Chapter 45

Nicholas Carson. The man who had killed thousands in a bid for power in the shifter world. The man who had slaughtered hundreds of humans in a race for wealth and dominance. The man who had forced incestual and depraved breedings in order to build an army of superior warriors. The man who was rumored to have killed his chosen mate right after she had given birth. The man who had abused his own children to rid them of their weakness and turn them into heartless killers. The man who lived and breathed by his pack's code – for power and glory.

If there ever was someone whose reputation had thoroughly preceded him, it was this man.

But he was no man at all.

A true monster in every sense, this shifter and former Alpha of the Portland Pack was not a being you trifled with. Unless you had a death wish.

And I certainly did not. Despite how hopeless and deadened I had been feeling, death by his hands was not something I would ever wish to experience. The cold blue eyes that stared back, made me believe that he wasn't the merciful kind but the sort of sadistic, twisted creature that would take pleasure in slowly draining the life from your body.

A tingling tremor raced through my veins at the gruesome image that my mind conjured. Skin ripped from flesh while this monster bathed in a pool of my blood. A scenario, that was more than plausible considering who I was dealing with.

I lowered my gaze to the floor reflexively as I struggled to hold back a shudder. Being summoned to his presence on the day of the party was the last thing I had been expecting, my mind preoccupied with my failed attempt at freedom and the dreaded announcement that was to be made tonight.

But assuming this had something to do with the former, I had rehearsed every line and situation in my head but in the pin-drop silence that had ensued between the six of us in the room ever since my arrival, I did not dare breathe. My throat was like sandpaper, my mouth parched beyond comfort as I tried to swallow the lump that threatened to burst.

The five of them cut a sharp figure as they stood together in their tailored suits and their expensive shoes. Alex and Marcus stood to the left of their Father while Kole and James stood to the right. My heart had plunged when I did not find Thomas at first, the only person whose presence would have been a source of strength and comfort but here I stood, alone once again, facing five monsters who wouldn't bat an eyelid if I simply dropped dead.

"Fated, you say?"

His voice was smooth but with a deep baritone. There was an undercurrent of darkness within that voice that seemed to match the rest of his personality.

"Yes, Alpha."

If I hadn't been familiar with James's voice, I would not have been able to point out the person who spoke. All the brothers stood stock still, looking straight ahead, devoid of any expression as if they were presenting at an army roll call. His own flesh and blood had to refer to him by his title? If I had had any doubts in my mind, that this man had completely broken his sons from within and turned them into his very own puppets, it was all too clear now.

"I see."

His movements were fluid, the gleam of his wristwatch catching the light as he reached out behind him for a cigar. Kole matched his moves just as swiftly, pulling out a lighter and holding it out patiently for his Father.

A cloud of smoke swirled in the air as he lit the cigar and exhaled, his steel blue eyes watching me with a certain inquisitiveness that chilled me to the very core.

"And the blood tests?"

"Nothing"

This time it was Alex who responded, his gaze locking with mine for an instant before he looked away.

The Alpha hummed while he silently puffed on his cigar.

I froze when he started towards me abruptly, his shoes clacking against the floor and reverberating around the room in waves. Each step caused me to flinch, his intimidating form drawing close before he halted a few feet away, his expression unreadable like hard ice.

"Lineage? Anything there?"

James shifted; the discomfort clear on his face as he answered his Father.

"Nothing. We are still trying to trace her birth parents but her DNA shows no evidence of a shifter gene or any other gene for that matter. Couldn't detect a repressed beast either nor any form of magic, fae, or otherwise. She is... completely human."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Like a defendant awaiting the jury's verdict, I stood paralyzed. What did "completely human" mean for me now? And why did that feel like a disappointment? Had I hoped for something? Something that maybe proved that I wasn't as insignificant as they made me feel?

"Human... " The Alpha repeated, his voice barely audible as he stared at the overhead chandelier while the others looked on, passive and stoic.

After a while, however, his eyes lowered, scrutinizing me for the longest time before he spoke. "The announcement will go ahead as planned...."

My heart sunk to the deepest depths that it could ever go. A verdict had been reached and I was to be sentenced to life in this hell hole while the brothers-

".... Tomorrow, Thomas and his human will leave with me for London. The council has been looking for some new recruits to act as liaisons to the humans and your brother will be a good fit. They will live there under my supervision, while you all stay here and do your duty to the pack."

