Chapter 23 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN SECOND PART
ALEX
I watch her flee, every instinct screaming at me to follow. To pin her against the wall and demand the truth. To claim what's mine in every way that matters.
But she's not ready. Not yet.
Marcus finds me still standing on the terrace, staring at the moon.
"You banished Victoria," he says without preamble.
"I did."
"The pack is talking. Some think you've gone too far for a slave."
"Then they can challenge me." I turn to face him. "Or they can accept that I protect what belongs to me."
"Is that what this is?" Marcus crosses his arms. "Protection? Or something else?"
"Both." I move past him, heading inside. "Increase patrols. I want eyes on every border, every approach to our territory."
"You think someone's coming for her."
"I know someone is." I stop at my study door. "The Northern Pack doesn't give up easily. And if they've figured out what she is..."
"Then we're in for a war." Marcus's expression hardens. "Are you prepared for that? To risk the entire pack for one slave?"
"She's not just one slave." The words come out more growl than speech. "She's mine. And I protect what's mine. Always."
He nods slowly. "Then I hope she's worth it, brother."
After he leaves, I pour myself a drink and move to the window. Her scent still lingers in my study—vanilla and jasmine and secrets.
Two days until the full moon.
Two days until her control shatters completely.
Two days until I finally see the truth she's been hiding.
And when that happens, when she can't hide behind her walls anymore, I'll show her exactly what it means to belong to the Beast.
Let the Northern Pack come. Let every Alpha in five territories hunt for her.
They'll have to go through me first.
And I've never lost a fight for what's mine