Bitter Allies
Kane’s POV
The room fell silent as the door swung open, and a figure stepped into the dim light—a woman with sharp, familiar eyes and an expression as cold and unyielding as stone. Recognition washed over me, and a devilish smile crept onto my lips.
Anya.
The daughter of Alpha Othello had a reputation that matched her father’s ruthlessness. She’d once had her sights set on becoming Williams’s chosen mate—a vision that ended the day he’d publicly rejected her. Since then, she’d become a ghost in our world, the shadows of her anger flickering in rumors but never surfacing directly. Until now.
“Anya,” I greeted, my voice smooth as I rose to meet her. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
She moved forward, her stride confident, her gaze unwavering as it met mine. “Pleasure?” Her tone was laced with venom. “Let’s not pretend, Alpha Kane. You know why I’m here.”
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to look surprised. “Oh? And what reason might that be?”
Her lips twisted into a sneer. “I want in. Whatever plan you’re scheming to bring Williams and Cleopatra to their knees, I want a part of it. I’ll see them destroyed.”
The room, thick with tension only moments before, now pulsed with something darker—a shared intent that crackled between us. Simone and the Night Wolf Alpha exchanged wary glances, clearly uneasy with this new addition.
“What makes you think I’d let you join us? Does your father know about this? I asked, feigning indifference as I studied her face. “Last I checked, you hated me.”
“I still do,” she replied, her eyes flashing with cold fury. “But you want them dead, and so do I. My hatred for Williams and that traitorous she-wolf Cleopatra outweighs any distaste I have for you. And for my father, what he doesn’t know can’t hurt him, right?
A low chuckle escaped me. “Interesting. And what exactly are you bringing to this alliance, Anya?”
“Resources. Soldiers from my father’s pack who are loyal to me alone. They are willing to follow me to the ends of the earth. We’ve been preparing for this since the day Williams humiliated me. I have warriors willing to fight—and die—just to see him fall.”
I exchanged a quick glance with Kyle, who gave the smallest of nods, signaling his approval. More soldiers were always a benefit, and Anya’s resources could give us a stronger edge.
Still, I wanted to test her. “How do I know this isn’t some ruse? That you’re not here to sow discord among my allies?”
Anya’s face hardened, and she took a step closer, her voice dropping to a near hiss. “Believe me, Kane, if I wanted to tear down this alliance, I wouldn’t be subtle. I’d make it quick and painful. I’m not here to play games. I’m here to ensure Williams pays for every slight, every disrespect, every choice he made to reject me. You and I may not see eye to eye, but our goals align.”
I tilted my head, studying her, reading every flicker of hatred and determination etched across her face. This was no idle threat; Anya’s desire for vengeance matched my own in intensity.
“Very well,” I said at last, a faint smirk playing on my lips. “You can join us. But know this—betray me, and I’ll make your suffering last for days. I’ll tear down everything and everyone you hold dear.”
“Save your threats,” she shot back, unimpressed. “I’m not the same fragile little girl.” Her eyes sparkled with the same ferocity that burned in my veins. “Just tell me what needs to be done.”
I motioned for her to join the others around the table, explaining our strategy for the coronation attack. She listened intently, absorbing every detail, her gaze never leaving the map as we outlined the palace defenses and our planned infiltration points.
“The guards will be distracted,” Kyle added, marking a spot near the eastern wing. “After the celebrations, they’ll be in disarray. We’ll strike hard and fast, hitting from all sides.”
Anya traced a path along the map with a slender finger. “The western wing has the weakest defenses. If we set a small fire here”—she tapped a spot just outside the servants’ quarters—“it’ll draw their attention, leaving an opening for us to slip through the east and main entrances.”
I looked at her with a newfound respect. She had a tactical mind, a ruthless edge that could prove useful. “Very clever,” I murmured. “You might just be an asset after all.”
Simone folded his arms, giving her a skeptical once-over. “And Cleopatra? What’s your plan for her?”
A cold smile spread across Anya’s face. “She’ll suffer, just as I did. I’ll humiliate her and make sure all the packs in the realm will see her as a traitor. And after that, I’ll be the one to end her.”
I felt a rush of satisfaction, a shared understanding uniting us in this dark purpose. Anya’s goal to bring Cleopatra to her knees mirrored my own, and the thought of watching her tear Cleopatra apart held a certain appeal.
But I’m not about to let either of them on this table kill her. No-no. She’s mine!
“Well then,” I said, looking around the room. “It seems we’re all in agreement. The coronation night will be their downfall.”
The tension eased, but only slightly. Anya, Simone, and the Night Wolf Alpha were all warriors with their own agendas, each one dangerous in their own right. Trusting them was out of the question, but as long as they served my purpose, they’d be useful allies.
As the meeting came to a close, I noticed Anya lingering, her gaze fixed on me with a dangerous gleam. I waited, watching her as the others filed out.
When we were alone, she stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just so we’re clear, Kane—when this is over, I don’t care what you do with Williams. But Cleopatra is mine. I want her to beg before I end her.”
The guts.
I smiled darkly. “Then we understand each other. But don’t forget your place, Anya. This alliance exists because I allow it. Cross me, and you’ll suffer as much as she will.”
She gave a short, mirthless laugh. “Save your threats, Alpha Kane. I’m not afraid of you.”
Our eyes locked, a silent battle of wills passing between us, neither willing to back down. In her gaze, I saw the same hunger for power, the same unquenchable desire for vengeance that fueled my every move. It was almost admirable. Almost.
“Then let’s not waste any more time,” I said coldly. “Prepare your soldiers. When the time comes, I expect you to hold up your end of the deal.”
She nodded, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. “Oh, I will. And when I do, you’ll see just how far I’m willing to go.”
With that, she turned on her heel, her form vanishing into the shadows. I watched her go, a calculating smirk playing at the corner of my mouth. Anya’s addition to our alliance brought another unpredictable element, a wild card that could either cement our victory or tear us apart from within.
But I thrived on chaos, and the thought of watching this twisted alliance unravel brought me no small measure of delight. The coronation was coming, and with it, the fall of Williams and Cleopatra. I would see to it personally.
Yet as I turned back to the map, a nagging thought gnawed at me—a sense that this alliance, this plan, held more risk than I’d anticipated. But it was a risk I was more than willing to take. For in the end, I would have them all—either dead or kneeling at my feet.
I left the room, the shadows deepening as night fell. And as I walked through the darkened corridors, a wicked thought took hold.
The coronation night would be their last. But it might just be the beginning of something far darker than they could ever imagine.
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