Alpha's Ruin: He Betrayed Me, I'll Make Him Kneel

Before River could process his arrival, the thunderous rhythm of dozens more heavy boots surged toward the sanctuary gates.

A massive gray wolf burst into the yard, Bernard, shifting the moment his paws hit the gravel. Behind him, a full vanguard of Bloodveil warriors poured through the breach, leaping over the rubble to tear into the Ironfang attackers with ruthless efficiency.

Panicked and outnumbered, the remaining Ironfang wolves turned on their heels and tried to flee back through the gates.

River craned her neck, her bright eyes searching the chaos, hunting for him, hunting for his scent.

Suddenly, three Ironfang wolves that had just cleared the gates came flying backward through the air. They crashed violently onto the stone floor, whimpering with broken ribs.

Then he stepped into the light. Adam. His massive black wolf was pure, terrifying rage. His amber eyes burned like hot coals in the dim light as he plowed through the enemy, crushing bones under his massive paws.

He slowed his stride and stepped up right beside River. He looked down at her bloody shoulder once, his amber eyes flashing with a possessive fire. Then he turned his massive head back toward the cowering enemy, his lip curling over long, bloodied fangs.

"Go back to your masters!" Adam’s command vibrated directly into the minds of every wolf in the yard, heavy and absolute. "Tell them that Adam Thorne, King of Bloodveil, guards this sanctuary now! The next army that crosses these gates will not leave them alive!"

Terrified by the Alpha King’s presence, the surviving Ironfang warriors hurriedly shifted back into their bruised human forms, scrambling over the fallen gates as they fled into the dark woods.

River let her wolf form recede, bringing Rhea back onto her feet. Panting heavily, her blood dripping onto the cold stone, Rhea looked up at the towering Alpha, her chest heaving in the quiet air.

Adam did not look at Rhea right away. He kept his dark eyes locked on his Beta, his shoulder muscles tight beneath his tunic.

"Mount the Bloodveil banners along the wall!" he ordered, his voice echoing off the stone courtyard like thunder. "You two, gather the guards! I want these gates rebuilt and standing before dawn!"

Bernard and the warriors nodded without a second thought, turning on their heels to carry out their Alpha’s command.

Rhea’s chest heaved as she watched him. His massive frame radiated pure, masculine authority, a wall of muscle and bone standing between the sanctuary and the wild mountain air. When he finally turned to face her, her pulse spiked. She swallowed hard, shifting her gaze to the blood-stained flagstones.

His eyes stopped on the blood soaking her shoulder. His jaw tightened. "You are bleeding," he said softly.

"It is just a scratch," Rhea muttered, flinching away from his touch. She raised the black-feathered shaft in her palm, extending it toward his chest. "Look at this. It was Kaleb."

Adam’s brows pinched together. He took the arrow from her hand, his thumb running along the cold steel tip before sliding down toward the fletching. He studied the crest, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the mark under the pale sunlight.

Then he stopped, his posture shifting. "No."

"It is hard to believe, I know," Rhea said, her fingers pressing into the sharp ache near her collarbone. "I did not want to accept it either."

"No, Rhea. This is not Ironfang," Adam said, his voice flat and certain.

Rhea frowned, stepping closer. "What are you talking about?"

Adam leaned in, turning the arrow so the underside of the tail faced the light. He pointed to a small, hidden slit cut into the leather wrapping. "This is the mark of Blackfang."

"Blackfang?" Rhea repeated, the name bitter on her tongue. "I have never heard of them. Where did they come from? And why are they using Kaleb’s pack emblem?"

Adam exhaled a low breath, the scent of pine and ozone rolling off his skin. "Because they broke away from Ironfang."

Rhea stared at him, her mind racing. "Broke away? How?"

Adam looked out toward the dark pine forest beyond the broken gates. "Kaleb is losing his grip on the territory. The elders are restless, and the elders are weak. Generals are walking off and founding rogue factions within his borders because no one trusts his leadership anymore. Stripping him of his war command only made it worse."

Rhea let out a cold laugh. So Kaleb could not even hold his own pack together without her.

"I cannot make his failure my concern," she said, shaking her head. "My only duty right now is keeping this sanctuary safe. I have to protect Eli."

Adam stepped forward, his heavy hand catching her fingers before she could pull away. "I am here for whatever you need, Rhea," he murmured, staring straight into her silver eyes. "Anything."

Rhea held his gaze for a long beat, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. Then, setting her jaw, she yanked her hand back and took a step away from his warmth.

"I did not ask for your help," she said, her voice sharp as glass. "I will not owe you. I will not owe any Alpha—"

"I did not come here for you," Adam cut in. His tone was hard, his eyes dropping to the ground as the muscles along his jaw flexed tight.

Rhea’s brows pulled together. His lips spoke the harsh words, but the heat in his amber eyes told a completely different story. "Then why are you standing here?" she demanded, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.

"For Eli," Adam said flatly. "I gave the boy my word that I would keep him safe, and as Alpha of Bloodveil, I do not break my promise."

The words hit her stomach with a strange ache, though she kept her face completely smooth. His tone sounded hollow, as if he were repeating the words to convince himself more than her.

"You can leave," Rhea said, holding her head high. "You do not need to worry about my son anymore. I am here for him."

Adam looked at her then, the harshness in his face softening for a split second before his features locked back into stone. He stayed silent, his dark cloak shifting in the mountain breeze.

Rhea let out a slow breath, studying the deep line carved between his brows. "Why do you keep doing this?" she asked quietly. "Why do you keep showing up to save me? You know exactly where I stand. You know I do not want you, and I do not want your—"

"Stop, Rhea. Please." Adam’s jaw set hard, the words visibly striking him like a blade to the ribs. Yet his voice remained low and level as he met her gaze.

"I already told you that I am not here because of you," he said, his voice deep enough to vibrate in her chest. "I am here to protect Eli because I gave my word. Wherever that boy goes, I will be close behind. And I will not leave until no one in this valley can threaten him again."

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