CHAPTER 32: SOMETHING DANGEROUS I

My heart was hammering against my ribs as his grip on my wrist tightened, dragging me closer to his scent and the heat of his body. The dining room felt even larger now that it was empty—no voices, no movement, just the sound of the chandelier dangling slowly above us. His chair had been pushed back, his meal left untouched except for the single glass of water he’d sipped from.

"Alpha..." I whispered again, my voice barely audible.

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, his eyes—those dark, unreadable pools—searched my face like he was trying to read something written there. He drew me forward until my burst pressed into the hard plane of his chest, pinning me flush against him.

"What do I want?" His voice was low, dangerous, yet not harsh. "I think you already know."

I swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table before me to steady my trembling hands. "You can’t keep doing this to me. Someone’s going to notice. The Luna already suspects."

"This is not what you said when you said you wanted me last night."

My hand flew to cover his mouth, trapping his words against them.

He takes it off and pressed a small kiss on the back of my hand.

"She can suspect all she wants," he said coolly. His fingers slid from my hand to my jaw, cupping it with a surprising gentleness that clashed with the darkness in his tone. "She won’t touch you. Not while I’m here."

I looked up at him, silver eyes meeting his dark ones. "But why? Why go through all these when you can easily let go? It would also put me less at risk."

"You don’t have anything to worry about. No harm will come to you. I swear on my life."

His thumb brushed across my lower lip. "Because I want you."

The way he said it—flat, sure, like a statement of ownership—sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to push him back, but he didn’t budge. "Alpha, I’m not a toy for you to pick up whenever you want. I’m not..."

"Not what?" he asked, leaning closer until I could feel his breath against my ear. "Not mine?"

I forced myself to straighten, though my knees felt weak. "I belong to myself."

He chuckled softly at that, a sound that was more dangerous than warm. "You’ve forgotten your position already? You’re my breeding mate. That makes you mine."

I gritted my teeth. "That makes me your responsibility, not your possession."

He stilled for a moment, then tilted his head, studying me with that wolfish patience I’d come to know. "You’re bold for a twenty-year-old."

"I have to be," I said, my voice steadier now. "It’s the only thing that’s kept me alive in this Pack."

His gaze softened for just a heartbeat, but then his grip on my jaw tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me of his power. "I like that about you," he murmured. "It makes me want you even more."

I tried again to pull away, but this time he let me. He moved back a step, but his eyes never left me. "Sit," he ordered quietly, pointing to his chair.

I blinked at him. "What?"

"Sit," he repeated. "In my seat."

My brows furrowed, but I obeyed. I slowly lowered myself into his chair—the head of the table. The seat was still warm from his body. He rounded me and stood behind me now, his shadow looming over my shoulder.

"You feel it, don’t you?" he asked.

"Feel what?"

"The weight of it. The power. The head of the table. Everyone looks at whoever sits here."

I swallowed. "It’s... heavy."

"Good," he said, his voice almost a growl. "Remember that. Because one day, they’ll all look at you like this. And I want them to see you as I do."

My heart gave a strange flutter. "Alpha, why are you saying this?"

"How do you feel sitting here?"

"I don’t know." I swallowed.

"This is your position." He whispered. "The head. Where exactly I want you."

I tensed. "What do you mean?"

He leaned closer until his lips brushed my ear. "The Luna."

My blood ran cold. "Luna? I don’t understand?"

"I have a plan," he said simply. "That is why I’ve already marked you in a way anyone can undo."

I turned sharply to look at him. "Marked me? When?"

He smirked faintly. "Last night. When we were eating ’ice.’"

My stomach flipped. The safe word. He’d said it at the table. They’d all heard it, but none of them understood.

"What did you do?" I whispered.

I thought I scratched him?

He didn’t answer directly. Instead, he brushed a strand of hair from my face. "You’re mine, Bambi. And if Odessa tries to take you from me, I’ll kill her."

I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. "No! Don’t say things like that. You’ll only make it worse."

His expression hardened. "Worse for who? For you?"

"For all of us!" I hissed. "Do you think the Pack will stand by if you start killing people over me? I’m not worth that."

His jaw clenched. "You’re worth more than that."

I stared at him, stunned into silence.

He moved closer again, lowering his voice. "I don’t think you understand my obsession for you. Its deeper than you think."

"Why do you plan to replace the Luna? Are you insane?"

"Don’t worry. You’ll understand very soon."

My stomach knotted painfully. "Understood what?"

"I make it my business to give power to those who belong to me."

"I don’t belong to you!" I snapped. "You don’t know what it’s like to be trapped, to be powerless—"

His eyes flashed dangerously. "Don’t I?"

I froze. For a moment, something raw and unguarded flickered in his gaze. "I don’t need all of these. I just need a peaceful life. Ive said that times without number." I said quietly. "You think I enjoy any of these?"

