A bite from an Alpha King

Chapter Six

Octavia

I was thrust into the cool night air, bright lights illuminating the sand beneath me. Beyond the large circle of sand, there was only darkness. Yet I could feel the presence of many others, all watching intently. My eyes shifted to the only figure I could make out clearly. A tall, strong, half-exposed body stood in the center of the ring, his yellow eyes locked on me, waiting for me to approach.

So he really isn’t dead.

Slowly, I moved toward him, unsure of what would happen next.

Would someone announce the start of the fight, or would we simply begin the moment I reached him?

I knew I couldn’t afford to show any weakness, so I kept my posture steady—shoulders down, back straight—and quickened my pace. When I stood before him, I held his gaze firmly. His royalty shone in those powerful yellowish-golden eyes…

My mind churned only for me to shake my head. Whatever this alpha was, it didn’t change the fact that he had killed my father, my rightful king.

A low growl rumbled from my throat as I stared at him. His eyes widened briefly in response before narrowing again, watching me closely. I still couldn’t comprehend how he had survived the silver. But somehow, he had. My eyes drifted down his bare chest, and something strange stirred within me, an unfamiliar sensation, almost like a pull. As if there were something I was meant to do. A calling.

But why?

My eyes landed on a scar in the center of his chest, slightly too far to the right.

So I had wounded him, I thought.

And yet he had lived. Looking back up, I saw him studying me as well. I quickly realized how it might have looked and sent all my anger his way, making it clear that I had merely been assessing my opponent, nothing more.

“You’re dead this time,” I murmured lowly, knowing his sharp hearing would catch every word.

His eyes widened slightly before confusion flickered across his face, as if I had spoken in a foreign language. Then, unexpectedly, something painful shot through my chest. A sensation that had grown each time I replayed the moment I had stabbed him. But this time it ached so fiercely that a small groan escaped me. I reached up, pressing a hand to my heart. When the pain subsided, I met the king’s curious gaze once more.

What is he waiting for?

Letting my eyes roam down his body again, I now took notice of his sheer strength. It was no surprise that he was practically all muscle.

“So?” I asked, breaking the silence after what felt like an eternity of us staring at each other. “Now what?”

The king glanced around, as if to say, what do you think?

My smile faded as I sensed the confidence radiating from him. He was preparing himself, fully aware of his advantage.

“Octavia Hawkins, daughter of the late king and Alpha Xavier Hawkins,” he announced, his voice carrying to the unseen onlookers hidden in the darkness. “You have committed high treason by attempting to kill the alpha and rightful king, Valerio Hall.”

Dark growls echoed from the shadows surrounding us.

“Clearly, you harbor deep hatred for me, given that you tried to kill me,” he continued. “To prove that I am a fair and just king, I will give you the chance to exact your revenge.”

I rolled my eyes. I knew he was simply trying to make himself look honorable in front of everyone.

“That is why we will fight one on one to the death, or until one of us submits. The last one standing will inherit everything the other owns.”

My heart skipped a beat.

Everything the other owns?

I took a moment to process his words, and slowly, the pieces began to fall into place. If I killed him… I would gain all his titles and lands. I would be the next king or, rather, queen. That meant I could finally reclaim my father’s pack. My heart began to race as the realization settled in. This was far better than assassination. This was legitimacy. Justice.

My father.

That’s who he was. My father. Standing taller, I met the king’s yellow eyes again, feeling the power and strength radiating from them. And suddenly, I remembered Zane’s words.

Why do you think your eyes aren’t yellow?” he inquired. “If you were truly my sister, you would have eyes like mine.”

Eyes like his… Eyes like the king’s… Eyes like…

My father’s…

My…

Valerio

I saw it, just for a moment: a flicker of doubt in her eyes. I felt a smile creep across my lips. Raising my hand, I signaled, and a horn was blown, catching Octavia’s attention and snapping her out of her trance. Swiftly, we began circling each other, giving ourselves time to assess our opponent. If the doubt I had planted in her mind didn’t weaken her, exhaustion would.

Under the sharp lights, I could see every drop of sweat glistening on the parts of her skin her tight clothes didn’t cover. My eyes slid down her form—strong, agile, perfect to run my fingers along—

Focus. Head in the game, I reminded myself.

This mate bond was already a weakness, along with my wound, which hadn’t fully healed. With each step, I felt the sharp pull of pain, but I couldn’t let it slow me down. Tonight, my throne and perhaps my sanity were on the line.

