Drake's POV:
I stood there for a long moment after she left, her words echoing in my mind like a storm I couldn't shake. "You're an Alpha, just like them."
The sentence was a blade, sharp and cutting, digging deep into the bond we shared. I didn't know what she had gone through in that pack, but I could see the pain in her eyes—the way she flinched when the word *Alpha* was even mentioned. She saw me through a lens clouded by her past, by whatever horrors the Blood Moon Pack had inflicted on her. And despite everything I had done, she still wasn't ready to see me as anything more than a threat.
But I wasn't like them. I wasn't some power-hungry monster who lived to dominate and destroy. I wanted to protect her, to love her the way a mate was supposed to. Yet, every time I got close, she retreated behind those walls she had built, and I had no idea how to tear them down without hurting her even more.
I clenched my fists, trying to push down the rage that threatened to boil over. The thought of her suffering at the hands of the Blood Moon Pack made my wolf snarl in fury. I had to do something. But starting a war—wiping out a pack of wolves, many of whom had done nothing wrong—wasn't the answer. Not yet, at least.
If I attacked now, it would only prove her right. It would confirm every fear she had about alphas being nothing but power-hungry beasts. She wanted me to be ruthless, to be a weapon she could use to strike back at those who hurt her. But that wasn't what mates were for. We were supposed to protect each other, to help each other heal. And right now, Leila was hurting more than I could imagine.
I needed to get to the truth—her real truth—not the half-lies she was feeding me. She was trying to manipulate me into doing her dirty work, but I wasn't going to play that game. Not until I knew exactly what had happened to her and why she hated the Blood Moon Pack with such ferocity.
I let out a slow breath and made a decision. If she wasn't ready to talk, then I'd have to wait. But I wouldn't just sit around and let her push me away, either. I would show her, in every way I could, that I wasn't like the alphas she feared. I would show her that she could trust me—trust the bond between us.
But I also wouldn't let her keep me at arm's length forever.
I pushed away from my desk, the documents forgotten as I left my office. The pack house was quiet now, the evening settling in. I could feel her presence somewhere nearby, her scent lingering in the air. My wolf stirred restlessly, wanting to follow her, to be near her, but I forced him to calm down. If I stormed into her space now, demanding answers, it would only drive her further away.
Instead, I headed toward the training grounds, where a few of my pack members were still lingering. Marcus was among them, sparring with Lucas under the dim light of the moon. Just seeing Marcus again reignited the flare of jealousy from earlier. It was ridiculous, really, but I couldn't help the primal instinct to protect what was mine. She had played me earlier, testing my limits, trying to make me jealous. It had worked. Too well.
But I wasn't going to let it control me. Not anymore.
I approached Lucas, my beta, who noticed my presence immediately and straightened up. "Alpha," he greeted, his tone respectful but curious.
I nodded at him, my gaze flicking briefly to Marcus before turning back to Lucas. "We need to talk," I said simply.
Lucas gave a quick nod to Marcus, signaling the end of their sparring session, and followed me to a quieter part of the training grounds. Once we were out of earshot, I spoke.
"I need you to gather information on the Blood Moon Pack," I said, keeping my voice low but firm. "Discreetly. I want to know everything—who's in charge, their strengths, their weaknesses. Everything."
Lucas looked at me, his brow furrowed in confusion. "I thought we had a peace treaty with them," he said cautiously.
"We do," I confirmed. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared."
He hesitated for a moment, clearly sensing that there was more to this than I was letting on. But he didn't press. "Understood," he finally said. "I'll get my team on it."
I nodded, satisfied. I wasn't going to march into battle just yet, but I needed to be ready. If Leila's past with the Blood Moon Pack was as dark as she hinted, then I needed to know what I was up against. And if it came down to it, I would burn them to the ground to protect her.
But I wouldn't do it blindly. Not without knowing the full story.
As I watched Lucas leave, I made another decision. I wouldn't wait for her to come to me. If Leila wasn't ready to trust me with her past, then I would have to prove myself to her in other ways. Little by little, I would earn her trust, and when the time came, she would tell me the truth. And when she did, I would be ready.
But tonight, I would give her space. Let her think about her offer and the consequences of trying to manipulate me. She would learn that I wasn't a man to be played with—especially not when it came to her.
As much as I wanted to storm into her room, demand answers, and claim her as mine once and for all, I held back. The bond between us was stronger than whatever shadows were haunting her past. I just had to remind her of that.
For now, patience was my best weapon.
But when the time was right, I'd make sure she knew exactly who her mate was.
