Chapter 10: Cracks in the Mask

Carter's POV

Crack.

The bark split beneath my fist, the rough texture biting into my knuckles as I struck the tree again.

And again.

And again.

I wasn’t even sure when I started.

The moment Jake's voice had carried across the training grounds, smooth and confident, my body moved on instinct, before I could think, before I could stop myself.

“She’s still a little resistant, but don’t worry. I’ll have her under control in no time.”

My vision blurred with red.

A sharp growl rumbled in my chest, but I had forced myself to keep still, my fingers curling into fists at my sides as the other warriors laughed, as if he hadn’t just said something that made my wolf want to tear his throat out.

Under control?

Like Ruby was some wild creature he needed to tame?

Like she was something to be claimed, broken?

Another punch, this time so hard the bark cracked off in jagged pieces.

“Well, this is dramatic.”

I gritted my teeth, recognizing the voice instantly.

Chloe.

She sauntered up beside me, hands on her hips, tilting her head as she took in the wreckage of the poor tree. “You know,” she mused, tapping her chin, “if the goal is to fight an inanimate object, at least pick one that can hit back.”

I exhaled harshly, flexing my fingers. They were bleeding. I hadn’t even noticed.

Chloe's hazel eyes flicked to my knuckles. “Seriously?” She sighed, reaching into the pouch strapped to her thigh and pulling out a cloth. “I’m going to start carrying bandages just for you.”

I snatched the cloth from her. “I don’t need it.”

She raised a brow. “No, of course not. You’re just out here in the middle of the night, punching trees like a crazy person. Totally normal behavior.”

I ignored her.

Chloe stepped closer, her boots crunching against the forest floor. “Wanna tell me what’s going on, or should I take a wild guess?”

I exhaled sharply, shaking out my bruised knuckles. “Go home, Chloe.”

“No.”

I turned, scowling at her. “I’m not in the mood.”

She crossed her arms, her hazel eyes sharp, unyielding. “I don’t care.”

We stared at each other in silence.

Then she sighed, her tone softer. “Carter… what happened?”

She studied me for a moment, then sighed dramatically. “Let me guess,this is about Ruby.”

I stiffened.

Chloe grinned. “Knew it.”

I turned away, focusing on my breathing.

In. Out. Don’t shift. Don’t snap.

Then, finally, I said, “It’s Jake.”

Chloe's posture changed immediately.

Her usual sharp confidence hardened into something colder. “What about him?”

I exhaled slowly. “I overheard him talking.”

Chloe's brow furrowed. “Talking about what?”

I turned to face her, my voice low, sharp. “Ruby.”

Her eyes darkened.

I could still hear Jake's voice echoing in my head, could still see the smug way he had leaned back, completely confident, completely sure of himself.

Like Ruby was already his.

Chloe frowned. “What exactly did he say?”

I hesitated.

Because saying it out loud would make it worse.

But the words burned, raging inside me like wildfire.

“She’s still a little resistant, but don’t worry. I’ll have her under control in no time.”

Chloe's entire posture changed.

Her expression darkened, her usual playful energy vanishing in an instant.

She wasn’t just a sister right now.

She was a warrior.

“That son of a—”

I cut her off. “I know.”

Chloe exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “Carter, you realize what this means, right?”

I stayed silent.

She turned to me, her hazel eyes blazing. “Jake doesn’t just want Ruby. He wants to control her.”

A growl rumbled deep in my chest.

Because she was right.

I had already suspected that something was off about Jake. The way he always watched her, the way his charm never quite reached his eyes.

But hearing him say it? So casually?

That was something else entirely.

Chloe stepped closer. “We can’t let this happen.”

I clenched my fists. “You think I don’t know that?”

She exhaled slowly, rolling her shoulders. “Okay. Then what’s the plan?”

I let out a harsh laugh. “Plan?”

She frowned. “Yeah. You do have a plan, right?”

I turned away, staring at the shattered bark beneath my feet.

