Chapter 4

Alexander POV

“Move your asses!” A loud shout sounded from our pack trainer who was currently training our warriors.

I was walking around the training grounds, watching as they trained in a brutal manner. I was proud that they were keeping strong, not wanting to have any weak links in those under my leadership.

Standing to the side of two male warriors, I watched them train as they were being instructed. They took each other’s harsh punches, not showing any weaknesses in receiving nor delivering punches.

“Alpha,” Trainer Kenneth Cotton said as he approached me, greeting me with a serious face.

I nodded my head in a silent greeting as we stood there side by side, silently watching those before us.

After my father’s death, when I took over this pack, I was ruthless and merciless as I forced myself and others to do their best in perfecting our fighting skills in case of an upcoming battle.

Not wanting any more mistakes to happen or to lose the family that I had left, I shut down my heart and focused on fulfilling my father's long-life goal, to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled and, at the same time, avenging my father's death.

What a cruel joke fate was, giving me the one I am hunting down, the one species I hate the most, the one that took the life of my own father away, and pairing me as mates with her.

I growled as the gloomy thoughts rushed through my mind.

Yes, I wanted a mate, but someday later, not right now, and definitely not her, a fucking phoenix.

As the memory of that first night came to mind, the question my Beta, Ryder, had asked danced through my mind.

I would have killed them, fast and clean without hesitation, but when she raised her eyes and looked up into mine… fuck… how was I to do it?

I knew everyone was surprised by my decision, but even though I didn't know her for more than a mere two seconds, I just couldn't let her die, or at least not yet.

My dragon, Byrneshu, growled furiously inside my head, hating the idea of hurting her, but I didn’t fucking care.

Those creatures were not to be trusted. I learned that firsthand the day my father died.

“Jay and Nico are doing better,” Trainer Kenneth said, not removing his eyes from the group as he stood, his legs spread out, arms crossed over his chest.

I looked over at the two young males fighting their opponents and had to agree with him; they were better than most in this group.

"Yes, I agree. Give them the next level up in advanced training starting tomorrow morning. Test their abilities and strength. When they are ready, I want them to spar with two of the first legion warriors of my choosing," I told him.

"Yes, Alpha," Trainer Kenneth answered.

We kept watching the training until I heard Ryder calling for me. “Alpha?”

Turning around I saw him approaching me with a serious expression. “Yes?”

"We have some new information about the smaller pack group and their possible hideout," Ryder said seriously.

Narrowing my eyes as my nostrils flared, I turned towards Trainer Kenneth and said, “Continue forth with the good work.”

I motioned for Ryder to follow me as Trainer Kenneth replied, “Thank you, Alpha.”

Ryder and I discussed the information he had for me on our slow walk back towards the pack house, passing by a few fellow pack mates on our way. Some moved out of our way silently, casting their eyes down to the floor, while others greeted us by slightly bowing their heads.

“Where is Reynard?” I asked Ryder as we climbed up the stairs towards my office.

On our way, we passed by our pack mates, and I searched for my brother but couldn't see him anywhere.

“I don’t know. Maybe he is with one of those servants again,” Ryder said, making me halt my step on the stairs as I turned around to face him. He stopped, looking at me in confusion, waiting for whatever I had to say.

"Servants?" I felt the anger inside me as I asked the question, making him swallow as he cast his eyes downward.

“Y–yes, Alpha. I see him sometimes helping them both and I saw him a few times talking with one while she was working,” he answered me, swallowing nervously.

What the fuck is Reynard doing? I asked myself, feeling the rage boiling inside my veins.

“Which one?” I demanded, causing him to look up at me in confusion.

”Excuse me?” Ryder questioned, making me look at him with irritation.

“Which servant girl is Reynard usually with?” I asked in a low, cold voice, venom seeping out from my words.

He was silent for a minute, then he finally replied, “The one called Nerissa.”

A growl rumbled inside my chest when I heard her name. How dare she?

Feeling my dragon trying to claw his way out, I closed my eyes tight and took in deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself.

Why the fuck was I getting all worked up over this? I don’t even want her!

As soon as I regained my control back, I opened my eyes slowly and gave Ryder a nod. We started the climb to the first floor where my office was. Opening the door, I was frozen for a second when I saw her cleaning the bookshelf inside my office. She jumped, startled, and faced the door, her eyes wide when she noticed me in the doorway. Good, she is afraid. Schooling my face, I walked towards my desk while Ryder silently followed me inside, stopping when he saw Nerissa silently standing by the bookcase holding a dust rag in her hands.

Deciding to ignore her, I walked past her and approached my chair to sit down, but not before I heard Ryder speak to Nerissa. “What are you doing here?”

Not wanting to speak up, I opened the drawer of my desk, searching for a map that I would need.

“I–I was cleaning the r–room,” Nerissa stuttered, clearly still startled from the moment I opened the door.

As Ryder opened his mouth to speak, a knock on the door sounded, and in the next second my brother, Reynard, opened it, looking around the room.

"Oh, there you are," Reynard said once he spotted Nerissa.

My head snapped up, and my eyes narrowed at my own brother. I felt feelings I didn’t want to feel, and I forced myself to compose myself as I asked, “What do you want, brother?”

His eyes turned towards me, making me realize that he was not here looking for me, he was here looking for Nerissa.

I held tightly onto the armrests, waiting patiently for Reynard to speak.

“I was just looking for Nerissa as I promised her that I would take her to the stream when I came back. Why? Do you have some objections to that, dear brother?” Reynard walked inside the office and crossed his arms over his chest, his eyebrow arched, challenging me with his posture and expression.

I growled slightly, feeling annoyed and mad as I shook my head. “Do whatever the hell you want just leave my office,” I looked over towards Nerissa as I spoke with venom. “Both of you.”

I could see the hurt flash over her face before she turned and walked towards Reynard and they both left the room.

Ryder closed the door and approached my desk, explaining to me everything he had learned about the newfound smaller pack and their hideouts.

I forced myself to be full-on present in this conversation, but I couldn't stop that tiny, little, nagging voice inside my head that was shouting at me to go after Reynard and Nerissa.

As soon as my meeting with Ryder finished, having come up with a solid plan for the next step, I tried not to show I was in a rush to get outside. But no matter how hard I tried to hide it and deny it, once out of the pack house, I walked faster, following the road that led down towards the wild forest stream that was not far away.

I didn't even pay attention to who was greeting me on my way there, as Byrneshu urged me to go faster, to see what Nerissa and Reynard were doing.

I could hear laughter as I got closer, making me slow my steps. I decided to go the other way around and hide myself so they wouldn't see me.

I moved as fast as I could, reaching the stream and jumping over it before hiding between the trees and making my way to where they were.

I was irritated at myself as to why the hell was I even here, but then again, I was upset with Reynard. Why was he spending so much time with her?

Well, not that it should matter, but still.

I hid behind a big rock; peeking over it I saw her smile as Reynard splashed her with water from the little stream.

They started to splash each other, laughing like two kids, making me even more irritated.

The moment they stopped, Reynard and Nerissa continued on laughing, but soon enough I watched as Reynard took Nerissa by the hand, causing her laughter to cease, and he leaned closer to her making her eyes grow wide.