Not a Broken Alpha. He's a Beast

The bonding ceremony had just ended. I thought I knew what came next. A night of rough sex. The final mark that would bind us. Push him away? Or give in and enjoy my wedding night with this stranger Alpha? I hadn’t decided. But now, here I was. Sent to a guest room. Alone. My new Alpha husband was sleeping in a different room. A bitter smile touched my lips. So, the rumors were true. Alpha Ryker, the brutal leader of the Crimson Peak pack, was broken. Good. We were just a political alliance. I wasn't his fated mate. He would never love me. Just as I thought that, the moonstone pendant my mother gave me flashed with white light. A second later, words appeared in the air. [Does she seriously think Alpha Ryker is broken?!] My wolf bristled. Before I could even process it, more words flooded the space. [Gods, Cora, you have no idea how much he and his wolf want you!] [Open the door! Pounce on him! He's been waiting right outside for you!] [Don't fall asleep! Do that, and Lorelei will steal your mate!] [When that woman returns to the pack, you'll break the mate bond yourself. Three months later, your Silver Creek pack will be annihilated. You’ll die on the run, torn to pieces by rogues.] I shot up in bed. One thought screaming in my mind. Wait. Torn to pieces? Me? Chapter 1 The night of my bonding ceremony, I didn't get rough sex and a mating mark. I got a prophecy, floating in the air thanks to my moonstone pendant. Torn to pieces? My pack, destroyed? I stared at the words, my mind flashing back to the day the alliance was confirmed. My mother, her eyes red, pulled me into her room and pressed the pendant into my hand. “The Moon Goddess blessed this, Cora. It will bring you good luck.” Good luck? What a joke. My father lost our territory dispute with the Stone Fang pack. To save our crumbling Silver Creek pack, I became a political pawn for the Supreme Alpha, Ryker. I never believed a rock could change my fate. I just wore it as a sad comfort from my mother. But how could I explain these words? Was any of this real? The letters kept coming. [When Lorelei comes back, everyone will want her as their Luna.] [You'll feel like a fool. You'll misjudge everything and break the mate bond yourself!] Break the bond? What about the Silver Creek pack? I sacrificed everything, married a stranger, to save them! If my pack was doomed anyway, what was the point of this marriage? “How do I survive? How do I save my pack?” I whispered. The words twisted, reformed, and gave me one hell of an answer. [Simple. Go to the Alpha you left waiting outside.] Outside? Barefoot, I crept to the door like a thief and pressed my ear against the wood. An intense, aggressive scent hit me instantly. Fir and raw Alpha, seeping powerfully through the crack under the door. My face burned. The ceremony flashed in my mind. The shocking heat of his hand when he’d wrapped it around my waist in front of everyone. His crushing power washed over me. His nose brushed my neck, his breath hot and ragged. For a second, I thought the rumors were lies. The raw power, the possessiveness… he could have devoured me whole. I’d even closed my eyes, bracing for a brutal mating mark on my neck. But he stopped. He actually stopped. His lips grazed my ear, his voice impossibly hoarse. “A mark is… intimate. I want to take my time with my Luna tonight.” Take his time? Then he turned around and threw me in this guest room. Alone! I’d assumed he had no interest in me. That his words were just an excuse not to mark me. But what happened right before they brought me here… it didn't add up. We were walking away when we overheard an Omega from his pack scoff in a corner. “A Luna without a mark? She doesn't deserve to drink the finest wine.” The air turned to ice. Ryker didn’t even look at her. "Get her out of my sight," he growled. The next thing I knew, guards were dragging the Omega out of the manor. Her scream tore through the night. The ruthless Alpha who fiercely guarded what was his… was he the same man who left me all alone in this room? Click. The doorknob made a tiny, metallic sound. My heart hammered against my ribs. I stopped breathing. He’s coming in? An image of him filled my head. Dressed in a black shirt, his storm-gray eyes pinning me down. If he bursts in right now and pins me against the door… What would I do? My pulse raced. But then, after a few seconds… Click. The knob slowly released. It clicked back into place. Heavy, restrained footsteps faded down the hall until they disappeared. He didn't come in. I slid down the door, my legs giving out, and landed on the floor in a heap. I was so confused. So… can he or can't he?! The