Into the Alpha’s Keep Chapter 52: 51

He slid one hand to the back of my neck, gripping me tightly and turning my face towards his. He pulled back to look me in the eyes.

"If you don’t want blood on your hands, never let another man touch you again, because I promise you, Savannah, I will kill each and every one of those bastards," he hissed between clenched teeth.

"I've already told you what I think about this. If you want to kill, feel free. But I won’t remain silent about the fact that you're sleeping with Marilyn’s bitch while I can't do a damn thing."

"I’m not sleeping with Marilyn," he stiffened. "I told you I didn’t stay long enough for you to see me push her away."

"I know you’ve spent nights at her house and had sex with her at the last party."

He pressed his lips into a thin line. A vein pulsed at the side of his neck.

"Yes, you're right. And that was the only time, since you came into my life. It hasn’t happened again, and I haven’t gone to her house since, as you must know, since you see me every night."

He hadn’t slept out since returning from the lust party a month ago when I had distanced myself from him. I wasn’t sure if it was guilt he carried when he came back, but since then, I hadn’t felt anything close to the heat of that night.

"Why? Why do you let Marilyn do whatever she wants?"

He had forbidden her from going to his house since she sabotaged the cakes, but she didn’t respect that order, returning and making me wear that damn dress. Fenrir was the alpha, his word should have been law, but Marilyn didn’t act as if it were, and Fenrir didn’t seem to care.

He let out an exasperated sigh.

"Marilyn and I have... a long history. She can be complicated sometimes, but I understand her pain, just like she understands mine."

I knew what he was talking about—it was always about her, everything came back to one person: Catalina.

I wanted to understand better what they had, why she meant so much to him. Was Catalina his fated mate? Was that why the pain of her death still marked him, even after all these years?

"You let me wear that dress, even knowing the truth about it."

He stepped back, pulling his hair with his hands before placing them on his waist.

"I didn’t think the pack would remember it, or even care."

"And didn’t you think I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable? You recognized that damn dress the moment you saw me in it." A bitter laugh escaped from my slightly parted lips. "Actually, it’s obvious you didn’t think. You never think or care when it comes to me. You act like a huge fool most of the time, and still want to demand loyalty from me?"

The muscle in his jaw popped, and a crease formed in the middle of his forehead.

"That’s not true!" he argued, exasperated. "I threatened Marilyn that night and forbid her from coming to my house after she sabotaged your cakes."

"And you think that’s enough?" My voice rose. "Since the moment I stepped into this damn forest and became tied to you, I’ve done everything I can to make a good home for myself, to adapt to your pack. But every time I try to do the right thing, Marilyn is around to sabotage me. They don’t respect me because you don’t respect me. How would they act any differently when the very alpha, my bonded mate, doesn’t? I try to make Dăneşti my home and accept this reality, but you don’t even seem to notice."

He blinked, stunned, and took a wavering step back.

"I... I’m sorry," he gasped.

I shook my head with a wave of my hand.

"Your apologies aren’t enough, Fenrir. I’ve said it once, and now, more than ever, I reiterate. — I took a deep breath, calming myself. — Don’t try to demand loyalty from me or judge me for wanting the ritual, for wanting freedom. Since the second I set foot in this land, all you’ve done is make my life as miserable as possible. Not just you, but your mistress as well."

I rubbed my face, feeling exhausted.

"I didn’t think you cared, I thought you hated me as much as I thought you hated her. You're stuck with me, but you've always shown an interest in being free."

"And I don’t care, but my wolf does!" I threw my arms up in frustration. "I was never free, Fenrir. I thought I was, but no."

Before, I had my father and all his orders, always with a collar around my neck. Then came Hunter and all the baggage of his revenge. — I lifted my eyes to his. — And then came you and that damn mark on our necks. But I’ve realized I’m very resilient. I liked Dăneşti and how the pack is so different from Crepúsculo and Eclipse. I thought I could really make it my home and spend the rest of my days in safety and comfort. But then, you and that filthy bitch decided to make my life miserable here. Having to run and deal with Hunter following me on one side and you on the other, seems like a better life than living in a place where the only thing I get is humiliation."

His eyes widened, as if something was making sense in his mind.

He stepped towards me deliberately.

"Marilyn won’t be a problem anymore."

"And how can I trust you’re telling me the truth?"

He clenched his jaw.

"Because this time, I’m giving you my alpha’s word."

"But... what about your history with her?"

"My history with her doesn’t interfere with my sense of judgment."

"If you want to be a part of Dăneşti and make it your home, you have my approval. I can’t promise freedom, Savannah. And I never will. That’s a reality that no longer exists in your life. As my bonded mate, my enemies have become yours, just as yours have become mine. And they would use you to get to me, without a second thought."

"Enemies?"

He nodded, crossing his arms over his chest. I stared at the large hand covered in Bogdan’s dried blood.

"I’m part of the business world. I’ve killed many humans for disrespecting me, for trying to steal from me, or for owing me. Family members might want revenge and will come for you at the first opportunity if they know the truth. And there’s still Hunter, we don’t know what his true intentions are, whether he wants to kill you or not." He curled his lips, disgusted as he spoke about Hunter. "I’m a leader, Savannah. An entire pack relies on me, death can’t and must not be a risk for me."

I sighed and shook my head, agreeing with him.

"I know."

"I promise I won’t make your life harder in the pack, as long as you promise me you won’t run away."

"If things aren’t bad for me, I have no reason to run. Out there, Hunter might get me, and I’d prefer death to falling into his claws."

"Neither of those things will happen. Not death, and certainly not Hunter."

He uncrossed his arms and extended his palm towards me, offering me a deal. I hesitated for only a second before placing my palm against his. With a sharp motion, he pulled me toward him, intertwined his fingers in the hair at the back of my neck, and kissed me.

I stayed still, unmoving.

He forced his way between my lips, sliding his tongue in. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to savor the touch, the moment.

The kiss was different from all the others—it wasn’t urgent or possessive, it was slow and exploratory.

I placed my hands on his arms, running my fingers over his sculpted muscles. Our tongues met, warm and wet, intertwining in a perfect dance.