LEILA'S POV:
I left Drake's office feeling the weight of my own words hanging in the air between us. *What have I done?* The doubt gnawed at me as I retreated to my room, replaying the conversation in my mind.
I'd told him to eliminate the Blood Moon Pack in exchange for marking me. It wasn't a lie—I did want them gone—but the way I had framed it made me sound manipulative, like I was using him. Maybe I was. Maybe that's exactly what I had to do to survive. But deep down, it felt wrong. He was my mate, and yet I was playing games with him, pulling at his instincts, pushing him toward violence when I knew there was more to this story than revenge.
When I told him I'd been a prisoner, I could see the fury that blazed to life in his eyes. His wolf was there, barely restrained, ready to tear apart anyone who had hurt me. It was exactly the reaction I needed—but not the one I wanted. Not really.
The truth was far more complicated than Drake realized. Yes, the Blood Moon Pack had imprisoned me. But I wasn't just their victim—I had also been their weapon. For years, they had used me, twisted me into something unrecognizable. I had spilled blood on their orders, and while I had finally escaped, the scars of what I had done still lingered.
And now, here I was, trying to use Drake to destroy them. But was it for justice, or was it for my own twisted need for retribution? I didn't even know anymore. All I knew was that I couldn't let him in—not fully—until I had my revenge. Until I had made things right.
But Drake… he was different. He wasn't like the other alphas I had known—he was kinder, more patient, even though I could see how much it cost him to hold back. He hadn't marked me, hadn't forced me into anything, even though I knew his wolf was aching to claim me. It surprised me every time—how much restraint he showed, how much he respected my boundaries despite the tension that simmered between us.
And maybe that's what scared me the most.
I couldn't afford to fall for him. I couldn't afford to let myself trust him completely, not until I knew I was safe. Not until I had avenged myself against the pack that had destroyed my life. But the more time I spent with him, the harder it became to keep my walls up. He had been so close to seeing through me today, to unraveling the real reason I hated the Blood Moon Pack. If he found out the whole truth… would he still look at me the same way? Would he still want to protect me if he knew the darkness that lurked inside me?
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away. None of that mattered right now. What mattered was keeping him focused on the task at hand—taking out the Blood Moon Pack. After that, maybe I could breathe easier. Maybe I could start to trust him. Maybe I could even let myself feel something more for him.
But not yet.
Later that night, after pacing my room for what felt like hours, I made a decision. I would go to him. Not to continue the game we had been playing, but to tell him something—just enough to keep him close. Just enough to keep him on my side.
I knocked on his door softly, half-expecting him to turn me away after the way I had left things earlier. But when he opened the door, his eyes softened, and the tension between us eased just a little. He didn't say anything, just stepped aside and let me in.
His room was warm, lit only by the soft glow of a few lamps. It felt intimate, private, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment settle over me. He was watching me closely, waiting for me to speak, but he didn't push. He never did.
I took a deep breath, feeling the words form on my tongue before I could stop them. "I know you don't trust me completely," I started, my voice quieter than I intended. "And I don't blame you. But there are things about my past… things I can't tell you yet. Not until I know I'm safe."
He frowned, his brows knitting together in concern. "Leila, you are safe," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "You're here with me. No one will hurt you."
I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "It's not that simple," I whispered.
Silence stretched between us, heavy and full of unspoken things. I could feel him waiting for me to continue, but I didn't know how. How could I tell him the truth without ruining everything? How could I make him understand that I needed his strength, but not his pity?
Finally, he spoke again, his voice soft but firm. "I don't care what happened before, Leila. I don't care what you've done or who you were. You're mine now, and that's all that matters to me."
The possessiveness in his words should have scared me, but instead, it sent a shiver down my spine. He meant it—every word. He would stand by me, no matter what. And for the first time, I felt the cracks in my walls start to widen, just a little.
But I couldn't let them fall. Not yet.
"I'll let you mark me," I said, my voice steady now, "after the Blood Moon Pack is gone."
His jaw tightened, and I could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn't want to make this a deal—didn't want to reduce our bond to some kind of transaction. But he also couldn't deny the pull of the bond, the need to claim me as his. And deep down, I knew he wanted to protect me, to eliminate the threat that haunted me.
But would he still feel the same if he knew the truth?
For now, I had to play my cards carefully. I had to keep him close, keep him on my side, without revealing too much. And maybe, just maybe, when this was all over, I could finally let myself fall.
But not yet. Not until the Blood Moon Pack was ashes at my feet.