BOUND TO THE RUTHLESS ALPHA

chapter 11

Soraya's POV.

“The Patriarch strikes again.”

The headline glared across the screen.

Mrs. Opaline’s entire demeanor shifted. Her head turned sharply toward the TV, her eyes narrowing on the broadcast. I followed her gaze to the television.

The Patriarch. That name everyone knew.

Patriarch Cornelius. Though the world simply called him the Patriarch.

He was the man who despised wolves more than anyone alive. The man who had spent years ensuring that hatred wasn’t forgotten.

The newscaster’s voice rang out from the television, a stern-faced woman with her dark hair pulled tightly into a bun.

“The Patriarch strikes again,” she said gravely. “Here on Adiba Street, four werewolves were killed. Their hearts ripped out, and their heads nowhere to be found. Research confirms the Patriarch struck and killed them mercilessly. This shows the Patriarch is still after werewolves and will not be giving up any time soon.”

I glanced sideways at Mrs. Opaline, and the change in her demeanor made my stomach knot. Her jaw tightened sharply, her hands trembled against her lap, and her breaths came unevenly.

“The Patriarch again.” She muttered.

My instincts told me what to do. Slowly, I rose, walked to the table, and picked up the remote. Without a word, I switched off the television. The silence after the broadcast was heavy, but I thought it was the best thing I could do.

“The Patriarch is killing werewolves again,” She murmured, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Opaline. I’m sure the police will find him soon.”

She lat out a bitter laugh. It was a sound weighed down by years of pain. “Soon?” she echoed, shaking her head. “It’s been years, Soraya.”

Her eyes lifted to mine, filled with so much grief. “The Patriarch has been after my kind for years. He’s killed so many of my acquaintances, businessmen, friends…” She drew in a shaky breath. “Do you know?”

Her voice cracked. “The Patriarch killed my husband. Darius’s father.”

I froze where I sat. The words hit me harder than I expected. My mouth went dry.

She didn’t stop there. Her voice, though trembling, continued to speak.

“Werewolves are supposed to take the throne of Alpha at twenty, sometimes twenty-one,” she said. “But Darius… he had to take it at sixteen. Sixteen, Soraya. He was still a boy, and suddenly the weight of everything—the throne, the business, Alpha duties—was shoved onto his shoulders. Decisions, responsibilities, problems, all of it at once. He struggled with school. With depression. My son nearly broke under the pressure because the Patriarch took his father and our Alpha away.”

Her trembling hands tightened into fists on her knees. “I hate to see him like that. I hate the Patriarch so much. I have made it my life’s decision to kill him and everyone attached to him. His militia. His loyalists. Everyone.”

Her eyes burned like fire as she met mine. “And I am glad Darius has taken that path too. He hates the Patriarch more than anything.”

At that point, I didn’t even know what to say. The Patriarch killed Darius’s father. Of course, he’s bound to hate him. Even I didn't even like the Patriarch. I mean, the government already made a peace treaty with werewolves years ago.

Werewolves have done business with humans so many times, and everything has been going smoothly. Why would some maniac of a man still go out killing them?

Even children. As long as they were werewolves, he would kill them. I wasn’t in support of that at all.

Mrs. Opaline continued, her voice softer now. “Darius is going through a lot, Soraya. He has gone through a lot, and he’s still going through a lot.”

I frowned, watching her carefully. “What do you mean?”

She exhaled slowly, like she wasn’t sure how much to tell me. “Darius has a problem with his wolf.”

“His wolf?” I echoed, tilting my head.

“Yes,” she said, nodding slowly. “Maybe you should know. From the first time he shifted at sixteen, his wolf didn’t seem… normal. His wolf is aggressive, restless, untamed, feral, and lethal. He cannot control his wolf. His wolf, instead, wants to take control of him.

You see, as werewolves we have two sides—the human side and the wolf side. The human side is supposed to be dominant. But for Darius…” She paused, and let out a sigh. “His werewolf side is dominant. It’s bloodlust. Sometimes, he just feels like shedding blood. He doesn’t listen to anybody in that state. And so that’s why he had to go away for a week. To try and sort things out with himself.”

My stomach twisted with guilt. I remembered accusing him of going to a brothel.

Then Mrs. Opaline reached over and held my hand. Her palm was warm. “I don’t mean to scare you with any of this,” she said gently. “I’m just letting you know. Please, stick by Darius’s side. I’m pretty sure he could really use a supportive and loving mate like you right now.”

I found myself nodding slowly. My heart beat a little faster at the thought, but I couldn’t even argue.

After that, Mrs. Opaline lightened the mood. She started talking about other things like the good things about the pack, her hopes for the future, and even how much of a naughty child Darius used to be.

I couldn’t help but laugh quietly at some of the stories. For a moment, the heaviness in the room lifted.

I was about to say something when the doors burst open and Dante rushed in, his breath uneven, and his eyes wide.

“Aunt! Aunt.” Dante rushed in, panic all over his face.

Ms. Opaline rose immediately. “Dante, what is it? Did something happen?”

His chest heaved. “It’s…it’s Darius.”

My hand shot up before I even realized it, fingers stiff as I turned sharply toward him. “What happened to Darius?” My voice felt like it cracked.

Ms. Opaline’s face was already paling, panic had taken over the usual calm smile on her face. “Tell me, Dante!”

Dante’s words tumbled out, broken and hurried. “He…apparently he went to check out Adibe Street because of the news about the Patriarch. And...I don’t know, I think one of the Patriarch’s men was lingering there somehow. Darius…he got injured badly.”

The world tilted for a second. My pulse hammered in my ears.

“What? How? Where is he?” Mrs Opaline asked, trembling.

“I…I got a call for Sam, he's taking him to Star-like hospital.”

Hospital?

Mrs. Opaline scrambled towards the front door. “Let's go.”

I followed after them quickly and got into the black car. I didn't know what model if car it was, thanks to being cooped up all my life.

Dante drove with speed.

“I thought werewolves had healing abilities, Aunt.” I asked Mrs Opaline who sat beside me at the passenger seat.

“Yes, but Dante could heal, but his wolf could surface when he's stressed too.”