Chapter 44 Chapter 44: Do Not Overstep

Chapter 44 Chapter 44: Do Not Overstep
Alaric Stone's POV:

"Forgive me," Beta Finn responded, immediately pulling his hands back and away from her outstretched hand.

I narrowed my eyes at Beta Finn as I watched him intently till he placed his hands behind his back, one hand grabbing the other wrist. I could not believe that he would reach out to willingly touch what I had intended to make my own. I would soon deal with that in time, but I would have to wait till after she was no longer present.

My eyes were narrow at that point as I continued to look at Beta Finn for a brief moment, all before looking back at Leila as we stood there in front of the Copper Café.

Her eyes went wide, even crossing her arms in front of her chest when she finally asked, "Was there something I missed?"

"No, not at all," I responded, raising my chin slightly when I again placed my hands in my pockets. "However, there are other things that I simply must attend to at this current point in time. It was a pleasure getting a chance to have a moment alone with you. Now if you'll excuse me, I must be on my way."

"Oh?" Leila asked me in that moment, narrowing her eyes as she tried to figure me out. "Well, if you're in such a hurry. I guess I will head back inside. Just let me know when you find out the date of that particular appointment."

"I can assure you," I started to say when I narrowed my eyes at her directly. "You will most definitely be the first one to know."

As I watched Leila turn to head back toward the entrance of the Copper Café, I could feel the pressure and anger start to build under the surface. I knew she wanted a chance to figure me out, but I highly doubt that would ever work. She could certainly try. But I knew she wouldn't succeed. I was far too knowledgeable about a situation that she could only dream about.

As the door barely clicked shut behind her, I could feel my entire demeanor change as I slowly turned to face Beta Finn. My move was deliberate, done so in silence, but my eyes said it all.

"You will not touch her again."

I spoke with intensity. My tone was set low and fierce, with a deadly edge to it. It was low enough that no one around could hear me, but I did speak in a commanding tone, ensuring I used my Alpha's command so that he would not mistake my warning.

I was impressed by how Beta Finn held his stature. I knew he could feel the tension, but I also wanted him to know that he had crossed a serious line. A line that I did not intend for him to cross twice. I had solely intended to make her mine. I was not going to allow anyone to come in between my wants and what I deemed belonged to me.

In that moment, I took a step closer to Beta Finn, ensuring to drive my point home whenever I added, "What is mine has not yet been claimed, but it will be. In due time, Beta Finn. In due time."

I didn't exactly consider myself to be creepy, but I did know that I was extremely possessive over the potential of running a pack that had some serious ground.

After I was certain that Beta Finn had understood the point I was indeed trying to make, he responded when he said, "My apologies, Alpha Alaric. It was not my intention to offend you. And I shall do as you command, my Alpha."

"That is excellent to hear," I said as I finally softened my expression, pivoting towards the next step in appointments I had for today, which was business. "Is everything set and ready?"

"Yes, my Alpha," Beta Finn responded as he looked across the street. I turned to see that, in the direction he was looking, the vehicle was still waiting for the both of us. "Kael is ready and waiting to go whenever you are ready to head that way. That's why I came."

"Very good then," I said as I looked both ways before stepping down into the street and off the curb. "We have an appointment that cannot wait. Let us be on our way."

As I made my way across the street toward the black sedan with dark-tinted windows, I could see Kale looking at me from the driver's seat. His hands were resting on his knees as he patiently waited for us to get into the vehicle. Beta Finn quickly walked past me as he reached for the back passenger door on the opposite side of the vehicle, which was parked next to the curb.

I climbed in and took my seat as Beta Finn closed the door behind me. He then walked around and took his seat behind the driver. No one bothered to say anything, but once all the doors were closed, Kale finally put the vehicle in drive and headed off down the road.

I adjusted the cuffs of my sleeves as the car pulled away from the curb. I turned back to look over my shoulder, seeing the Copper Café shrink in the distance until it was gone altogether. Soon, I told myself within my mind. Soon I would make you mine.

As I continued traveling, Finn stared silently out his window. I could feel the tension in the air, the obvious look still sitting on his shoulders. The careful way he held himself like he was trying not to take up too much space. Good, I thought to myself. He should feel that way for a while. He should've known better than to cross me.

The streets of Copper Cliff thinned out the further we drove along. Soon there were no more buildings to be seen, but nothing but a vast, dense population of trees. As we continued on, I watched my reflection faint in the glass of the window. My expression was unreadable, even to myself.

I let my mind wander, already moving past the conversation I had with Leila back at the Copper Café. I even pushed my mind to move past that small irritation of his offending hand touching what didn't belong to him. I was instead thinking about what was to come. There was work to be done. That was most important now.
Suddenly, Kael took a left onto a narrow road that cut through an older part of the territory. Trees pressed in on both sides of the road, their branches filtering the late afternoon light in the broken patterns across the hood of the vehicle as we passed by.

"Where are we headed?" Beta Finn asked in that moment, his voice carefully neutral.

I didn't exactly look at him. I was still looking out my window when I responded, "You'll know when we arrive."

Finn didn't say anything at that moment. Smart man, I thought to myself. The remainder of the drive silent. You could tell the atmosphere was thick but not completely uncomfortable.