Cruel Alpha

Chapter 26

Robin was supposed to leave for Oak Tails an hour ago. But she still sat cross-legged on her bed and contemplated the younger years of her life. The part that hurt her most was her mother's words. She finally understood what she meant that day and wanted to cry. She has already let the thirst for power consume her. She nearly lost herself to it, she nearly killed a man. 

Don’t let the Oak Tails change you, don’t become like them. Her mother’s words echoed in her head as Robin looked towards the place she stores her artworks. In the big green file, she put away the files about Lucien and all of his doings. For a moment, Robin considered staying, she could just not drive to Oak Tails today. 

She felt guilty for even thinking it. For better or for worse that was her home, her pack. She remembered the fear in the eyes of the pack members, she remembered her own fear when Lucien cornered her in the Armoury. She needed to go back. She felt obliged to go back and come clean with Lucien. Robin liked to believe that he could be talked out of his thirst for power. If only she could figure out a way to overcome his Alpha Tone, she would give him a piece of her mind. 

Until she was sure that there was no way out, she wouldn’t do anything with the files. She would leave them here for safekeeping. If anything, she could always come back to River Banes and get them. Let’s hope we can come back. I don’t think they will accept a traitor. Her wolf chimed in, not helping Robin’s situation at all. She wouldn’t stand for betraying Oak Tails. She wouldn’t turn her back on her home. 

So, Robin drove out of the River Banes and towards the vast forests, hoping that by the time she reaches the Oak Tails her mind will come up with s plan of learning more about the Alpha Tone. Asking Lucien wasn’t an option as all he did was a lie. But there wasn’t any other source, Robin wasn’t sure about the existence of the library in Oak Tails, and even if it did, she doubted it would explain how Lucien got the power that had been lost thousand years ago. 

Robin parked the car and saw her usual housekeepers working in the garden. “Good evening,” she told them as she walked in, all they did was the bow.  All they know is fear. Robin realized as she went to her room. Her mother knew more than she was letting on. After all, she wasn’t born to Oak Tails life, she married her father, after discovering that her mate was a common wolf. She chose to be the wife of another Beta rather than a common wolf. She chose power and years later realized her mistake. 

Robin tried to remember if she saw her mother in the month leading to the war, or even before that. She couldn’t conjure the memory of her after that talk. Her mother was gone and Robin didn’t even notice or remember it. “She is ill, Robin we can’t disturb her.” She remembered her father saying. She never asked what illness it was, though she doubted they would explain. 

Robin had lunch and just as she was thinking about trying to relax and start fresh tomorrow, maids reminded her that Lucien wanted to see her. Robin kept in a groan and regretted eating anything in the first place as she made her way to the Alpha House. The housekeepers and maids opened the doors and bowed, it was hard to fight the instinct of superiority that feeling of power when everyone regarded her with fear. 

Lucien was in the living room, watching a movie as if he didn’t plan to attack one of the big packs in the coming days. As if he wasn’t in possession of the ancient power. As if he was just a 25-year-old enjoying his Sunday. “Good evening, how was your trip?” Lucien asked as he sensed her enter the room. Robin sat on the smaller couch, away from him, and nodded. “As good as it can be,” Lucien stopped the movie and turned his full attention to her. “Tell me how was it,” he didn’t even try to hide the fact that he was trying to order her to have a conversation. Robin realized that he had grown too used to playing the game of control. He was expecting everyone to obey. 

Robin nodded but tried her best to not let the private details slip away. “I went back, caught up with Wren, had dinner with her, game night, and all that to get closer to her.” She said with a dismissive wave of hand Lucien kept looking at her, “And what about the other friends of yours?” Robin smirked to hide her discomfort. “they kept trying to see me, I didn’t feel like spending time with them, and kept making excuses until they gave up.” Lucien nodded in satisfaction. As he turned away, Robin let herself relax. The interrogation was over. 

“When you were away. I got to thinking about the whole Wren thing again.” Robin nodded eager to learn more, Lucien twisted the lock of his hair. “The war would be busy, violent. I wouldn’t have time to securely get her and transport her back here. Let alone leave her in the pack while we go finish what they started. No, we need to get her sooner.” He thought out loud and Robin gripped the couch, her nails digging into the fabric. No way you are getting Wren. 

“What's the plan, then?” Robin asked her voice as even as before. Lucien turned to her with a shine in his eyes. “You will get her to me. Soon, I will arrange for you to go there and come back with her. I just need to finish making some additions to the house., To ensure her safety in here.” Robin felt her stomach tie into a knot, she felt disgusted by Lucien as he pointed towards the other part of the house, where workers were installing cameras. This will be a prison, and Robin will bring Wren to live here. 

She didn’t feel the forceful tone in Lucien’s voice, he was simply informing her of what is to come. Soon enough he will order her, Robin was too scared to think what will happen if she wouldn’t be able to resist. 

“I also got to thinking about your future,” Lucien’s voice bought her attention back to the current problem. “What about my future?” Robin asked with confusion. Lucien chuckled at her facial expression. “I looked into neighboring packs and made the list of possible matches of Beta’s who are strong enough to be considered a match for you.” He leaned towards the coffee table and pushed a folder towards the Robin. Robin picked it up wordlessly and looked through the pages. All male, all older than her. “As you know for the stronger Oak Tails we need to continue the bloodlines. And with your… condition I think it’s better to start trying soon, who knows how much more you could reproduce.” Robin felt herself blush, it wasn’t from the embarrassment it was from anger. “and my condition is being a woman?” she asked to which Lucien chuckled. “What do you want me to say? It is a condition, a very fortunate one if you ask me. We could try getting a few Beta’s you could try having few pups and then the stronger one will get the title.” Lucien spoke of it as if it was just a game of matching people until you get the right amount of power and strength. 

Robin acted like she was looking through the people on the file to stop herself from saying something wrong and getting on Lucien’s bad side. “I’ll consider it, we still have a war to fight, don’t we?” She said with a forced chuckle. For the first time, she was glad for the threat of the war. At least then she would have to pretend to be a warrior and not a wife. Lucien chuckled and nodded. “if that’s all, I’ll get going.” Robin said and sincerely hoped that Lucien didn’t have any other shitty opinions on how to get Robin a husband. Lucien nodded and started the movie again. “Stay, let's watch the movie.” Robin felt the Alpha Tone, she closed her eyes and fought it. 

But she still stayed and agreed to watch the movie. She sat next to him when Lucien asked her to move closer. She did everything she asked, not because she was fooled by the Alpha Tone. But because she couldn’t let him know that she was fighting it. It was exhausting to try and stand up against the Alpha Tone, even when it was a mundane thing like watching a movie. Robin tried to focus on the screen and be normal, but when Lucien’s head leaned on her shoulder, she couldn’t help but stiffen. Lucien held her hand, his thumb caressing it. “it’s okay,” his voice sounded soothing, his voice sounded safe. Robin just closed her eyes to keep her tears from spilling. 

The movie was over and luckily, Lucien was tired, he bid her goodbye, they would be seeing each other in the morning for the daily meetings. Robin nodded, smiled, and waved goodbye. She tried to stop her hands from shaking, as she walked into her house. She went upstairs and locked herself in her room. She needed privacy for what she was about to do next. She dialed a number on her phone and took in a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. 

“Hey, what’s up?” The voice answered from the other side of the line. Robin let out a big breath. “Wilder, I need your help.”