Page 51 of Brutal Alpha's Forced Mate

I glance at Jaslyn, whose posture is already shifting into something more alert. The witches are sharp, but this isn’t their world—it’s mine. “Stay close,” I tell her.

She doesn’t argue. Good.

As we approach the clearing, I feel what Theo was referencing. Voices drift through the trees, and my wolf’s instincts sharpen into a single point of focus. I motion for the group to slow, signaling for Theo to take the left flank while I take the right.

The witches fall silent as we creep closer.

When we reach the edge of the clearing, the source of the voices comes into view—and my blood turns to ice.

Malcolm.

He stands in the center of the clearing like he owns the damn place. Wiley is with him, and his son’s smirk is as sharp and predatory as ever. But it’s the scene around them that makes my wolf snarl with fury.

A group of girls—witches, judging by their scent—are huddled together, their faces pale and terrified. They’re bound with magic-tampering ropes, and their wrists are raw and red. Two of Malcolm’s lackeys—both burly, wolfish types—are standing guard.

“Son of a bitch,” I growl. My wolf is practically foaming at the mouth, demanding blood for everything they did to Jaslyn.

Jaslyn steps up beside me, and she sucks in a breath as she takes in the scene. “Malcolm,” she whispers.

“Yeah,” I confirm. “Looks like he’s out looking for more witches.”

Her magic spikes into an electric pulse that makes the hair on my arms stand on end. “We’re not letting him get away with this,” she hisses.

“No, we’re not,” I agree.

Theo moves closer and asks, “What’s the plan?”

I grit my teeth as my mind runs through the options. Malcolm’s outnumbered, but he’s cunning. Reckless action could get those girls killed—or worse.

“We take him by surprise,” I say finally. “Split into two groups. Theo, you and the witches circle left, draw the guards’ attention. I’ll take Jaslyn and cut off their escape.”

Theo nods, but Jaslyn’s hand clamps onto my arm before he can move. “I’m not just backup,” she declares.

“You’re not,” I reply. “You’re my ace.”

“Damn right I am.”

Malcolm won’t see us coming.

The plan works—mostly. Theo and the witches draw the guards’ attention, scattering them toward the left, and I chargeinto the clearing with Jaslyn at my side. The element of surprise gives us the upper hand, and the sheer fury behind our approach sends Malcolm’s men scrambling.

It’s not until Malcolm spots Jaslyn, standing tall and defiant with her magic crackling like a live wire, that the real trouble begins.

“Well, well. Look at her,” he says lasciviously, gesturing at Jaslyn like she’s some prized horse up for auction. “Healthy. Strong. Radiant, even. That wasn’t part of the deal, Gray. I sold her to you to be used, not to have her paraded around like some kind of queen.”

“Careful,” I growl. “I don’t take kindly to people questioning my decisions.”

Malcolm barks a laugh. “Decisions? Is that what you call this? You’ve wasted what I gave you. Do you even realize what you’ve done? Letting her loose, giving her ideas about freedom—”

“I didn’t let her loose. I set her free,” I snap as my wolf bristles beneath the surface. “I paid you for Jaslyn, Malcolm. What I do with her now is none of your concern.”

“None of my concern?” His voice rises, tinged with disbelief. “She’s mine. She’ll always be mine. You might’ve paid, but I didn’t sell you the right to unbind her. To make her think she’s more than what she is. That’s not what I agreed to.”

“You sold yourself the illusion that you could keep me caged forever,” Jaslyn bites out.

His gaze snaps to her, and his face twists in rage. “Watch your mouth, girl. You think you’re untouchable now? That I won’t drag you back myself if I have to?”

“You can try,” she challenges as her magic coils around her like a living thing. “But you’ll regret it.”

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