I seethed in my private chambers, my fists clenched, staring at the map before me-though my mind was far from the trials. Far from strategy. It was consumed with the image of Eloise’s sister, Jacky, her bloodied face, her defiance, her disrespect. The whole kingdom had seen it. She’d blatantly disregarded my orders, in front of the entire damn nation. I could feel my blood boil just thinking about it.
Luca, my Beta, stood before me, shifting uneasily under my gaze. He had been waiting for me to speak, but I needed to reign in my rage first. Finally, I growled, “Speak. What do you want, Luca?”
He hesitated, ever careful. “With your permission, Alpha, may I speak freely?” he asked, his voice laced with caution, the respect in his tone noticable.
I let out a slow breath, willing myself to calm down just enough to not crush the man in front of me. “You may speak,” I muttered, keeping my voice low but thick with authority. “But if you waste my time, you’ll regret it.”
Luca nodded, swallowing hard before continuing. “The situation with Jacky is… escalating. She defied you in front of the kingdom. She disrespected you-didn’t follow orders, didn’t obey the rules of the challenge. And none of the other contestants tried to stop her. They’re all just standing by, watching, waiting for someone like her to come along. To challenge your power. Like they did with Eloise.”
Eloise. Her name cut through me like a knife. The reminder of her only fueled the fire of frustration simmering beneath my skin. I could already feel my pulse quicken, my chest tightening with the weight of memories that were better left buried.
I slammed my fist onto the table, the sound of wood against bone resounding through the room. “I know that!” I snapped, fury making my voice rise. “This is the same damn thing that happened with Eloise. The same damn thing! She arrives, creates a mess, and suddenly, everyone forgets who’s in charge.” My teeth ground together as I leaned forward, glaring at Luca. “This family is cursed, Luca. There’s something wrong with it. The moment they show any potential, they think they can take over. They think they can have the power, that they can challenge me.”
Luca remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing his words. The truth not even Luca knew was Jacky’s true identity. The reason I’d targeted Eloise to begin with. I’d mistaken her for Jacky. Killed her for the wrong reason. Jacky has always been my target. They face of my nightmares. The woman who took everything from me.
I turned to Luca, eager for him to spit out what he had in his mind.
Luca had learned over time how to navigate my rages, how to speak in ways that wouldn’t get him killed. He finally spoke, his voice more confident now, though still with an undertone of wariness. “I believe, Alpha, that the only way to stop this cycle from repeating is to… give Malia the same power Jacky has. Let her prove she is worthy of the title. And… dethrone Jacky. Strip her of the attention, the power she has over the trials. You’ve seen how the other contestants are reacting to her. They look at her like she’s untouchable, invincible. And that needs to change. It needs to happen, and soon.”
I let his words sink in, feeling a strange sense of clarity creeping into my mind. Yes. Malia. She was strong, brutal, and unyielding. She had potential. I could see it now. Perhaps she was the one to challenge Jacky in a way that would make the other contestants fall in line. Perhaps she could be the one to crush Jacky’s growing legend.
I stood up, pacing the room, rubbing my hand over my jaw as I considered the next move. My own actions to save Jacky from death… I had created this monster. I had saved her from certain death only to make her seem immortal, untouchable. She had become a symbol of invincibility, and that was something I couldn’t allow. If anyone was to be feared, it was me, Roman-the Alpha. I was the one who should be revered, not some rogue contestant who thought she could play with my rules. I was the immortal one here. The Alpha living a thousand years, the wolf that cannot die.
I stopped in my tracks, the plan beginning to take shape in my mind. “You’re right, Luca,” I said, my voice colder now, the weight of my decision settling on me like armor. “If I give her a challenge she can’t win… one that breaks her, crushes this myth of her invincibility… they will see. They will see that I am the Alpha. I am the one who decides who lives and who dies. I will elevate Malia, let her prove herself worthy of my power. And Jacky? She will be dethroned. She will know her place.”
I could almost hear the cheers of the crowd now, the whispers that would spread like wildfire. Roman, the Alpha, brought Jacky to her knees. It would be a spectacle, a show to remind everyone who was in control. But even as the thought of it made my chest swell with pride, a strange unease gnawed at me. There was something about Jacky. Her eyes-her fire. It unsettled me. Something about her was… warmly familiar.
I looked up at Luca, who was standing quietly, waiting for further instructions. “Make it happen, Luca,” I ordered, my voice steady now, the plan set in motion. “Prepare Malia. Make sure she’s ready to take Jacky down. And make sure Jacky doesn’t get any more chances to defy me.”
Luca nodded quickly, stepping back. “It will be done, Alpha.”
I took a seat again, letting the cold weight of my thoughts settle over me. There was still a lot to be done. But first… there was the Masquerade Ball. A change of pace. A moment to look forward to. I had someone I was eager to meet.
A smile curled on my lips as I thought of her-the woman I had slept with, the mystery woman who had become my obsession. She was more than just a fleeting interest; she was something deeper, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. And when the ball arrived, I would get to know her better.
But Jacky… Jacky was a loose end. I couldn’t afford to leave her alive, not while I had these other plans in motion. Once Malia proved herself, Jacky would no longer matter.
For now, though, I would let her cool off in the cells. I had more important things to attend to.
“Luca,” I called, just before he left the room.
He turned back, awaiting further instructions.
“Get her ready. The challenge, Malia, everything. I’ll be busy with other matters for now,” I said, my voice hard, calculating.
He bowed and left the room. I leaned back, taking a deep breath.
Soon, I thought. Soon, everything would be in my hands. The game was just beginning.