Free Web NovelChapter 32: MOMENTS
James
Confusion struck James first. One minute, Alpha Bradley stood beside him, making polite conversation about pack logistics. The next, a massive wolf - larger than even his own formidable father - was tossing his trained guards around like they were pups. Before James could process the shift, the word "Mine" growled through the air, a possessive rumble that vibrated in his very bones. His mind raced. What on earth could Bradley be referring to?
The next moment brought a sickening lurch of realization. His intended Luna, Trishelle, was now caressing and embracing the golden wolf. Even from where he stood, James could hear the deep, rumbling purr of pleasure vibrating from the beast’s chest. He watched, frozen in disbelief, as the wolf’s tongue laved the sensitive skin of Trishelle’s neck. Everything clicked into place with the force of a physical blow. Alpha Bradley was about to mark what was his.
A roar of pure rage and the chilling fear of losing tore from James’s throat. His own wolf snarled inside him, cursing him for his hesitation, for not marking Trishelle when he’d had the chance. He’d been waiting for the right time, waiting to solidify his power base before making it official. The irony wasn’t lost on him - his careful planning had been his undoing. Now, it seemed, he had waited too long.
Heat flooded through his veins as fury consumed rational thought. Transforming in a blur, he lunged at his guest, his only thought to reclaim his prize. His desire for her was no longer just about securing a compliant Luna who would obey his every word and warm his bed. Now, his pride was on the line. His reputation hung in the balance. Everyone in the pack knew he’d claimed the omega, even if he hadn’t marked her. How would it look if another Alpha - a visiting one at that - stole her away? The humiliation would be unbearable.
Bradley
When Bradley heard the roar, he had a split second to react. He shoved Trishelle hard, sending her stumbling back towards Beta Sam, just as a big brown wolf slammed into him. The impact jarred his bones, but the rage fueling his opponent was unmistakable. Although the brown wolf wasn’t his equal in size or raw strength, his desperate determination made him dangerous. The attacking wolf didn’t waste time with posturing, aiming straight for the jugular. Bradley’s instincts sharpened. The faster he eliminated this threat, the faster he could return to his mate.
Taking a chance, Bradley opened a mind-link to his Beta. *Sam, protect her. At all costs.*
But that moment of distraction cost him dearly. The split-second he turned to ensure Trishelle stood safely behind Sam, James slammed into his side, teeth sinking deep into the muscle of Bradley’s shoulder. Pain flared, sharp and white-hot, radiating down his foreleg. Bradley shook himself with a violent snarl, ripping his flesh from the other wolf’s grip. Blood matted his golden fur. He countered by sinking his own teeth into James’s leg, twisting and tossing him several feet away into a sturdy oak tree. The satisfying crack of impact echoed through the clearing. Shaking off the pain, he felt the familiar tingling sensation of his accelerated healing already working to close the wound.
Werewolves of higher rank could link with one another while in their beast’s form, once within range. The stronger the wolf, the clearer the connection. Bradley growled at his host, a clear warning to stay down. James just growled back in defiance, his lips curled back from bloody teeth. The brown wolf’s eyes burned with an unhinged fury that spoke of desperation.
"What’s the matter with you, Alpha?" Bradley’s voice was a low growl in their shared link. "Is this how you treat your guest? By attacking without reason?"
James’s response came as a wave of pure fury. *"Trishelle is MINE."*
Bradley pulled back, his gaze following James’s line of sight towards the female standing off to the side. She was being comforted in the motherly arms of the Councilwoman, her face pale with shock. He was glad his Sam stood guard, a solid wall between her and the chaos. His wolf bristled at the thought of another male so close to her, but he trusted his Beta implicitly. Right now, her safety mattered more than his possessive instincts.
"Trishelle," Bradley said, tasting her name for the first time. The syllables felt right on his tongue, perfect. "That’s her name? What a beautiful name for my mate."
At this, James howled - a sound of pure anguish and denial - and lunged again with renewed ferocity.
