Chapter 6: The Breaking Point

Carter's POV

I gritted my teeth, muscles straining as I dodged a strike and countered with one of my own. The clash of fists against flesh echoed in the training yard, but my mind was nowhere near the fight.

She’s engaged.

The thought struck like a blade to the gut, and for the first time in my life, I hesitated.

A fist slammed into my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. I staggered back, shaking my head to clear it, but the distraction had already cost me. My sparring partner: one of the senior warriors,smirked before sweeping my legs out from under me.

I hit the dirt hard.

“Sloppy, Carter,” he said, extending a hand to help me up. “Never seen you this off your game.”

I ignored the hand, pushing myself up with a scowl. “Again.”

The warrior raised an eyebrow. “You sure? You’re fighting like your mind’s somewhere else.”

It was somewhere else.

It was with her.

With Ruby.

With the memory of her standing beside him.

I clenched my fists, chest tightening. “Again,” I repeated, but before the fight could restart, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“That’s enough.”

Chloe.

I turned just as my younger sister strode into the yard, her long black braid swaying behind her. A cocky smirk tugged at her lips, but her hazel eyes were sharp, assessing.

“Come on, Carter,” she said, crossing her arms. “I know self-destruction when I see it.”

“I’m training,” I muttered, wiping sweat from my brow.

She rolled her eyes. “No, you’re getting your ass kicked because your head is a mess.” She nodded toward the warrior. “You’re done. I’ve got him.”

The man looked between us, clearly debating whether to argue, but a sharp look from Chloe made him rethink it. With a shrug, he walked off, leaving us alone in the empty yard.

Chloe turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “So, are you gonna tell me what’s eating you alive, or should I start guessing?”

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair. “I’m fine, Chloe.”

She snorted. “Yeah, sure. And I’m the next Alpha.”

I didn’t respond.

She studied me for a moment, her smirk fading. “It’s about Ruby, isn’t it?”

My entire body tensed.

Her eyes darkened. “So, it’s true. She’s engaged.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Yeah I know.”

Chloe let out a slow breath, shaking her head. “Damn.”

Damn.

That was one way to put it.

The news had spread through the pack like wildfire. The perfect arrangement. An Omega offered as a symbol of loyalty to the Shadow ridges Pack. Ruby was going to be someone else’s mate. Someone else’s wife.

The thought sent a fresh wave of anger surging through me.

I turned away, but Chloe grabbed my wrist, forcing me to look at her. “Are you seriously going to let this happen?”

I yanked my arm back. “I don’t have a choice.”

Chloe let out a humorless laugh. “Bullshit. You’re the next Alpha, Carter. You always have a choice.”

I clenched my jaw. “You think I don’t want to stop this? You think I don’t want to tear him apart for even looking at her?”

Her eyes flickered with something close to sympathy, but she didn’t soften. “Then do something about it.”

I laughed bitterly. “And what? Disobey Father? Risk an alliance that keeps our pack strong?” I shook my head, voice tightening. “You know what he said, Chloe. ‘An Alpha must mate someone worthy of the pack.’ And in his eyes, Ruby isn’t worthy.”

Chloe's expression turned stormy. “That’s his view, not yours.”

I clenched my fists, my wolf pacing restlessly in my head.

Kale growled low. “Ruby is ours.”

And yet, I had done nothing to claim her.

Chloe took a step closer, her voice quieter now. “Carter… do you love her?”

The question hit harder than I expected. I had spent years pushing down the answer, locking it away beneath duty and expectation. But standing here, with the thought of Ruby belonging to someone else, I couldn’t lie.

“Yes,” I admitted, my voice rough.

Chloe nodded like she’d already known. “Then why are you standing here, letting someone else take her?”

I let out a harsh breath. “Because I have to.”

Her eyes flashed. “No. You choose to.”

I turned away, not wanting to hear it.

Chloe wasn’t done. “Carter, if you let this happen, you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life. Is that really the kind of Alpha you want to be? The kind of man you want to be?”

My stomach twisted.

I don’t know.

Chloe shook her head. “You’re always so damn willing to sacrifice yourself for the pack. But what about you? What about what you want?”

“I want to protect my pack.”

She stepped in front of me, forcing me to meet her gaze. “And does protecting the pack mean throwing away your happiness?”

I exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over my face.

I didn’t have an answer.

Chloe sighed, her expression softening just slightly. “Listen… I get it. Being an Alpha means duty, sacrifice, blah blah blah. But love isn’t weakness, Carter. It’s strength. And if our father doesn’t see that, then maybe he’s the one who’s weak.”

I stared at her, startled by the edge in her voice.

She held my gaze. “You’re not him,

Carter. Don’t let him turn you into something you’re not.”

For a long moment, we stood there in silence, the weight of her words settling between us.

Then, a new scent hit the air. Faint. Familiar.

Ruby.

I turned instinctively, my wolf surging forward.

She was near.

Chloe noticed the shift in my stance and smirked. “Speak of the devil.”

Without another word, I moved.

I followed her scent through the trees, my heart pounding as I caught sight of her standing by the riverbank. The moonlight bathed her in silver, her dark hair falling loose around her shoulders.

She was staring at the water, lost in thought.

I hesitated.

She hadn’t seen me yet.

Part of me wanted to turn around, to walk away before I did something reckless. But my wolf had other plans.

Kale’s growl rumbled in my head. Go to her.

Before I could think better of it, I stepped forward.

“Ruby.”

She turned, her eyes widening slightly.

“Carter,” she said, surprise lacing her voice. “What are you doing here?”

I swallowed hard. What was I doing here?

I wanted to say something, anything that would break the barrier between us. But as I stared at her, all I could think about was how wrong this was.

How wrong it was that she was promised to someone else.

How wrong it was that I had let it happen.

Instead of answering her, I took another step forward.

Her breath caught, and for a second, she didn’t move.

We stood there, the space between us filled with unspoken words and shattered possibilities.

I wanted to close the distance. To touch her. To tell her I’d made a mistake.

But before I could, she turned away.

Her voice was quiet, almost hollow. “You shouldn’t be here, Carter.”

The words felt like a blade straight to my chest.

I took a step back, my throat tight.

Neither of us spoke.

Then, before I could stop myself, I whispered, “I’m sorry.”

And with that, I turned and walked away: before I could do something neither of us could take back.