Page 28 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
He barks a short, humorless sound. “Polite? You? Don’t make me laugh. You waltzed in here, barking threats, accusing me of backdoor tactics. You’re no better than Father ever was.”
That’s a low blow, comparing me to the old man. My wolf flares inside, urging me to smash something in Reed’s domain just to prove a point. It’s exactly the kind of macho nonsense that’s plagued our family for years.
I clench my fists at my sides, summoning what little sense remains. “Don’t bring him into this. You know what I think of that man.”
Reed steps closer. We’re nearly toe-to-toe now. “Then get out of my territory. I’ve given you your answer. I’m not behind this.”
My voice drops. “If it turns out you’re lying, we will settle this. Don’t fool yourself into thinking I can’t handle you.”
He glares at me, and for a moment, I’m convinced we’re about to swing at each other. My watchers inch in, probably anticipating a brawl. But an odd flash of insight strikes me: right now, my pack isn’t prepared for a full-scale war. We have a number of younger wolves, plus many women, who were never trained to handle real combat. Kai’s teaching them, sure, but that’s a recent development. They need more time. If I pushReed too far now, I might doom my people to a battle they aren’t ready to survive.
So I bring in a deep lungful of air and say, “We’ll settle this soon enough if you’re involved.”
“Don’t waste my time,” Reed spits.
I spit at the ground near his boots and turn to go. My watchers follow. We walk out the same way we came in, past the fence, ignoring the taunts from some of Reed’s lackeys. Deep inside, I’m simmering. Part of me wants to rip down every half-broken structure on the property until Reed confesses. Another part recalls how Kai pointed out the pack’s vulnerabilities. A real alpha doesn’t push his people into conflict that they can’t handle.
I grimace at the memory of Kai’s pointed tone—“Don’t you think your entire pack deserves to know how to fight?” She asked it so casually, yet it sliced through my assumption that only the main warriors needed training. I hated how it made me feel incompetent for not considering more widespread instruction. But now, I realize her approach might be the best hope we’ve got if Reed decides to strike in a more official capacity.
I lead my watchers back to our side, scanning the tree line in case any of Reed’s men are stupid enough to tail us. Once we’re certain we’re alone, we trek through the wooded paths toward home.
One of the watchers clears his throat. “Theo, you think he’s telling the truth?”
I run a hand through my hair, ignoring the dryness in my throat. “Possibly. Reed’s more of a steamroller. He wants you to know it’s him when he strikes. Sneaky hits aren’t his style. But we can’t discount that he’s changed tactics or that one of his new recruits is going rogue.”
The watcher nods. “We can set more guards along the border. Keep an eye out for suspicious activity.”
“Good,” I say. “Do that. And start training them properly. The entire watch division.”
He looks startled. “Right away?”
I give a curt nod. “We can’t afford to slack. Just because Kai’s working with some folks doesn’t mean it’s enough. We need formal drills. Everyone should know the basics.”
“Yes, Alpha.” He breaks off, leaving me and the other watcher to cross into the main clearing of our settlement.
I let out a ragged breath and glance around. My mind wanders to Kai, half-hoping she’s still at that improvised training spot. I need to figure out if she’s advanced her group, maybe see if we can incorporate her methods into a broader program. It’s something I never considered until she started whipping those novices into shape. And if we’re going to handle a possible threat from Reed or whoever attacked my wolf, we need every advantage.
I pass a few cabins, keeping an eye out for Kai. Nothing. I duck behind a storage barn, half-expecting to see her leading a session with the teenage girls and middle-aged women who’ve been quietly funneling in for lessons. The place is empty. A few wooden practice staffs lean against the fence, but there’s no sign of her or her students.
That pricks my nerves. Usually, about this time of day, I’d see her or at least hear them practicing. I wander over and check for footprints or something else that might indicate where she went. I find a few half-faded prints in the dirt, leading off in multiple directions, but no immediate clue.
I head back to the center of the settlement. A short woman with braided hair stands near the well, filling a bucket. I recognize her as one of the women who occasionally joined Kai’s training.
“Hey,” I call to her. “Have you seen Kai?”
She glances up, startled at being addressed by me so directly. “She was at the practice area earlier, but we wrapped up about an hour ago.”
I frown. “Did she say where she was going?”
The woman hesitates, seeming wary of me. Then she shrugs. “She told me she might take a walk to the forest.”
“Which part of the forest?”
“I’m not sure. She didn’t say.”
That’s not ideal. The forest is expansive. Usually, Kai sticks to a certain radius near the meadow or further up the ridge. If she’s gone somewhere else, it might be tricky to track her down. Still, there’s a twinge of concern that won’t let me ignore this. I recall the conversation I had with Reed about a possible rogue attacker. If one is lurking in the area, Kai’s not at full strength. I’d like to believe she can handle herself, but she’s still suffering from that poison.
I offer a curt thanks and walk away, rolling my shoulders to try releasing some tension. “Gather a few men,” I tell the watcher who’s remained by my side. “Spread them out through the forest. I want to locate Kai, make sure she’s not run into trouble.”