I felt dizzy, my mind spinning in all directions as it struggled to grasp what had just happened. Did I just hear right? How could this be? After all this time of heartbreak and grief, I get to leave this place? Just like that? With Thomas?

No... It cannot be. Surely, I had misunderstood.

My eyes went straight to the brothers, all of whom appeared to be in a similar state as I was. Kole seemed flabbergasted, James looked between his Father and me with his mouth agape and his eyes wide. Marcus had a deep frown marring his face and Alex's jaw ticked uncontrollably as he clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

So, it was true. I had not hallucinated, dreamed, or misheard his words. Thomas and I were getting out of here... for good. I didn't dare hope, not after my foolish attempt at escape but yet, hope blossomed in my heart. Of course, we would have to live under this monster but that would be a problem for another time.

The only thing I had yearned for, all this time, was on the precipice of fruition and Alpha Nicholas Carson, of all people, would be the one to deliver it! And here I had thought I was either going to be murdered or worse imprisoned here for life.

But, not everyone it seemed was in favor of his decision. Alex broke the silence, his voice tight and full of tension. "Alpha, that was not-"

Alpha Nicholas held up his hand, silencing his firstborn immediately. Turning to face him, his back to me, he spoke through clenched teeth, his voice dangerously calm. "Now listen here... pup. You came to me with this mess and I just cleaned it up. Open your mouth once again and you will be picking your teeth off the floor. Is that understood?"

My eyes bugged out. Alex was a bastard but no one could deny his strength and power. I had heard stories of him single-handedly defeating creatures of all kinds. And for someone such as him to be put in his place in that manner was both shocking and wickedly delightful. But out of nowhere, the bond that had remained silent for days suddenly flared at those words. Rather than relishing in his humiliation, I felt defensive, protective even. An urge to rip out the Alpha's tongue took hold of me, consuming me in an instant and filling me with deep rage.

Alex turned in my direction sharply, his eyes flashing gold as he stared hard while the others, with the exception of their Father, mirrored his action.

I shook my head, confused at the sudden change in my feeling. What just happened?

"Alexander"

Alex slowly faced his Father once more, the tension in his muscles visible from where I was standing. They looked at one another for a while before Alex acquiesced.

"Understood... Father"

The last word was uttered with an underlying tone of venom which I would have certainly missed if I hadn't been accustomed to hearing it from Alex every time he addressed me.

The Alpha took his time to stare at his son before turning towards Marcus. "Have the transport organized. I want everyone ready to leave first thing tomorrow. Make sure the human has all the right paperwork."

James, piped in, tentatively. "With all due respect Father, this may not be the best decision... As you know, she is fated to all of us, and her absence..."

Panic seized my heart. The small twinge of happiness that had bloomed at the Alpha's words quickly turned to despair. Things were once again slipping beyond my control and I was sick of being on the receiving end of decisions solely made out of their self-interest. With my freedom so close at hand, I couldn't afford James's clever tongue jeopardizing it.

Not entirely sure if I had lost my goddamned mind, I pretty much shouted, addressing the Alpha and drowning out James's voice in the process.

"I'll be ready for tomorrow..."

If the previous silences had been heavy, the one that followed my words was thunderous. All eyes snapped in my direction with shock, horror, and disbelief. Everyone that is, except the Alpha who turned towards me slowly, a small smile playing across his lips.

He took a long puff before putting out the cigar, his eyes never leaving my face in all that time.

"A shame... that you are human."

My heart beat so erratically that I worried I was having a heart attack. The Alpha's eyes lingered before turning to James. "You heard the girl. Now take her to her room and make sure she is fit to be presented to the world as a member of this pack..."

"...and the rest of you...", he glanced at his other sons, "...prepare for our guests."

As James nodded and began to walk in my direction, my eyes landed on Alex.

Gold mixed with black in his eyes, as a hatred so severe burned in its dark depths. The need to flee, to cower was so strong but I stood my ground, staring right back. I realized that I would never truly understand this man or his motives but in all honesty, I don't think I cared.

Shrugging off his stare, I turned to follow James out the door, my mind focusing on what was to come.