Page 57 of My Brutal Alpha

But as my eyes focused and the recognition hit me, my stomach turned. Given everything that had happened, these were the last people I wanted to see.

Ezra’s dad, Dane, and his beta, Rory, came in. They glanced around for a moment before setting their eyes on me, looking determined about something.

Immediately, with a rush of concern, I turned the machine off and stepped down.

Both confusion and that startled feeling moved through me at once as I glanced between them, not knowing what to expect. Seeing them there and taking in their determined strides made my stomach fill with dread, and at once, I knew nothing good would come of it.

“What’s going on?” I asked them, throwing my guard up.

Dane seemed to ripple with anger then as it gleamed in his eyes. “I’m here to fix everything.”

My brows furrowed. “Fix what—how?”

A hint of smugness entered his tone as he spoke. “My son was good and obedient once. He did everything I asked of him because he knew that he’d have to face the consequences if he didn't. But ever since he ran away from home, it seems that everything has changed. He gained a sense of authority of his own, and I can only imagine how the likes of you haveemboldened him even more so. Even if he changed before meeting you, you are still very much in the way.”

I was speechless then as I looked between them, feeling as if my stomach was only sinking more.

Dane’s eyes narrowed at me. “If it weren’t for that deal with Kody Arron, I would’ve let Ezra run off and play leader all he wanted. I would’ve had no qualms about letting him go, given how he would rather throw everything we gave him away. But with him denying Nora, I stand to lose everything, but I won’t let that happen.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

He gritted his teeth and pointed a finger at me, closing in around me. “You are the very reason why he won’t even consider following through with the deal. Even if I made it on his behalf, as my son, he has a duty to carry out what I ask of him, independent or not. Yet, he won’t forget about this bullshit engagement between you two…if it’s even real. We tried to make him see how this will never work, but he just wouldn’t listen.”

Trying to put distance between us, I took several steps back, looking between them wearily. “That isn’t my problem…and you accepting that deal with Kody isn’t his either. He’ll never agree to it.”

“No? But with you out of the equation, I’m sure we could manage to change that,” Dane said, tone more menacing and unstable than the other times I had seen him. “My son has strayed far from where he once was, but no matter. I just need to bring him to his senses, and you’ll help with that.”

Afraid of what that meant, I tried to think of how I could get away—how I could save myself and get help before he had the time to act out whatever he had planned.

But after a brief moment of hesitation, filling the air with anticipation, like the seconds leading up to a predator's killing strike, both Dane and Rory reached for me.

Teeth grit, their hands were on me with an impossibly tight grip, closing around my arms and pinning them against my sides.

Immediate panic shot through me, and I fought my hardest to pull away from them. I squirmed and kicked, aware that if they managed to get me away from there, then my life would be entirely in their hands.

Clenching my jaw and trying to focus on my anger rather than my fear, I wriggled an arm free and reeled back, sending my fist into Rory’s jaw, causing him to stumble for a moment.

At the faint loosening of his grip on me, I tried taking advantage of it by thrashing and kicking more.

But as that window of opportunity closed, pain cracked through my head as Dane’s fist collided with my left cheek and sent stars whirling across my vision.

Stunned, I lost my bearings as Rory immediately moved in and covered my mouth and nose.

Through that disorienting haze, my awareness slipped, and everything else melted away.

Chapter 27 - Ezra

The thoughts in my head were screaming at me. All at once, they fought to be at the forefront of my mind but only managed to create a roar of incessant noise. It was too loud. All of it was far too loud, and I hated it.

As the anger, sadness, and guilt ate away at me, I could hardly focus on anything else despite how desperately I tried to.

Sitting in the house alone brought with it a crushing emptiness that made me far too aware of everything I tried to throw away. Of how I brought it on myself, and only I was to blame for finding myself in that situation.

I no doubt caused some commotion when I ended up in town again, ignoring the concerned faces of my pack members. As much as I wanted to rely on them, and reassure them that everything was fine, I didn’t want to explain it all. I didn’t want to air everything out, even if I ran the risk of causing them enough concern to prompt them to come check on me.

In that moment, I just wanted to be alone.

Regardless of how pissed off I was with Sebastian for everything he said and for refusing to think any differently about me and Zoe just because she was his sister, I knew that I could’ve done more.

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