CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18

There are many things in life one can survive. A broken bone.the ER, Even heartbreak, but hearing this psycho’s thoughts, That’s traumatizing for me.

Ever since I transmigrated into this world landing squarely in the body of the timid, low-ranking Elie of Silverfang Pack, i had been cursed. Not cursed in the traditional, hexed-by-a-witch sort of way. No. I was cursed with the ability to hear the unfiltered, untamed, unholy thoughts of this crazy Alpha Zack. And I can’t control it anymore.

Because while he looked like a perfectly sculpted statue of war and wrath on the outside, inside his head was a screaming gremlin child with too much sugar and not enough supervision. Right now, we were in the Hall of Victory. The dragon skull had been placed at the center of the chamber, and everyone had gathered to admire it.

Well, almost everyone.

Alpha Zack was standing at the front, seated on the high platform in his signature black-and-silver war cloak, arms crossed, jaw clenched. On the outside, he looked bored, but in the Inside?

"I SWEAR IF THIS USELESS ALPHA LEADER TELLS ME ONE MORE TIME THAT THE SKULL SHOULD FACE ’NORTHWEST FOR SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT,’ I’M GOING TO SPIN IT MYSELF UNTIL HIS HEAD FALLS OFF." He was cursing in his inner voice.

I blinked rapidly, swallowing a squeak.

Alpha Zander, one of the visiting Alphas from the East Territory, was currently talking about energy flow and the direction of the dragon’s snout like this was some kind of interior decorating meeting. Poor man didn’t realize he was one breath away from being launched across the chamber by a flying dragon tooth. I stood near the corner, behind the ranking members, trying to blend into the shadows. As usual. Because the last thing I needed was Alpha Zack’s attention. When he focused on someone, things caught fire. People got stabbed. Wolves lost limbs.

And yet, he still won’t let me breath in peace.

"I’m so bored. I hate everyone. That guy’s beard is too long. That other guy’s laugh sounds like a dying raccoon. Why is no one praising me more for the dragon? I literally killed a dragon. BY MYSELF."

My lips twitched. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to taste blood. Then it happened.

Alpha Zander shifted his weight and tried to sit in one of the ceremonial chairs. He was a large man, massive, actually and the ancient oak chair let out a pathetic groan under his weight.

Zack’s voice in his head was immediate.

"Oh look, a boulder trying to pretend it’s a feather. Sit down gently, you walrus. That chair’s older than your ancestors."

He’s cursing Alpha Zander in his inner voice

The chair cracked as soon as Alpha Zander’s butt hits it. Zack’s internal screech escalated.

"HA! I KNEW IT. THAT CHAIR STOOD FOR FIVE GENERATIONS UNTIL YOU SAT ON IT, YOU JABBA-SHAPED HIPPOPOTAMUS."

I snorted. Loudly, this time I couldn’t control my laughter. I saw Zack’s eyes flick toward me. A single glance. But it held the weight of a thousand thunderstorms. My soul left my body.

"Who laughed?" he asked aloud, voice like thunder wrapped in silk. Everyone froze.

Even Zander stopped mid-sit, the broken chair forgotten as terror spread through the room. I swallowed hard. Oh God, this is it. Think, Elie. Think! But my mouth was already faster than my brain.

"I-I just... I was thinking, he’s not that big..."

Everywhere was silent immediately. Every pair of eyes in the hall turned to me. Zack’s stare sharpened into something dangerous. Something that said: Repeat that. I dare you.

His mind, however?

"EXCUSE ME? I AM HUGE. I’M LITERALLY BUILT LIKE A GOD. DOES SHE THINK I’M SMALL? I LIFT BODIES FOR FUN. MY ABS COULD GRATE CHEESE. WHO EVEN IS SHE?" He yelled in his inner voice.

Panic overtook me. I raised my voice, speaking faster than I could breathe. "I mean, not you, Alpha! You’re obviously... very large. In a good way! Very alpha! I was referring to... someone else! Yes! A... um... tree! I was thinking of a skinny tree!"

Zack’s eyebrow twitched and Someone in the corner gasped.

"Stupid toad. But also did she just say I’m large in a good way? That’s right. She gets it. She sees it. Maybe she’s not so dumb after all." I’m the sexiest wolf on earth. He said in his inner voice.

