Chapter 371
Chapter 371 The most update n0vels are published on
39 – Elara
I’m struggling fiercely, clawing and fighting to make him release me. Honestly, I wouldn’t even mind if we both tumbled to the ground in the process. I just need his hands off me. The electric buzz his touch sends through me is oddly soothing, but my body doesn’t want that right now my mind definitely doesn’t. He abandoned me when everything fell apart, left me to face the chaos alone. He doesn’t get to return now, playing the hero. I refuse to be a backup plan or a consolation prize.
The world spins wildly as I’m thrown into the air, but I don’t crash onto anything. His arms catch me with ease, steady and sure. I blink, and suddenly we’re standing in my bathroom.
“Alright, can you manage a shower on your own, or do I have to help you?” His voice is low, and he leans in, tightening his hold around my waist and thighs just a bit, adding a sharp edge to the moment.
“F*ck you,” I snap back, my voice fierce. “Who do you think you are, telling me what to do? I’m the Alpha of this pack.” The threat sounds hollow, even to me, as he cradles me effortlessly.
“Then act like it.” His growl is deep, and my breath catches in my throat. We’re almost nose to nose, and of all the things he could have said, those words cut the deepest. “You’re snapping at everyone, pushing people too hard without giving them a break. You’re playing right into the hands of whoever’s trying to take everything from you. Get in the shower. Clear your head. Then we’ll talk.” He slides me down his body slowly but never loosens his grip.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” The words escape as a quiet, defeated whisper. Now that he’s said it aloud, I can’t unhear it. I’m falling into the trap everyone expects of a female Alpha-burning out, breaking down. I know it. But I can’t seem to push past this fierce, burning need for revenge coursing through my veins for my parents.
“It’s not a choice, Elara. Now move, before I make you.” His hands squeeze my hips once more before he steps back, and I immediately miss the warmth of his touch. “Last chance to use your free will.” There’s a teasing laugh in his words, and I blink, caught off guard. I must have been spacing out, staring at him. Maybe I’m more exhausted than I thought.
I exhale sharply and turn toward the shower. His scent lingers faintly as he slips out of the bathroom without a sound. Another dull ache presses against my heart. There’s something about my mate not wanting to stay with me in this vulnerable moment—or be tempted to linger while I’m naked in the shower—that bruises my pride.
I won’t admit it aloud to him or anyone else, but he was right. The shower helped clear my foggy mind and gather my thoughts. I’ve been treating Melanie like an enemy, and I haven’t spoken to Jax or Dev in days. They’ve been just as busy, just as invested, trying to figure out how someone got to my mother-how that weakened my father enough for three wolves to take him down, judging by the wounds. I haven’t thought about the rogue situation or the drugs or any of it in a week, and it’s probably all connected. I let myself get blindsided—and then distracted.
I step out and see Ben staring at his phone. My face tightens into a scowl. The image on his lock screen is enough to drain the renewed energy I’d just gathered. I quickly look away before he notices and head to the closet. Whatever he wants to say needs to be brief-because as much as I needed that mental break, I have work to do. Someone is trying to take my pack. That much is painfully clear. I’m the target because I’m a girl-annoying, but obvious. This has probably been brewing for years. Again, I won’t tell Ben he was right. I’m just tired of hitting dead ends. It shouldn’t be this difficult to flush out one or two rogues.
“It doesn’t take that long to throw on leggings and a t-shirt,” his deep, melodic voice calls from the other room, and I shake my head. His tone is irritatingly condescending. I take a deep breath in and then exhale slowly. Maybe I need another. In… out. “Today, Alpha. I thought you had stuff to do p>
I might kill him before we even leave this room. I step out and lean against the closet doorway, trying and probably failing to look calm and confident. “Talk, Beta.” I’m not foolish enough to walk away. He’s already shown twice he’s willing to manhandle me. I just want this over with.
He sighs but stays put on the couch. Finally, he seems to get that I need space. “Alpha James put out some feelers and got intel on a coven of witches. The coven split about a decade ago—some want to enslave wolves, use us as bodyguards, while others believe we should have free will. He thinks the former has been attacking you and Junior for years. Junior’s young, and the discord around you being a female Alpha is well known. The faction that doesn’t want to hurt us is hiding in a forest outside the White Diamond pack, keeping to themselves, according to his info. The coven that wants you is called Ember and Ash, led by someone named Eliza. They live among humans but hate them for some reason and want to be more powerful than the other supernaturals p>
I rub my face and move toward him. I feel the pull, and I want to resist, but I can’t. I’m too drained to fight the tug my wolf feels for him. “So, what am I supposed to do with this information?” I ask, my hands covering my face. Information means nothing if it’s not actionable.
“First, you’re going to sleep—and eat—so you can think clearly. Then we’ll check in with Tommy. He stayed behind in Dark Moon to work with the Elders, gathering intel on how to detect and fight the magic being used against us. Now that we know it’s magic, we can work on breaking down their wards and protections. That’s probably why we can’t scent anyone, why they vanish so fast p>
“I can’t sleep,” I whisper. My father’s cries of pain echo in my mind whenever I close my eyes.
“You can. You’re safe. I’m here now. Lay down and sleep.” He nods toward my bed from the couch, clearly not planning to move. The last time we were in this space together, he threw me around and gave me the best orgasms of my life. I was so utterly wrecked that I slept for six hours straight—only to wake and find him gone. I won’t admit it, but hearing my dad’s cries still wakes me up, and I’m afraid he’ll be gone too.