CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54

Nicholas POV.

I stood alone in the room Nathan had booked for me in the shadow claw pack, the night thick outside, the room dim, lit only by a single candle flickering on the desk.

The air smelled of old wood and the sharp bite of the alcohol in my hand, the glass cold, my grip tight.

My heart pounded, my jaw clenched, Kael’s warning echoing in my mind, "Pray he wakes up." His voice, sharp and angry, cut through me, his eyes burning in the dungeon when he’d stopped me from killing Elijah, my own guard, my spy who’d tried to burn Kael’s guest house.

My teeth gritted, my scar across my jaw itching, my anger boiling.

I knew my aunt, Mara, was behind the fire, even though she’d denied it, her sly smile, her cold words, "I wish I had" betraying her.

She wanted Kael dead, her hate for him deep, and she’d do anything to make it happen, even use Elijah.

I couldn’t let him talk, couldn’t let him expose her, so I’d clawed his chest, aiming to silence him forever.

My wolf, Rex, growled, his rage hot, his instincts sharp, urging me to protect my pack, my secrets.

My grip tightened on the glass, the alcohol untouched, my heart racing with frustration.

Elijah was a Fang pack guard, sent to spy on Kael’s Shadow Claw pack, but he’d failed, got caught, and now Kael had him, demanding I come like some weak pup.

My chest heaved, my anger mixing with worry. Mara’s schemes were reckless, her need for revenge risking war, but I couldn’t stop her, not yet.

My plans were bigger, Kael’s death, my pack’s dominance, but I needed control, needed to act before Elijah spilled everything.

The room felt smaller, the candle’s light weak, my scar burning, my mind spinning with Kael’s defiance, his pack’s strength, my own need for revenge.

A knock came, sharp and quick, breaking the silence. I turned, my cloak swishing, my eyes narrowing.

"Come in," I said, my voice low, rough, my hand setting the glass down, the liquid sloshing.

Beta Nathan stepped in, his armor glinting, his brown eyes steady, his face tense. "Alpha," he said, his voice firm, his hand on his dagger.

"The guard’s here. The one you wanted." My heart jumped, my anger easing, a plan forming.

This guard, a Shadow Claw traitor, wanted to join my pack, to serve me, and he’d do anything to prove it. He was my chance, my tool to fix this mess.

"Let him in," I said, my voice hard, my eyes on the door.

Nathan nodded, stepping out, his boots loud, and returned with the guard, a young man, his dark hair short, his gray eyes nervous but determined, his Shadow Claw armor scratched, his hands steady.

The room was quiet, the candle’s light casting shadows on his face, his posture stiff, ready to serve.

I walked closer, my boots heavy on the wooden floor, my cloak billowing, my smile slow, deliberate.

I reached out to him, my hand touching his face, my fingers cold against his warm skin, his eyes widening slightly, his breath catching.

"You want to be a member of the Fang pack," I said, my voice low, my eyes locking on his, testing him, Rex growling softly, sensing his loyalty, his fear.

"Yes, Alpha Nicholas," he said, his voice firm, his eyes steady.

"I’ll do anything." His words were strong, his determination clear, and my smile grew, my heart racing with purpose, my plan sharpening.

"What’s happening in Kael’s pack?" I asked, my voice sharp, my hand dropping, my eyes burning into his.

"Tell me everything." I leaned closer, the candle’s light flickering, the room heavy with tension, my scar itching, my anger simmering.

The guard swallowed, his voice low but clear. "Elijah’s awake," he said, his words quick, his eyes meeting mine.

"He’s talking, in the physician’s room." My heart stopped, my breath catching, shock hitting hard.

Awake? My claw had torn his chest, an Alpha’s strike, meant to keep him down, maybe forever. How was he awake so soon?

My mind spun, my fists clenching, my anger flaring, Rex roaring, his rage sharp.

Kael must’ve done something, his physician, his pack’s tricks, saving a traitor who could ruin everything.

I frowned, my eyes narrowing, my chest tight, then scoffed, my voice cold. "Good thing you’re here," I said, my smile returning, cruel and sharp.

"You’ll end the misery he’s about to face." My words were heavy, my plan clear, my heart racing with purpose.

The guard’s eyes widened, his body trembling slightly, but he stood tall, his courage holding, his desire to join my pack strong.

