FRAGILE

Chapter 7: The Alpha

I slammed my hand down hard on the desk, the force of the impact causing the papers scattered across its surface to tremble. The sharp sound reverberated through the room, cutting through the thick tension like a blade. Beta Saxon, who had been standing close, instinctively stepped back, his jaw tightening as he witnessed my reaction. He was smart enough to know when I was on the verge of losing my temper. Right now, I was barely hanging on to my control.

"They're running a slave trade... on our territory," he had said moments ago, his tone measured but weighted with the severity of the situation.

Slave trade. The words made my blood boil.

The humans—those arrogant, reckless fools—had set up shop within the boundaries of my land. Not just any illegal operation, but one involving the trafficking of wolves. The thought of it made my skin crawl, and the fury building in my chest was almost palpable. How dare they? It was no secret that this territory was under my absolute control, yet they had the audacity to move in, completely disregarding my authority.

Saxon's expression was guarded, but I could sense the unease behind his eyes as he waited for my response. He knew how much I hated outsiders infringing on my territory, especially for something as vile as this. I wasn't just angry about the slave trading—I loathed that type of business to begin with—but it was the sheer disrespect of it all that enraged me the most. This land, this territory, belonged to me. It was mine to rule, mine to control, and no one—especially not some group of humans—would operate here without my permission.

And I sure as hell would never grant permission for this kind of filth.

I clenched my fists, knuckles whitening as I ground my teeth in frustration. My position wasn't just Alpha; it was Dominant. I wasn't the kind of leader who could tolerate the smallest disruption in order. Control was everything to me—without it, chaos would spread like wildfire. This territory was mine to manage, and anyone who thought they could skirt around my rules, especially by setting up an underground slave ring, was going to learn a very painful lesson.

Saxon, sensing my silence was a prelude to something more violent, spoke up again, his voice low but direct. "There's an auction scheduled for tomorrow."

That was the final straw.

I rose from my chair, the movement sharp and deliberate, and looked Saxon dead in the eye. "Tomorrow?" I repeated, my voice laced with simmering anger. "They think they can run a public auction on my land?"

The fact that they were not even bothering to hide their operation told me everything I needed to know about their arrogance. They thought they were safe, thought that I wouldn't notice or care.

They were wrong.

"I'll handle this myself," I growled, the decision made in an instant. There would be no sending my wolves to deal with this. This was personal. These humans needed to understand just who they were dealing with, and I would make sure they did. "I'll slip in, take them by surprise, and cut the head off this disrespectful snake."

Saxon nodded, understanding the weight of my words. He knew I wasn't just talking about disrupting the auction—I was going to end this operation completely, and the people responsible for it would be dealt with accordingly. There would be no mercy.

Satisfied with my decision, I dismissed him with a flick of my hand. "That's all, Beta. I'll see you tomorrow."

He bowed his head slightly, backing away from my desk before turning to leave. As the door closed behind him, the tension in the room eased slightly, but the anger still simmered beneath the surface. I sat back down in my chair, the leather creaking under my weight as I leaned back, lost in thought.

My mind was already racing with plans—how I'd infiltrate the auction, how I'd get close enough to take out the ringleaders without raising suspicion. It wasn't my first time dealing with this sort of thing, and I knew exactly how to blend in when needed. But this time, something felt... different. The edge of my anger was sharper, and beneath it all, a feeling of unease was starting to creep in.

For days now, my wolf had been restless, pacing beneath the surface of my skin like a caged beast. He was agitated, on edge, as if sensing something I hadn't yet caught onto. Normally, my wolf and I were in sync, moving as one. But lately, he'd been pushing against my control, his instincts warning of something approaching—something dangerous.

I didn't like it.

The fact that I, as Alpha, didn't know what was causing this unease was troubling. I wasn't one to ignore my instincts, but right now, I had bigger problems. These humans had to be dealt with first. There was no room for distraction, not when something this serious was happening right under my nose.

Still, I couldn't ignore the growing tension between me and my wolf. I could feel him growling in the back of my mind, agitated and unsettled. It wasn't like him to be so restless. Whatever it was, it had to wait. Once I dealt with the humans, I'd have to shift and let my wolf out. Maybe then I'd be able to understand what was eating at him.

I drummed my fingers on the desk, staring out the window into the night. Tomorrow would bring bloodshed, I was sure of it. Those humans would pay for their arrogance, and I would remind everyone why no one dared to cross me on my land. Control wasn't just important to me—it was essential. And anyone who threatened that control would soon find out just how far I was willing to go to protect it.

But first, I had to get through tomorrow. After that, I'd have to face the growing storm inside me—my wolf's growing restlessness. Something was coming, and I had a feeling it was bigger than just the slave trade.

For now, though, my focus was on the auction. The humans wouldn't see me coming, but they would know who I was before it was all over.

They'd know that this was my territory.

And that crossing me was the last mistake they'd ever make.