The Alpha's Secret Mate Chapter 46: Chapter: 46: fury

Sloane's Pov

I paced the bunker like a caged wolf, pausing only to glare at my watch every few seconds. Where the hell was my report? Those fools were trying my patience to its absolute limits!

When I could stand it no longer, I let loose an enraged roar and violently swept everything off the desk in a crashing clatter. The noise echoed deafeningly in the enclosed space.

Useless, incompetent bastards! They knew how critical their surveillance of Mabel was, yet they dared keep me waiting like some meaningless errand boy.

At long last my phone rang, the harsh sound ricocheting off the bare concrete walls. I snatched it up instantly, nearly cracking the screen with the force of my grip.

"Why the hell didn't you check in hours ago as ordered?" I demanded, my voice a lethal hiss barely leashing the fury pulsating through me.

"A thousand apologies, Alpha!" The man on the other end yelped, fear bleeding into his tone. "We wanted to be absolutely certain the job was completed to your specifications before calling it in."

"You wasted all this time second-guessing your orders?" I thundered, what little patience I still possessed vanishing instantly. "Report. Now!"

"It went off perfectly, Alpha! We really spooked her good, just as you wanted. Forced her car right off the damn road. She was as white as a ghost and shaking like a leaf when we left. I swear it!"

The fool's smug, self-congratulatory tone ignited my already smoldering rage into an inferno. With herculean restraint, I kept my voice lethally measured. "You were explicitly told to follow her covertly, imbecile. Not engage in histrionics like attention-starved children!"

Stunned silence radiated through the phone. I could envision his slack-jawed expression. My hands twisted around the phone, the urge to choke the life from his worthless body nearly overwhelming.

When he finally sputtered frantic apologies and excuses, I cut him off with a vicious slash of my hand. "Enough! Your incompetence may have single-handedly ruined everything. Get here now and pray I don't decorate the walls with your insides for this failure."

I ended the call before he could utter another worthless word and hurled the phone violently across the room. It shattered satisfyingly against the far concrete wall. But it did little to abate the cyclone of rage threatening to consume all reason.

Alone again in the tense stillness, I braced both trembling hands on the desk and sucked in deep, ragged breaths. I silently repeated every mantra and technique I knew to regain a semblance of control. I would likely need those fools again. As much as I longed to eviscerate them with my bare hands, I had to stay disciplined.

After an interminable wait, I finally detected the outer door scraping open. Three sets of tentative footsteps descended the metal staircase, echoing ominously. The men entered the bunker cowering and reeking of fear. Pathetic.

I studied them with arctic contempt as they collapsed to their knees, spewing desperate pleas for mercy and forgiveness. As if their miserable existences were worth a fraction of what they'd put at risk today. But I remained statuesque and silent, letting their groveling continue unchecked.

When I could stomach no more, I stepped forward, my quiet tone masking the molten rage still churning just below the surface. "Your astounding stupidity today may have single-handedly demolished months of intricately laid plans. So tell me, what possible reason can you conjure why I shouldn't paint these walls crimson with your insides?"

Their babbling pleas turned frantic, tears and snot staining their faces. "Please Alpha, we're begging you! We'll do anything - anything at all - to make this right!"

I let the fear settle thickly between us, watching their trembling frames braced for death's blow. The savagery in me thrilled at their choking despair, perfectly willing to grant their unspoken expectation. Perhaps someday soon I would.

But once I was certain they were balanced on the razor's edge of oblivion, I finally signaled for them to stand. Their nearly hysterical sobs of relief that they yet lived gnawed at what little patience I had left.

"By rights, I should rip the worthless beating hearts from your chests this instant," I said, icy contempt dripping from each word. "But it seems you may still prove useful, so I will stay my hand...for the moment."

They stumbled over each other in their haste to flee the bunker before I changed my mind. Now alone, I attempted to clear my reeling mind and regain perspective. Perhaps their rash stupidity could still play to my advantage.

Yes, I realized with dawning satisfaction, this could actually work beautifully. Adam would surely go on high alert, paranoid about spies and ears lurking in his midst.

And Mabel - the attempt had likely shattered her precious sense of safety into irreparable shards. She'd be constantly glancing over her shoulder now, her spirit smothered under oppressive dread.

I smiled then as perfect clarity returned. Yes, with utmost precision, I would gradually push them both to the very brink, until they finally broke under the pressure of fear and paranoia. And when Adam slipped up, I would be there to deliver the merciless final blow.

Soon enough, their defiance would be nothing but a tragic memory. I promised myself their demise would be drawn out and excruciating. They would beg for the mercy they would not receive.

Patience and iron discipline were still imperative. My moment would come, and far sooner than they realized. For now, the game continued. Their fates were already sealed, though they remained unaware.

And I would savor every agonizing second of their unraveling.