Oh God He was complimenting himself.

Again.

"I should take off my cloak. Let her see the full view. No, too early. She might faint. But she has already seen me almost naked several times? But maybe if I ’accidentally’ rip a sleeve later during training. But she’s an omega, why do I care if she sees my hot body?"

"Can this psycho just stop talking to himself? My head is about to explode. I pressed myself into the wall. I couldn’t keep doing this.

"Dismiss them," his internal voice whispered to himself. "Send them away. I need time. Alone. With her. So I can torment her slowly. Maybe tie her up and make her clean my sword collection. One by one. While I monologue."

Oh God! No no that was my cue to run.

But just as he opened his mouth to speak to actually dismiss the entire room just to psycho-flirt and possibly murder me, I blurted, "Would you like some noodles?"

The entire hall went dead silent again.

Even the floor seemed to hold its breath.

Alpha Zack stared at me like I had grown another head. My heart pounded violently in my chest. What had I done?! I just asked the most feared Alpha in existence if he wanted noodles. Then, his inner voice broke the silence.

"NOODLES?!!! I LOVE NOODLES. DID SHE JUST OFFER ME NOODLES? SHE LOVES ME. SHE DEFINITELY LOVES ME."

He was bouncing. In his head, he was literally doing a happy dance.

"YES. YES. I WANT NOODLES. SPICY. EXTRA SPICY. FLAMES OF HELL. COOK FOR ME, SILLY TOAD.

I choked, psycho,

"You want me to cook the noodles right now Alpha?" I asked softly, regretting it instantly.

Alpha Zack blinked slowly. His outer self was already recovering. Cold, expressionless.

"If you insist," he said flatly, with a casual shrugged Inside? But his inner voice was saying something else.

"I’M GOING TO EAT TEN BOWLS. I’M GOING TO LICK THE BOWL. I’LL EAT IT OFF HER FINGERS.

I needed therapy.!He stood slowly, motioning to the room. "Meeting dismissed."

The others left quickly, sensing the shift in mood. Zander limped away, holding the remains of the broken chair. Now it was just me and him alone again In a giant hall. With a dragon skull and enough unspoken tension to melt stone. I turned, ready to dash to the kitchen and pray he didn’t follow me.

But of course, he did. Because why wouldn’t the unhinged Alpha follow the girl who offered him noodles? He walked behind me in total silence, his boots echoing like death itself. But his thoughts?

"She walks so fast. Is she trying to escape? Too bad. I’m coming with her.let me see how she will escape from me no,

I glanced back. "Do you... want to wait here?"

"No," he said coolly. "I’m supervising."

In his head: "I’M GONNA WATCH HER STIR THE SAUCE. STIR IT, MY QUEEN. STIR IT LIKE THE SPIRIT OF THE DRAGON."

I reached the kitchen, lit the fire, and pulled ingredients with shaky hands. My fingers trembled as I sliced vegetables. The crazy Alpha stood by the door with his arms crossed, watching me.

"She cuts so neatly. Precision. Deadly. Efficient. Is she a ninja? Or maybe a retired assassin? Or a cooking goddess? Look at those hands. Those hands could break a man. Or serve soup. I’m not sure which is hotter."

"Do you want peppers?" I asked, just to break the silence.

"Yes," he replied.

"ALL THE PEPPERS. I WANT TO SWEAT. I WANT TO CRY. I WANT TO FEEL ALIVE."

I dropped the chili flakes in out of spite.

Ten minutes later, I handed him the bowl.

He sat at the kitchen table, staring at the noodles like they were made of gold.

Then, solemnly, he picked up the fork, then took one bite.

And then without changing his expression he muttered, "Acceptable." While Inside?

"THIS IS THE BEST THING I’VE EVER TASTED. I’M GOING TO BUILD HER A SHRINE. NOODLE GODDESS. I WILL SLAUGHTER A PIG IN HER HONOR."

I leaned against the wall, stunned. Because somehow, me, the weak, low-ranked, terrified transmigrated girl was feeding the most dangerous Alpha in existence, no, the most psychotic Alpha and he was internally composing haikus about noodles. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. But I knew one thing for sure. If I survived this lunatic, I deserved a crown. And I need to leave here. I need to get back to my life. With this crazy psycho always lurking around me, I don’t know how long I can survive.