An Alpha's Payment

THREE

KAEL

“Tenth time’s the charm,” Lucan taunts as the car rolls to a stop outside Moonshine’s crumbling packhouse.

“Shut it,” Daxon snaps, not even looking his way.

“I said enough!” My voice slices through their petty bickering. “Say one more word and you’ll both regret it.”

He’s hopeless, my wolf Nyx huffs, prowling beneath my skin.

The driver opens the car door, but I stop him with a raised hand. “Hold on. I need a word with my men.” He nods and steps back, the door clicking shut behind him. The tension tightens like a noose in the car’s silence.

“This girl isn’t like the others,” I growl, low and deadly. “No eye contact, no small talk. And Lucan—keep your hands to yourself this time, or I’ll take them off.”

Something about Lira was different. I couldn’t explain it—was it the way she didn’t try to impress me? Or the way she moved like a cornered doe, unsure and cautious? Nyx liked her too, more than any of the others. That wasn’t nothing. I had to claim her.

“I mean it,” I hiss, glaring at Lucan’s smug face. “Being my brother won’t save you.”

He zips his lips with imaginary fingers and leans back, lips sealed.

We exit the vehicle and stand shoulder to shoulder before the aging building. I glance up at it, unimpressed. Until recently, I hadn’t even heard of these people, and after my last visit, all I knew for sure was that Alpha Corin was a spineless coward.

I pound on the door, hard enough to make it jump. It cracks open, and I shove through before anyone can stop me, catching the Beta off guard as he stumbles backward.

I see her immediately. Lira. Half-hidden behind a support column, like a ghost afraid to be seen.

“Are you ready?” I ask, keeping my voice even.

“If you just want to—” Corin’s Beta starts.

“I wasn’t talking to you,” I cut in sharply. “I was speaking to Lira.”

The Beta’s expression is priceless. His mouth gapes open, stunned, like no one’s ever put him in his place. That ends today.

Lira steps out hesitantly, clutching a flimsy carrier bag to her chest like a shield. Her teeth rake over her bottom lip as she nods once.

“Where’s the rest of it?” I ask, frowning. “I said everything needed to be packed.”

“That is everything,” Corin says with a scoff, appearing just in time to piss me off further.

I stare at him. “That’s all she owns? She’s what—twenty-two? And this is it?”

“What else does a girl like her need?” his Beta sneers.

Let me at him, Nyx growls. One swipe. One torn throat. That’ll teach him respect.

Before I can reply, a shrill voice echoes through the space like nails on glass.

“What’s the holdup?” A woman descends the stairs, gripping a marble bust of herself like it’s a trophy. Her waves of golden hair frame a face too practiced, too proud. Her green eyes size me up as she slinks toward Corin, hips swaying like she’s on parade.

I remember Lira’s flinch yesterday when I asked Corin about his mate. Now I know why—this was the woman behind her fear.

“Take her, Alpha Kael,” the woman sneers. “She’s a waste of breath here anyway. You can add her to your collection of useless girls.” She cackles. “Look at her—she’s about to drop.”

“You don’t get to speak about her like that anymore,” I say, voice like ice. “She’s not your toy, not your servant. And you, Alpha Corin—keep your wife under control. I’m not known for my patience.”

“DISOBEDIENCE?!” she screeches just as Lira’s legs give out beneath her. “That little rodent is the definition of it!”

Did she just call her a rat? Nyx rumbles. Let me end her.

“You might want to review the terms of our agreement,” I snap coldly. “Seems your mate’s been kept in the dark.”

I motion to Daxon, who steps forward, drawing out a thick contract from the folder under his arm.

“All that just for your assistance?” she gasps, eyes widening.

“I don’t deal in weak bargains,” I say. I shove the document into Corin’s chest. “Now, let’s move this to your office.”

Corin leads the way, his clingy mate glued to his side, with his Beta trailing like a lost pup. My men follow close behind, but I hang back—for her.

For Lira.

“You’re welcome to come with us,” I say, my voice even. “You’re part of this deal now. Or my car’s out front—you can take your things and wait there.”

“Those are my only choices?” she whispers, eyes cast to the floor.

“For now,” I reply. “Personally, I think you should sit in. I’d enjoy nothing more than watching your brother’s mate squirm.”

Her pale blue gaze doesn’t rise, and her arms remain wrapped tightly around that tattered bag. Up close, I can see just how unwell she looks—skin pale, posture slumped, heartbeat sluggish. She’s barely hanging on.

“So?” I press. “What’ll it be?”

“I…” Her head turns toward the exit, then toward the hallway leading to Corin’s office.

“I… I’ll go to the office.”

“Good choice.” I extend a hand, but she doesn’t take it. Instead, she pushes herself to her feet, unsteady but determined.

I walk behind her, a few paces back, watching as the glares from Corin, his mate, and that excuse for a Beta burn into her the moment she crosses into the room.

