Dominance [On Hold]

11: Good to be Bad

I know a saying, that goes something like, "if you hit rock bottom, the only way left to go is up".

It's bullshit.

I can't crawl my way from rock bottom if it's a slippery slope with nothing to grab on to. I wouldn't even be able to get up higher than a couple feet before falling back down on my ass, unable to get up and back on my feet.

That's exactly how I feel right now.

Sitting in my room in nothing but a towel, I remained in the same position as I was when Jeremy called. The phone was even still being clutched tightly in my hand, my knuckles white from the grip. His words replayed in my head, like a song on repeat. Except this wasn't an upbeat, melodic song. No, it was the sound of nails on a chalk board and there was no muting it.

There was a knock at the door and I jumped, squeezing my fist quickly and shattering the phone. I cursed as chunks of plastic embedded themselves into my hand.

"What the fuck do you want?" I growled, ripping the door open with my non-bloodied hand.

Jamie stood outside, concern etched onto his face, "I just wanted to check and see if you're okay. You've been up here for a while."

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath before reopening them, "Assemble all of the fighters. We're at war."

With that, I shut the door in his face and went into my bathroom, swearing like a sailor as I ripped the chunks of plastic out of my hand, running it under warm water to rinse off the blood. It healed quickly, but it still hurt like a bitch. I quickly got dressed into a t-shirt and joggers before throwing my still damp hair into a ponytail and making my way downstairs, where Jamie and the rest of the warriors and fighters were waiting in the dining hall.

I cleared my threat and everyone moved to bow their heads in respect, "Alpha."

Deciding not to sugarcoat it, I got straight to the point, "We are at war. Jeremy and James have decided to declare full out war on us out of spite."

There were low murmurs throughout the room and even a few growls until I held my hand up, and everyone fell to a silence.

"They have threatened to destroy everything and everyone in our pack," I stated, my voice raising. "I say we'd all burn in hell before they can lay a finger on us."

The men and women in front of me cheered.

"There will be no retreating. There will be no hesitation or mercy shown. There will only be brutality and finality. If they want us to come across as the savage pack of rogues, so be it!" I exclaimed, heat coursing through me as I only became more enraged. "Let's show them what we're made of."

More cheers erupted and I let them go on as they began to chant, "burn in hell" over and over again. Smirking, I held my hands up and they quietened almost immediately.

I smiled, "We will show them no mercy. Our border patrols will be double, training hours lengthened and intensified. We will begin training younger wolves now for their own protection. But let it be known, no one killed Jeremy. He's mine."

They all nodded in understanding, a glint of malevolence evident in my eyes.

I was going to enjoy this.

Jeremy said he was going to take everything away from me, until it's only me and I'm broken, and then he'll end me too. But here's the thing, if he takes down my pack I'd rather slit my own wrists and bleed out in front of my entire pack than give him the satisfaction of killing me himself.

Because what is there left for an Alpha with no pack?

The fighters slowly filed out of the room and eventually house, leaving Jamie standing next to me, a frown on his face.

"What?" I snapped.

He sighed, "Don't you think you're taking this a bit too far? Can't you just negotiate something out? There will be so many casualties if we go through with this."

I folded my arms over my chest, "The time for negotiations is well and gone, Jamie."

"Can't we at least try for peace?" He questioned. "Ništa ne usudi, ništa dobio."

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I stepped towards him, "Whose side are you on? Because if you're not 100% in this, you might as well leave right now. We won't win this if my fucking Beta of all people is doubting me and my decisions."

"Of course," he answered curtly. "I'm in."

"You better be," I threatened, my voice low, before walking out the doors and making my way to the training area.

Thoughts filled my head as I walked the familiar path through the trees. Sadly, they primarily consisted of Jeremy and his arrogant ass. The way his enticing lips always seemed to be drawn up in a smirk, as though he knew everything about me. How he has a temper that could even rival my own with his angry threats that seem to be provoked with the slightest of a false step.

But he had this soft side to him too, and I could tell he does his very best to repress it.

But I heard it when he said he "saved" me from James, when he was about to forgive and forget and even in his threats. His whole heart wasn't into it, and we both knew it. He just isn't aware of how I could use it against him.

Love is a weakness; father taught me that. My mother was my weakness the day Jeremy attacked. All I have to do, is make sure I exploit myself as Jeremy's weakness.

All I have to do, is provoke James, and he'll practically do all the work for me.

As the large clearing of men and women alike training harshly, I smiled, a plan formulating in my mind. Oh, how it's good to be bad.