I stepped back, my hand reaching into my cloak, pulling out a pistol, its metal cold, its weight heavy. I held it out, the candle’s light glinting off it, the room silent except for our breaths.

The guard reached for it, his hand steady, but I pulled it back, my eyes hard, my voice low. "You won’t betray the Fang pack, will you?" I asked, my words sharp, my gaze burning into his, testing him, needing his loyalty.

Rex growled, his instincts sharp, watching for weakness, for lies. The guard’s eyes locked on mine, his face set, and he dropped to one knee, his head bowing, his voice strong.

"I despise Alpha Kael," he said, his words fierce, his eyes burning with determination.

"I want you as my Alpha. I’ll do anything to come from the Fang pack." His vow was raw, his loyalty clear, and my chest eased, my smile growing as my heart pounded with satisfaction.

He was mine, a tool to silence Elijah, to protect Mara, to keep my plans safe.

I handed him the pistol, my grip firm, my eyes locked on his. "Kill Elijah," I said, my voice cold, my words clear.

"Do it secretly. Don’t get caught." I leaned closer, my voice lower, my scar itching, my anger sharp.

"If you fail, you die." My threat was blunt, my eyes burning, Rex growling, his approval strong.

The guard nodded, his hand closing around the pistol, his eyes steady, his courage holding.

He stood, his armor clinking, his face set, and turned, leaving the room, the door shutting softly behind him.

As the door shut close, Nathan turned to me, his boots heavy, his brown eyes wary, his armor glinting.

"Can we trust the guard, Alpha?" he asked, his voice low, his hands clasped, his face tense. I shook my head, my lips curling, my heart cold.

"I trust no one," I said, my voice hard, my eyes burning into his.

"Not Elijah, not this guard, no one." My chest tightened, my anger hot, Rex urging me to stay sharp, to protect my pack.

"Get the cars ready," I ordered, my voice sharp.

"We’re leaving the pack soon. No one can suspect us." My plan was set, kill Elijah, silence the guard, keep Mara’s secret safe.

Nathan nodded, his face serious, and left, his steps quick, the door shutting behind him.

I stared at the glass, my hand shaking, my anger boiling. "Elijah should’ve stayed dead," I muttered, my voice low, my teeth gritted.

"He should’ve let me kill Kael the easy way." My grip tightened, the glass cracking, shards cutting my palm, blood dripping, the pain sharp but quick.

I watched my hand heal, the skin closing, my wolf’s power strong, my jaw tightening, my heart racing with frustration.

Kael was alive, his pack strong, and my plans were slipping, Mara’s schemes pushing me into a corner.

Soon, the door opened, Nathan was back, and his voice was quick. "The vehicle’s ready, Alpha," he said, his eyes flicking to my hand, the blood gone, my skin smooth.

I nodded, my cloak swishing, my boots heavy as I left the room, Nathan following, the place quiet, the air cool.

We slid into the black car, the engine humming, the night dark, the forest a blur as we sped out, my heart pounding, my anger steady, my plan in motion.

We crossed the Fang pack border, the trees thinning, the road rough, when Nathan’s phone rang, the sound sharp, breaking the silence.

He answered, his voice low, then handed me the phone, his eyes tense. I took it, my hand steady, my heart racing, Rex growling, sensing something big.

The guard’s voice came through, shaky but clear. "It’s done, Alpha Nicholas," he said, his words trembling.

"I killed Elijah." My lips curled into a sneer, a cold satisfaction settling in, my chest easing, my anger softening.

He’d done it, Elijah was gone, Mara’s secret safe, Kael’s lead cut off.

"Good," I said, my voice cold, my tone praising but sharp.

"My guards will pick you up soon." The guard’s voice lit up, his thanks loud, his happiness clear, thinking he’d earned his place in my pack.

I ended the call, my sneer fading, my eyes hard, handing the phone back to Nathan, who watched me through the rearview mirror, his face tense.

"Send four guards to get him," I said, my voice low, my eyes burning. "But make sure he’s dealt with. No loose ends." Nathan’s eyes widened, his breath catching, his hands tightening on the wheel.

"You mean..." he started, his voice shaky, but I cut him off, my voice sharp, my heart cold.

"Kill the guard!" I said, my words final with my eyes fierce. My fist clenching, my anger surging.