Colton POV

"I will. I will stop you, Colton. It won't be today. Hell, it won't be next week. But one day, I will be the one who stops your reign of terror. I will be the one to stop your sadistic torture on innocents. I will be the one to end you. For when you least expect it, I will be the one to drive a silver dagger into your black heart and there won't be a Goddamn thing you or any of your followers can do about it. I will look into your eyes and watch the life drain from you with a smile on my face. You will end at my hands, Colton."  She threatens. Her rage floods our bond with a never-ending fire that burns through me. It lights a flame within me that was smothered an eternity ago. 

Skylar spins on her heel and quickly bolts into the house, leaving me alone to think over her words. I knew that it would be only a matter of time before she discovered what I did. It wasn't entirely intentional like she claimed. In truth, I did send him to her to check on her. However, I didn't send him with the thought that he would take advantage of her like that. The thought didn't cross my mind until I noticed that he was taking longer than usual to check on her. And that's when I found him almost impaling her. 

I should have cut his dick off. 

I don't necessarily blame Skylar for jumping to her conclusion. I mean, I don't have the best track record with her. I just didn't really think that those words would come out of her mouth. 

I would be lying if I said I didn't expect her to threaten me in some way. I know she hates me. I know she wants me dead. I can feel it every time she looks at me. I was surprised by the intensity of her words though. I truly didn't expect to feel so much promise from her speech. 

Those words lit something within me. Something indescribable and strange. This feeling - I just don't know how to put it into words. It's almost a newfound respect for my mate, but I wouldn't stop there. It's like a strong fondness that goes deeper than my lust for her physical being. I don't know what it is. 

And I can't even blame it on the bond. This is something way deeper than that. It comes down to an emotion that I buried within myself years ago. An emotion that I thought long disappeared with the death of my mother. An emotion that I never thought I was capable of feeling ever again. 

Yet, here I stand. Alone. My heart racing as fast as my mind. My body humming with desire for her. My fingers twitching with the need to feel her soft skin. My lips aching to touch hers. My cock hard, wanting to enter it's home within her. But, I haven't moved from where she left me and I have no intention until I can reign in whatever witchcraft she has over me. She can never know the hold she now has over me.

She can never know of the pride I had while she spoke those words. I could never tell her how the strength she finally showed me made me feel.  

Skylar can never know of this feeling growing inside me.

She can never know that my heart is in her hands. 

She can never know that I, the monster of all Alphas, has fallen for her. 

For that new emotion that is burning inside me is simple. 

That emotion is love. 

Love for my mate.

Fuck, what am I getting myself into?

I could never love her the way that she expects a mate to. That's not who I am and I refuse to weaken myself to suit what she wants. I am a fucken Alpha. I can't show weakness. I can't have a weakness. 

This is where I begin to pace. My mind and my heart are fighting for what they feel is right, but my mind is winning this battle. How dare she disrespect me like that? How dare she embarrass me in front of my warriors and interrupt such an important meeting? How dare she threaten to kill me? 

My anger begins to boil over and I find myself walking inside the house without even thinking of it. I take quick strides towards the stairs, skipping two steps as I follow after her lovely scent. 

It doesn't take me long to find myself in front of Theo's office. Of course, she would be here. She is always seeking comfort from my lovely brother. If only she knew his darkest secrets. If only she knew how he is exactly like me.

I swing the door open without knocking. There she is, sitting on the bed with Theo holding a needle to her arm. 

"What are you doing? What is that?" I demand.

The look they share doesn't go unnoticed, causing me to let out a low growl. "It's nothing. Theo is treating my arm that you broke, that is all." She answers. 

"With a needle?" I scoff. "I'm not fucken stupid, Skylar."

"It's for the pain. I didn't want her to feel it when I re-break the bone to set it properly. Unfortunately, it has begun to heal already without being set into place. I need to fix it." Theo speaks, but I can hear the waver in his voice. 

"You're lying." I simply state. 

"No, he's not. I asked him for pain medication." Skylar responds quickly, but she doesn't block the bond and I can feel her nervousness. 

I chuckle and take a step towards them. "What kind of Alpha would I be if I didn't know when my pack members were being deceitful?" I ask. "What kind of mate would I be if I didn't feel the nerves you are shooting through our bond?"

Her mouth opens, but quickly she shuts it again. Theo lowers his head, not wanting to meet my gaze. 

"Now, I am going to ask you again. This time, I advise you to be truthful with your answer. What is in that needle?" This time, I use my Alpha voice. 

