare.

Elbert just gave an amused chuckle, causing the wrinkles to deepen around his eyes. Stepping back, he rubbed his beard slowly. “Is that what he told you? I thought I warned you not to believe his lies. Why would a father hurt his own son like that?”

“I have no idea. I was hoping you could tell me.”

“My dear, you know so little about me and my family. Don’t think you can assume I’m the guilty one here.”

“Then why did Kaiden run away and choose to be with me?” It was a good question, because she doubted Elbert was telling her the truth. All this time, she’d thought he was the bad guy—at least that’s what Kaiden had been telling her. But maybe ….could it possibly be the other way around? The doubts once more came rushing into her mind, weakening her and chipping away at her resolve and newfound devotion to her mate. Perhaps she was just being manipulated, but by whom she still couldn’t tell.

Elbert took a moment before replying, as if digesting her accusations and sifting out a nasty response to make it more polite. “My elder son has made many mistakes, I regret to admit. Mistakes that have nearly led this pack into ruin. I had to step in and make some changes before it was too late.”

“Really?” His words physically hurt her for some reason, like there could be some truth to them that was slicing her like a knife. She didn’t want to believe Elbert, but her sluggish mind was clutching at anything that made sense. She had always had niggling doubts about Kaiden, so maybe his father was telling the truth?

“Kaiden forced my hand, you see,” Elbert continued. “I never wanted it to end like this, hunting him down like a fugitive. I had such high hopes for him, that he could be a mighty Alpha like I was.” He stared into the crackling flames, a winsome expression on his face. “But alas, not everyone can meet your expectations.”

“I don’t believe you.” Chesca squeezed her eyes shut briefly and gathered some much needed courage. “Kaiden is brave and strong. He’s a good leader.” Yes, good enough to lead her pack members against her. But that was beside the point.

“Believe what you will,” Elbert shrugged and smirked a little. “Mates are apt to do that—blindly perceive only the good in each other.” He said this with a bitterness in his tone, making Chesca wonder about his history with his own mate, Kaiden’s mother.

“I want to see Kaiden.” Ignoring his comment, she laid out her demand flatly.

“I’m afraid you’re in no position to make that request—“

“I want to see my mate!” She repeated harshly with anger flashing in her eyes, pulling on her chains as far as they would allow.

“Actually, you are. You are in the perfect position.” Elbert muttered to himself, stepping closer and regarding her carefully with a dark gleam in his eyes. “I have something you want, and you ….” he paused as if for dramatic effect, “have something I want.”

“Name it,” she spat, tired of his childish games.

“Your pack.

Chesca did a double take. She blinked, took a deep breath, and looked at Elbert again to see if he was serious. The laugh that came from behind her told her that Stanley was still around and watching with amusement.

“Really? It’s that simple?” Chesca couldn’t believe, after what he’d said about wanting his son, that he’d trade him for a measly bit of land. But did she love Kaiden enough to pay that price for him? The sudden pain in her heart that reminded her Kaiden was near, and indeed in trouble, answered for her. She’d do anything to defend and protect her mate. She’d vowed that to him in front of everyone at the acceptance ceremony. She could do nothing less. Every particle of her being just needed to find him. And then afterwards, she could deal with Elbert and her pack.

“Of course. Unless you want it more complicated…”

“Fine, you can have my pack,” she muttered. “Just give me back my mate.”

Elbert’s lips lifted in a small smile, and waved a hand for Stanley to take her away. But before she could rise from her unshackled feet, the door across the room slid open slowly.

“Oh yes, there’s someone very important who wants to meet you,” Elbert halted them and spoke to Chesca. “I do believe you’ve met my wife.”

A woman glided through the door, equally attired in evening dress, a long silver gown and stiletto pumps that announced each delicate step with a heavy staccato beat. She slinked towards Chesca, her platinum hair hanging perfectly around her shoulders.

Chesca swallowed with a dry throat when the woman stopped in front of her and leaned down, tilting up Chesca’s chin with icy fingers.

Her steely grey eyes flashed with smugness. “Hello, Sister.”