The last of her pack

#7. Mine

Rachael POV

The bedroom door opened, and I looked up fast. My heart kicked hard when I saw the alpha walk in, carrying a tray. A warm, rich aroma filled the room—steak. Real steak. My mouth watered immediately and I hated that he noticed.

I watched him carefully, suspicious of every step he took.

“Here. Have it,” he said, lowering the tray onto the table beside the bed with slow, careful movements as if I was some frightened animal he didn’t want to spook.

The second he stepped back, I jumped to my feet. I rushed straight to the table, grabbed the tray and sat on the bed. The first bite didn’t even touch the plate for more than a second, I devoured the steak like I hadn’t eaten in days. Well because I hadn’t eaten anything this nice for a long time.

I didn’t care that he was watching me with that intense, unreadable expression. Let him watch. I was starving.

“Easy, female,” he murmured.

I shot him a sharp look but kept eating, gulping down the water as if it could disappear any moment. My eyes stayed on him the whole time, ready to run or defend myself.

“Thank you,” I muttered when the plate was empty.

He nodded once.

I set the tray back on the table, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and froze when he bent down, his face suddenly level with mine. Too close and too focused.

I squirmed before I could stop myself.

“Tell me, female,” he asked quietly but there was nothing gentle in his voice. “Are there more of you?”

I rolled a shoulder in a shrug. “Not that I know of.”

“I want the truth.”

His growl shook the air.

My stomach clenched. “I’m telling the truth. I haven’t seen anyone else after the girl I met when I was very little. After that… nothing. No more females.”

He studied my face, his eyes piercing through me as if he could read my heartbeat. I held still, refusing to blink.

After a long moment, he spoke again. “How did you survive all these years?”

I looked down at my hands. They trembled, so I clasped them together. “Because I had no choice. That’s all I knew—survive or die. Before my mum passed when I was young, she told me never to be seen. She told me to hide always because women aren’t valued.”

Eryx’s eyes widened slightly.

“She was right,” he said.

His words stabbed through me. I stiffened, the old fear clawing up my spine.

“Are you going to kill me?” I whispered.

His gaze swept over me, from the oversized shirt hanging on my frame to my legs tucked under me. I hated that the shirt looked good on me. I hated even more that his eyes softened for a second.

“I don’t kill females,” he said. “And women are valued.”

“You lie.” My voice rose without my permission. “You lie!” I stood up, breathing hard.

He rose too, towering over me until I had to tilt my head back. His presence was heavy, commanding, dangerous.

“My mother told me women are being killed,” I said, my voice trembling with anger. “A lot of women. We no longer exist like before. Only a few of us survived. I don’t even know if there’s anymore left.

He didn’t move, didn’t blink.

“The bastard who killed women,” he said slowly, “was my father. Not me. I don’t repeat his pattern. I may be cruel but I don’t hurt females.”

I froze. I didn’t know whether to believe him or run.

“Then let me go,” I said. “Let me leave, and you’ll never see me again.”

He moved before I even finished. A strong hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking me closer so fast I gasped.

“Perhaps you don’t understand, little mate,” he said, voice deep and dangerously calm. “But I’ll make you understand now. You’re mine. You belong to me. You’re fated to me. So no—you can’t leave.”

I shoved him with all my strength. He didn’t budge, but he let go.

“Never!” I shouted. “I’ll never be yours, you monster!”

I climbed onto the bed, turning my back to him and pulling the blanket over myself in angry defiance.

“Leave my room,” I snapped. “I want to rest.”

His soft chuckle made heat rush to my cheeks.

“Last time I checked, sweetie… this room belongs to me.”

I sat up immediately, glaring at him. “Then show me to your guest room.”

He shrugged. “Follow me.”

I didn’t trust him, but I followed anyway. The hallway outside was silent and empty, the air strangely cold. He walked ahead, broad shoulders tense, and I kept a good distance between us, watching every movement.

He stopped at another door down the hall and opened it.

“Go in,” he said.

I eyed him suspiciously before stepping inside.

The moment my feet crossed the threshold, the door slammed behind me. My heart dropped. I spun around and grabbed the handle but it was already locked.

“Let me out!” I screamed, slamming my palm against the door. “Let me out, you monster!”

His voice came from the other side, low and terrifyingly calm.

“Continue screaming and you’ll have thousands of male wolves surrounding your door.”

I froze, breath catching painfully.

His footsteps faded as he walked away.

My throat tightened with anger. I scanned the room and spotted a comb on the table. I grabbed it and threw it at the wall with all my strength.

“Bastard,” I muttered.

I marched to the window, pushed it open and leaned out to see how high up I was. The cold air hit my face, clearing my head a little. My eyes swept the grounds below.

Then my gaze caught on a man. The man from earlier.

The one who had come into the alpha room this afternoon.

He looked up at the same moment I spotted him.

A perfect replica of Eryx.

My breath caught.