TWENTY NINE

Neo's POV

The moment I stepped onto the training field, everything stopped.

The air shifted, thickening with unease. Warriors who had been mid-spar turned rigid, their movements faltering. The stench of panic, anxiety, and, more importantly, fear filled the space, seeping into the dirt like the scent of a fresh kill.

Good.

They knew better than to relax in my presence.

And Zeke?

He had the audacity to try and rule me today—to pull me aside, to question my authority.

He would learn.

I let my gaze drift past him, locking onto Sky. She was panting, her body slick with sweat and dirt, her fists clenched as she glared at me like she wanted to rip my throat out. A calculating smirk curled at my lips.

"You're looking weak, sister," I taunted, watching as her expression twisted in fury. She barely had time to snarl before Kade struck. A swift, brutal blow to her ribs sent her sprawling onto the dirt.

"Let's fix that." I laughed, slow and taunting.

I let them fight, determined to break her bit by bit. Kade didn't hold back—he never did. His footwork was aggressive, his movements fast. He enjoyed the fight, enjoyed knowing his opponent was struggling. Sky was scrappy and reckless. But not smart.

I studied her with the cold, detached interest of a scientist watching a failed experiment. She had potential—I'd give her that. Her stance had improved, her reflexes sharper than before. But she still fought with emotion, not strategy.

Sloppy.

She dodged too late, countered too slowly. Her kicks had power, but her footing was off. Her punches were wild, full of anger rather than calculation. Although she was improving already, and that irritated me.

I tilted my head, watching as she landed a solid strike against Kade's jaw. His head snapped to the side, and he wiped at his mouth, his eyes flashing with rage.

Enough.

"Again," I said, turning toward the group of warriors at my side. My gaze settled on Damon. A tank of a male, all brute strength and unrelenting force. Ruthless. Fast. Unforgiving.

"Your turn."

"No, don't—" Zeke immediately stepped forward. I didn't even look at him. A single command left my lips.

"Kneel."

Zeke collapsed. His knees hit the dirt with a sickening thud, his body bowing under my will. He fought it, his muscles trembling as he struggled, his breaths ragged.

"Stay down, Beta," I said coldly, stepping closer, my hands slipping into my pockets. "You will learn your place on your own or by watching me break your toy. But you will learn."

"I am not a fucking toy for your amusement," Sky spat, her eyes blazing as she squared her shoulders and stormed toward me, her rage a wildfire, untamed and reckless.

"Aren't you?" I arched a brow.

Damon grabbed her before she could reach me, dragging her back by her ridiculous pink hair. She fought, kicking, struggling, twisting in his grasp. But he was too big, too strong.

"Don't touch her." Zeke growled, his body trembling, trying to rise. I pressed my will harder. "Fuck off, Neo. She is my..." he seethed. My head snapped toward him, waiting for him to finish his sentence, but he didn't dare.

"She is your what?" I asked with a slow smile, pushing him to speak.

"Please. Neo." He gasped, his arms buckling under the weight of my command. I felt his defiance, the way he was fighting me.

And it pissed me off.

"Try harder," I murmured, my voice dripping with amusement. "Maybe if you beg, I'll reconsider." Zeke snarled, his teeth clenched, but his body refused to move. He was mine to command.

Sky twisted, wrenching herself free just enough to launch herself at Damon, landing a punch to his ribs. He grunted, but it was like hitting a wall.

He didn't hesitate.

A devastating punch sent her flying.

She crashed into the dirt, coughing, spitting blood, yet she pushed up again.

"Too late, Z.." I laughed with a winning smile. "Keep going." I ordered Damon without looking at him.

"Yes, Alpha." I could hear the smirk in Damon's voice seconds before the sound of flesh colliding with flesh filled the air.

Another blow.

And another. Zeke roared, struggling violently against my hold.

I let him suffer. Sky was fast, but Damon was unrelenting. Every time she tried to reach Zeke, Damon dragged her back.

She fought. She fucking fought. But it wasn't enough. Her body was slowing. Her movements were sluggish. Blood trickled down her chin; her lip split wide. Her arms trembled as she struggled to stand.

She took another hit to the ribs, a sickening crack filling the air. Still, she refused to fall.

"Shift," she commanded, her voice desperate, her hands clenched into the dirt.

Evie snarled, her wolf clawing for release.

I smirked.

"No." The word dripped from my lips like poison, my Alpha command slamming into her with the force of a tidal wave.

Sky screamed, her body locking up as she fought the order.

I felt Evie rage inside her. Felt her desperation. It only made me grin. Sky's breath rattled in her lungs, her entire frame shaking. Yet still, she refused to give in. Stepping onto the mat with my cunt of a sister, I lowered so that my face with even with hers as she lay on her back from the way Damon had thrown her over his shoulder onto the floor.

"You look like shit, sis. But at least, you still have some fight in you."

I laughed, kicking her ribs non to gently as I stood. She followed suit slowly, her eyes locked on mine angrily.

She spat at my feet.

Blood-streaked saliva splattered onto my boots. Damon moved to strike again, but I lifted a hand, stopping him.

She collapsed onto her knees, coughing violently, blood dripping onto the dirt.

But her eyes— Her eyes still burned.

"Leave her," I said, turning away.

"Alpha, she—" Damon hesitated.

"I said, leave her." She was broken, but not gone. Not yet. The warriors obeyed, scattering, murmuring among themselves.

But Zeke?

He was still kneeling beside me, forced into submission, powerless to do anything. I looked down at him, my smirk widening.

"You should have stayed in your place, Beta." I warned. He didn't respond, his body trembling from the sheer force of holding himself together. I let the moment drag, savoured his helplessness, his pain.

Then, with a casual flick of my wrist, I released him from my hold.

Zeke collapsed forward, his hands hitting the dirt beside Sky's unmoving body.

"Sorry, did I break your toy?" I laughed as I walked away, satisfied.

They would learn.

One way or another, they would all learn.

Author note: Just a quick note to say, my partner has surprised me with a trip to Amsterdam tomorrow 1st - 9th March. so bear with me for replies guys while I enjoy my mini break after the pain and heart break of losing my brother in December.