IN BED WITH THE WRONG ALPHA

16

KANE

"Good day, members of the Thorne Nation."

My voice echoed loudly in the room. A thousand faces stared back at me, elders lined up on either side, the crown resting on a cushion just out of reach.

"Today, I stand before you not as my father's son, but as—"

A scream pierced through the air — Robyn's voice. I stopped mid-sentence instantly as the hall rippled into murmurs.

My wolf growled, running around restlessly. She is in trouble, it said to me.

I moved before I could think further, but Elder Vincent blocked my path. "You need to continue with the speech so the coronation can—"

"She's in trouble." I shoved him out of the way with my Alpha strength.

"Kane!" His voice cracked with panic behind me. "You cannot simply walk away from your own coronation—"

I was already running, his voice going thin. The hall erupted into louder murmurs as guards chased after me, trying to catch up. My wolf dragged me through the corridor, chasing her scent until it stopped me in front of a door.

I heard her murmuring and thrashing. With gritted teeth, I hit the door so hard it broke off one hinge. There, Leon had her pinned to the wall, her dress hiked up.

"Get your hands off her!" I roared, my eyes blazing.

My hands were on him in seconds, grabbing him by the collar. I hurled him across the room, so hard that he hit the floor. Before he could stand, I slammed my fist hard into his jaw, leaving the sound of his bones cracking in the air.

I turned to face Robyn, who was already shaking, her arms wrapped around her body.

"Are you okay?" I grabbed her gently, but she looked away, tears running down her eyes. "Robyn. Look at me. Are you hurt?" My fangs were already threatening to appear.

"I'm fine." Her voice cracked on the word. "I just—he has a video of us, from when we were—" Her eyes met mine, and the pain in them forced my claws out. "—he's been threatening to release it—"

Behind us, Leon laughed, and I let go of her, facing him mid-shift.

He was pushing himself up off the floor, blood dripping from his split lip, grinning like I'd done nothing but tickle him.

"Foolish child," he spat, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You think a broken jaw scares me?" He chuckled again.

"Where is it?" I demanded, eyes blazing.

"You are not fit to be king. Leaving your coronation for a woman. Your father must be—"

Before he could finish, I rushed at him, but he shifted in the blink of an eye, headbutting me with his wolf.

"Kane!" Robyn yelled as I crashed into the wall.

The impact stung my back, but I pushed aside the pain, shifting instantly. I charged at him, and he clashed heads with me. With my paws planted on the ground, I tried to resist him. He was strong as an Alpha, older, and stupidly drunk. But he fought with fury.

Soon, I pushed him back, and he crashed onto the nearby table, the wood splintering to pieces. Behind me, I heard someone yelling.

"He should be in there!"

I caught Robyn's panicked figure from the corner of my eye, but none of that mattered. I wanted to kill Leon, but this wasn't a legitimate battle — still, he had to learn his lesson. The moment he stood on all fours, I caught him by the throat with my teeth and slammed him into the ground again.

He went still beneath me, chest heaving.

I shifted back first, standing over him, breathing hard, his blood dripping from my fingers. By now the elders, guards, and some pack members had crowded the doorway.

"If you ever lay a hand on my fiancée again," I said, staring down at Leon, "I will kill you. Slowly. And I will enjoy it."

He shifted back too, coughing, curled on his side against the wreckage of the table.

I crouched down, gripping a fistful of his hair to force his eyes to mine.

"The footage. Where is it?" I gritted my teeth.

"Do you want to kill him?" Vincent yelled. "And someone get the Alphas a robe!"

"If I have to." I kept my eyes on Leon, who was panting on the ground.

His face went ugly with fear as a guard returned with robes. They draped one over my shoulder, but I didn't care to wear it yet.

"It's at home," he choked out. "In the top drawer. There's a copy on my laptop too — password's my birthday, 17th July, all numbers. That's all of it, I swear."

I released him, letting his head drop against the floor.

"You." I pointed at the nearest guard. "Get it done. Every copy. Bring me confirmation the second it's handled."

He bowed and left the room.

I turned to the second guard by the door. "Take my fiancée home. Now."

Robyn's eyes met mine, and I stared at her hard, letting her feel the disappointment before she turned away and left.

Only then did I put on the robe. The elders remained in stunned silence, and I walked past them without a word. In the hallway, I caught at least three phones lowering instantly.

"No footage leaves this room!" I left the order hanging in the air, wiping the blood from my knuckles onto the robe. Then I made my way back to the hall.

The moment I scanned the room with my cold eyes, the murmurs died down. I climbed the stage again, clearing my throat.

"Members of the Thorne Nation, I'm going to make this brief."

"You've just witnessed something you weren't meant to see tonight. I won't apologize for it. A woman under my protection was attacked within these very walls, and I will not stand on ceremony while that happens." I let that settle over the room. "If that unsettles you, then you should know exactly the kind of Alpha Supreme you're about to crown. I will not rule from a distance. I will not value spectacle over the people this nation is meant to protect. I intend to lead the way I just acted. Without hesitation, and without apology."

I looked out over them, letting the silence stretch.

"Now." I turned toward the row of elders. "I believe there's a ritual to finish."