Cruel Alpha

Chapter 18

Yet another pack member approached Robin with a very minuscule problem, she was getting sick of them. It isn’t that hard to find your way to the nurse's office. Still, she kept her face empty of annoyance and told them to go find it on their own. “might help you get familiar with the pack.” Her voice was stern, Robin came to understand that this was part of her new title and job. 

She made her way around the Pack House, second floor was nearly done, people were already moving in, younger kids were eager to get their playroom. Robin saw a couple of them fighting and made her way there. She stood in front of them, waiting for them to notice her. Seeing that this wasn’t working she growled, it came out stronger than she intended and kids stopped fighting immediately. “What is the problem here?” Kids looked down, neither of them speaking. “If I see one more pointless scuffle, both of you will be punished.” Children nodded. “Yes, Beta.” They said in unison and Robin dismissed them with a wave of a hand. 

A chuckle made Robin turn around. “You are settling in, well. Using the angry Beta act and all.” Derek spoke, he was leaning on the wall in the opposite end of the corridor. Derek has been quite annoying recently. For one, he had that pointless smile on his face nearly 24 hours of the day. Secondly, he kept acting like Robin was a child, in need of assistance, and not his superior. Robin shot him a fake smile and spoke. “Last time I checked you had far more important duties than stalking me, Gamma.” Robin’s voice was as cold as it was with those children. Derek stood straighter and nodded before leaving. One more misstep and you are gone for, Robin thought. 

Lucien started to be more involved with the daily duties around the pack, he took over managing the armoury, assigned Derek to oversee all the constructions and Robin was responsible for everything going smoothly in the Pack House. She wasn’t overly pleased with her new duty, but she found that she enjoyed assigning duties to others without the actual need of doing them. Though it had its own hard moments. 

For example, there was one guy who kept making the same exact mistake every day. He was responsible for arranging the dishes for breakfast and lunch, he was always late for both of them. People had to wait as he mixed the times up yet another day. Robin growled and stepped into the kitchen. The cooks and their assistants were finishing with the cooking, by now the table had to be set but the group responsible for it was late. They were just entering the kitchen.  

Upon seeing Robin and the fury in her eyes, the guy gulped. “You have 5 minutes to arrange the table.” Her voice was low, filled with the echo of her wolf. They were always working together these days. The wolf seemed to feed on Robin’s fury, becoming more present and scaring younger pack members. 

Luckily for the guy (whose name was as unimportant as him), he finished setting the table on time. After lunch, however, Robin cornered him, he walked back until he hit the wall. Then, his eye went wide. Robin smirked in satisfaction. “You have one duty, and you have managed to fail it again and again.” She stated, the guy looked down. Before he could realize what was happening, Robin’s hand was around his neck, choking him. “I am giving you one last chance, do not disappoint me.” He nodded hastily and Robin pulled her hand back. She stepped away, “One last chance, after it…” She chuckled, it sounded bitter, it sounded wrong. “You don’t want to learn what I will do to you if you fail me one more time.” 

Robin felt his presence behind her, even before the guy’s eyes focused on something behind her. Lucien was standing behind her. Robin felt like she had been snapped back into reality and for a brief second, she wondered what possessed her to make such threats to pack members. The guy kept staring at the Alpha, expecting him to do something. Lucien only raised his brows at him. “You heard the Beta, do not make me repeat it.” He growled the last part and the boy bowed before rushing to get away from them. 

Lucien pat Robin’s back. “Good job, Beta.” Robin nodded and as Lucien passed her in the corridor, her phone rang. Robin checked the caller ID: Iris. Lucien stopped in his tracks and turned towards her. “Iris,” Robin spoke even before he could ask his question. Lucien chuckled, “I suppose, if you know my question, you should also know my answer.” Robin nodded, she declined the call. They were part of the past, she was moving towards her future now. Towards the rise of Oak Tails. She was at home. 

A few minutes later, she received a text from Iris. 

I think I found my mate.  

And yes, I know it’s the patriarchal trap of Moon Goddess but he is soo cuteeee.

Robin’s heart skipped a beat as she read over those words. She found the closest empty room and video called Iris. Iris was her closest friend. Who is her mate? Is he really that cute? Questions filled Robin’s head. Iris picked up from the second ring and the girls both frantically smiled and waved at each other. “What the f**k??” Robin asked and Iris nodded, she couldn’t stop smiling. “I know, I know.” Robin chuckled, “tell me everything.” 

So, Iris did; they met in her office, he just transferred to work there. He is from some small pack down the south of River Banes. “Oh gods, are you going to move South?” Robin realized with shock if mates were of different packs they usually moved into the male’s pack. She was losing her friend, but then again it was for the better. She would have one less of a reason to go back to River Banes. 

Iris shook her head, “no, Gods forbid. You know how the pack down the south are. He actually wanted to move in here.” Robin nodded, she didn’t notice the relief that flooded her. They are of past, you are home now. Lucien’s voice rang in her head. “I am so happy for you, Iris. You are practically glowing about this guy,” Robin said with a laugh, Iris blushed and smiled. “I can’t wait for you to meet him. We are having dinner this weekend,” Iris paused then and really looked at Robin, as much as she could do so across the screen. “You are coming this week, right?” 

Robin wanted to say, yes how could I miss this. Then a pack member's voice called to her, they were looking for Beta Robin. Robin knew then, what Lucien meant, she was in between her past and present. River Banes and Oak Tails. Her friends and the family legacy. “Iris, you know I wouldn’t willingly miss an opportunity to drill your mate and show him just how much I can hurt him if he disrespects you in any way.” Iris chuckled, her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Poor guy doesn’t know what’s in store for him.” Robin nodded with a smile. She looked at her friend and spoke. “I am so sorry to miss it. If not this week, next week I’ll try to make time. I promise.” 

Even when making that promise she knew that it was done in vain. Neither of them believed it. Iris hung up and Robin went towards the pack members that needed guidance. 

When looking back, Robin will realize that this was the exact point, from which everything went downhill. This was the moment she fully fell into the trap and imprisoned herself.