Chapter 7 CHAPTER SEVEN
1937 Words
The tension and unease in the room were thick enough to choke on.
Alpha’s eyes were burning holes into Adam.
“Adam, did you open the gate for Annie?” he asked quietly.
Adam didn’t back down. “With all due respect, Alpha, I didn’t open the gate. I don’t know how she got out.”
The words barely left his mouth before Alpha moved—fast, too fast for anyone to react.
In the blink of an eye, he grabbed Adam by his throat and slammed him against the door. The door crashed open with a loud bang. The heavy door broke in half as Adam's body hit it with a loud crack.
“Alpha!” Onika shouted, rushing after him.
The sound of broken wood and Alpha’s boot filled the air as Adam fell backwards, rolled down the staircase groaning.
Alpha watched him roll down the staircase and followed, eyes wild, his voice low. Adam landed in the massive living room. The men guarding the living room were startled, but they dared not ask the Alpha questions. Alpha let out a growl that sent shivers down every guard’s spine.
“Tell me the truth, Adam! How did she leave this villa?”
Adam coughed, clutching his ribs. “I told you—I don’t know!”
Alpha grabbed him again and slammed him against the railing this time. “You’re lying!”
“She's the one lying Alpha, I didn't do it!” Adam yelled, his voice breaking. “I would never betray you!”
“Stop! You'll kill him!” Onika yelled.
“Did the council put you up to this?” Alpha’s voice thundered.
Adam, on the floor, mouth, and nose bleeding, lifted his head weakly. “I didn’t—”
Before he could finish, Alpha grabbed something from the table — a metal sharp at the edge. He raised it high aiming at Adam, who lay on the floor.
“Tell me the truth before I rip your throat out!"
Just as he stepped forward, Onika slid in front of Adam, she spread her arms wide, knelt between them.
“Alpha, stop!” she yelled.
He paused, his chest still heaving, his hand still raised. “Move, Onika,” he said in a low, dangerous voice.
“I won’t,” she said firmly. Her voice shook a little, but her eyes stayed on him. “You know Adam. He’s loyal. You've known him since you were boys — there's no way he could have —"
For a few seconds, no one said a word. The only sound in the room was Alpha’s deep breathing.
Then, from the stairs came a faint dragging sound.
They turned to see Annie slowly coming down the steps. She was pale, one hand gripping the IV pole that rattled as she pulled it down with her.
“What are you doing to him?” she said weakly, her voice trembling. “Please, stop.”
Her eyes moved from Alpha to Adam, then to Onika. “You’re going to kill him because he opened the gate for me?”
Adam is weak but still unyielding and defending himself. He managed to say faintly “Ma’am please tell the truth, I did not open the gate.”
Alpha dropped the metallic sharp object, and it hit the floor with a loud clang.
“Annie,” he said quietly, trying to restrain himself. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”
Onika stood and stepped forward behind Annie “Annie, I'm not trying to say you are lying but are you certain that he”, she pointed to Adam on the floor" opened the gate and told you to run?”
Annie stared, confused tears, welling up. “I shouldn’t have said anything”
“Annie look at him” Onika yelled, but tried to control herself by lowering her voice “Annie, Alpha is going to kill him. If you are mistaken, then you might have just caused an innocent man to die for nothing. So think carefully before you answer… "was it really him?”
Annie hesitated for a moment but nodded slowly, indicating that Adam had opened the gate. "Yes, he did — I don't understand why he is denying it."
“He's lost his f*****g mind,” Alpha said
“Guards!” he thundered. Two men came running. “Take him to the basement and lock him up. I want him to be heavily secured."
Adam’s eyes widened. “Alpha—”
“Not another word,” Alpha cut him off, his voice cold.
As they dragged Adam away, his boots scraped the floor.
Annie watched too, and she realised just how dangerous the man she is carrying his child could be when he is upset.
Onika stood there, watching as Adam was dragged away, breathing hard, her body still tense from stopping Alpha. She just couldn’t believe it. Adam wouldn’t betray them. They've fought side by side for years, saved each other’s lives more than once.
Her eyes shifted to Annie — Something didn’t sit right with her. Annie looked scared, weak, clutching her IV pole… but Onika’s instincts told her something else — Adam’s not lying, she thought. Something’s off with that girl. Onika wondered if the real danger wasn't out of the walls of the villa but right in front of her.
Alpha moved closer to Annie, looked at her, and right there, his face changed. The anger in his eyes faded, replaced with worry and care.
“Hey,” he said softly to Annie “Calm down, okay? Don’t think about any of this right now. You need to rest.”
