Ficool

Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

Eight Months Later…

"YES!" the whiny skank beneath me cried, moaning as if I wasn't already seconds from snapping her neck.

I clenched my jaw, forcing the sound out of my head, picturing Chloe's face instead. Her soft, suppressed whimpers… the way her nails used to dig into the sheets when I—

"Fuck," I snarled as the thought derailed me, cutting off my release.

"Alpha, that was—"

"Shut up," I growled. My voice dropped to that deep, warning tone I used with all of them. "You know where to go."

They all know the drill. They're not mates. They're breeders, hand-picked by my father and housed in a section of the packhouse reserved for this one purpose — until one of them conceives my heir. My father calls it "duty to the pack." I call it hell.

She scurried out of the room, still flushed and grinning like an idiot. The moment the door closed, I felt myself breathe again — not relief, but the relief of knowing I could go back to Chloe now.

I found myself holding her hand tighter than I realized, her pale fingers swallowed by mine. Her skin felt cool and fragile, but when I loosened my grip, it was like I could almost feel her tension melt away.

"Chloe…" I whispered, my throat tightening. I stared at her still, perfect face. The bruises were gone now. Her lips were soft, kissable again. She looked like she was sleeping — like she was just seconds from waking up to glare at me the way she used to.

I imagined those dark brown eyes opening, burning me with that same hate. I almost smiled. I'd take her hate. I'd take every ounce of her fury if it meant she'd just wake up.

"This is your fault," I murmured, my lips brushing her hair as I leaned down. "All of this is your fault."

Because if she hadn't put herself in this bed, I wouldn't have to crawl into it with others. If she hadn't refused to see me, to accept me, to want me, I wouldn't have been driven to this point.

Once she wakes — and she will wake — I'll never give her the chance to defy me again. I'll chain her to my side if I have to. She'll eat from my hand, breathe because I let her. I'll make her world so small that I'm all she has left. She'll have no choice but to love me.

"This is your fault," I said again, like a mantra.

For a split second, I swore I felt her tense beneath my hand. My breath hitched, but after a moment, I convinced myself it was just in my head. She didn't move. Her chest rose and fell, slow and steady, like a corpse that still drew breath.

The scent of that whore still clung to my skin, sour and cloying. I couldn't stand it any longer. With one last look at Chloe's face, I turned and left, promising I'd come back tonight. I always did.

The hospital was in chaos when I returned before dinner. Warriors and staff were rushing through the halls, their faces pale, avoiding my eyes. Something was wrong — I could feel it.

Rome stirred, uneasy. "Cameron—"

I grabbed the collar of the nearest warrior before Rome could finish. "What's going on?" I snarled, my teeth bared.

"A-Alpha…" The warrior stuttered, fear bleeding from his pores.

"TELL ME!" I roared, spittle flying as I shook him.

"The future Luna…" he stammered. "She… she's gone."

The words didn't make sense at first. Gone?

"GONE?!" I threw him against the wall, his body thudding with the impact.

"Alpha Cameron," a doctor — one who'd treated Chloe countless times — said from behind the nurse's station, his voice trembling. "She's… missing. An aide went to check on her thirty minutes ago, and she was gone. We're searching now."

"GONE?!" I bellowed again, my voice shaking the floor beneath us.

The doctor swallowed hard. "We checked the security cameras. You need to see this."

I stalked to the counter, the monster inside me clawing its way to the surface as the footage played.

The next thing I knew, I was tearing through the hospital, smashing anything in my way. Rome was there, but he wasn't in control. The beast had taken over completely.

We searched the entire territory. Every warrior, every scout — even the human towns around Fire Moon. Nothing. No scent. No trace.

Then, just before dawn, it hit me.

The pain.

It ripped through my chest like claws, tearing my lungs apart, crushing my heart. I fell to my knees, howling in agony, clutching my chest as if I could stop the bond from shredding me alive.

Rome endured it better than me — barely — but even he was snarling with pain, his fangs grinding.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain ebbed, leaving me shaking and gasping for air.

"You deserve this," Rome growled, his voice like fire in my head. "Every ounce of pain she gives you — you deserve it."

I realized what it was. She had rejected me.

My wolf went silent, his presence fading, retreating into the depths of my mind.

"If you reject her back, this ends. Let her go.

Set her free," he said.

"Never," I hissed.

Rome gave a bitter laugh. "Then suffer, Cameron. I hope you choke on it."

And then he was gone. Completely.

All I had left was the beast.

No matter. Chloe would come back. She had to.

And when she did, I would make sure she'd never leave me again.

More Chapters