The meeting hall buzzed with anger. Voices clashed like thunder, chairs scraped, and the air smelled of tension and hate.
"She brought the danger to us!" Markus shouted, his fist hitting the table. "You all saw it! The rogues came for her, we must end her before she ends us she killed our former alpha and now she wants to do the same with us her coming here was planned by the silver claw she deserves death for putting our men In danger.
Caleb growled. "She's a curse! Her pack slaughtered ours. Why is she still breathing?"
I sat there, arms crossed, watching my pack argue like wild dogs. Their anger was loud, but I understood it. Her bloodline had taken everything from us — my parents, my brother, my peace.
"She's just a girl," Lena, our healer, said quietly. "She doesn't even have her wolf yet."
"Doesn't matter!" Caleb snapped. "That cursed blood is still inside her."
The hall filled with more angry mutters. I could hear their hate — it was almost a living thing. My wolf growled inside me, restless, wanting silence.
"Enough," I said, my voice deep and sharp.
The room froze. Every eye turned to me.
"No one touches her without my order," I said and besides she didn't put our men I danger I did so the blame should be on me.
Markus frowned. "Alpha, you're keeping her alive?"
"She'll stay," I said coldly, "but she'll work for it. She'll live with Mira and Garret near the south wing. They'll keep an eye on her. She'll clean, serve, and earn her keep."
They exchanged uneasy glances but bowed. "Yes, Alpha."
When they left, only Draven stayed behind. He leaned against the wall, arms folded.
"You think that's smart? Sending her to Mira and Garret? You know how they treat outsiders."
"They'll control her," I said flatly.
"Or break her," Draven muttered. "You're playing with fire, Jason."
I turned away. "Then let it burn."
The corridors were quiet, moonlight spilling through the tall windows. My steps echoed softly as I went toward my room.
When I opened the door, I froze.
Aria stood in the middle of my room, her hands shaking. Her eyes lifted to mine, nervous but full of something I couldn't name.
"Alpha…" she whispered. "I wanted to thank you."
"Go away, Aria," I said, sharper than I meant. "I don't need your appreciation and no one enters my room without my permission
She flinched a little, but her voice stayed calm. "I'll be leaving soon anyway. I'm putting your people in danger."
Something inside me twisted — something I didn't want to feel. My wolf growled, No.
I stepped closer. "No, Aria. You're not leaving. A prisoner doesn't get to decide when she leaves."
Her eyes widened. "You're just being a jerk, Jason. Who do you think you are? Some arrogant, cold alpha who gets to decide everyone's fate?"
I didn't answer. I just stared at her — the way her hair fell over her face, the way her lips trembled when she spoke. I reached out and caught her wrist before she could walk past me.
Her skin was soft. Too soft. Too warm. My wolf stirred.
"Let go of me," she whispered.
I didn't. I couldn't.
I'd touched countless women, but none of them ever made my heart pound this way. There was something about her — something dangerous and pure. Something mine.
But she didn't know. She couldn't know.
My voice dropped low. "You're not leaving, Aria. It's dangerous outside."
She gave a bitter laugh. "Since when does the arrogant Alpha Jason care about my safety? I thought you only cared about your pack."
I swallowed hard. "You're in my pack now," I said quietly. "That makes you my responsibility."
Our eyes met. The room felt too small, the air too heavy.
She pulled her hand away, glaring. "You can keep telling yourself that. But one day, you'll regret saving me."
She turned and walked out before I could reply, leaving the scent of her behind — sweet, maddening, unforgettable I can't lie I have never met any girl as beautiful as her but I have to focus she's just seventeen
I stood there for a long time, my chest tight. My wolf whispered the one thing I couldn't admit aloud.
She's yours.
I clenched my fists.
"No," I whispered to the empty room. "She can't be."