Page 15 of Coveted By the Alpha Pack

The other two males immediately voice their complaints, their agitation palpable in the air. I watch them closely, noting their reactions with a critical eye. This behavior is very unbecoming of an alpha, and it doesn’t bode well for their chances in this competition.

As the next phase of the intelligence test begins, focusing on knowledge of the wolven codex, my mate Conrad is summoned. He strides into the room with purpose, his presence commanding attention. Conrad is the most knowledgeable on the codex, and his expertise is crucial for this part of the test.

I move to his side, offering a supportive hug, the gesture a small comfort amidst the tension of the moment. “Happy to see you here,” I murmur, placing a kiss on his cheek before turning my attention back to the four contestants.

“It’s nice to be able to witness history. Not every female would challenge to be Alpha,” Conrad remarks, his gaze sweeping over the gathered group. The hall is abuzz with activity, dozens of pack members moving in and out, their eyes fixed on the contestants as they take their tests.

The air crackles with anticipation as the competition heats up, each contestant vying for the coveted position of alpha. But amidst the chaos, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more at stake than just a title. The fate of their pack hangs in the balance, and every decision made here today could shape our future for years to come.

As the contestants finish, they bring their tests up to Conrad, and I return to my seat between Nic and Ethan, my heart pounding with anticipation. All around me, tension hangs thick in the air, each candidate’s fate hanging in the balance.

Conrad eventually stands, the weight of his decision clear in his expression as he addresses the room. “We have a clear winner. Jack has nearly a perfect score. In second place, Bodhi,” he announces, his voice echoing through the room. With a nod, he passes the graded tests to Jakob before excusing himself to head back home to watch over the children, leaving the room in a hushed silence.

Now it’s time for the last test, one I’ve devised myself. I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves as I stand to address the candidates. “The final test is one I devised,” I announce, my voice carrying a hint of authority. I had taken the time to write out a moral dilemma for the potential alphas to read and decide on. I’ve already written the acceptable answers for the situations and handed them to Ethan to hold on to. Not even the elders know what it says.

Nic follows me as I walk to each of the candidates, my hands steady as I hand them their question. Each one is different, tailored to the individual candidate, designed to test their moral compass and their ability to make tough decisions. To successfully answer the question, they’ll have to go against their nature and pick the answer for the greater good.

As I watch them read the questions, I can’t help but feel a surge of anxiety, knowing that their answers will determine the future of their pack. The air is thick with anticipation, each moment dragging on as we wait for their decisions, the suspense almost palpable in the room.

“This is bullshit!” Luca’s voice reverberates through the room as he slams his hands down on the table, his frustration palpable.

“What’s bullshit?” Nic steps forward, positioning himself between Luca and the table where I sit, his protective instincts kicking in.

“This question. An alpha would never be posed with this situation. The life of one doesn’t outweigh the many,” Luca asserts, his tone laced with conviction as he approaches the dais where the elders gather.

I watch as the tension in the room mounts, the weight of the scenario hitting too close to home. It’s a situation I know all too well—the very scenario that led to my existence. A rogue nearly tore me apart, leaving us faced with a dire choice: turn me to ensure my survival or hunt down the rogue responsible.

Jakob scrutinizes the answer Luca has written, his expression unreadable as he motions for Luca to sit down and wait for the others to finish. Nic takes the paper and slides it over to Ethan and me, our eyes widening in disbelief as we read Luca’s response. He would prioritize hunting the rogue, risking his half bonded mate’s life in the process.

As the others finish, Bodhi is next, opting to turn his half-bonded mate before pursuing the rogue.

Quinn follows suit, refusing to leave his mate’s side, choosing to bite her and remain with her while sending his pack after the rogue.

Finally, Jack faces the dilemma, knowing she cannot fully bond with another female. She takes the risk, biting her chosen mate on the off chance it works, and vows to stay by her side until the end, before embarking on a relentless pursuit of the rogue responsible.

Ethan stands abruptly, his grip firm as he takes my hand and leads me to stand before the room, the tension palpable in the air. “The scenario you were given actually happened,” he announces, his eyes glowing with the faint light of his wolf as he addresses the candidates, his gaze piercing and intense. “What you read is what happened to Grace.”

Pulling me firmly to his side, he kisses my temple, a silent gesture of reassurance amidst the weight of his words. “My half-bonded mate was attacked by a rogue and ripped to shreds,” he continues, his voice steady despite the memories stirring within him.

As he speaks, I lift my shirt, revealing the scars on my stomach and side, tangible evidence of the horrors I endured. Ethan’s words are punctuated by the sight of my injuries, a stark reminder of the sacrifices made in the name of survival.

“I had the choice of chasing the rogue and risking my own and my brothers’ deaths. Or focusing on Grace and turning her, praying to the moon goddess that it worked,” Ethan explains, his touch gentle as he slides a hand down my shoulder, exposing the prominent scar from his wolf’s bite on my shoulder, a mark of our bond and the choices we’ve made.

“I chose life. I chose my mate,” he declares, his voice filled with conviction as he traces the outline of the scar with his fingers, his gaze unwavering.

Suddenly, his head snaps up, his expression darkening as he fixes Luca with a death glare. “If you are half-bonded to someone and they die, so do you. Alpha or not,” Ethan asserts, his words laced with authority. “As an alpha, we make tough decisions every day. Life is always a priority.”

With that, he pulls me out of the room, his steps purposeful and determined. No sooner are we out the door than the room erupts in chaos, the sound of yelling and crashing echoing down the hallway. I can feel it in my bones that Nic lost his temper, the tension reaching a breaking point. More than likely, Luca said something stupid, and now he’s forfeited his life because of it.

Chapter 10

Nicolai

-Watch the World Burn–Falling in Reverse-

Luca just had to run his mouth the minute Grace and Ethan left. My wolf went into a rage, and Goddess help me, I killed him. One minute I was near the table, the next his heart was in my hand, quivering and shuddering its last beats.

His eyes widened as he stared at his heart in my hand before hitting the ground. “Never fuck with an Alpha’s mate,” I growl out, my voice dripping with menace, as I turn my murderous gaze on the last three contestants. I can feel the blood pounding in my veins, the primal urge to protect Grace and Ethan overwhelming any rational thought.

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