THIRTY FIVE

Neo's POV

I sat at my desk, my eyes glued to the TV screen on the far wall, watching the flickering light move under Sky's bedroom door. My fingers gripped the stress ball so tight it threatened to burst. My jaw ached from clenching my teeth, and a low, irritated growl rumbled in my chest.

That bastard.

Zeke had been in there too long. Way too long. I hadn't seen him come out since he carried Sky to her room earlier.

I should have had cameras set up in that room today, but they'd returned too early. My tech guy hadn't even had a chance to fit them. I would have seen everything—who initiated it, how far they went, how fucking weak Zeke was when it came to her.

He wasn't in there for some noble reason. He wasn't tending to her out of duty.

He wanted her.

And I couldn't stand it. I tossed the stress ball from hand to hand, mumbling to myself like a madman.

"Fucking coward. Thinking he can skip his duties. Thinks she's worth it. Thinks she's more important than his Beta responsibilities." I squeezed the ball so hard it burst, gel oozing out between my fingers. I threw it at the wall, watching it splatter before wiping my hand on my pants.

This wasn't about him skipping his damn duties. It was about the time they spent together. It was about the way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered. It was about him forgetting his place—forgetting that I was the one who elevated him, gave him power, made him who he was.

And now he was throwing it all away for her.

I was going to make him pay for it.

I ground my teeth, trying to keep my temper in check, but the light moved again, and I straightened. Someone was coming out.

I quickly mind-linked Wayne, my eyes and ears around the packhouse.

"Wayne."

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Who's leaving Sky's room? Can you sense it?"

There was a pause, and I felt Wayne searching the area mentally before responding.

"It's Zeke."

My rage flared, hot and vicious, excitement and anger tangling in my gut. Part of me hoped Zeke had left before I could catch him. That he hadn't betrayed me. That I hadn't lost him to her.

But there he was.

The door opened, and Zeke stepped into the shot, his expression calm, his shoulders loose. But as he closed the door behind him, I heard it.

"I will keep you safe."

My blood boiled. My vision went red.

He had chosen her. He'd fucking chosen her over me.

"Wayne." I barked through the mind-link, barely keeping my fury in check.

"Yes, Alpha."

"Bring Zeke to me. Now." There was a beat of hesitation.

"Understood. Do you want me to use force?"

"Yes. Use force regardless. I don't give a fuck what it takes. Drag him here if you have to."

"On it." I cut the link, leaning back in my chair, chewing my bottom lip until I tasted blood.

I wanted to see him hurt.

I wanted to see him broken.

He was mine—my Beta, my right hand, my most trusted. And he had betrayed me.

The camera feed shifted, and I saw Wayne moving through the corridor, his posture tense. Zeke was just a few paces ahead of him, not bothering to look back.

"Beta," Wayne called, his voice thick with distaste and annoyance. The word was dripping with smugness, as if he took some pleasure in reminding Zeke of his place.

Zeke didn't even acknowledge him, just kept walking down the corridor with that same calm stride. But I saw it—the tension in his shoulders. He knew he was being hunted.

"Alpha wants you," Wayne called softly, just enough to make sure Zeke could hear.

"I'll see him later," Zeke snorted, not even pausing.

That made my blood boil.

Wayne didn't take kindly to being ignored. He surged forward, grabbing Zeke by the shoulder and spinning him around.

"Alpha wants you now," Wayne snapped.

And that was it.

Zeke moved faster than I could track, his fist colliding with Wayne's jaw, the impact echoing through the corridor. Wayne staggered, but Zeke didn't stop—he followed up with a vicious right hook to the ribs and a knee to the stomach.

Wayne dropped like a stone, wheezing on the floor.

I watched, stunned and furious, as Zeke leaned over his body, his voice low and lethal.

"He is your Alpha. Not mine. Not no more."

Wayne didn't respond. Couldn't. He was out cold. My hands shook with barely contained fury. I sat back in my chair, my tongue running over the wound I'd made on my lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

He just declared war on me.

My Beta. The one I had raised up from nothing. The one I had trusted.

He had chosen her over me.

He had betrayed me.

I gripped the arms of my chair, feeling the wood creak beneath the pressure. I needed to think. I needed to be smart about this. No one would take him from me. Not Sky. Not anyone.

"Not your Alpha. We shall see about that." I forced myself to calm down, my mind racing with plans, strategies, ways to crush this rebellion before it took root.

Finally, I picked up my phone and dialled a number, pressing it to my ear as it rang. The voice on the other end was rough and groggy, clearly annoyed.

"Do you know what time it is?" he barked.

I didn't bother with pleasantries.

"You were right," I said, my voice icy. "He has betrayed me. It's time."

There was a pause, then a low, satisfied chuckle.

"Understood. Consider it done." I hung up, tossing the phone onto my desk.

If Zeke wanted to turn on me, to throw away everything I had given him for the sake of a worthless girl— Then I would make sure he regretted it.

I would tear his life apart, piece by piece.

And when I was done?

Sky would be begging for mercy.

I would make sure of it.