I can hear their heartbeats quicken. Skylar's panic fills the entire room. Theo's guilt is evident all over his face. It's all I need to know that whatever is in that needle is going to piss me off. It's all it takes to feel that familiar burn of anger fills my body. 

"It's birth control," Skylar answers quietly. If I didn't have amazing hearing, I wouldn't have heard her words. But I do. And they hit me like a punch to the face. I feel myself take a step back, losing my composure for a moment. I quickly straighten myself, not wanting to show them how their actions have affected me. 

"Repeat that, would you?"

"It's birth control, Colton." This time, she speaks with conviction. Like she is telling me that this is how it is and there isn't a damn thing that I can do about it. She's wrong though. 

I smile, but it isn't one of happiness. It's one of utter disgust. My own brother has been betraying me by helping my mate not get pregnant. They don't even get a moment to react before I rush towards them, wrapping one of my hands on each one of their necks. Theo to my right, Skylar to my left. 

"I see. Well, that won't do." I state. 

"Lars, come to Theo's office. We have a matter that needs to be handled."  I mind-link my Beta. 

I look towards Skylar. "Why would you want to something like that, mate?" I growl. The look of utter terror is evident on her face, but it doesn't stop me from gripping her neck even tighter. "I asked a question, dear."

Her eyes quickly dart over to Theo and then back to me before she opens her mouth to speak. "I didn't want a baby." She coughs out. 

Her answer causes me to throw her against the far wall. She drops to her knees and grasps her neck as she gasps for breaths that she is now free to take. 

"Theo. My dear, younger brother-"

"Brother?" Skylar whimpers. 

"Yes, brother. Did he fail to mention that little fact?" I spit out. "Shame."

Skylar looks between the two of us. I can see the tears staining her vision before they run down her cheeks. I feel a tug in the bond to go comfort her, but that is something I would never do. Especially in this situation. 

"I - I don't believe you." She stammers out, uncertainty laced in her voice. 

"Well, believe it darling." I chuckle. "Now, brother, care to explain how you thought it was okay to give my mate birth control without consulting with me?" 

Theo looks at Skylar. I see his hesitation to answer, so I tighten my grasp on his neck. He begins to scratch at my hand as he coughs. His face begins to turn an unnatural pale-blue. "Colton, stop! You're killing him!" Skylar yells from behind me. I feel her hands trying to pull my arm away from my traitorous brother, but she isn't strong enough to free him. "Please, Colton." 

A cough behind me brings me back to what I am doing and I release my hold from my brother. Skylar takes the opportunity to check over Theo, earning herself a growl from yours truly. Larson is standing in the doorway, taking in the sight in front of him with a ridiculous look on his face. 

"What is going on here, Alpha?" He asks. 

I take a step away from the two and turn towards my Beta. Cracking my knuckles, I shoot him a smirk before answering, "We have a little problem."

"And that is?" Larson says. Sometimes the idiot really pisses me off. This is one of those times. 

"My lovely mate has been hiding something from me," I respond. A look of panic flashes over his face as he looks between the two of them. 

He's hiding something. Braaten growls in my head. I can feel his own anger building and combine with my own. 

He gulps before asking, "What is she hiding?" He shoves his hands in his pockets nervously, obviously hiding his fidgeting hands. 

"Well, you see. Skylar here decided to start taking birth control. And Theo helped her. I guess it wasn't important enough to tell me, her mate and Alpha." I sneer. 

Larson lets out a shaky breath and I see relief wash over his face. 

He knows something more. Braaten roars. 

"Not what you were expecting, Lars?" I question him. 

His eyes shoot up to look at mine. "No. I didn't expect the Luna to do that. Bringing you heirs is her Goddess-given job." He answers. 

I nod my head. "Interesting." I walk towards Theo's desk and pick up a ballpoint pen. I click it open and close a few times before stepping towards Larson so quickly, he didn't have time to react. I have the forearm of my left arm pressed against his throat and the pen pointed near his left eye. "I think there's something you are not telling me, Larson." I hear his heartbeat quicken, spoiling his nervousness to everyone in the room. 

"Colton, enough! He didn't know!" I hear Skylar cry out behind me. 

"I'm sorry, brother, I didn't mean to upset you. Skylar asked to be put on birth control and as a doctor, I did what my patient wanted." Theo adds, his voice hoarse.

An evil smile reaches my lips. "But there's more, isn't there?" I say, that smile never leaving my lips. "I order you, Beta Larson, to-"

One of my warriors burst into the room. "Alpha Myers! They're here!" He interrupts.