Chapter 36 The Birth of a Monster

Chapter 36 The Birth of a Monster
Eight Years Ago – Alpha Jacob’s POV (continued)

The tension in the clearing snapped like a drawn bowstring. Lucas, I mind-linked quietly, my eyes locked on Mario. Be ready. Lucas shifted slightly beside me. I already am. Across from us, Mario’s grip tightened on my sister’s wrist. She whimpered, trying to pull away, but he only dragged her closer to his side like she was nothing more than property.

His eyes flickered between her and me “You’re just like your brother,” he spat. My brows furrowed “What are you talking about?” 
“You chose him over me,” Mario snarled, pointing toward Lucas. “I was supposed to be your Beta!” His voice rose, unhinged “I was the one who stood by you! The one who helped you build this pack!” Lucas growled softly beside me, but I raised a hand, stopping him.

Mario’s chest heaved “I was rejected for Beta… and now rejected by my mate.” His gaze dropped to my sister, filled with something dark, possessive and twisted. My instincts screamed, something was wrong, very wrong. Mario’s claws elongated slowly, sliding out like blades from his fingertips. I stiffened. Lucas… be ready, I repeated, sharper this time. Lucas nodded once. I see it.

I shifted my weight, preparing to move. If he hurt her, I wouldn’t hesitate. I was just about to lunge forward when a scent hit me, sweet, soft like orange… and mint. It cut through the blood and tension like something pure. My head snapped to the side, and that’s when I saw her. A young rogue girl stood just behind Mario, terrified. Her wide eyes locked onto mine, then flicked to Mario, then back to me and in that moment, everything went still. Mate. The word echoed in my mind, I heard it and felt it. 

At the same time, “so you’re her mate…” Mario’s voice came out low and twisted. My heart dropped. He turned slowly toward the girl. She took a step back, fear written all over her face. “Mate…” she whispered, and then, before I could move, before I could even shout, Mario’s clawed hand plunged straight into her chest, time stopped, her body jerked, and a broken gasp left her lips “No, I roared, blood spilt.

His hand twisted, and then, he ripped her heart out. A howl tore from my chest, raw and primal, shaking the entire clearing. The girl collapsed instantly, her lifeless body lying bloodied on the floor. Gone.

Mario looked at me… and smiled “What a lucky day for you,” he said casually, tossing the heart aside like it meant nothing “You get to watch two important women lose their lives.” My blood ran cold “Mario… stop,” I said, my voice shaking with rage. “She was your mate.” 

“So what?” he snapped, " She rejected me.” His eyes darkened “I don’t need her anymore.” My sister cried out in terror, “Jacob and then, he did it again.

His hand plunged into her chest “No!!” I lunged forward, but it was too late; he ripped her heart out just like the other girl. Her body fell, and my world was shattered. Everything inside me broke, and then I saw red. I didn’t think or breathe; I just ran straight for him, and the rogues moved instantly, blocking me and protecting him.

“MOVE!” I roared, and Lucas and the others surged forward beside me. The clearing exploded into chaos, claws, teeth, and blood everywhere. I tore through them one after another and watched as they fell, screaming and dying on the spot, but it wasn’t enough, nothing was enough “Everyone out of the way!” Lucas shouted. “Give him space!” I didn’t hear him fully, and I didn’t care. All I knew was rage, pure and uncontrollable rage to slaughter them all. 

Every single rogue that stood between Mario and me, and when the last one fell— He was gone, my chest heaved, my body shook. “No…” My eyes darted around wildly. Then— Movement. His wolf was running, and I didn’t hesitate. I chased him. The forest blurred around us. Branches snapped, and the ground tore beneath our feet. I caught up quickly, leapt and sank my teeth into his leg. He howled, stumbling. I then slammed into him, dragging him down. “What kind of Alpha are you?” Mario spat, even as blood poured from his wounds.

I didn’t answer, I couldn’t. “You lost your mate…” His grin was sick “And your sister.” My chest tightened “You’ll be alone forever,” he continued “You’ll carry this loss with you… forever. Something inside me snapped again. I grabbed him by the neck and clawed into his chest, then threw him violently across the ground. He crashed into a tree, but before I could finish it, he shifted, rolled and ran, disappearing into the forest.

I stood there for a moment, breathing hard, broken, then slowly turned back. The clearing was silent now, bodies everywhere, rogues, my warriors and… Them. I walked slowly, each step heavier than the last until I reached them, my sister, my mate, both lying still, gone forever “Alpha…” Lucas’ voice was softer now. “There’s someone here.” I looked up. A woman knelt beside the rogue girl’s body, crying.

“My sister…” she sobbed, clutching the lifeless hand. “That’s my sister…Melissa” My jaw tightened “You will leave,” I said coldly. Her head snapped up, “Or die.” She stared at me. Tears were streaming down her face. “I want her body,” she said “No,” was my response, and her expression twisted. “You’re cruel,” she spat. “This is why we helped Mario.” My eyes darkened. “He said you were a horrible Alpha.” Silence fell. 

I stepped closer, slow, dangerous. “Am I horrible?” I asked quietly, she faltered, “Or is he the one who killed my sister … and your sister?” Her lips parted, but no words came out; the truth hung in the air, heavy, unavoidable and in that moment—Something changed, not just in her, but in me. The Alpha I used to be—died that day and something darker…He was born in his place.