Royal Secrets & Beastly Desires

4. The Price of Disrespect: An Alpha's Fury

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Dakota laid in bed that night thinking about the cold alpha sleeping next door to her. She wasn't sure if he was asleep or not but she had to get out of the apartment for awhile. Glancing up at her clock she sighed. It was only 8 o'clock and everyone was in bed. Having none of that, she tossed her blankets off and crossed to her closet. Grabbing a pair of jeans, her hoody and her favorite pair of boots. She threw her hair up in a messy bun and grabbed her wallet and keys.

Opening her door, she walked down the hall and out the front door.

"Where do you think you are going?" Draidens cold voice demanded from behind her.

Dakota's heart raced as she felt the weight of Draiden's fury pressing down on her. She had half expected him to come after her, but the intensity of his anger caught her off guard. "I just needed some air," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady, though she felt a flicker of fear at the ferocity of his gaze.

Draiden stepped closer, his presence looming large in the dimly lit hallway. "You think you can just walk out whenever you please? You're not just any she-wolf; you're a Royal Lycan. You have responsibilities, and you're making a mockery of the title with your reckless behavior!" His voice was low and threatening, each word laced with a controlled rage that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

She swallowed hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. He was right about one thing: she was a Royal Lycan, and with that came expectations. But did it have to mean she had to conform to every rule and regulation? "I'm not trying to disrespect anyone, Draiden. I just feel... trapped," she admitted, her defiance wavering.

Draiden's expression softened for a brief moment, but the anger was still simmering beneath the surface. "Trapped? You think running away is going to solve anything? You're only making things worse." He took a step closer, invading her personal space, and she could feel the tension radiating off him.

"Maybe I don't care," she shot back, her voice rising slightly. "Maybe I just want to be me for a moment. I didn't sign up to be a soldier in your little army."

The growl that escaped Draiden's throat was primal, a low rumble that echoed in the hallway. "You will respect the position you hold, Dakota. You may not see it now, but you have a duty to this pack, to me, and to Braken. Your rebellion doesn't just affect you; it affects all of us."

She felt a pang of guilt; she knew he was right. But the thought of being suffocated by expectations made her chest tighten. "I need time to think," she said, her voice softer now, a plea more than a demand.

Draiden's expression hardened again. "Time to think doesn't mean running away. Do you know what happens when people disrespect me?"

Dakota shook her head in fear "no Alpha" she said cowering away from him.

Draiden stepped closer to her "I kill them" he stated and gripped her arms "but I can't kill you unfortunately. So, I suggest you thank the moon Goddess for what you are to me. I don't know how I got stuck with such a selfish little brat like you. You are the reason I don't want a Mate. Grow up Dakota. Get your ass back in that apartment right this instant before I change my mind" he roared using his Alpha voice. He needed to shift soon before he goes ballistic on his mate.

"Yes Alpha" she whimpered, without looking up into his eyes, she brushed past him and ran into her new home.

As Dakota closed the door to her bedroom, the sound of it clicking shut felt like a finality she couldn't escape. She leaned against it for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest, tears spilling down her cheeks. The confrontation with Draiden had shaken her to her core. His words echoed in her mind, harsh and unforgiving. "I can't kill you," he had said, but the way he gripped her arms made it clear that he could crush her spirit just as easily.