Chapter 38

ROY

The throne room was dim, lit only by the flickering light of the torches lining the walls. Shadows twisted and danced across the cold stone, reflecting the brutality that had taken root in what was once Shane’s domain. I, Roy, now stood where he once had, a reminder of the throne I’d claimed through cunning and strength, traits Shane had clearly lacked.

I let out a low, mocking laugh, savoring the sight of Shane’s former loyalists kneeling before me, their heads bowed in forced submission. Most wore expressions of defiance, their bodies tense as they glared up at me, their hatred like a smoldering fire, simmering but not yet dangerous. I was here to remind them who held the power now, who they owed their allegiance to.

One of them, a younger wolf with fierce eyes, met my gaze without flinching. His voice, though strained, carried the fire of rebellion. “You can taunt us all you want, Roy,” he spat, venom coating every word. “But our alpha will return, and when he does, you’ll be nothing but a memory—a warning of what happens to traitors.”

The room went silent, his defiance hanging thick in the air. I felt a surge of irritation, but I pushed it down, keeping my expression calm as I approached him, slow and deliberate. I leaned in close, my lips curling into a sneer.

“Your alpha?” I repeated, mockingly. “You speak of an alpha who ran from his own pack like a coward, leaving you all to fend for yourselves. Is that truly the leader you still believe in? The one you’d lay down your life for?”

The young wolf’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening against the chains that bound his wrists. “Shane will return,” he repeated, voice unwavering. “And when he does, you’ll be the one on your knees, Roy. You think you’re powerful now, but you’re nothing compared to him.”

I laughed, a low, chilling sound that echoed through the chamber. Without a word, I swung my hand, the crack of my palm against his cheek ringing out as his head snapped to the side. He staggered, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, but he looked back at me, unbroken, his eyes filled with hate.

“Is that so?” I taunted, leaning closer until I was inches from his face. “You think he’ll just come waltzing back in here, reclaim his throne, and everything will go back to how it was? Let me tell you something.” I lowered my voice, the threat curling through each word. “Shane isn’t coming back. He’s out there, weak, defeated, barely a shadow of what he once was. And while he’s hiding like the coward he is, I am here, ruling his pack, claiming his power, while all of you kneel before me.”

A ripple of anger passed through the crowd, the wolves shifting uneasily, but no one dared to speak. The sight of their defiance only fed the satisfaction simmering in me. They could hate me all they wanted. It only reminded them of their helplessness, of the powerlessness that bound them as surely as the chains on their wrists.

I straightened, glancing over the rest of Shane’s former loyalists. “Do you all still believe in your alpha?” I sneered. “Do you still think he’ll come back to save you?” Silence. The room was tense, the air heavy with suppressed rage. “Thought so,” I finished, smirking.

But before I could relish the moment further, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. One of my spies—a lean, wiry wolf with quick eyes—was approaching, his face hidden in the shadows, his steps purposeful. As he neared, he glanced around, assessing the audience. I waved him forward, curious about what news he could have brought, hoping it was more confirmation of Shane’s utter defeat.

The spy stopped just short of me, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “There’s… news, Roy,” he began cautiously, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “About Shane.”

My smirk faltered, irritation flaring in my chest. “What is it?” I snapped, barely keeping my voice from betraying my annoyance. “What pathetic state has he gotten himself into now?”

The spy hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. “It’s… it appears Shane has found a mate. He’s bonded with her.”

My blood went cold, a chill prickling through my veins. I turned to him, forcing myself to stay composed, but my hands tightened into fists. “Are you sure?” I asked, my voice deadly soft.

The spy nodded. “Yes, my sources confirm it. He’s found his mate in the human world and… the bond has been completed.”

The words echoed in my mind, each syllable a hammer blow to the throne I’d just begun to cement. Shane had found his mate? Bound to her? This wasn’t supposed to happen. He was supposed to remain broken, lost, defeated. A mate would restore his strength, his power. It was what made an alpha whole.

I bit back the fury simmering beneath my skin, my gaze darkening as I looked over the kneeling wolves. They didn’t know yet, but it wouldn’t be long before whispers spread, before hope started to bloom in their eyes. Shane, their precious alpha, would be a threat once more if he returned with his mate by his side. A threat I hadn’t counted on.

The young wolf I’d slapped before lifted his head, watching me, as if sensing the shift in the air. I straightened, refusing to let any of them see the crack forming in my confidence. I would not let this news weaken me. I had waited too long, worked too hard to claim what was now mine. Shane’s return would only be a challenge, one I intended to crush.

I looked back at the spy, my voice low and venomous. “Keep watching him. I want to know everything about this mate of his. Her name, her family, her weaknesses. I want every possible detail.” The spy nodded, slipping back into the shadows to carry out my orders.

My gaze swept over Shane’s former pack members, and I smiled, a cold, twisted smile that held no warmth. “Looks like your dear alpha may have found his way back to his feet,” I announced, the words dripping with mockery. “But if he thinks he can just waltz back in here and take what’s mine, he’s in for a rude awakening.”

A flicker of defiance sparked in their eyes, a dangerous glint that only fueled my anger. I could see the hope taking root, a glimmer of faith rekindling in their expressions. It was revolting.

The young wolf who had spoken before looked up, a smirk tugging at his bloodied lips. “Shane will come for you,” he said, his voice filled with a quiet conviction that made my skin crawl. “And when he does, you’ll regret every second you spent on that throne.”

I gritted my teeth, every muscle in my body coiled tight. Without hesitation, I struck him again, harder this time, relishing the crack of his cheek against my fist. He staggered but didn’t fall, lifting his head to meet my gaze with defiant eyes.

“Shane isn’t coming for anything,” I growled, the words like acid on my tongue. “He may have found his mate, but that won’t change a thing. This pack belongs to me now. And if any of you think otherwise, I’ll be more than happy to prove you wrong.”

The room was silent, tense, every eye on me, watching, waiting. They were too beaten to rise against me, but I could sense the shift, the ripple of resistance growing. Shane’s mate, his bond—these things meant strength, a strength they still believed in, a strength that threatened my control.

But I would not be swayed. I had taken this throne by force, and I would defend it with the same ruthlessness that had brought me here. Shane was a threat, yes, but he would be dealt with, just like any other. I had spies, allies, the strength of a pack under my command. Shane may have reclaimed some of his power, but he was still just one wolf.

I straightened, brushing off the dust from my hands, my expression calm once more. “Take them back to their cells,” I ordered the guards. “They’ll learn their lesson soon enough.”

As they were led away, I allowed myself a moment to think, to process the news that had shaken me more than I cared to admit. Shane had a mate—a source of power, of resilience. But he also had a weakness. And if he thought he could return and reclaim his throne, he was gravely mistaken.

I would find this mate, and when I did, she would be his undoing.