Chapter 5

Alpha Alistair

I looked out across the training fields, watching the warriors spar in pairs, but my mind was elsewhere. Instead, it was consumed with the woman lying in our infirmary.

The woman who, incredibly, was the exact image of someone I’d thought was a figment of my imagination, a daunting dream I had been harboring for five years.

For five long years, her stunning beauty, her piercing green eyes, and her gentle yet defiant voice were all in my dreams.

I’d always believed she was just some image my mind conjured up, a mirage created from the perfect storm of my imagination. Yet there she was, real and alive, lying in my infirmary after being mercilessly beaten by Kyle.

Fury simmered beneath my skin, dangerous and barely contained. I needed answers, and the first person I wanted to confront was the man responsible for her suffering.

“Kyle!” I called, my voice echoing sharply across the training grounds. Warriors around us stopped, their eyes widening at my tone. I didn't give a damn.

His face expressionless but I saw a glimmer of panic in Kyle's eyes as he approached. He was aware that he had gone too far.

“Explain yourself,” I commanded, crossing my arms, voice cold and dangerous. “What in the hell were you thinking, beating a defenseless woman until she was nearly unrecognizable?”

Kyle straightened, attempting to meet my glare, though he didn’t quite succeed. “Alpha, I was protecting the pack. That woman, she’s a rogue! A spy, I’m sure of it. The Black Fang Pack has been sending people to infiltrate us for months.”

“And you thought the best way to confirm that was to beat her half to death?” I snapped, anger lacing each word. “Tell me, Kyle, what exactly did she do to warrant that level of brutality?”

Kyle’s face hardened. “She was lurking at the borders, Alpha. Anyone could see she was up to something.”

“Did she attack you? Attempt to cross the border without permission?” I pressed, refusing to give him any leeway.

“No, but…”

I cut him off. “Then you have no excuse. Since when do we treat innocent people with such cruelty? You don’t even have any evidence she’s connected to the Black Fang Pack.”

Kyle's jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed as he tried to remain calm. "I was acting in what I believed to be the pack's best interests. We just cannot afford to take any chances, particularly when dealing with rogues. You know this better than anyone.”

“Save me the lecture, Kyle. I’m well aware of what I know.” I stepped forward, my voice lowering to a lethal whisper. "Over the years, I've put up with a lot from you, but this... this is unacceptable."

Nash, my beta, placed a hand on my shoulder, trying to temper my fury. “Alpha, let’s not do anything rash. Maybe we should speak with the warriors who found her. Get a clearer picture of what happened before we decide Kyle’s fate.”

Taking a deep breath, I glanced at Nash and gave a tight nod. “Fine. I want every detail.”

He gestured to two warriors nearby, who approached nervously. “Tell me everything,” I said, keeping my tone measured, though my rage simmered beneath the surface.

One of the warriors, Gabriel, shifted uneasily under my gaze. “We found her collapsed at the edge of the pack lands, Alpha. She was already injured when we came upon her. It looked like she’d been through quite an ordeal even before she crossed into our territory.”

“Did she resist you? Show any signs of aggression?” I asked pointedly.

“No, Alpha,” Gabriel said, casting a wary glance at Kyle. “She barely had enough strength to speak, let alone resist. She was... pleading for help.”

The other warrior, Jonas, nodded in agreement. “We told Kyle all this, but he... insisted she was a spy and ordered us to restrain her.”

I clenched my fists, fighting to contain the anger that was rising within of me. I turned to face Kyle, who looked at me defiantly.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” My voice was low, deadly. “You tortured an innocent woman, someone who was already half-dead when she arrived. And for what? Your own paranoia?”

Kyle’s eyes flashed with resentment. “I was doing my duty, Alpha. You might be blinded by whatever charm she has, but I’m not. I know a threat when I see one.”

I clenched my hands and stepped closer once more, getting within inches of his face. “Charm? You think this is about charm?” I laughed, a dark, humorless sound. “This isn’t some petty infatuation, Kyle. This is about protecting our honor as a kingdom. We don’t brutalize those who come to us in need, and certainly not without cause.”

“Fine,” Kyle spat, anger blazing in his eyes. “If you want to coddle rogues and enemies, be my guest. But don’t expect me to stand by and watch as you let threats wander into our pack.”

My fury hit its boiling point. “Enough! You’re testing my patience, Kyle. Do you understand what position you’re in?”

He sneered. “I understand perfectly. You’re choosing her over the loyalty of those who have served you for years.”

Nash stepped between us, his voice firm. “That’s enough, Kyle. You’re treading on thin ice.”

Kyle’s face twisted with barely concealed contempt. “Go ahead, punish me for doing my job. But when that woman betrays us, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“You’re on your final warning, Kyle,” I said, my voice colder than ice. "If I ever see you treat another soul in such a horrible way, you will be held accountable. Personally.”

Kyle appeared to have more to say, but one look at my face hushed him. His face flushed with rage, he balled his fists, but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

I turned to Nash and growled, "Watch him. If he so much as steps out of line, let me know immediately.”

Nash nodded, and Kyle stormed off, muttering curses under his breath. I could feel the other warriors’ eyes on me, their expressions a mix of apprehension and awe. They weren’t used to seeing me lose my temper, especially not over a rogue. But I couldn’t explain it, not even to myself.

After the tension dissipated, Nash turned to me, a glint of curiosity in his gaze. “This woman... she really means something to you, doesn’t she?”

I exhaled, the anger finally giving way to the deep, unsettling confusion that had plagued me since I saw her. “I don’t know, Nash. All I know is that she’s... familiar. Too familiar.”

Nash raised an eyebrow. “Familiar how?”

I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated. “I don’t know. I’ve... I've had dreams about her and seen her face in my mind for years. I considered her to be merely a dream or figment of my imagination. And now, suddenly, she’s here. Real. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Nash’s face softened as he looked at me. “Maybe it’s fate, Alpha. Maybe she’s meant to be here.”

I shook my head, the weight of everything bearing down on me. "Nash, I don’t believe in fate. I gave up on it a long time ago.

He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Trust what you see right now. She must be here for a reason. Maybe she’s more than just a rogue.”

I nodded, but Nash’s words did little to comfort me. Because beneath the rage, beneath the confusion, there was something else, a strange, undeniable pull that made no sense at all.