The Ruthless Alpha

The Alphas possession

I woke to the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the heavy curtains. For a moment, I forgot where I was—the unfamiliar softness of the bed and the faint scent of pine made me feel displaced. But then the events of the previous day came rushing back. The wedding. Kane. The tension in his room.

I sat up slowly, my fingers brushing the soft fabric of the blanket. Kane hadn’t returned during the night. I wondered where he had slept. An alpha should not be banished from his own room.

I pulled my knees up and rested my chin on them. I had no idea what to say to Kane or how to navigate the strange dynamic that had unfolded between us.

The wedding dress lay crumpled on the floor, its once-pristine fabric now wrinkled and forlorn. The thought of putting it back on made my stomach turn.I looked around the room. A large closet was standing in one of the corners. Carefully I opened it and revealed rows of black t-shirts, suits and jeans. Did Kane own nothing but black?

I searched through the clothes until I found a drawer filled with neatly folded shirts.

I hesitated, my fingers brushing the soft fabric. It smelled faintly of him, a mixture of pine and something darker. After a moment’s hesitation, I pulled it on, pairing it with a pair of sweatpants that were far too big for me.

When I caught my reflection in the mirror, I froze.

The girl staring back at me was still frail, her frame swallowed by the oversized clothes. But there was something different about her. She didn’t look as broken as she once had. The dark circles under her eyes weren’t as pronounced, and the faint glow of her skin made her look almost… hopeful.

Almost.

Navigating the Bloodmoon packhouse was like walking through a maze. Every corridor seemed identical, the dim lighting and dark wood paneling adding to the oppressive atmosphere. I kept my head down as I walked, trying to avoid the curious glances of the pack members I passed.

Their reactions were mixed. Some whispered to one another, their eyes following me with suspicion. Others offered wary nods, as if unsure whether to welcome or avoid me.

I felt like an outsider, and I supposed I was.

When I entered the dining hall, the hum of conversation quieted for a moment. Dozens of faces turned toward me, their expressions ranging from curiosity to outright disdain. My cheeks burned under their scrutiny, but I forced myself to walk forward, keeping my gaze fixed on the long table ahead.

The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air, and my stomach growled in response. I hadn’t eaten much at the party the night before, too overwhelmed by the noise and tension. Now, the sight of eggs, toast, and fruit made my mouth water.

I hesitated near the edge of the room, unsure where to sit.

And then I saw him.

Kane was seated at the head of the table, his sharp features even more striking in the morning light. His black shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a hint of his muscular chest, and his hair was slightly tousled, as if he hadn’t bothered to fix it after waking.

His silver eyes found me almost immediately, and the intensity of his gaze made my breath hitch. His expression was unreadable, but when his nostrils flared slightly, I saw his eyes darken.

I froze, unsure of what I’d done to provoke the reaction. But then it dawn on me.

I was wearing his clothes. His mark. His. I might as well have stamped it on my forehead. Wearing his clothes was a sign to everyone that I belonged to him. I was his property. I had known it would be like that the moment Alpha Darius had made me take Cassandra's place, but it was like the reality of my situation came crashing down around me.

My cheeks burned anåd I lowered my gaze, my hands fidgeting with the hem of the oversized shirt. His scent clung to me, a constant reminder of whose territory I was in.

I forced myself to move, sliding into an empty seat near the end of the table. I wasn't sure if I should have sat down besides Kane, but the thought of sitting close to him made me stomach twist into knots.

The other pack members watched me for a moment longer before resuming their conversations, though I could still feel their occasional glances.

A plate of food was placed in front of me by a young woman who avoided meeting my eyes. I muttered a quiet thank you, my voice barely audible.

Kane’s gaze lingered on me, even as he spoke to the pack member seated beside him. I could feel the weight of it, like a physical force pressing down on me. Every time I dared to look up, I found his silver eyes fixed on me, dark and unyielding.

I ate slowly, my appetite dampened by the tension in the room. The murmurs of conversation and the clinking of utensils felt distant, as if I were trapped in my own bubble of anxiety.

When the meal ended, I slipped out of the dining hall as quickly and quietly as I could.

The rest of the day was a blur of awkward interactions and endless corridors. I wandered the packhouse, trying to familiarize myself with its layout. Most of the pack members kept their distance, though a few offered hesitant smiles or polite nods.

Despite their attempts at civility, I could feel the undercurrent of unease. I was an outsider, an unknown variable in their tightly knit pack. And no matter how much I tried to blend in, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong.

By the time evening rolled around, I was exhausted. The weight of the day pressed down on me as I returned to the room that had been assigned to me.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the window. Outside darkness had crept in. My mind wandered to Kane, to the way his gaze had lingered on me at breakfast.

There had been something in his eyes, something I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t anger or disgust—at least, not entirely. There was a heat there, a possessiveness that made my heart race despite myself.

I hated it.

I hated how my thoughts kept drifting to him, to the way his scent surrounded me, making me feel oddly comforted. I hated how my body reacted to his presence, even as my mind screamed at me to stay away.

But most of all, I hated how I couldn’t stop thinking about what had almost happened last night.

Kane was dangerous, a storm waiting to unleash its fury. And I was caught in the eye of it, powerless to escape.