Page 27 of Her Grumpy Alpha

In the face of this grim revelation, I knew that our fight would only intensify. We had to expose Brian’s malevolence, protect our clan, and put an end to the darkness that had seeped into our lives. The women who had been ensnared by his influence were just the beginning, and I was determined to lead our clan to safety, no matter the challenges that lay ahead.

I quickly gathered my most trusted pack mates and contacted as many male clan members as I could reach. We needed to locate Brian and bring him in for questioning before he did anything else. His manipulation of people, the destructive fires, and the looming danger he posed were all too evident. It was time to confront this menace head-on and ensure he could no longer harm those under his influence. We had to get the evidence that we needed for the Clan Elders to get Brian out of there.

“Listen, everyone,” I began, my voice carrying the weight of responsibility. “We must find Brian and stop his influence. It’s spreading, and we can’t allow it to continue. He’s a danger to our clan and to all those under his control. The whole of Maple Creek is in danger.”

The pack members nodded in agreement, their determination evident in their expressions. We needed a coordinated plan, a strategy to hunt down Brian and bring an end to his reign of malevolence. None of us wanted this to continue. This was a never-ending nightmare.

“I want you all to fan out and search for any leads,” I continued. “Look for any signs of his presence or activity. We’ll rendezvous at the sawmill once we have any information. Stay in contact and be vigilant.”

In a swift and coordinated effort, we mobilized, our wolf instincts guiding us as we set out to track down Brian. I was resolute in my commitment to put an end to his malevolent actions, protect those he had manipulated, and safeguard the future of our community.

Brian had crossed a line that could not be ignored, and it was time for him to answer for the chaos and fear he had sown. As Alpha of our clan, I would see to it that justice was served, and my pack and clan would stand united in this endeavor…

As we scoured the woods, my pack mates and I were growing increasingly frustrated. There was no sign of Brian or his pack, and the tension in the air was thick with uncertainty. We had mobilized swiftly to bring Brian to justice, but it seemed he had managed to evade us for now.

I couldn’t help but worry about Sadie. Her safety was paramount, and the fact that she still wasn’t answering her phone was cause for concern. With everything that had transpired, I couldn’t shake the feeling that she might be in danger too. I was going to have to get to her as well, sooner rather than later. But I was torn between duty and my heart, but right now all of my issues were intertwined as well. I couldn’t handle it.

FIFTEEN

SADIE

As I stood there, fear and panic gripped my heart. I could feel the tremors running through my body as Charlene, my dear friend and confidant, held the gun at me, tears streaming down her face. It was a nightmare come to life, and I couldn’t fathom how we had ended up in this horrifying situation.

Brian had found a way to control Charlene through that mysterious, malevolent ring of his, which completely disproved my theory that it was just wolves who could be affected by it. Charlene definitely wasn’t a shifter, yet here she was, doing Brian’s bidding. And I knew she was under Brian’s control because there was no way she would point a gun at me otherwise, but also because her eyes were as black as his.

His power over her was chilling, and it had brought her to the point of taking us all hostage. I couldn’t understand why she was doing this, but I knew I had to remain calm for Gregory and the other children. I was the only person who could keep them alive anymore.

My mind raced with thoughts of James and my desperate need to reach out to him. But with Charlene brandishing a weapon, making any sudden moves could prove disastrous. I had to choose my words carefully and try to defuse the situation.

“Charlene, please, you don’t have to do this,” I pleaded, my voice shaking with worry. “Think about the children. We can find a way to sort this out, but we need to put the gun down. It’s not too late to make things right. This isn’t you, and you know it.”

She looked torn, as if her inner struggle was battling against the influence of that accursed ring. The children huddled together behind me, their faces filled with fear, while I did my best to project an image of strength and hope, though my heart was pounding.

But Charlene hesitated, torn between her loyalty to me and the compulsion from the ring. All I could do was pray that her love for the children would ultimately prevail and Brian’s sinister hold over her would weaken. I didn’t know what I could do to break through Brian’s control, but I would do it somehow.

I should have known when I woke up in the morning and James wasn’t there that this wasn’t going to be a great day.

If only I could call him, I thought sadly to myself. But Charlene knew that my phone was locked away in the staff cupboard, so there was nothing I could do. I could only hope he sensed something would happen and he would swoop in to save the day again. He had been my hero before, and I needed him to be again.

“He’s coming,” Charlene whispered, her eyes widening. She still had the gun in my face, but she was still warning me that Brian was coming here. This wasn’t good. How the hell were we going to get away from him? “I can’t let you go.”

Angry and frustrated tears pricked in my eyes. This was a hopeless situation already, and it was about to get worse. My heart raced, and my instincts urged me to protect the children in my care. The room seemed to close in around me as Brian swaggered through the door, his smug expression sending shivers down my spine. His presence was an ominous cloud that cast a pall over the room.

“Well, well, well, Sadie. Here we are again,” Brian taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

I tried to keep a brave face, even though the unease of his presence was palpable. The children huddled behind me closely, their innocent eyes filled with curiosity and fear. I knew I had to keep them safe, and the weight of that responsibility rested heavily on my shoulders.

“Brian, this has to stop,” I said firmly, my voice quivering only slightly. “You can’t keep doing this. It’s wrong, and it’s hurting everyone.”

Brian’s laughter echoed through the room, a chilling sound that sent a shiver down my spine. He seemed undeterred by my plea, his arrogance as prevalent as ever.

“Sadie, you’ve always had a way of underestimating me,” he retorted. “But things are different now. I have power, and you can’t stop me.”

I stood my ground, a mixture of anger and fear churning inside me as Brian advanced with his smug determination. The children were huddled behind me, their wide eyes reflecting the tension in the room.

“What do you want from me?” I demanded, my voice quivering with a mix of defiance and unease. I had to protect the children and find a way out of this situation.

Brian didn’t pause; he continued to close the distance between us, a predatory glint in his eyes. “I want you to be my girlfriend,” he replied, his words chilling in their audacity. “Or at least to act like that, so everyone can see what I do. To prove that he can’t have a solid relationship because he isn’t fit to be clan leader.”

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