Emily’s POV
“Alex,” I said with a sigh. “I do not have a title for my position in King Alpha Xavier’s pack. I am just a warrior girl.”
Alex has been asking random questions about what I have been doing at White Moon Pack. I wasn’t ready to tell him exactly what I do. There was still a lot at stake.
“A high-ranking one,” Alex said.
“King Xavier trained me,” I said, which was the truth. “Obviously, I would be skilled in combat.”
Alex rolled his eyes for the hundredth time. He didn’t believe a word I said. How do I get him to believe me without giving too much away?
“Sure,” he said, pulling his lips in a thin line. Was he angry at me?
Were we having our first fight?
“Seems so,” Willow chirped. “I find it quite exciting. Alex can’t lose his temper and get furious at you. Which I find quite sexy!”
“Oh Goddess, girl!” I huffed, annoyed. “You find everything sexy about Alex.”
“He is our mate,” she said proudly. “And the way he is acting all jealous now is making me hot and bothered. Can you feel that heat? I would like to have a taste of him and make sure he never thinks we want anyone else.”
“You look very cozy with Paul,” Alex suddenly said, and my gaze snapped toward him.
Wait what? Cozy? Was Willow right? Did Alex feel threatened by Paul? Was he jealous?
“I have known Paul for five years, Alex,” I said, trying to keep my voice level as I got closer to him. I came to a stop in front of him and cupped his face. “I know him well. He is Mila’s annoying and obnoxious cousin, and I have no interest in him.”
A knock at the door echoed through the quiet quarters.
“It’s Luke,” he said.
“Luke?” I asked, surprised, letting go of Alex.
Alex’s face hardened as he took a step away from me.
“We have Michael’s execution tonight,” he said casually.
That caught me a bit off-guard. Alex never told me the outcome of the hearing. I assumed that Michael would just be punished.
“Execution?” I slowly asked. Did I hear right? Alex was about to have the wolf executed for threatening me. That was the ultimate punishment.
Alex nodded, grabbing his jacket.
“Who-”
“I will be doing it myself,” he said, lifting his gaze to find mine.
No! No! No!
“Why?” I gasped, my voice quivering out of shock. “You have a whole council to do…”
“Because he threatened my mate, Emily,” Alex roared, grabbing a chair and throwing it against the wall, scattering the wood all over the room.
I took a step back, my eyes huge. I have never seen Alex lose control, only the aftermath of what he could do.
“Alex, you are scaring me!” I cried out.
“He has threatened you!” He growled, his body shaking in pure anger. Was he about to lose control and shift?
Would Ghost hurt me in Alex’s rage?
“Calm down, please,” I begged, praying that he would listen.
Alex must have seen how afraid I was and closed his eyes, clenching his hands into fists. He took a deep and long breath, trying to control himself.
“Alex,” I whispered, taking a step closer, yet I retreated when Alex raised his head and opened his eyes.
His warm, liquid silver eyes had become rock hard, and the muscles in his jaw and neck were jumping under pressure. He suddenly looked bigger and even more intimidating than usual, and the surrounding atmosphere dropped.
“You don’t know how much I love you,” he said. “You don’t understand how much I care for you. You don’t realize how much you mean to me. I can’t bear to lose you, and I will never allow anyone to touch you.”
“Alex-”
“My decision has been made,” he said, cutting me off. “I will show you, the pack, and the world if I must, just how much you mean to me.”
I was stunned.
Was Alex doing this to try to impress me? It wasn’t working; it was scaring me.
Is he doing this to prevent any more such nasty outcomes?
Yet, I couldn’t understand why he wanted to execute him; why not just exile him? It would have less paperwork and explanation needed.
“Exile?” Willow huffed, listening in on my thoughts. “So that he could try his luck somewhere else?”
I ignored Willow’s remark.
Michael screwed up, and he tried something with me, but nothing happened.
“I don’t understand why you want to execute.” I tried to reason.
“Enough!” Alex barked, cutting me off again. “Michael deserves this! I am Alpha, and I will deal with my pack members accordingly.”
“Now you have done it!” Willow mused, annoyed. “You shouldn’t push our mate over the edge!”
“Shut the f*ck up!” I snapped, blocking her off.
My gaze snapped at the door, seeing Luke entering.
He came to a stop when he saw Alex’s aggressive and dominant posture.
“What’s going on?” Luke asked, looking wide-eyed between the two of us.
“Nothing!” Alex growled, giving me one more look before he rushed toward the door.
Luke’s worried gaze followed Alex out.
“What happened?” Luke asked worryingly. “I have never seen Alpha Alex this pissed at anyone before.”
“Michael.”
“Oh,” Luke said, catching on. “It is a very sensitive subject. Alpha took his time to review all the charges, and he only gave me and the council his decision this morning.”
Luke gestured to the files scattered on the table.
I have seen Alex work on them, but I never asked him what they were. I assumed it was just normal pack reports.
“Take a look at them,” Luke said. “There were a lot of she-wolves who claimed to be…”
“Let’s go, Beta!” Alex roared from the hall. “I don’t have all day!”
“F*ck!” Luke muttered. “If he is this angry, I am afraid that Michael’s execution would be done in less than a second.”
Luke started toward the door.
“Where will it be held?” I asked before Luke reached the door.
“Alpha has demanded the execution be done in the arena,” Luke said. “He is making it a public display!”
“Now, Beta!” Alex roared again, shaking the surrounding windows.
“I had better leave,” Luke said. “Before he comes, get me and have my head!”
I nodded, and Luke gave me one quick look before he rushed out the door.
Will the execution continue?
****