Sophia let out a groan. “Oh, for the love of god, Carter,You can’t just stand here and punch trees until your emotions make sense!”

I ran a hand through my hair, frustrated.

Because she was right again.

I needed to do something.

But what?

Ruby had already convinced herself that I didn’t care. She had already shut me out.

And I had let her.

I had thought walking away would protect her.

That if I wasn’t in her life, she’d be able to move on, to be safe.

But now?

Now, I had no idea if she was safe at all.

Chloe stepped in front of me, her voice softer now. “Carter. She needs you.”

My throat tightened. “She doesn’t want me.”

Chloe scowled. “Oh, shut up.”

I blinked.

She rolled her eyes. “ I'm sorry, but Ruby doesn’t think you care because you won’t freaking tell her.”

I exhaled sharply. “And what good would that do?”

Chloe crossed her arms. “I don’t know, maybe stop her from being manipulated by a power-hungry psycho?”

My hands clenched at my sides.

Because the worst part?

She was right.

Again.

But it wasn’t that simple.

We can’t let this happen.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “And what do you want me to do, Chloe? Walk up to Ruby and tell her that her charming, perfect fiancé is a controlling piece of s**t?”

If that’s what it takes,” she snapped.

I scowled. “She wouldn’t believe me.”

Sophia exhaled, her frustration clear. “Jake, listen to me. You’re the only one who can stop this.”

I turned away. “No, I can’t.”

She let out a harsh laugh. “Why? Because of Father?”

I clenched my jaw.

Chloe stepped in front of me, forcing me to look at her. “For once in your life, don’t let him dictate what you do.”

My chest tightened. “It’s not that simple, Chloe.”

“Yes, it is,” she countered. “You think he’s right about everything, don’t you? That being Alpha means sacrificing everything, even the people you love.”

I stiffened.

Chloe's voice lowered. “Tell me something, Carter. Do you think Mom would agree with him?”

I inhaled sharply, my stomach twisting.

Because we both knew the answer to that.

Chloe's voice softened. “If she were still alive, things would be different.”

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

“Father made you think love is a weakness,” she continued. “That emotions are a burden. But Mom never believed that. She believed that love was strength.”

I let out a slow breath, my hands still shaking. “And look what happened to her.”

Chloe flinched.

I immediately regretted saying it.

Because our mother hadn’t died because of love.

She had died because life wasn’t fair. Because sometimes, good people left too soon.

Chloe's voice was quiet now. “She wouldn’t want you to turn into him.”

I exhaled. “Chloe…”

“No.” Her hazel eyes burned with emotion. “You’re not like Father. You never have been. But if you keep following his path, if you keep putting duty above everything else, you’re going to lose more than just Ruby.”

I knew she was right.

I had known it for a long time.

But knowing something and acting on it were two different things.

Chloe let out a slow breath, her voice softer now. “I miss her, you know.”

My chest ached.

“Me too.”

A heavy silence stretched between us.

Then she shook her head, clearing her throat. “She would have liked Ruby.”

A small, bitter smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah.”

Chloe studied me carefully. “You love her, don’t you?”

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t have to.

Chloe sighed, rubbing her temples. “Carter… if you love her, you can’t just stand here and let him take her.”

“I’m not letting him take her,” I muttered.

“But you’re not stopping him, either.”

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair.

Chloe took a step back, watching me. “So what are you going to do?”

I clenched my fists, looking back toward the packhouse.

Toward Ruby.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

And that was the truth.

I didn’t know what the right move was.

Do I go to Ruby and tell her the truth, even if she wouldn’t believe me?

Do I confront Jake and risk playing into his hands?

Do I wait and watch, hoping I’d find something I could use?

All I knew was that I couldn’t keep doing nothing.

Chloe nodded slowly. “Well, figure it out fast. Because if you don’t, Jake will.”

I clenched my jaw.

Because she was right.

Again.

I turned back toward the trees, inhaling deeply, trying to calm the burning rage still coiling in my chest.

But something told me I wasn’t going to be calm for long.