You Had Your Chance, Alpha

5

Nikolai made his way to the prison cells beneath the pack grounds.

The moment he arrived, he saw Jeffrey standing beside a line of captured rogues. Their hands were bound behind their backs, and several warriors stood nearby, keeping watch.

The rogues looked battered from the fight, but none of them seemed willing to speak.

Nikolai's expression remained cold. He motioned to one of the warriors.

The warrior immediately understood and handed him a heavy bat reinforced with silver and lined with sharp nails.

Nikolai took it without hesitation. The air inside the prison grew tense. Even the rogues seemed uneasy at the sight of the weapon.

Nikolai dragged a chair forward and sat down in front of them. Crossing one leg over the other, he rested the bat against his shoulder and studied each rogue carefully.

"What's your goal in trespassing within my domain?" Nikolai asked calmly.

None of the rogues answered. Instead, one of them smirked and spat directly onto Nikolai's shoe.

The entire room fell silent. The warriors immediately stiffened. Jeffrey's jaw tightened.

Nikolai slowly lowered his gaze to his shoe. His eyes darkened. Without a word, he stood up. Before the rogue could react, Nikolai swung the bat.

A loud crack echoed through the prison. The rogue screamed in agony and collapsed to the floor.

The silver immediately burned his skin while the nails tore through flesh and muscle. His entire body shook from the pain. The smell of blood filled the room.

Beside him, the other rogue went pale. Fear instantly replaced the arrogance on his face.

Nikolai looked down at the rogue writhing on the ground. Then he glanced at the bat. Small pieces of flesh clung to the silver-coated nails.

"So," Nikolai said quietly, "you still aren't going to answer?" he added.

The remaining rogue trembled. Despite witnessing his companion's suffering, he clenched his jaw stubbornly.

"No!" he shouted. Nikolai stared at him for several seconds. Then he sighed.

Clearly, questioning them was a waste of time. He snapped his fingers. The warriors immediately straightened.

"Kill them," Nikolai ordered. The rogues' faces drained of color. "And hang them where they were found," he added.

The prison became deathly silent.

"Let it be a warning," Nikolai continued. "Anyone who crosses into our territory with hostile intentions will share the same fate," he added. The warriors bowed their heads.

"Yes, Alpha."

Without another glance at the prisoners, Nikolai turned and walked out of the prison. Jeffrey followed behind him.

The sounds of pleading and shouting gradually faded as they made their way outside.

Fresh air greeted them the moment they stepped into the courtyard.

For several moments, neither man spoke. Then Nikolai stopped walking. He turned around and faced his beta.

"Do we have a problem, Jeff?" he asked. Jeffrey met his Alpha's gaze.

His expression remained respectful, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that Nikolai rarely saw.

"No, Alpha," Jeffrey replied.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow. Jeffrey hesitated for a brief moment before continuing.

"But I want you to know that I'd appreciate it if you kept a little distance from my mate."

The words hung between them. Nikolai's expression hardened slightly. Jeffrey wasn't stupid.

He knew about Nikolai and Bianca's history. Everyone did.

Before the mating season, most of the pack had expected them to become mates. But that was years ago. Things had changed.

Bianca was now Jeffrey's mate. Not Nikolai's.

"Bianca is my friend," Nikolai said firmly.

"Yes, I understand that, Alpha," Jeffrey replied calmly. There wasn't a trace of disrespect in his voice.

"But she's my mate."

The courtyard fell silent.

"She's my friend, Jeff. Calm down," Nikolai said. Jeffrey kept his silence and bowed his head, walking back to his car.

Nikolai let out curses and kicked his car's tire. He went inside and drove back to packhouse.

When Nikolai arrived at the packhouse, he found Selene eating alone in the dining room.

The silence between them had only grown heavier throughout the day.

Without saying a word, Nikolai strode toward her.

"Ni—"

Before Selene could finish speaking, Nikolai grabbed her arm.

"Wait—"

But Nikolai wasn't listening.

The anger that had been building inside him all day seemed to have finally exploded. He forced her up from her seat and shoved her against the edge of the table.

Selene's eyes widened in fear.

"Nikolai, stop!"

Her protests fell on deaf ears. He ignored her tears. Ignored her fear. Ignored the fact that she was begging him to stop.

To Nikolai, none of it mattered.

"You're my wife! This is your job as my wife. So shut the f**k up, Selene. I'm not in the mood to argue. I'm in the mood for s*x," he said and thrusts inside and out. Selene felt tears spilling down her face as she kept taking in Nikolai.

Nikolai cursed and played with her n*****s harshly. Selene couldn't even feel a bit of carefulness.

When he was near, Nikolai pulled out and came in Selene's belly. Nikolai looked at his wife.

Her nightgown was torn. Her cheek was still slightly swollen from the slap he had given her earlier.

Fresh tears continued to fall from her eyes. For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. Selene waited.

A small, foolish part of her hoped he would apologize. That he would realize what he had done. That he would show even a little remorse. But Nikolai simply fixed his clothes. His face remained cold and unreadable.

Without another word, he turned around and walked away.

A few moments later, Selene heard the door to the guest room close. Leaving her alone once again. The dining room fell silent.

Selene slowly sank to the floor beside the table.

Her body trembled. Not from pain. But from heartbreak.

The mate bond connected their souls, yet she had never felt more alone.

For a long time, she simply sat there and cried.

And for the first time since becoming Nikolai's wife, a terrifying thought entered her mind. Maybe love wasn't enough to save a marriage when only one person was fighting for it.