Finally, Octavia lost patience and attacked first. Her speed surprised me again. Her leg came at my side in a swift kick, but just before it connected, I caught it and shoved her off balance. She stumbled but quickly regained her footing and immediately charged again. She leaped toward me, aiming for my face, but this time I easily dodged her. She was skilled, but she lacked the patience that would make her truly deadly. Perhaps that wasn’t surprising. Her adoptive father’s paranoia couldn’t have taught her much about waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

She came at me again and again, her eyes blazing with hatred. It was clear she didn’t care about strategy or conserving energy. She just wanted me dead, pouring everything into every strike.

Foolish.

When she lunged at me once more, I moved quickly, grabbing her wrist and twisting it back until I heard a snap. She dropped to her knees with a scream. Her other hand clawed at my fingers, desperately trying to pry them away, but she was no match for my strength. I forced her struggling hand aside and held her broken wrist in place, watching her fight against me. Sweat dripped from her brow as I maintained pressure, refusing to release her. Pain shone in her eyes. That look sent a sharp ache through my chest. My own body fought against me, urging me to ease her suffering.

Release her! my wolf demanded. You’re hurting her!

I ignored him. With every ounce of willpower, I shoved my wolf back, forcing him to trust me, to wait. I pressed harder. She screamed. Her pain felt like my own.

“Submit!” I growled.

She glanced at her broken wrist, then back at me, defiance burning in her gaze as if my alpha command meant nothing to her.

“Never!” she shouted, then sank her teeth into my hand.

I released her instantly, wincing as sharp pain shot through me. She had bitten deep enough to draw blood. Her wrist, however, remained broken, and it would stay that way unless she set it properly. A difficult task without training. Yet I underestimated her.

With a look of cold determination, she tore a long strip from her top. I stood frozen as I watched her carefully wrap her wrist with the makeshift bandage. She tightened it with a groan, pain etched across her face, but the joint was set back in place.

“Impressive,” I murmured before I could stop myself.

I wasn’t sure if she heard me. She simply raised her fists again and launched herself at me once more. But this time, her strikes lacked the force they had at the beginning. I dodged every blow she threw. Even her speed had diminished.

Octavia swung her leg at me, and I caught it, shoving her backward and sending her crashing to the ground. For a second, she just lay there, her breathing labored. I watched her, hoping she would surrender now. But she said nothing.

“This can all be over,” I told her.

She lifted her head to look at me, confusion flashing in her eyes.

“Just submit to me, and I will spare you.”

A mocking laugh escaped her lips. “You expect me to trust that?” she snarled.

“I think you know I would have no choice but to keep my word.”

But Octavia didn’t seem to understand what I meant. Before I could question her, she twisted and pushed herself back onto her feet using her uninjured hand. Her legs trembled as she stood. A simple shove would make her collapse. I stepped forward just as she threw another weak punch. Effortlessly, I caught her fist before it reached my face.

For a brief moment, our eyes met. A tingling energy surged through me, fainter than the first time I had looked into her eyes, but still powerful. Our bond. It called to me, to every fiber of my being. I wanted to listen. But then I saw the cold hardness in her gaze.

She felt… nothing?

That realization made it easier to push the sensation aside. I tightened my grip on her fist, watching her face twist in pain. With my other hand, I grabbed her throat and forced her chin upward so she had no choice but to look at me. Her eyes still burned with hatred, even though she knew she was losing. It was as if there was nothing behind those silver orbs but fury, so strong that nothing could pierce it. It was the look of a warrior willing to die for what she believed in. I had seen that same look in my own pack members, the ones I trusted most.

I admired that strength. But it made me realize something: she was never going to submit. Even if I broke every bone in her body and forced her to lie on the ground like a lifeless rag, she would not yield. It radiated from her. Something I respected deeply. And something that meant I would have to kill her. And killing her meant risking my own life.

“What are you waiting for?” she snarled between gritted teeth. “We both know where this is going.”

We do.

I could sense everyone around us waiting for the same outcome: an end to this fight, her heart ripped from her chest. But what they didn’t know was what that would do to me.

They would know if I had told them the truth.

But how could I? A traitor as my mate? The adoptive daughter of the mad king? She could never be mine. And yet, if I killed her, the bond would demand its price. Still… I had to. I had to kill her. My grip tightened on her throat, and Octavia let out a strangled sound, but that was all I could manage. My hand refused to obey. My arm began to shake.

Stop it, I ordered my wolf.

He growled in response, holding my body hostage.

I have to! Or they’ll do it for me!

He didn’t answer, continuing to restrain me.

Ours, he growled inside my head.

She could never be—

My gaze dropped to her shoulder. An idea began to form. She would never bow to me willingly. Her fire burned so fiercely that only death could extinguish it.

But what if it could be redirected? Altered? What if I could… keep her?

I exhaled slowly, understanding what had to be done. My only option to save us both. Still holding her fist, I forced her arm down, clearing the way. Then I grabbed the back of her neck and yanked her closer.