“Take a seat,” I murmur, passing her. As I do, my hand brushes the small of her back. She stiffens instantly, every muscle locked.

She stays frozen, her eyes darting about. When she doesn’t move, I raise my voice slightly. “Sit.”

“She doesn’t get that privilege,” the blonde snaps from across the room, grinning like this is all a game.

“Sitting,” I growl, “is not a privilege.” My eyes scan Lira’s arms and legs—no visible bruises, but that doesn’t mean much. Who knows what else they’ve done.

This place reeks of rot, Nyx snarls in my head. Get her out before I do something we’ll regret.

The blonde reels back in her chair like I’d slapped her. Her mouth hangs open in shock, clearly not used to being challenged.

I turn to Corin. “Control your mate. Or I’ll do it for you.”

“Alpha Kael, you’re in my home—”

“And you want my help, don’t you?” I cut in coldly.

They’re seething. All three of them. But that didn’t stop them from stepping on Lira day in and day out. Now they were getting a taste of their own medicine.

I motion toward the empty seat between Lucan and Daxon. Lira hesitates, then finally lowers herself into the chair.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Corin mutters, practically grinding his teeth. “The sooner she’s gone, the better.”

“You might want to actually read the contract first,” I say with a smirk.

“I agreed to give her to you as part of the deal,” Corin huffs dismissively.

“i***t,” Daxon mutters under his breath. He knows better. We both do—never sign a contract without reading every word.

But they sign it anyway. Barely glance at the pages before shoving them back at me.

“Done,” Corin grits out.

“Good,” his mate screeches. “Now get her out of my house.”

If it were up to me, I’d have taken Lira the first time and spared us all this idiocy. But this way? They don’t get her back. Not ever. The deal is sealed, ironclad, irreversible.

I rise and offer my hand again. “Come on. Let’s get out of this dump before I do something I’ll regret.”

This time, her hand slides into mine—warm, small, hesitant. Her other arm still cradles the bag as she follows me to the front door. She never looks back.

And that tells me everything I need to know.

She loathes them just as much as they loathe her.

She hesitates at the wide-open front door, her fingers slipping from mine. Her icy blue eyes widen as they fixate on the sleek limo waiting silently outside.

“Come,” I command, firm.

Behind her, Daxon and Lucan exchange curious glances, watching her like she’s some fragile animal.

“Is she alright?” Daxon asks quietly.

I step in front of her, blocking her view. She doesn’t flinch—her gaze seems vacant, like she’s staring through me. “It’s time to leave.”

Her lips barely part. “Okay.”

She moves forward—but it’s like she’s moving through molasses. Her fingers clutch the doorframe so tightly her knuckles turn ghost-white, her heartbeat pounding louder in her chest. Her lips part slightly again, and suddenly her hand slips from the frame as her eyes roll back.

“I’ve got you,” I whisper, catching her just before she crumples. Her body goes stiff in my arms, but she’s so fragile—lighter than I expected, barely heavier than a child.

Lucan and Daxon climb in first. Lucan shoots me a cocky smirk as I settle into the seat with Lira resting on my lap.

“Keep those thoughts to yourself, Lucan,” I snap.

I pull her closer, feeling her breath slow beneath my fingertips as I gently stroke through her dark hair. Slowly, she becomes more present.

Then, without warning, she pushes away and curls into herself, trying to disappear.

I don’t push. Instead, I turn my attention back to my Beta and my brother, who are deep in hushed discussion about pack matters. Still, I glance at her every now and then, making sure she’s okay.

The limo halts, and I don’t wait for the driver—sliding out and holding my hand out to her.

“I’m fine,” she finally says, eyes flickering toward the others as she shuffles out.

Her gaze lifts to my home, a quiet gasp escaping her lips. It dwarfs the place she came from—easily three times larger—and I silently hope she’ll find some peace here, that I can offer her a better life.

“Let me show you around,” I offer, watching her clutch that threadbare bag like a lifeline.

She follows wordlessly, her silence thick between us. I can’t tell if she’s hearing me or lost somewhere far away.

“The omegas take turns around here—rotations help the younger ones learn the ropes before they get proper jobs,” I explain, leading her past the long dining table, built to seat twenty.

We reach the kitchen, where I point to a board pinned on the wall. “If you need anything, just write it here. We’ll get it.”

Her brow creases but she still says nothing.

Grabbing a pen, I grin softly. Maybe she’s intimidated by me. “So, what do you want? Because there’s no way you’re living here with just what’s in that bag.”

Her brilliant blue eyes scan the room, darting nervously.

“Well?” I prompt.

“I don’t need anything,” she whispers.

I sigh and start jotting down a list—underwear, jeans, workout gear, dresses, shoes—everything she’ll need for the next few days.

Pen clenched between my teeth, I slip my arms around her waist. My thumbs rest just above her belly button, fingers tracing the fragile curve of her spine. She’s so thin—how is she still standing?