Chapter six

Chapter Eight: The Breaking Point

The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. Kai sat by the river, his hands resting on his knees, watching the water rush over smooth stones. It had been hours since he had woken up, and still, his thoughts refused to settle.

Behind him, the Alphas stirred. The quiet rustling of fabric, the shift of bodies stretching after a night spent on hard ground—Kai heard it all, his heightened senses tracking their every move even when he tried to ignore them.

“You’re up early,” Kieran said, his voice carrying easily over the soft murmur of the river.

Kai didn’t turn to look at him. “Didn’t sleep much.”

Kieran didn’t press. Instead, he stepped forward, standing beside Kai in the early morning light.

“We’ll be leaving soon,” Lucian announced as he approached. His tone was as steady and unreadable as ever, but Kai could hear the quiet authority beneath it.

Kai glanced up at him. “Where?”

Rhett stretched behind them, letting out a groan. “Away from here. The rival pack isn’t going to come back anytime soon, but we’re not taking chances.”

Lucian crossed his arms. “We’ll head toward our territory. It’s safer there.”

Kai’s jaw tightened. “You mean your pack’s land.”

Lucian inclined his head. “Yes.”

Kai looked away, his hands clenching into fists. He had expected this. Of course they would want to bring him into their territory, to claim him in some way. That’s what Alphas did, wasn’t it?

“I never agreed to go with you.”

“You didn’t,” Kieran said, crouching beside him. “But staying here isn’t an option. Not with other packs catching your scent.”

Kai’s stomach twisted. He hated that they were right.

Rhett plopped down next to him, grinning. “It’s not like we’re throwing you in a cage, sweetheart. You’ll have space, food, an actual bed. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”

Kai shot him a glare. “You think this is funny?”

Rhett raised his hands. “Nope. Just pointing out that you don’t have a lot of choices here.”

Kai’s teeth ground together. “I always have a choice.”

Lucian exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple as if he were losing patience. “You do,” he admitted. “But the smart choice is coming with us.”

Kai hated how reasonable he sounded.

He looked at Kieran, searching for something—anything—that didn’t feel like a trap. But Kieran just met his gaze with that same quiet steadiness.

“You don’t have to trust us,” Kieran said. “But you need to trust yourself. And right now, running isn’t going to save you.”

Kai’s chest ached.

He had spent so long running. It had kept him alive. It had kept him free.

But for the first time, he wondered if it had also kept him alone.

Kai exhaled slowly, his fingers twitching against his knees. “Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll go with you.”

Lucian nodded, as if he had expected that answer all along. “Good.”

Rhett clapped him on the back, grinning. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Kai swatted his hand away, scowling. “Touch me again, and I’ll make you regret it.”

Rhett’s grin widened. “Feisty. I like it.”

Kai ignored him, standing. His legs ached from sitting in the same position for too long, but he shook it off.

“If we’re going, let’s just go,” he said, refusing to acknowledge the strange warmth in his chest at their approval.

The journey was long, but the Alphas kept a steady pace. Kai remained silent for most of it, his eyes scanning the forest for threats even as his mind wandered.

The bond between them had only grown stronger since the fight. He could feel it now, an invisible thread tying him to each of them. It wasn’t painful, but it wasn’t comfortable either. It was just… there, pulsing faintly beneath his skin.

Lucian led the way, his presence commanding without words. Kieran moved beside him, ever watchful. Rhett took up the rear, whistling a soft tune as if the tension wasn’t pressing down on them all.

Kai hated how easily they moved together.

The deeper they went, the more the air changed. The scent of wolves grew stronger, the trees carrying the distinct musk of an established pack. Kai’s wolf tensed beneath his skin.

They were close.

Lucian lifted a hand, signaling for them to slow. “We’re almost there,” he murmured.

Kai swallowed, his instincts screaming at him to turn back. But he didn’t move.

Minutes later, the trees thinned, revealing the outskirts of the Alphas’ territory. A large wooden structure stood at the heart of it, surrounded by smaller buildings. Wolves moved in the distance, some in human form, others in their shifted state.

Kai could feel their eyes on him before he even stepped into view.

“They can smell me,” he muttered under his breath.

“Of course they can,” Rhett said with a smirk. “You reek of Alpha attention.”

Kai shot him a glare, but he wasn’t wrong. The bond was thick in the air, clinging to him like a second skin.

Lucian didn’t hesitate as he stepped forward. The moment they entered the territory, wolves straightened, their gazes flicking between him and Kai.

A Beta approached, his expression neutral but curious. “Alpha.”

Lucian inclined his head. “Everything secure?”

The Beta nodded. “No sign of threats. But…” His gaze drifted to Kai. “Word spread that you were bringing someone back.”

Lucian’s expression remained unreadable. “We’ll handle it.”

Kai felt the weight of every gaze on him as they continued forward. He wanted to shrink into himself, to disappear. But he refused to look weak.

As they neared the central building, a voice rang out.

“So this is the Omega everyone’s whispering about.”

Kai turned, his muscles tensing as a female Beta approached. She had dark hair, sharp features, and a calculating gleam in her eyes.

Lucian’s expression remained impassive. “Lena.”

She tilted her head, her gaze dragging over Kai. “You really brought home an unclaimed Omega?” She smirked. “Bold move.”

Kai bristled. “I’m not claimed by anyone.”

Lena’s eyes flickered with amusement. “That’s not what your scent says.”

Kai clenched his jaw. He wanted to snap at her, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.

Lucian stepped between them. “Enough.”

Lena raised an eyebrow but didn’t argue. Instead, she looked at Kai one last time before walking off.

Kai exhaled sharply. “I hate this already.”

Kieran placed a hand on his back, steadying him. “It’ll pass.”

Kai almost leaned into the touch before catching himself. He stepped away.

“I’m not staying forever,” he reminded them.

Lucian’s eyes met his. “We’ll see.”

Kai hated that something inside him wanted to believe him.

He didn’t belong to them.

Not yet.

But the way they looked at him made him wonder if maybe, just maybe…

He already did.