Devour her

Alexander Pov

Glancing around the bustling hall, my eyes flit from one conversation to another as I try to absorb the myriad of voices echoing through the room. It's always a spectacle when the packs gather for events like these, a cacophony of different accents, scents, and personalities all mingling together in one space.

Sitting at the table, I find myself surrounded by the royalty of various packs, each one exuding an air of authority and power. To my left is the alpha of the Crimson Moon pack, a formidable figure with a stern expression etched onto his face. And to his right is the alpha of the Silver Crest pack, known for their expertise in diplomacy and trade among the werewolf community.

As I listened in on their conversations, I couldn't help but catch wind of a discussion about Cleopatra. My ears perk up at the mention of her name, my curiosity piqued despite myself.

"I heard she's been spending quite a bit of time with Cole, the general of their pack," the alpha of the Crimson Moon pack remarked, his voice low but carrying a weight of significance.

The alpha of the Silver Crest pack nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, I've noticed it too. There seems to be a certain... intimacy between them even now. How can Alexander's two childhood friends betray him in such a way? Kids in their twenties these days are so unpredictable."

"But well, we were both present at Alexander and Cleopatra's twentieth birthday celebration and saw what went down," another alpha chimed in, his tone speculative. "Witnessed her transformation and all. Let's not seek her wrath by speaking things behind her back."

My jaw clenches at the mention of the party, memories flashing through my mind of the night Cleopatra revealed her true nature to the world. 

My grip tightens on my silverware, a surge of rage welling up inside me. Such a disgrace to my name. The alphas' words cut through me like a knife, igniting a firestorm of emotions within. Cleopatra, the love of my life, entangled with another. And not just any other, but Cole, a man I once considered a brother, a trusted ally. 

Father had said that he was going to force Cleo back into my arms but it has been a month, and every time I link with her emotion and she let me in, she is feeling horny every damn time. How can she be so bold to share such feelings for another male with me?

It has taken everything in me not to kill him these past weeks. Mother said I should not make any reckless move, especially since the maid she hired to kill Cole failed... That he is alert and we have to go about things with caution. But every fiber of my being screams for vengeance, for retribution against those who have betrayed me. Cleopatra's actions, once so sweet and tender, now feel like a knife twisting in my gut.

But I cannot let my emotions cloud my judgment. I am the soon-to-be alpha of this pack, and with that title comes responsibility. I must think of my pack, of our reputation among the other werewolf clans.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to relax my grip on the silverware and to compose my features into a mask of calm indifference. I could not let them see how deeply their words have affected me.

"Go to him," I heard Cole tell her, and Cleo turned to look at me with this dirty look in her eyes.

"Okay," She replied, smiling sweetly at him, and my heart felt like it was about to tear out of my chest. "I will be a good girl... just for you."

My jaws tightened as she turned away from him and approached me, and flashes of the night I marked her came rushing back to me. Her soft cries. Her desperate pleas. I could smell my scent over her neck, hear her breathing become labored as my lips covered hers, felt the hot slide of her body against mine.

I swallowed softly as she took a seat across from me and I tried to regain some semblance of composure, though my hands remained clenched tightly around my fork.

"People have started whispering about this messy situation that you have created." I finally called out in her mind.

"Good," She answered back through the mindlink and my fist tightened even more around the silverware, the urge to lunge across the table and throttle her almost overwhelming. How could she be so cavalier about this? How could she flaunt her indiscretions so brazenly?

But I knew I couldn't give in to the anger bubbling inside me. Not now, not here, not in front of all these alphas who were watching our every move. I had to maintain control, for the sake of my pack.

Suddenly, she looked away from me and rested her eyes on Cole, and I felt this strong sense of heat and longing course through my veins, along with something else—something that made me want to claw at my skin and rip out chunks of my flesh. It was a combination of lust and raw hurt as she looked at him like she wanted nothing more than for him to devour her, the hungry gaze she gave Cole filled with unadulterated hunger, and it disgusted me.

"Damn it!! Would you stop!!" I lashed out at the table and froze realizing that I had used my outside voice and everyone was looking at me.

The eyes of the alphas in the room turned toward me, their expressions a mixture of surprise and curiosity. I could feel the weight of their gazes on me, scrutinizing my every move, and assessing my reaction.

Quickly, I regained my composure, forcing myself to straighten up in my seat and meet their stares with a steely gaze of my own. I couldn't afford to show weakness, not in front of these powerful figures who could exploit any sign of vulnerability.

Clearing my throat, I spoke with a firm tone, trying to deflect attention away from my outburst. "My apologies, esteemed guests. It seems I was momentarily overcome by the intensity of our conversation."

The alpha of the Crimson Moon pack regarded me with a raised eyebrow, but thankfully, he didn't press further. Instead, he redirected the conversation back to the previous topic, discussing matters of pack alliances and territorial disputes as if my outburst had never occurred.

"I am sorry," I uttered, looking at her, and from the shift in her expression, I knew she heard me through the mindlink, but she said nothing, only keeping her eyes on Cole. "Cleo, did you hear me? I said I am sorry! Forgive me?"