Page 13 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
She spins back toward me, and the rim of gold around her brown eyes gets thicker, almost drowning out the darker color. The woman looks positively ferocious. “Don’t flatter yourself. You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know enough. I know you’re strong. I know you’re stubborn. And I know you’re not as immune to this as you want me to believe.”
Her hand twitches at her side, and for a second, I think she might actually hit me. Instead, she takes a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling as she forces herself to stay calm.
“Believe whatever you want,” she says. “But if you think for one second that I’m going to fall in line and play the doting mate, you’re even more delusional than I thought.”
“Good,” I reply. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
Her glare follows me as I open the door, but I don’t look back. I need air. Space to think, to push down the fire still burning in my chest. She gets under my skin in a way I can’t explain, and it’s not just her defiance. It’s the way her words linger, the way she challenges me at every turn.
This arrangement was supposed to be simple. Temporary. But with every moment I spend around her, I realize it’s going to be anything but.
Chapter 5 - Kai
I wake up startled, disoriented by the sheer luxury of uninterrupted sleep. For a second, I’m certain something’s wrong—that Theo’s lurking nearby, waiting to spring some new torment. But the room is silent, and when I glance toward the lounge chair across the room, I realize he’s still sprawled out, one arm slung over his face like he hasn’t got a care in the world.
He didn’t bother me when he got in last night. Not once.
That alone feels like some cosmic joke. I can’t remember the last time I slept more than a couple of hours at a stretch. And yet here I am, waking up from what feels like the deepest sleep I’ve had in weeks. My body aches, but not from tension. More like I’ve been given a reprieve I didn’t ask for.
I sit up slowly, careful not to make a sound, and rub the back of my neck. Despite my brief escape into sleep, my mind immediately drifts to the problems waiting for me back home. My pack. My brother. The demons that are likely still lurking on the outskirts of our territory, circling like vultures.
The area Theo’s pack calls home is quiet. Too quiet. It’s unnerving how peaceful everything feels here, tucked away from the chaos I left behind. But I can’t let myself be lulled into complacency.
Slipping out of bed, I pull on my boots and grab my jacket. Theo doesn’t stir, and for a moment, I’m tempted to test just how deep of a sleeper he is. But there’s no time for games.
The cabin door creaks as I push it open, and I cringe, freezing in place. When Theo doesn’t come storming after me, I step outside and let the cool morning settle over me.
The Black Cauldron pack’s territory is as rugged and unpolished as I expected, with clusters of cabins scattered among the trees, with narrow dirt paths connecting them.
For a pack that thrives on simplicity, their location is surprisingly strategic. Hidden deep in the forest, it’s well-protected yet close enough to the neighboring town to provide access to supplies. It’s the total opposite of East Hills, where modern convenience reigns supreme.
I keep to the shadows, avoiding the well-worn paths as I make my way deeper into the forest. The last thing I need is an impromptu meet-and-greet with someone from Theo’s pack. I’ve got to find a way to send a message to Alec, myrealalpha, and Quincey.
If anyone can help me with this mess I’ve ended up in, it’s them.
The undergrowth is thick, but I move through it with ease, thanks to my years of training. The further I go, the quieter it gets, until all I can hear is the crunch of leaves beneath my boots and the distant call of birds.
I pause, scanning the area. This part of the territory seems less traveled. The few paths within eyeshot are faint and overgrown. Perfect.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the small scrap of paper I managed to scribble a note last night when Theo left. It’s crumpled and smudged, but the important parts are still legible. I just need to find a way to get this to Alec.
I crouch near a tree and spread the paper out on a flat rock as I consider my options. A carrier pigeon is out of the question—too slow, and who knows if Theo’s pack would intercept it. A direct call is impossible without a phone. Thatleaves a runner, someone who can deliver the message in person.
But who?
The sound of footsteps snaps me out of my thoughts. My pulse spikes, and I shove the paper back into my pocket as I straighten, glancing around for cover.
A figure emerges from the trees, tall and broad-shouldered with messy brown hair and a confident swagger that immediately sets me on edge. He’s dressed like the rest of Theo’s pack—rugged, practical clothes that suggest he spends more time outdoors than in.
“Lost?” he asks with a sly grin.
“Not exactly.” I step back, keeping a neutral expression.
His eyes sweep over me from top to bottom. “You’re Theo’s new luna.”
The title makes my skin crawl, but I don’t correct him. “That’s what they tell me.”