moonstone flickered. A final line of text appeared, a phantom whisper that stung my eyes. [He felt you trembling at the ceremony.] [Ryker knows you're afraid of him. So he made a rule: he won't force the mark. Not until you come to him.] [Even as his wolf has been tortured by need, waiting outside your door for an entire hour.] The words faded. I sat on the carpet, the moonlight glinting off the wedding ring on my finger. All that self-control, hidden under that cold, unbreakable shell? The fear I had for this Supreme Alpha seemed to vanish. In its place, a flicker of something soft… and a wild curiosity bloomed in my chest. He could have easily taken me, but he’d rather suffer outside my door. I took a deep breath, stood up, and ripped the designer shawl from my shoulders. If hiding in this room meant a death sentence… I gritted my teeth and stared at the door. Fine. Maybe I should just storm out there and pounce on him myself. I’m going to find out for myself. Just how much self-control does this 'broken' Alpha really have? Chapter 2 My hand was on the doorknob, but I pulled it back like I’d been shocked. How would I even explain it if I just ran out there? “Mark me, or I’ll be rogue-food in three months?” I’d sound like a pathetic, desperate lunatic. I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. If the words were true, I had to get Ryker firmly on my side before that woman, Lorelei, came back. One step at a time. It was my only play. “You turned over nineteen times last night.” I had just pulled out a chair in the first-floor dining room when Ryker’s voice cut through the silence. He was wearing a perfectly tailored black shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms, slowly sipping his coffee. His powerful Alpha scent filled the entire room. Cold. Restrained. Untouchable. “Having trouble with the beds here at Crimson Peak?” He lifted his storm-gray eyes, his gaze calm. Before I could answer, the blue text appeared again. [The man who stood outside your door counting you tossing and turning all night is now asking if you're comfortable. With a straight face.] [He was worried you wouldn't sleep well. He had them change your sheets to the finest Egyptian cotton just to soothe your wolf!] Reading that, my heart stuttered. Something soft hit me right in the chest. I’d missed my chance last night. Now I had to test his limits. I had to see if he was really waiting for me to make the first move. “I think I’ll get some juice.” I stood and walked around the long table toward the bar. As I passed him, I deliberately stumbled, falling right toward him. The pain I expected never came. Ryker’s reflexes were insane. A rough, burning hot hand clamped around my waist while his other hand braced hard against the table. I fell perfectly into his arms. Hard. Hot. Through his thin shirt, I could feel his tense muscles, his heartbeat hammering like a drum. Even worse, my inner thigh was pressed right against something very hard. Something very awake. He was burning up. The pure, raw desire rolling off him was almost enough to set me on fire. “Thanks,” I whispered, my voice soft. I looked up, letting my warm breath ghost over his Adam's apple. And I wasn't done. My hand, supposedly there to steady myself, slid over his firm stomach. My fingers traced his V-line through the fabric, a deliberate tease. Every muscle in Ryker’s body went rigid. A dark flush crept up his neck, all the way to the tips of his ears. “Cora.” His voice was a raw rasp, like he was fighting back a primal urge. My face was on fire and my knees felt weak, but a thrill of victory shot through me. The words weren't lying. Just as the air between us was about to catch fire… “Alpha, Miss Lorelei has returned,” the butler announced respectfully. The room temperature dropped to freezing. The fire in Ryker’s eyes died. The cold mask was back in place. He helped me up, polite and distant, putting space between us. “I’m finished. Tell the butler whatever you’d like to eat.” With that, he turned and strode out of the dining room. He practically fled. I watched him go, my breathing still ragged. The butler approached, placing a glass of fresh juice in front of me. He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Luna, there is something you should know.” “The Alpha has no fated mate. He has never been betrothed to anyone. You are his only wife.” “Miss Lorelei is merely an elder's daughter. They grew up together. Nothing more.” My wolf stirred restlessly. My heart skipped a beat. Even though the butler had tried to reassure me, I knew the truth. The woman about to walk through that door… she was the one the words warned me about. The one who would