My Cruel Alpha

CHAPTER FIVE

ROMAN

‘You don’t want Layla because she’s not our mate?’ I am perplexed. ‘Yet you want a wolfless w***e?'

‘My Katarina is no whore.’ Raf seethes. 'She's my mine,' he growls. 'You don't get to decide who I bond with. It's my choice and mine alone.'

I ignore him and turn my attention to Layla, letting my gaze travel over her delicate features. I trace the curve of her neck with my eyes, noticing the way her skin glows under the dim light. Her scent, a mix of wildflowers and something uniquely her, fills my senses and draws me closer.

‘I will take over control if you insist on bedding her.’ He growls

I can’t risk it. He hates Layla and would probably injure her. The tension between us crackles like a live wire, each of us ready to strike at any moment. Raf's possessiveness over Katarina is palpable, but my fascination with Layla is equally intense. Our conflicting desires set us on a collision course, with Layla caught in the middle of our dangerous game.

I sigh and lift away Layla, shaking my head. The weight of Raf's ultimatum hangs heavy in the air, and disappointment settles in my chest like a stone. Reluctantly, I step back, giving up the tender moment I craved. Layla's confused and hurt expression only deepens my regret, but I know I have no other choice.

“What’s wrong baby?” Layla frowns, I see tears swimming in her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong, Layla," I whisper softly, trying to soothe her. "It's just not the right time, but I promise you, my feelings haven't changed."

Layla's eyes search mine, a flicker of hope mingling with the sadness. She bites her lower lip, clearly struggling to hold back her tears. "I just don't understand," she murmurs, her voice trembling.

"I'll make it up to you, I swear," I say, gently brushing a tear from her cheek. "You mean so much to me, and I'll find a way to show you that, no matter what."

She doesn’t look happy, possibly seeing it as a lame excuse, but she just nods her head and smiles.

"I'll take you somewhere special," I say, trying to infuse my voice with as much sincerity as I can muster. "Just you and me, away from all of this, where we can truly be together without any interruptions." Layla's eyes widen slightly, curiosity and hope beginning to replace the sadness.

It’s getting pretty late, so I call my driver to get Layla and take her to her condo.

“I will see you tomorrow. Okay?” I tell her and hug her goodbye out front. As I watch Layla step into the car and drive away, a profound sense of emptiness washes over me. The distance between us feels like a chasm, and my heart aches with the weight of unspoken words and unfulfilled promises. I can't shake the feeling that I've let her down, and the guilt gnaws at me as I stand there, alone in the night.

I don’t plan on leaving yet. I’m too riled up with frustration. How can my life be dictated by both my dad and my wolf?

‘Because we know what’s best for you.’ Raf comments on my thoughts.

I head back into the bar ready to drown my worries and stresses away. This evening was an utter s**t show.

I decide to call my car to take me home after another hour. Usually when I’ve had a few drinks I stay in my apartment located in the pack company building. Tonight, though, I feel a strong pull to go back to my house instead. Maybe it's the longing for a sense of normalcy or the comfort of familiar surroundings that beckons me. I need some time alone, away from the pack and the noise, to sort through my thoughts and figure out how to make things right with Layla. Hopefully Katarina will already be in bed and I won't have to deal with that drama.

‘We smell like shit.’ Raf booms causing my alcohol-soaked brain to throb as the car drives towards my house.

‘Go to sleep Raf’ I growl down the mind-link. I have had enough of his antics tonight. As the car pulls up to my house, I steel myself for the possibility of encountering Katarina.

I see Katarina hauling luggage outside in a car. Her face is a mixture of anger and determination, her brows furrowed and lips pressed into a thin line. The moment she notices my arrival, her eyes narrow, and she takes a deep breath as if preparing for another confrontation. The tension in the air is palpable, and I brace myself for whatever storm is about to come.

My driver comes to a stop, and I launch myself out of the car, slam the door and stomp over to her. She ignores me, but I roughly grab the handle she’s holding onto.

"Katarina, what the hell is going on?" I demand, my voice tinged with frustration and alcohol.

"I'm leaving, obviously," she snaps back, not bothering to look at me. "I've had enough of this circus."

"Leaving? You can't just walk out," I argue, my grip tightening on the handle. "We need to talk."

"Talk? Now you want to talk?" She finally meets my eyes, her expression a mix of hurt and bitterness. "It's too late for that."

“Okay, fine. Where the f**k are you going?” I demand.

“I told you Roman." Her tone was laced with defeat. Her tone, so filled with resignation, slices through my anger and frustration like a knife. The fight drains out of me, and I loosen my grip on the handle.

“Told me what, Katarina?” I spit her name like a curse, remembering this is just another one of her manipulation tactics.

Katarina's shoulders slump, and she crosses her arms defensively across her chest. Her eyes dart away from mine, and she takes a small step back, as if trying to create physical distance between us. The defiance in her stance is now replaced by a look of weary resignation.

Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she bites her lower lip, struggling to maintain her composure. She swallows hard, her throat bobbing to keep her emotions in check. "I told you I didn't want to do this anymore," she whispers, her voice barely audible.

My face contorts with rage, and I feel a burning sensation in my chest. "Don't want to do this anymore?" I bellow, my voice making her flinch. "You think you can just walk away from everything just like that?"

"I'm leaving Roman. The house and the pack." She resigns. My eyes widen in shock, and a bitter laugh escapes my lips.

"You can't be serious," I snarl, disbelief dripping from every word. "You think you can abandon your responsibilities and disappear into thin air? Is staying within my pack too shameful for you? Don’t want everyone looking at you, judging the Alpha's ex-wife.”

“You are not the Alpha yet.” She mumbles averting her eyes, but I catch it.

“You may have forgotten Katarina. My dad may be the Alpha now, but I will be the Alpha for decades to come. No one in this pack will give you shelter and when you cross the pack territory line, rogues will eat you alive.” I tower over her.

Katarina's eyes widen with a mix of fear and defiance, but she quickly masks it with a steely resolve. She squares her shoulders and lifts her chin, looking me squarely in the eyes. "I'd rather take my chances with the rogues than stay here another day," she replies, her voice unwavering despite the tremble in her hands.

A single tear escapes from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek. She clenches her fists at her sides, her body trembling as she struggles to contain the flood of emotions.

I scoff at her fake tears, shaking my head in disbelief. "You always were a good actress, Katarina," I sneer, narrowing my eyes. "But this time, no amount of tears is going to change the reality of your situation."

I head inside the house, pushing past her, but the sudden silence makes me turn back around. My heart skips a beat when I see her lying on the ground next to her suitcase, unconscious.

I let out an exasperated sigh, my irritation bubbling to the surface. "Great," I mutter under my breath, running a hand through my hair. "Just another one of your stunts, Katarina."

Despite my frustration, I bend down and check for a pulse, finding it steady but faint. Reluctantly, I scoop her up in my arms and carry her to my car, knowing I can't just leave her out here. "You always know how to make things complicated," I grumble.