The air in the room was so thick with tension, I could almost touch it. It hung around, inhibiting my breath as it laid heavy on my chest.
Mate.
He had said it. Alpha Callan had called me his mate, and Alexander looked as though he was seconds away from slumping and dying. He staggered away from me, gripping the wall behind him. His whole body trembled, and his face expressed a mix of shock and hurt. Sheer, complete pain.
“What did you just say?” he asked. Even his words didn't come out properly, and it scared me. I had never seen him like this. He was always so perfectly composed, always in control, but now, this person, I didn't recognize him, and the worst part was it was all because of me.
I, who had been promised to him.
I, who he had never for a second doubted would be bound to him forever.
I, who he seemed to have lost. I had no idea how strongly he had felt about me until this moment when he stood, all of his vulnerability completely open to display. His eyes were wide open and red-rimmed, his mouth hung loose, and he was trembling still.
“Are you okay?”Callan asked, reaching out a hand to me, and it was then my thoughts snapped away from Alexander to that which I’d completely overlooked.
Alpha.
My mate was an Alpha, and I didn't pride myself on being sharp-witted, but there was only one other Alpha visiting now and—
I scrambled away from him in shock, flinching away from his touch as though I’d been burnt.
It couldn't be, right? This had to be some sort of cruel joke because there was no way in hell and back that my mate would be the Alpha of the Black Tide Pack. I shook my head furiously. I needed to wake myself up from this daze.
He stood away from me. “I’m not going to hurt you, Sophia.”
His voice came out gently, the low rumble of it making my insides tingle in a way I had never experienced before, and I didn't know how to feel about it. I was so blatantly unsure of him and everything that was happening, and even though I’d tried to clear the fog in my head and the cloud in my mind, it was still happening.
He was still here, and he was still Alpha Callan, my mate.
“You are wrong!” Alexander suddenly snapped. He looked at me with wide eyes, his demeanor switching in a way that alerted me to danger. “He is lying, right?” he asked, walking closer to me.
Callan stepped in front of me, acting as a barrier between us. His tall frame was the perfect shield, and for a flickering moment, I saw fear in Alexander's eyes that was immediately replaced with rage.
“You are not here for this! Sophia belongs to me, and how I handle my personal affairs shouldn't be your concern,” Alexander yelled, unable to contain himself anymore.
I had known him for long, and I knew when he was losing it, and right now, Alexander was dangerous. My instinct screamed at me to protect Callan from him. I could take whatever Alexander had in store—I was used to it—but I couldn't let anyone get hurt because of me, but just as the thought occurred to me, I felt foolish.
Alexander was tall, but Callan still stood at least a foot taller than him, and even though I couldn't see him, I knew he wasn't in the slightest bit intimidated by Alexander.
Quite the contrary from his tone when his next words came out: “I remember being quite clear when I had ordered you to step away from my mate.” He took a threatening step toward Alexander, his fist clenched tightly by his side. “I am considering any defiance to this order a breach of the peace treaty between the Black Tide and Dark Wood Pack. Is that what this is, Alexander?”
Even I stilled at the question, my pulse quickened. I turned to Alexander trying to say something, anything with my eyes, and just as his mouth opened to reply, Elena walked in.
“Alexander,” she called, her eyes moving from her brother to Callan. She didn't seem to have noticed me. “What is going on? Is everything alright?” she asked, her forehead creased in confusion.
“Answer the question I asked, Alexander,” Callan said, his tone icy.
I placed my hand on his wrist gently, and as soon as I did, I wondered why I had because when he turned to me, his gaze softening, his features relaxing, I was left completely devoid of the ability to form a coherent speech.
“Sophia?” Elena’s tone was of surprise. “Why are you here?” And when her eyes zeroed in on where Callan and I were in contact, if looks could burn, her gaze would have seared through me.
Alexander grabbed my hand, yanking it away from Callan’s, pulling me to his chest, his arms wrapping around me and holding me tight against him until I could barely breathe, my face buried in his.
“She belongs to me, and the world will fall over before otherwise happens!” Alexander swore.
“Is that so?” Callan asked. “Then I presume she is your mate because if not, this claim you have over her is simply stupid.”
Alexander stiffened. “That doesn't matter what…”
Callan pulled me off him, and I took in a deep breath grateful for the air. This was useless, this back and forth.
“Stop it, Alexander!” I heard myself say. “I am not yours. I am not a piece of your owned property, so please…”
I choked on tears, recalling all of the times over the years he had gotten away with that thought and put it into action.
“Shut the hell up!” he barked at me.
“Alexander, calm down,” Elena said, placing a hand on her brother and smiling shakily at Callan. “I apologize for his behavior. My brother is—”
“A brute,” Callan said, looking at him. “Your brother is a complete brute, and I know enough to make my decision about offering our support to the Dark Wood Pack.”
He turned and reached out a hand towards me.
“Come on, Sophia. You don't look so well,” he said to me.
My eyes went to Alexander with so many emotions displayed on his face, and for a split second, I almost felt bad for him. Almost.
I nodded and placed my hand on Callan's, allowing him to take me out of the room and out of this life, even though I knew deep in my heart it was momentarily. His words from last night still resounded in my head:
I belong to another.