steal my mate and get me killed. The sharp click-clack of high heels echoed in the hall. I turned my head. A woman in a white suit walked in. She was beautiful, carrying herself with the proud, arrogant air of a high-ranking she-wolf. She didn’t even glance at me. She went straight for Ryker, who had just reached the doorway, her arms open for a hug. “Ryker, I’m back.” But Ryker turned, coldly avoiding her embrace. Lorelei’s hands froze in mid-air. A flash of humiliation crossed her perfect face. But she recovered quickly, turning to study me at the dining table. Her eyes were filled with open hostility and contempt. “So, you must be Cora, from the Silver Creek pack.” She let out a small, dismissive laugh, not even bothering to use my title, ‘Luna.’ “You were quite ‘famous’ at the academy, weren't you?” The tension in the air crackled. I picked up my juice and took a slow, deliberate sip. Before last night, I might have endured it for my pack’s sake. I might have tucked my tail between my legs like a pathetic stray. But now? I set the glass down. I met her gaze, pasting on a fake smile, matching her bitchy energy. “Really? I’ve never heard of you, Lorelei.” Chapter 3 I walked into the living room. Lorelei was already sitting on the main sofa. Right next to where Ryker would sit. The Luna’s spot. Ryker sat in a lone armchair, a slight frown creasing his brow. “How long are you staying this time?” “I heard the pack was having some trouble, so I canceled my work engagements. I’ll be back for a while.” Lorelei crossed her legs, acting like she owned the place. Her gaze swept over me with disdain. “After all, the Silver Creek pack has caused Crimson Peak a lot of trouble lately. I hear you’re drowning in debt?” The blue words popped into view. [Careful! She’s been investigating the Silver Creek pack for three months.] [She's using the debt to force you out!] I let out a cold laugh. “Is that so?” I walked over to Ryker’s side, looking down on her. “An outsider, gone for years, and the first thing you do when you return is stick your nose in pack business?” Lorelei’s face changed. She sat up straight. “Who are you calling an outsider?” “Lorelei.” Ryker’s low voice cut in. Just her name. It was enough to kill her fire. Lorelei bit her lip, her eyes flashing with resentment. She suddenly changed her tune, that fake smile returning as she looked Ryker over with a critical eye. “Ryker, I’m just worried about you. After all, that rogue attack three years ago… we all know what the doctors said.” She paused, then looked at me with mock pity. “It’s a shame, really, Cora. You’re in an impossible position. With his... ‘condition’... he can never complete a mating mark. Your marriage is just an empty title.” The words in the air flickered wildly. [She's the source of the rumors! She's the one who’s been telling everyone Ryker is broken!] [She did it to scare off any potential allies so she could have him all to herself when she came back!] Seeing that, a fire ignited in my gut. Spreading rumors that my Alpha was broken? I put my juice down and sat right on the arm of Ryker’s chair. As Lorelei stared in shock, I turned and wrapped my hands intimately around Ryker’s tense arm. I leaned forward deliberately, pressing the soft curve of my breast against his hard bicep. Every muscle in Ryker’s body went rigid. “You don’t need to worry about that,” I said, smiling at Lorelei, my voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Ryker is in perfect health.” I drew out the last words, a perfect blush rising on my cheeks. “In fact, he kept me up almost all night. I can barely walk today.” The color drained from Lorelei’s face. Her perfect features twisted in a grimace. And the man beside me, Ryker… his breathing hitched. He whipped his head around, his storm-gray eyes boring into me. His stare made me nervous, but I had to keep up the act. I lowered my gaze, letting my cheeks grow even redder. “I’m so sorry, I think I’ll need to rest for the rest of the day.” The next second, my wrist was caught in a viselike grip. Ryker’s palm was burning hot. He wouldn't let go. And then his voice, low and laced with a dangerous current, exploded in my head. The mind link. Is that so? You must be exhausted, my Luna. A shiver ran down my spine. My legs went weak. In the real world, Ryker just looked up calmly, his gaze like daggers aimed at Lorelei. “I appreciate your concern. But my mate knows my condition better than any doctor.” The final blow. Lorelei shot to her feet, shaking with rage. “You two…” She bit her lip so hard it had to hurt, her eyes turning red. She snatched her purse and stomped toward the door. As she passed me, she stopped, leaning