Chapter 11: ; Alpha's Wrath

Samantha's seductive smile quickly faded away, and she felt a knot form in her stomach. With a gulp, she nervously asked, "What do you mean by that?" Her eyes darted around, scanning the faces of the people who had been watching the scene unfold earlier. They had done nothing to help her, and now they cowered in their seats, sweating profusely.

Matthew's piercing glare could make even the bravest of souls tremble. "I mean that your father has been removed from his position as the Head of the Council of the Sapphire City," he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. He took a moment to survey his surroundings before continuing. The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, causing the onlookers to shift uncomfortably in their seats.

Samantha's shock quickly turned to disbelief. "That's impossible!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in pitch. "No one would dare oppose our family. We are the wealthiest in all of Sapphire City." She couldn't fathom how anyone could challenge their power and authority.

But rather than calming her down, Samantha's statement only served to intensify Matthew's anger. "Is that what you think?" he spat out, his voice dripping with venom. "When did the word 'alpha' become a joke?" He glared at the people around him, daring anyone to challenge his authority. It was clear that he wasn't someone to be trifled with, and the onlookers knew it.

Samantha's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of support. She knew that her father was highly respected in the pack, more so than even Luna herself. Surely someone would step forward and defend her family's honor. But despite her desperate plea, the onlookers remained silent, their eyes downcast.

"Come on, guys," Samantha implored her friends, hoping to rally some support. "You know how powerful my father and my family are in Sapphire City. Tell the alpha!"

But the two girls merely shook their heads, sensing the alpha's growing anger. The atmosphere was tense and oppressive, and neither of them wanted to risk incurring Matthew's wrath.

As for Cheska, she couldn't bear to see Samantha in such a vulnerable state, despite her earlier actions. Her heart ached as she watched Samantha's eyes fill with tears. Cheska knew that she had to intervene, to put an end to this before it got out of hand.

"Enough," Cheska whispered to Matthew, tugging on his clothes to get his attention. "This isn't productive. Let's stop this now."

But Matthew was not yet finished. Ignoring Cheska's words, he strode purposefully towards Samantha, his eyes blazing with fury. Without a word, he pinned her to the table, using the same forceful technique she had used on Cheska earlier.

"Never lay a finger on Cheska Macbride again," Matthew growled, his voice low and menacing. "Or else you and your family will be rogues. Do you understand me?" With that, he tossed Samantha aside, leaving her to be caught by her friend.

Cheska watched as Matthew's demeanor shifted, his usual warm smile replaced by a cold, terrifying glare. It was as if he had two distinct personalities, and she couldn't help but wonder which one was the real him.

"And as for you," he said, turning towards Cheska and grabbing her arm. "Come with me."

Cheska felt a sense of dread wash over her as they left the snack house. The pack members they passed by quickly averted their gaze, avoiding eye contact with Matthew. It was clear that they knew something was amiss, and they didn't want to get caught up in it.

"Matthew, where are you taking me?" Cheska asked, her voice trembling with fear. But he didn't answer, and Cheska was left to ponder her fate in silence. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst. 'Maybe he was going to punish me for my earlier actions. Or maybe, as I couldn't help but fear, he was angry because I was too meek, too submissive, too different from the strong, independent mate he had always wanted.

Matthew hurriedly pushed open the door to his office, pulling Cheska inside and slamming the door shut behind us. Before Cheska could even get her bearings, he had her pinned against the door, his intense gaze fixed on her.

"Cheska, if you don't want me to murder a member of my pack, you need to stop letting them bully you," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Cheska was at a loss for words, her mind reeling from the sudden shift in his demeanor. This was not the same Matthew she had known at home. This was a different side of him, a side Cheska had never seen before.

But just as quickly as it had appeared, the demon within him seemed to subside, and the Matthew she knew and loved was back.

"If I'm not here, don't worry," he reassured me. "I'll make sure one of my pack members will look after you."

Cheska was taken aback by his words, her eyes widening in surprise. "No!" she protested, feeling a surge of indignation. "I can take care of myself. I don't need a babysitter!"

But even as she spoke, Matthew's hands crept up to her nape and the small of her back, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Cheska couldn't deny the rush of excitement that coursed through her at his touch, even as her mind raced with conflicting emotions.

"Matthew, what are you doing? We can't risk being seen here," Cheska whispered urgently.

Matthew's response was a low murmur, his breaths heavy with Cheska's scent. "Do you really think anyone would dare to come into my office after my argument with the council, especially after seeing my little Cheska being bullied in my territory?" he asked.

Cheska's fists clenched tightly as she struggled to contain her emotions.'He only hugged me, but why am I feeling like this? she thought to herself.

"I need to go home. My mom is probably looking for me," Cheska said, trying to remove Matthew's arms from around her.

Matthew only smiled and held her tighter. "You don't know how much you're affecting me, Cheska," he murmured, his face nuzzling into her neck.

"If I'm causing you trouble, then let me go home," Cheska retorted, still reeling from the confusion of the recent events. Matthew had allowed her to attend the meeting, but he had prevented her from voicing her opinions. To make things worse, he had even kicked her out of the conference.

Matthew let out a deep sigh before finally letting Cheska go. He walked over to his desk and pulled out a stack of envelopes from the drawer.

"I'm not playing games here, Cheska. I can't afford to be careless with my little mate," he said, dropping the envelopes onto the desk.

Cheska slowly opened each letter, confirming that they were official communications from the pack's office in the region. "Well, I guess beauty isn't the only thing that matters when it comes to being a Luna. If they find out that I'm worthless, they won't insist," she said, her tone filled with self-doubt.

"You're not worthless, Cheska. And you're definitely not just beautiful," Matthew said firmly, his eyes locking onto hers.

Cheska glared at him, feeling frustrated and helpless. "You've only just arrived in town. How can you possibly know anything about me?" she asked bitterly. "Earlier, Samantha beat me easily. I'm weak and defenseless, and I'm not as smart as the other girls in town," she added, her smile bitter.

Lost in her thoughts, Cheska didn't hear Matthew's footsteps as he approached her. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft and concerned.

Matthew leaned in and pressed his lips gently against Cheska's, cutting off her sentence. His kiss was tender and reassuring and brought a sense of calm to her troubled heart.

"I don't want to hear you degrading yourself like that, Cheska Macbride," he whispered after the kiss.

Cheska blushed and looked away. "I'm just stating the facts," she replied, feeling embarrassed.

"Well, perhaps I can teach you a few tricks to help you out before I officially accept you into the pack," Matthew offered.

Cheska's eyes widened as she looked at him incredulously. Was he serious? Could he really help her?

"Thank you so much, Matthew," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace.

But before she could even finish her hug, the door suddenly burst open...