Before Annie could say a word, he lifted her gently into his arms. Her heart sank. She felt the strength in his arms. he carried her so carefully as if she might break. Her body melted against his, and he guided the IV pole carefully with one hand, making sure the tube didn’t pull or twist.
Annie could feel his warmth, hear his heartbeat. Even after seeing what he did to Adam some moments ago, she still felt a strange safety in his arms.
Onika stood back, watching. She’d seen Alpha carry hurt people before, but never like this. Not with that much care. As he takes Annie up the stairs, Onika looks at them with genuine concern; she hopes that Annie will not bring chaos into the Alpha’s life.
The Alpha is in his quiet study doing some paperwork he looks very weary but is trying to stay focused.
Then the door slowly opened without a sound.
Dante entered,
wearing his gym clothes — black sleeveless, black shorts, and a white towel on his neck, sweat running down his face from working out.
“You know most people jump when someone sneaks up on them.” He casually sits on the chair opposite Alpha’s desk.
Alpha didn't even look at him, his eyes still stuck on the papers on his desk.
“You shouldn’t be here Dante”
"Right,” Dante said, smirking. "I should be home napping, but bursting into your study unannounced has always been my guilty pleasure whether you are startled or not.”
“What do you want, Dante?”
“Oh common Killian, I'm just visiting my grumpy big brother … Will you relax?” He asked, gazing over the walls of the study room —old war paintings that looked too serious and ancient maps.
“I see you've tightened security. What are you afraid of this time?”
“Precaution” Alpha replied, finally looking up. His tone made it clear. He wasn't interested in more small talk.
“Precaution huh? Danted sighed, he leaned forward, voice dropping to something almost serious. “Listen. I'm not here to chit-chat with you. We both know why I’m here. Don’t make me invent reasons….now out with it”
“Dante, why are you here?”
Dante's smile faded a little. He pushed his chair back and stood up, pacing slowly, then he quoted mockingly “‘Find the vessel? — and —and end her? I will carve the baby out of her womb? I will desecrate its body? Really? He said, mimicking Alpha's statement at the previous council meeting. “Yeah, that was quite a performance you pulled at the council meeting last night."
He laughs —
“The same vessel you are protecting?”
Alpha’s face softened for a second, but he didn't say anything. Realisation hit the Alpha — his secret is out —Dante knew, now the question is how?
“I was actually expecting that I'd be wrong —that you'd deny it and I'll go home relieved that my family is not about to cause mayhem — again. But this time, with a baby that's going to end the world" he rolled his eyes.
“End the world? It's just a baby, Dante. It can't possibly —"
“Are you the father” Dante cuts in.
Alpha nodded slowly. “Yes”
“How? The last time I checked, your future kids were supposed to be … what's the word? nonexistent?"
He snapped his fingers
“Right? Poof — Gone, witch's curse, remember? The witch took a day off, and you suddenly got lucky?
“IVF” Alpha cleared his throat “Doctor Owen—”
Dante cuts in again “Honestly brother, listening to your ejaculation activities might be very boring. Can we skip to the part where this baby is about to barbecue all of us?”
Alpha glared at him and ignored his question.
“Dante, how long have you known, and how did you find out?”
“Not long — last night at the council meeting, you did that thing.”
“What thing”?
You did that little thing with your finger — that small twitch. The same one you always did when we were kids especially when you lie to protect someone. Do you remember that time I slipped wolfsbane into Aunt Penelope's drink because she talked too much?” He grinned, eyes lighting up with mischief. “You stood there, with your fingers curled up like last night, and you said ‘It was me.’ Father whipped you so bad you couldn’t sleep for a week.”
Alpha’s face lights up for a second.
Dante smiled, but his eyes were gentle now. Looking at Alpha with subtle admiration. “You’ve always lied to protect people since we were kids. Now look at you, lying for the same reason. I guess old habits don't die.
Alpha’s hand curled into a fist on the desk.
Dante sits down “You know for someone who doesn't fancy marriage or having kids, I’ve always imagined what it would feel like having a little niece or a nephew. I pictured it—Uncle Dante grilling chicken wings, telling terrible jokes, spoiling a little Zerok rotten."
He scoffed.
But apparently, my niece or nephew may be the death of me and all of us. Quite the family drama.” He shrugged, but his voice shook with something close to hurt.
Alpha tapped the desk once, lightly, and his eyes finally met Dante’s. The hard shell of the Alpha cracked, a little. Almost crying, "I really wanted this child — why did it have to come with so much at stake? I never — I”
Then he stopped.
He realised he was becoming emotional — “Dante, now that you've found the vessel the council is eager to meet, what would you do?
- Writer