"So, why didn’t you run? I gave you the chance to run last night and you did, only to return back to me. I told you your return will evoke something dangerous, didn’t I?"

"I know. That is why I’m going crazy. I should run. I shouldn’t be here. I don’t know what I want. I just want to have a peaceful life."

I blinked at him, the fight in me faltering.

"I was a rogue before I was Alpha," he began, his voice like gravel. "Beaten, starved, used. I learned one thing: you either take control, or someone takes it from you."

The room seemed smaller suddenly, the air thicker.

He took a step back, composing himself again. "Someone will be here within the hour. She is a witch. She’ll be coaching you on how to gain power to quality for a Luna. You’ll stay with me until then. Do you understand?"

I hesitated. "And if I don’t?"

His lips curved into a dark smile. "Then I’ll come get you."

I pressed my lips together, then finally nodded. "Fine."

"Good girl," he murmured.

I hated the way the words sent a shiver down my spine.

---

We left the dining room together, though he walked slightly ahead, his posture tense. Servants passed us in the hallway but quickly looked away, heads bowed. No one dared speak.

When we reached his quarters—massive double doors carved from dark wood—he opened them and gestured for me to step inside.

"I shouldn’t be here," I said under my breath.

"You’re safer here," he replied simply, closing the door behind us.

The room smelled like him—clean, sharp, like pine and smoke. Dark furniture filled the space, and heavy curtains muted the sunlight. It was a different bedroom. And I wondered why he had multiple bedrooms but I didn’t have the energy to ask.

I hovered near the door. "What are you going to do when the witch arrives?"

"Watch," he said, loosening the cuffs of his shirt. "And make sure she doesn’t touch you."

I frowned. "That’s it?"

"That’s enough."

He moved toward the window, staring out at the training grounds below. For a moment, he looked almost... tired.

"Why me?" I asked softly.

He turned his head slightly. "What?"

"Why did you choose me? There are plenty of she-wolves who’d kill to be in my position."

He was quiet for a long time. Then, "Because you didn’t want it."

I blinked. "That’s it?"

"That’s everything," he said.

I didn’t know what to say to that.

---

A knock at the door startled us both.

"She’s here," Dawn said, straightening his shirt. He moved to the door and opened it, standing there is a tall woman in a deep green cloak. The woman’s face was partially hidden by a hood, but I caught a glimpse of pale skin and sharp eyes.

"This is the witch I mentioned," Dawn said, her tone clipped. "Her name is Calandra."

Calandra stepped inside, her gaze sliding over me briefly before settling on Dawn. "Alpha," she greeted.

"Witch," he returned, his voice cool.

Calendra eyes flicked between us. "We’ll need privacy for the ritual."

"That’s not happening," Dawn said flatly. "If she’s involved, I stay."

Calandra’s lips curved faintly. "Very well. But she must cooperate."

Dawn’s gaze locked on mine. "You’ll do as she says, but only if I say so. Understand?"

I nodded slowly.

Calandra moved to the center of the room, drawing a circle on the floor with a small vial of shimmering powder. She began murmuring in a language I didn’t recognize. The air grew colder, thicker.

"What is she doing?" I whispered.

"Testing the bond," Dawn said.

Calandra’s eyes flicked up at me, and for a moment, something like curiosity glimmered there. "She’s strong," the witch murmured. "Too strong for a breeding mate. What are you hiding, little one?"

I stiffened. "Nothing."

"She’s hiding nothing," Dawn said sharply.

Calandra’s smile was thin. "We’ll see."

She began chanting again, louder this time. The powder on the floor glowed faintly, forming runes I couldn’t read. I felt a pull in my chest, like something trying to drag me forward.

"Alpha," I gasped.

Dawn moved instantly, placing himself between me and the circle. "Stop," he growled.

Calandra tilted her head. "Interesting."

"End it," he ordered.

"Or what?" she asked softly.

His eyes darkened, and for a moment I thought he might shift right there in the room. "Or you won’t leave this Pack alive."

Calandra studied him, then flicked her fingers. The glow faded, and the pull in my chest vanished.

"I see something," she said calmly. "She’s already marked. A dangerous mark."

She studied Alpha Dawn. "Can you leave us?"

Dawn studied her in return. His gaze slants to mine. "I won’t. What is happening?"

"You’d know after I have a chat with her."

He paused, considering her words. Then, he nodded slightly and turned around to leave.

Immediately he was out, the woman turned to me, determination in her gaze.

"The Alpha marked you last night."

I nodded.

"Something dangerous has been planted in you. It is a power only the Luna can hold."

I frowned.

"If you don’t sustain that power, it’ll undo something dangerous in you."

My interest piqued. "Something dangerous like what?"

"You might be capable of murdering the Alpha."