Page 100 of Deadly Wolf Bite

His alpha power hits me like a bolt of lightning, nearly breaking my hold on his neck. The wind is knocked from me as the power presses down around me like a weight.

Stop.

His alpha command is a mindfuck. So much worse than anything my father’s capable of. My teeth begin to loosen their grip. Before my jaw can unhinge, I yank, ripping his throat out just like I did to Dom.

When I’m done, I climb off him and stand over his lifeless wolf, sprawled and bloody where he lies on my floor. Rivers of blood pour from his torn throat, pooling and spreading over the pristine carpet.

I heave in breath after breath, tasting copper.

Shock keeps me rooted to the spot. Or maybe it’s the last dregs of his alpha command. Eventually, it fades, along with his life, and the weight lifts.

My autonomy returns.

The alpha inside me expands with its newfound power. The life force of a high alpha is no small thing. Whatever Franco had left in him, it’s mine now.

The mafia pack is mine too.

I don’t move for another long moment as the truth of that sinks in. When I finally do, I back away, shifting to my human form as I hurry for the elevator keypad. With the press of a button, I lock it down. No one in or out without my access code. Then, I rush back to the phone I left on my nightstand and open my security app.

A quick scan of the cameras surrounding the exits yields nothing.

Franco really came here alone.

Was he insane?

No, just arrogant.

He really thought he’d walk out of here. Hell, so did I.

And now, he won’t. And the world will know.

My thoughts race ahead to tomorrow. Consequences, inevitable scenarios—I know how this ends. Franco’s empire belongs to me now, but only if I can keep it. And Franco’s generals will never allow that. My father will never allow that. They’ll come for me—and even with all this newfound power, I’m not sure our fledgling pack can withstand a war on two fronts.

I was supposed to earn the loyalty of my father’s pack first. Get more of them to fight on our side when the time came to face Franco. Challenging and beating my father would’ve done that. I’m his son. His pack already sees me as their next alpha.

But I’ve just taken the kingdom of my enemy. Franco’s pack will never accept me. His generals will never pledge to me.

There’s only one person they might accept.

Shaking, I pull up my contacts and call Dutch.

He answers, groggy. “Boss?”

“I need you to come over. Alone. Don’t say a word to anyone and don’t be seen by any of the cameras. Do you understand?”

“You okay? You sound…different.”

I swallow the power that’s been rooting inside me from the moment Franco’s heart stopped beating.

“All good,” I lie. “Just get here soon. We have work to do.”

32

LEXI

With a pounding heart, I peer through the small opening in the stained-glass window that overlooks the sanctuary below. The church is packed. I’m not sure who invited all these people or even who they are, but it feels as if everyone in Indigo Hills has turned up for what the newspaper sitting on my dressing table has dubbed the “Cinderella Wedding.” It’s the biggest line of bullshit they could’ve chosen. I’m not a princess, no matter how many times they call me that, and no matter how much I want it to, I’m pretty sure this story has no happy ending for me.

Even if I’m dressed like a queen.

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