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

Adam’s jaw twitched, the muscle along his throat locking tight as he stared down at her. "That is my response, Rhea."

Rhea’s brows pulled together as she tried to make sense of his sudden rejection. She searched his amber eyes, looking for any trace of malice or deceit, but found only an unyielding stubbornness.

A sharp exhale escaped her lips. "Fine, then," she said, her voice turning cold as she reached down and clasped Eli’s small hand in hers. "I will protect him myself. I do not know why I allowed myself to think I could rely on you again. I should have known better than to ask. You have already done more than enough—"

Adam raised a hand, pressing a single finger against her lips. "Enough, Rhea," he cut in smoothly. His tone was calm and heavy with authority that vibrated straight into her chest. "Of course you can rely on me. I love Eli as if he were my own blood. That is not why I said no."

Rhea frowned, her mind racing as she pulled her lips away from his touch. "Then why say it at all?"

Adam took a step closer, closing the distance until the heat of his broad chest radiated through her clothes. The intoxicating scent of crushed pine and rain-soaked earth washed over her, making River shift restlessly beneath her skin.

"Because if you leave," Adam murmured, his amber eyes burning into hers, "then I leave too."

Rhea blinked, her pulse skipping a beat. "What? No, Adam. I—"

Adam shook his head, brushing her protest aside. "I told you already. Where Eli goes—" He held her gaze, refusing to let her look away. "I go. And if you are walking straight into danger, I am walking right beside you."

A traitorous warmth bloomed in Rhea’s chest, for one dangerous heartbeat, she wanted to say yes. But she quickly forced a sharp breath through her nose, willing the feeling to die before it could take root.

She shook her head, taking a half-step back into the cool air. "No, Adam. I cannot let you do that," she insisted, her jaw set tight. "This is my burden. I have to face it alone."

Adam caught her hand in his, his grip gentle yet unyielding. His eyes softened, searching her pale face.

"You are asking me to stand back and watch you march onto a battlefield while I hide behind your son?" He paused, his dark eyebrows lifting slightly as if waiting for her to realize how absurd it sounded. "Do you truly believe that is the kind of man I am?"

Rhea looked into his eyes, her heart thumping wildly against her ribs like a trapped bird. "Oh, Adam..."

Adam shook his head slowly, his grip tightening around her fingers. "I will not let you wander into the dark by yourself with everything happening out there. In case you have not noticed, your life is in danger. You angered some of the most ruthless Alphas in these territories, and we both know what they do to females who defy them."

Rhea tore her eyes away from his, her gaze drifting down to Eli, who was watching them with wide, curious eyes. She let out a heavy sigh and reached out to smooth down the boy’s messy hair.

Then she forced herself to meet Adam’s gaze once more. "I know," she murmured softly. "That is precisely why I am giving him to you. Keep him safe for me, Adam. Please."

Adam’s jaw flexed, a faint golden glow flaring in his amber eyes as his inner wolf pushed near the surface. "And what about you?" his voice dropped into a rough growl. "Who keeps you safe?"

"No one. That’s exactly why I have to do this," Rhea said firmly. "I only need one thing from you. I need your word that my son will be safe in your hands. I cannot fight if I am constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if he is safe. Promise me, Adam."

Without thinking, she picked up his large hand and pressed his palm flat against the center of her chest, right over her thumping heart.

Adam froze. He swallowed hard, his own chest heaving as he felt the erratic beat of her pulse beneath his fingers. His gaze lowered to where his hand rested against her tunic, then rose back up to lock onto her silver eyes.

River paced restlessly inside Rhea’s mind, her spirit whining in protest as Rhea fought against the overwhelming pull pulling her toward the Bloodveil Alpha.

Adam slid his fingers down, clasping her hand tightly within his warm palm. "I promise to protect Eli with my life," Adam swore, his voice deep and absolute. "But I will never forgive myself if I let something happen to you."

Rhea tore her eyes away from his intense glare before she could break. She dropped to her knees in front of Eli, taking his small face in her hands. She pressed a shaky kiss against his brow, pulling his small body tight against her chest.

The thought of walking away from him again made her stomach twist into a painful knot, and she swallowed hard against the bitter lump rising in her throat.

Inside her head, River leaned forward in their shared consciousness, nuzzling the pup’s spirit with a mournful whimper as tears fell.

Adam watched the mother and child, his fists clenching hard at his sides as he fought every Alpha instinct telling him to physically hold her here.

Rhea pulled back from the hug, sniffling as she wiped a stray tear from her cheek with the back of her wrist. She looked her son straight in the eyes. "I want you to go with Uncle Adam now. Mama has a task to finish, and then I will come back for you," she said, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to sound brave. "Alright?"

Eli looked at her, his brows pulling together as he studied her wet eyes and pale skin. "Where are you going, Mama?" he asked, his small voice tight with suspicion. "Why cannot I come with you?"

Rhea turned her head away quickly, tilting her face up toward the pale sky as she forced a deep breath into her lungs. She sniffled, then lowered her head to meet his gaze again. "I am going to find us a home," she whispered. "A safe place where bad Alphas can never track us down."

Eli’s small chest puffed out instantly, his posture stiffening as he squared his shoulders. "Then I have to go with you," he stated boldly. He turned his head and looked up at Adam. "You have to come too, Uncle Adam. We must protect Mama together. Warriors are supposed to protect our females, right? No female should be left alone out in the dark."

Adam looked down at the boy, swallowing hard against a sudden lump in his throat. He gave Eli a slow nod.

Rhea glared up at the Alpha, her lips pressing into a thin line. Adam merely raised his shoulders in a helpless shrug.

Rhea shifted her attention back to her son, offering him a reassuring smile. "Do not worry, my brave boy. I will be safe. The Moon Goddess is going to look after me," she promised gently. "I will be back before you even miss me."

Before Eli could protest any further, Rhea pushed herself up onto her feet. She looked over at Adam, her silver eyes dead serious. "Protect him."

Adam stared at her for a silent moment, his amber eyes practically begging her to stay. Finally, he gave her a single, firm nod.

Rhea did not give herself another second to hesitate. She leaned down, pressed one last quick kiss onto Eli’s hair, and turned on her heel.

Every step away from her child felt like pulling lead weights through wet mud. Her chest felt crushed under an invisible weight, her eyes burned with unshed tears, and her boots protested against the flagstones with every stride.

Inside her head, River turned back toward the little boy, throwing her head back in a heartbreaking howl.

Adam stood frozen for a beat, picking Eli up and tucking the boy securely against his hip. He watched her retreating back, watching her dark cloak flutter in the cold mountain wind.

Before his mind could stop his heart, he called out. "Rhea!"

Rhea stopped instantly, her shoulders stiffening as if she had been holding her breath, waiting for his voice to pull her back. She turned around slowly.

"Where are you going?" Adam demanded, his voice thick with concern.

Rhea looked across the gravel at him, taking a steadying breath. "Back to Ironfang," she announced quietly. Then she turned back around and kept walking.

Behind her, Adam’s jaw dropped open in complete disbelief. Even the Bloodveil warriors stopped hauling timber at the gate, their heavy axes falling silent as every man in the yard turned to stare at her disappearing figure in stunned silence.

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