in to hiss in my ear. “Don’t get cocky, Cora. You don’t know him at all. You two will never last.” I met her gaze without flinching, a challenging smile on my lips. “Oh? I think we got to know each other very well last night.” Lorelei broke. She slammed the door on her way out. Silence fell over the great hall. I let out a long breath, ready to celebrate my victory, but the searing grip on my wrist tightened. Without a word, Ryker grabbed my hand and stormed toward the master bedroom upstairs. His storm-gray eyes were churning with a dangerous light. In front of me, the blue words flashed frantically. [Warning! Warning! The seduction worked!] [His defenses have crumbled! He can't hold back anymore!] The bedroom door slammed shut. Ryker pinned me against it, his large frame pressing in, trapping me in his shadow. He lowered his head, his nose almost touching my lips. “My Luna, I’d love to hear the details…” His thumb pressed against my bottom lip, rubbing firmly. “...about how we got to know each other so intimately last night?” Chapter 4 My back was cold against the door. Ryker’s presence was overwhelming, his scent swallowing me whole. That deep fir scent mixed with his hot breath, pressing down on me. “Tell me.” His thumb was still on my lip, his voice a low growl that vibrated through my bones. “How, exactly, did we get so intimate?” My face was on fire. All the bravado I’d had downstairs with Lorelei was gone. “I… I think I had too much wine last night.” I turned my head, trying to escape his heated gaze, stammering out an excuse. “You know how strong that stuff is. It can make you… see things.” Even I didn’t believe it. Ryker let out a low chuckle that made my ears burn. “You misremembered?” He leaned closer, his nose brushing my cheek. “Cora. The next time you spread lies like that, I won’t hesitate to make them true.” I froze, my heart trying to beat its way out of my chest. The sheer force of this man was suffocating. How could anyone believe the rumors that he was broken? My mind went blank with panic. “Then why did you just stand outside my door all night?!” I blurted out, my voice trembling. Ryker’s movements stopped. The fire in his storm-gray eyes seemed to die down by half. He looked at me, his gaze complicated, and stayed silent for a few seconds. “You knew.” “Yes, I knew.” I took a deep breath and met his eyes. “If your wolf wanted me so badly, why didn’t you come in?” Ryker was silent for so long I thought he wouldn’t answer. “Because you were trembling,” he finally said, his voice raw. I was stunned. “At the ceremony. When you gave me your hand, you were afraid.” His voice dropped, laced with a self-mocking restraint. His words were like a needle, gently piercing the softest part of my heart. “I made a rule for myself.” He paused, his throat working. “Until your wolf truly accepts me, I won’t force the mark. Even if…” He didn’t finish, but I understood. Even if waiting was driving him insane. I looked at this Supreme Alpha—rumored to be brutal, cold, and cruel. But right now, he was just a man, holding back all his desire, locking it away just so he wouldn’t scare me. Something soft inside me broke. My defenses crumbled. I reached up, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I’m not so afraid of you anymore,” I said softly. My voice trembled, but I meant it. “The rumors are all lies. You’re not a tyrant at all.” His breathing instantly grew heavier. His storm-gray eyes darkened with raw hunger. He grabbed my hand from his neck. He forcefully pressed my palm flat over his racing heart. Beneath my hand, his heart was pounding like a wild thing. A rhythm so violent it felt like it would break through his ribs. “My wolf,” he rasped. “It’s been going insane waiting for you to make the first move.” I could feel his heart’s runaway pace, the nearly unbearable desire he hid beneath his restraint. He moved closer again, one arm circling my waist, pinning me to the door. This time, there was no pressure. Only desperation and need. His nose touched mine, his hot breath completely surrounding me. Our lips were less than an inch apart. This Supreme Alpha, on the verge of losing all control, was giving me his last line of defense. “Cora,” he whispered, his voice pleading. “Can I kiss you?” I looked into his eyes, saw the storm of emotions there, and without a second of hesitation, I nodded. The moment I did, his control shattered. His rough hand clamped around the back of my neck, pulling me to him without mercy. He stole my breath. My legs went weak, and I found myself pressing into him. As I felt the hardness of him against me, I heard my own wolf howling for him. “Ryker,” I breathed. “I want you.”