CHAPTER 472: THE DEMOTION

The corridor outside Alpha Hunter’s study was still thick with silence when Rygar returned.

His boots thudded against the stone floor as he approached.

Inside, Hunter stood at the window, gazing down at the training fields below, his hands behind his back, posture straight as a spear.

"She refused to come," Rygar said plainly.

Hunter didn’t turn. "Why?"

"She says she won’t step out of that room until she sees Xaden," Rygar replied. "She wants proof that he’s alive."

That made Hunter shift slightly. A small smirk played at the corner of his lips. "Stubborn little girl."

"She means it," Rygar added. "And Leviathan... tried to force her. I stopped him before things got worse, but she was hit."

That made Hunter finally turn around.

"She was what?" he asked, voice low, dangerous.

"Slapped across the face. But she stood her ground." Rygar’s expression was flat. "Alpha you want me to tell you what I think?"

Hunter was silent for a while.

Rygar went on, regardless of whether he was asked to or not.

"Leviathan is beginning to be a problem. He has always been difficult with his own mind, but he is getting dangerous"

Hunter’s jaw tightened. He grabbed the edge of the table, thoughtful. Then slowly, he let go. "I’ll see her myself."

Rygar’s brows lifted slightly, but he said nothing. He simply stepped aside as his Alpha passed him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jasmine had curled into the bed after the confrontation, eyes fixed on the ceiling as the ache in her cheek throbbed dully. She didn’t cry.

She refused to. Not when she still had no answers. Not when she had no one.

A knock came. Soft at first.

She didn’t move.

The knock came again. Louder. More deliberate.

Her jaw clenched. Normally, they didn’t knock, after one supposed decent knock, they just barged in like she was nothing more than a caged beast.

But the knocking didn’t stop. Over and over, until irritation sparked in her gut. Gritting her teeth, she pushed off the bed and marched to the door.

Her fingers gripped the handle hard before yanking it open.

And there he was.

Alpha Hunter.

He stood tall and composed in a dark cloak embroidered with his pack’s sigil, his expression unreadable.

"May I come in?" he asked, as though this was her home and not her prison.

Jasmine blinked, startled by the civility.

Did she really have a choice?

She hesitated, then moved aside.

He stepped in, eyes briefly scanning the room, then settled on her again.

"I apologize for not seeing you sooner," he said smoothly. "There’s been... business to attend to."

"Oh?" Jasmine shot back, folding her arms. "Business over the pack you already ransacked or a new and unfortunate one?"

Hunter chuckled. "You make it sound personal. It’s the way of the wolf world. Territory. Power. Control. Xaden’s done worse."

Her eyes narrowed. "Don’t speak like you know him."

He didn’t argue. Instead, he pulled something from his cloak — a folded leather patch marked with the crest of Crescent Pack. The scent hit her before it was even close.

Her heart stopped.

It was Zaden’s.

He handed it to her wordlessly.

She took it in trembling fingers, pressing it to her chest. Her breath caught as she inhaled, tears pricking the corners of her eyes. The scent was real. Fresh. Alive.

"He’s still healing," Hunter said, voice quieter now. "In critical condition. That is the best proof I can offer."

"I want to see him," Jasmine whispered.

Hunter’s expression didn’t shift. "This is the most I can allow. You’re not in a position to roam freely."

She stared at him, wounded but resolute. "So you expect me to believe he’s here... and just accept that?"

"Yes." His answer was simple. "But if you truly want to see him one day, you’ll come to terms with what I need from you. Start with dinner."

She looked up at him, stricken. "You’re using him as leverage."

Hunter tilted his head. "I’m offering you incentive. Not harm."

His eyes dropped suddenly to the side of her face. The swelling had deepened.

"What happened?" he asked, stepping closer.

"Nothing," she replied, quickly shifting her face away.

"Leviathan," he said, tone bitter.

She didn’t confirm it. She didn’t need to.

Hunter’s jaw ticked. "I told him never to touch you."

He turned toward the door.

"I’ll see you at dinner," he said before exiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leviathan didn’t expect to see Alpha Hunter storming toward him. The way the older Alpha moved—like a silent storm—should’ve warned him, but Leviathan stood his ground.

"Alpha—"

The punch came before he finished. A brutal, cracking blow to the jaw that sent Leviathan sprawling into the wall.

"You disobedient bastard," Hunter growled, dragging him up by the front of his shirt and slamming him into the nearest post.

"She...she disrespected me!" Leviathan shouted. "That little whore..."

Another hit. This one left blood spilling from his mouth.

"Never use that word again," Hunter snarled. "You were warned. I told you she was not to be harmed."

Leviathan gasped. "You’re... you’re doing this for her? She’s just a—"

Hunter threw him to the floor.

"You’ve disobeyed me one too many times. This is not about her. This is about you. You’re reckless. Rabid. And now... you’re no longer worthy of being in this pack."

Leviathan froze. "What...?"

"You’re being stripped of rank. You’re no longer Beta. No longer even warrior class. You’re nothing. An Omega. Until I decide otherwise."

"You can’t do that!" Leviathan shrieked, scrambling to his knees. "This is because of her—"

"I said, don’t mention her name again," Hunter snapped, his voice like frost. "You’re lucky I don’t kill you. And you are wrong, I can do that. I can do anything because I’m Alpha."

He turned and began to walk away, his cloak swirling behind him.

Leviathan sat frozen on the ground, face bleeding, heart thudding in disbelief.

Hate rose like bile in his throat. Hatred for Jasmine. For the child. For everything.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.