Page 46 of Brutal Alpha's Sold Mate
“Three-minute rounds!” I call out. “Switch partners when I say.”
They scramble to follow orders, some stumbling at first but quickly regaining their rhythm. I let them work and pace the field, offering corrections or encouragement. Tara lands a perfect right cross on her partner’s raised forearm, and I give her a nod. Rhea executes a neat takedown that leaves her sparring partner flailing.
“You all right there?” I tease the partner, extending a hand to help him up.
He chuckles, rubbing his shoulder. “Yeah, just recovering my dignity.”
“Could be worse. At least she didn’t slam you into the fence.”
He laughs and shakes off the mild embarrassment. I step aside, letting them resume. The sight of them thriving, building confidence, fuels my own good mood. This is what I’ve always wanted—to make a difference for those who thought they couldn’t protect themselves.
A shadow falls across the training area, making me glance up. Theo approaches from the edge, wearing an expression I can’t quite read. It’s not the cheerful glint he had when we went to town a few days back. Something else is swirling in those eyes.
“Kai, got a minute?” he says.
My gut twists, though I’m not sure why. “Sure.” I wave to the group. “Keep going, folks!”
I follow Theo out of earshot, stopping near a cluster of barrels. “What’s up?”
He huffs out a breath. “I’ve been thinking about something.”
The tension in his tone sets me on edge. “Spit it out.”
He glances around, then settles his gaze on me. “I’m going after Jacob first.”
My eyebrows lift. “Going after him how? In a sparring match, or…?”
“In a real confrontation,” he clarifies. “Jacob lost credibility after those underhanded attacks. If I can get Reed to back me, we can take Jacob’s territory. Then, when that’s done, Reed and I face each other. Last man standing claims all territories.”
The words hit me so hard, I have to hold onto the fence to keep from falling. My wolf bristles, sensing the looming danger. “With the way you three are, you’re talking about a potential bloodbath.”
He shrugs. “It might not come to that. If Jacob surrenders, we’ll minimize the damage.”
“Jacob? Surrender? He’s not exactly the type to roll over. He’s cunning—you know that better than anyone.”
Theo’s jaw sets. “I’m ready for that. But the pack needs stability. Reed’s ambitious, but he respects open combat. If we work together against Jacob, we solve half the problem. Then it’ll be me and Reed, fair and square.”
“You think fair and square matters to Reed?” My pulse races at the thought of Theo stepping into a ring against his own brother, especially one who’s just as driven. “You can’t be this naive.”
“I’m not naive,” he snaps. “I’m realistic. Reed respects direct challenges. Jacob does not. So I’ll handle Jacob with Reed’s help, then Reed and I settle who’s alpha once and for all.”
My stomach churns. This is the same man who apologized to Reed in town, who seemed ready to find a lessviolent path. Now, the obsession in his eyes makes me shudder. “You’re risking your life. For what? Pride? Control?”
He exhales, looking away. “For the pack. For unity.”
“Don’t feed me that line,” I shoot back. “I know you care about your pack’s future, but there has to be another solution that doesn’t involve risking everything.”
His gaze snaps back to mine. “I’ve thought this through. This is the only way to ensure we’re not constantly undermined by my brothers. The pack deserves one leader, and it has to be me.”
I swallow hard, fighting the panic clawing at my throat. “What if you lose?”
He scoffs. “I won’t. You’ve seen what I can do.”
“That’s not an answer. You’re ignoring the possibility that Reed or Jacob might catch you off guard. Or that an all-out war could destroy the pack entirely.”
“I’m not ignoring anything,” he insists, his voice rising with frustration. “But I can’t just sit and let them keep challenging me forever. Once I beat them, everything settles. No more daily threats, no more watchers turning up with dire news. We’ll have one territory.”
I stare at him, my gut roiling. “You’re letting your ambition blind you, Theo.”