*"She is mine. MINE!"* The two wolves rolled across the dirt, a whirlwind of snapping jaws and tearing claws. Dust rose around them in choking clouds. *"She is my omega and mine to do with as I see fit,"* James snarled in his mind, the words dripping with possessive rage.
Bradley scoffed, a mental sound of contempt. The other Alpha’s claim was baseless, built on nothing but arrogance. "Last I checked, she is an unmarked female. That means I can claim her. And claim her I shall."
With that declaration, Bradley decided it was time to end this farce. He didn’t want to truly injure his mate’s Alpha - it would only complicate matters - but if getting him out of the way was his only choice, then so be it. His patience had reached its limit.
James lunged onto Bradley’s back again, teeth sinking into the thick ruff of fur on his neck, searching for the vital vein that would end it all. Bradley was ready this time. With explosive speed, he began to spin in a tight circle, using his superior size and strength. James, clinging on desperately, began to grow dizzy. The moment his hold slackened, Bradley bucked hard, tossing him onto the ground with brutal force.
Landing hard on his back, James tried to scramble up, but a massive paw slammed onto his chest, pinning him down. The weight crushed the air from his lungs. Bradley stood over him, panting, a gleam of cold triumph in his golden eyes. "My Mate is MINE." And with that, he prepared to put the pitiful Alpha out of his misery when a powerful, crushing aura descended, forcing him and everyone around him to their knees. The pressure was absolute, undeniable - the authority of the Council made manifest.
Cynthia
Councilwoman Seers had tagged along with her granddaughter toward the prison. She always enjoyed a stroll after her meals, and more importantly, she knew something was troubling Alexa. Every time the imprisoned omega was mentioned, her granddaughter’s heartbeat would skip or race, and a look of profound confusion would cross her delicate features. It was a tell Cynthia had learned to read over decades of observation. Knowing there was one sure way to get to the bottom of the mystery, she had volunteered to accompany the men.
The walk also allowed her to observe the pack with a critical eye. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but rundown underneath - a common problem with Alphas who valued appearance over substance. Watching the back of the pack’s Alpha, she noticed he wore the latest, most expensive fashion. Designer labels, custom tailoring, imported fabrics. Yet, the wealth clearly wasn’t distributed equally amongst his pack members. The disparity troubled her. As they neared the prison, she noticed a tall, beautiful girl emerge, her face turned up to the sun as if starved for its warmth.
One minute things were calm, and the next, pieces of Alpha Bradley’s expensive suit rained down on her head like confetti. A familiar pale gold wolf stood protectively over the girl, and soon they were locked in a tender embrace. Cynthia’s heart warmed at the sight. Although this trip was primarily to help her granddaughter find her mate, it would be a victory for them all if Goldmoon’s Alpha had found his as well. Bradley deserved happiness after everything he’d endured.
Cynthia wanted to meet the young lady who had so effortlessly captured the heart of her adopted nephew, but then Alpha James seemed to lose his mind entirely. Transforming with a snarl of rage, he lunged at Bradley, and the two powerful Alphas began to fight with savage intensity. Blood and fur flew. Cynthia had lived long enough to recognize the reason for their savagery - the young woman now staring in horror, her hands pressed to her mouth.
Rushing to her side, right after Beta Sam reached her, Cynthia helped the trembling omega up and pulled her into a protective embrace, murmuring calming words to soothe her frayed nerves. The girl shook like a leaf in a storm. Cynthia could tell the young woman had absolutely no idea what was happening, no understanding of the forces that had been unleashed on her behalf. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
As they watched the brutal fight unfold, Cynthia knew the two Alphas were communicating through the mind-link, trading threats and claims. She patted the cold hands of the omega, whispering reassurances into her ear. "It’s alright, child. Everything will be alright." The girl’s fingers clutched at her sleeve desperately. Of course, it would be just like those two Neanderthals to make her look like a liar. When she noticed that Bradley, consumed by fury, was about to take the life of his opponent, she decided it was time for Councilwoman Seers to step in. Enough blood had been spilled today.
