After My Alpha Killed My Mother, I Rejected Him

The packhouse erupted into chaos as news of Lana's disappearance spread like wildfire. I could feel the vibrations of running feet and panicked voices through the silver-lined walls of my dungeon cell. My wolf, Luna, stirred weakly within me.

*Something's happening*, she whispered, her voice faint from our prolonged exposure to silver.

I pressed my blistered palm against the small window in my cell door, straining to see what was happening in the corridor. The guards were gone—called away to search for the missing Omega, no doubt.

"They'll find her hiding somewhere," I murmured, knowing full well that Lana wasn't missing at all. This was her plan, perfectly executed.

Heavy footsteps thundered down the corridor—too heavy to be anyone but Drew. My heart lurched painfully in my chest as he appeared in the doorway, his face contorted with rage and something else—something that looked almost like fear.

"Where is she?" he roared, his Alpha aura exploding outward with such force that I was thrown back against the wall.

I struggled to stay upright, my legs trembling beneath me. "Drew, please—"

"She's gone!" His eyes were wild, unfocused. "And they found this in the garden!"

He thrust his hand toward me, and I saw what he held—a small brass button. My brother's jacket. The one Lana had carefully planted.

"That's my brother's," I whispered, horror washing over me as I realized how thoroughly I'd been set up.

"Your family," Drew snarled, his voice dropping to something inhuman. "You ordered them to take her, didn't you? To hurt her because you couldn't stand seeing me with someone else!"

"No!" I cried, my voice breaking. "Drew, you know me better than that!"

But there was no recognition in his eyes—only a manic, terrifying fury that I'd never seen before. He strode forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair, yanking me to my feet.

"Where is she?" he demanded, his face inches from mine. "Tell me now!"

"The evidence is fake," I gasped, tears streaming down my face as silver residue burned my skin. "Lana planted it. She's manipulating you!"

Drew's grip tightened painfully. "You're the one who's been lying to me from the start."

With a savage motion, he dragged me from the cell, ignoring my cries of pain as silver dust clung to my clothes and skin. My legs barely supported me as he pulled me through the corridors of the packhouse, past shocked pack members who quickly averted their eyes.

"Alpha," one of the guards began, "the silver—it's dangerous for her—"

"Silence!" Drew roared. "She's responsible for Lana's disappearance!"

He pulled me outside, the bright sunlight momentarily blinding after days in darkness. A black SUV waited, engine running. Drew shoved me into the backseat and slammed the door.

"Where are we going?" I asked, clutching the door handle as the vehicle lurched forward.

Drew's eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, cold and unrecognizable. "Somewhere we can have a private conversation."

The drive was a blur of pain and fear. We left the main pack grounds behind, heading toward the mountains where our newest commercial development was underway—a massive construction project perched on a cliff edge, still months from completion.

"Why are you doing this?" I whispered, watching Drew's knuckles whiten on the steering wheel.

"Because you leave me no choice," he replied, his voice eerily calm now. "If your family has harmed one hair on Lana's head..."

The threat hung unfinished between us.

The construction site loomed ahead, skeletal steel beams rising against the sky. Workers stopped to stare as Drew parked and yanked me from the vehicle. Delta warriors appeared from every direction, forming a tight perimeter around us.

"Take her to the main platform," Drew ordered. "And prepare the crane."

My blood ran cold as I realized where he was taking me—to the unfinished observation platform that jutted out over a hundred-foot drop.

"Drew, please," I begged as they forced me toward the platform. "Whatever you think I've done—"

"Save your breath," he cut me off. "Your family will be joining us soon."

As if on cue, a second vehicle pulled into the site. My heart stopped as Marcus and Ryan emerged, dragging two figures between them.

My mother—fragile, wolfless, her gray hair whipping in the wind—and my brother, his face twisted in confusion and fear.

"Mom!" I screamed, lunging forward only to be restrained by the Delta warriors. "Drew, they have nothing to do with this!"

But Drew was beyond reason now, his eyes fixed on my family with cold determination.

"Bring them up," he ordered. "It's time for a family reunion."

The wind howled around us as we ascended the unfinished platform, high above the valley below. My mother's face was pale with terror, her human-weak heart clearly struggling with the stress.

"Drew," she pleaded, her voice thin and reedy. "Whatever Evelyn has done—"

"Silence!" he roared, his Alpha tone making everyone flinch. "You'll all learn what happens when you cross me."

My brother's eyes met mine, confusion giving way to dawning horror as he realized what was happening.

"This is insane," he whispered. "Evelyn would never—"

"Shut up!" Drew snarled, turning to the crane operator. "Prepare to lift them."

The massive construction crane loomed overhead, its steel cables swaying slightly in the mountain breeze. My mother trembled violently beside me, her human heart clearly struggling with the terror.

"Drew," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "Not my family. Please."

But the Alpha I'd loved for seven years was gone, replaced by a stranger whose eyes held nothing but cold determination and madness.