Claimed by The Moon (previously titled Alpha Titus)

Chapter 36

ENZO ||

I'd never thought I would see the day but I had to force Titus into the cells until King Kano got here.

It was an emergency call and much needed because Titus was losing it, everything was slipping between his fingers - me, Mell, our pack - and if he wasn't careful, we would no longer be Alpha of the Nightshade pack.

His past was eating him alive. I know it was. When his mind caged him in and those memories of his father reared back up, all rational thought went out the window.

To be honest, when Titus was in that state of mind, he was more dangerous than Gemini.

At least his wolf could control his savagery. Gemini knew when he wanted to stay back in the shadows or when he wanted to force control. He was conscious when making decisions - even if they were bad - but Titus?

No.

Titus was never consciously aware that he was behaving the way he had a few hours ago. He didn't know he almost killed Romello. All he saw was his father's face. He heard his voice. He felt that pain again and that's all it took.

That's why Titus doesn't like to lose his temper. That's why he has me. That's why he chooses to stay away from a fight - even if it's fair - because usually when he was fighting or defending himself or someone else, he always got into that state of mind that trapped in his childhood.

Violence is what brought those on for him. It's why I begged Gemini to tone it the fuck down.

But no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried, Titus' bloodline was violent and he couldn't escape that no matter what he did either.

"Beta Enzo." I hear Bray call from behind me as I stare ahead at Titus in his cell. He was still sitting on the edge of the metal framed bed, head hung and hands clasped together in his lap.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see our cell guard, Bray approaching with King Kano right behind him. I bow my head respectfully to him and he returns my bow with his own.

"Where is he?" Kano asks and I nod towards Titus' cell. The King wastes no time in running over there. Bray unlocks the door for him and then Kano is engulfing Titus in his arms. "Are you alright, pup?"

His question catches me off guard. Kano knew what happened a few hours ago. I knew he did because I was the one who called him and told him. I reported that Titus needed help and he couldn't get it here.

I could handle the pack and the guys could help me if I needed it. That's what Betas were for. If their Alpha fell in battle, was demoted, stepped down or forced to resign, the Beta would step up as acting Alpha.

I've never wanted the position but I would do it for my pack because that's what they deserved and they wouldn't appreciate another Alpha coming in.

"Titus almost killed his mate." Kash says from my left.

"He needs help." Chase speaks up next.

"He said he has a pup in there. The pup and his mate were fighting for some reason and instead of figuring out why, all hell broke loose." Reece says with a scowl.

"And we're still trying to figure out what's going on." Reece's little brother, Raine pipes up too.

Kano huffs to that and then pulls Titus away from him. Keeping him at arm's length, Titus refuses to look the King in the eye, instead hanging his head low. I could feel how ashamed he felt, how heavy the pack link was right now. We all could feel it.

"You're all his fellow Alphas, his friends," Kano says, eyes shifting between all of us. "Did you assist?"

"We jumped in because Titus asked us to." Lynx, Chase's Beta, says.