Chapter 51: Desperate Measures

ALEXANDER

“So, should I inquire about…?”

“No.”

“Alrighty then.”

However, that didn’t stop Jason from gazing at the mark on his neck. Unless he wore a turtleneck, there was little he could do to conceal it.

Olivia had chosen to bite him quite ~high~. Normally, it wouldn’t be an issue. But since it was an incomplete bond at the moment, it would invite questions.

Questions he didn’t want to answer because they were nobody’s business.

Except, he’d have to tell them.

~Fucking hell~.

“On the bright side, the attacks should cease,” Mason chimed in, leaning against the wall in Alexander’s office.

~And there it was~.

“They won’t.”

Three pairs of eyes swiveled to him, confusion evident in each one. Mouths agape, eyebrows knitted, but only one spoke; Jason.

“What about…” He gestured with his index finger at the conspicuous mark on his neck. “Isn’t that?”

“It is.”

He blinked. Slowly. “I’m still puzzled.”

Frustration surged through him, and he raked his trembling fingers through his hair, messing it up. “I didn’t bite her back. And no, I won’t be answering any more questions.”

His words should have silenced everyone, but Alex should have known better; Jason wasn’t always obedient.

“You realize the attacks won’t stop then, right?”

“How severe was it last night?”

“There were three.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Only three? I anticipated more.”

Alex prided himself on his self-restraint and his composure but when he had smelled her? Even if he had gone in there intending to walk away, he wouldn’t have.

Yes, her scent had sent him into overdrive that night in the hospital, but it was nothing compared to now.

Perhaps it was because she had let go but even ~now~ he could recall. The memory of it was enough to keep his blood racing. It should have affected anyone nearby. It was potent.

“Maybe they sensed us being ~careless~—decided to retreat.” The words were spoken quietly by Gale, a shorter, blond beta who was at the back of the room.

“Careless?”

Jason shot him a quick glare before refocusing his attention on Alexander. “We might have been a bit on edge.”

He pursed his lips together, nodding.

He'd made the right decision, sending the males away from the pack house. An omega could influence a large group. They'd been outside, and they'd been impacted by it.

His problems weren't going to stop at outsiders. He had to find a solution.

Between his early departure to handle the ~Will~ situation and what appeared to be Maya's abduction of Olivia, he hadn't had a chance to speak with her.

“Did anyone get hurt?”

“Nope,” Mason replied, smirking. “They didn’t stand a chance.”

“Did they all escape?”

“Yeah, they ran off, tails between their legs.”

“They’re becoming braver.”

“Once—once you bite her, things will improve.”

Alexander reclined in his chair, turning his head to look out the window.

“Things will improve, but they won’t be perfect. I need all the information we can gather on their packs. I mean numbers, the count of females and males. Ages. I need to know how desperate they are.”

“Desperate?”

“They know she’s here. She’ll be less attractive, but they still know what she is.”

Jason nodded. “You want to know if they’ll take the risk anyway.”

Gale moved forward, his shoes echoing on the floor. “Why would anyone take that risk?”

“Because they have low numbers, their betas aren’t getting pregnant,” Jason clarified.

“So, the pack will disappear, or they can merge with another pack.”

“Two alphas can’t coexist. It’ll end in disaster. Some alphas struggle to relinquish power, it’s in their nature,” Jason responded, avoiding Alexander’s gaze.

He wasn’t wrong. It was a case of desperate times calling for desperate measures. To survive, they might resort to anything. An alpha cornered was a dangerous creature.

It didn’t matter if their numbers were smaller; it made them more threatening. They’d have nothing to lose. That was why he needed a clear picture of the situation.

“Call in any favors we have with other packs. I want as much information as possible, and I want it quickly.”

“Yes.”

“~Now~.”

Gale and Mason rushed to leave, but Jason lingered.

He ran his knuckles along the edge of the desk, his gaze shifting from the floor to the door. He was uncertain about speaking. He was unsure how Alex might react.

If he wanted him to speak, he’d have to command it.

“Speak or leave, Jason.”

Jason sighed, his shoulders sagging. He chuckled before biting his lower lip. “I know this is new for her but…she bit you. You need to fix this. I know it won’t solve everything but—~the guys are tired~.

“We’ve been patrolling a lot and I’ve been trying to take on as much as I can—but you’ve been occupied.

“Then this morning we had to deal with that guy’s girlfriend showing up ~again~. I can’t do everything and they don’t listen to me the way they listen to you.

“They’re irritable and it’s going to have to come from you if you want them to continue this. It’s a lot of patrols, a lot of surveillance. More than we usually do. They’re doing their part…”

“And you think I’m not doing mine.”

He groaned. “No, I mean—”

“You’re implying I’m not being a good alpha.”

He knew he was pushing it a bit, and it wasn’t entirely what was being suggested but he needed Jason to speak his mind. He needed to know what had been going on around him. Had he missed that much?

No one had mentioned anything, he hadn’t heard any whispers.

He had to admit, he had been distracted—more than he ever had been.

He had tried to create distance between them, dedicating more time to the pack but it could be argued that most of that time had been spent ensuring her protection during her heat.

It all came back to her.

She was in his mind, she was in his blood. And now she was everywhere.

He could ~feel~ her through the pulsating mark on his neck. He’d already been the one most affected, and now, she’d tipped the balance even further.

Until he bit her, he’d be the vulnerable one. He needed her like he needed air.

This was even worse. He was painfully aware that she didn’t need him as much as he needed her. All he craved was to restore their balance.

Yet, here he was, prioritizing her. Again.

“Alex—I would never…” His voice wavered, a tremor that echoed through his entire being. Fear gripped him. Fear that his words might provoke retaliation.

Typically, they would.

He might feel slighted, his ego bruised, but he recognized the validity in his words, in the sentiments of others. He’d been too absorbed in his own universe.

He wouldn’t admit to failing his pack, but he wouldn’t snap at Jason either. However, he couldn’t let disrespect go unchecked. If there was discontent, it was crucial for him to assert his authority.

“If you think you can do a better job, be my guest.” He felt the wood groan under his grip, on the verge of splintering. He didn’t want to lose control. But maybe he should.

No one should challenge his position or his leadership style, but there was truth in the words.

“I don’t—”

“I’ll handle the situation on my end. Ensure the pack fulfills their duty to protect ~their own~.”

“Okay.”

“~Go~.”

Jason didn’t need to be told twice. The moment the order was given, he bolted from the office, leaving the door swinging in his wake.

Once Alex was certain he was alone, he slumped onto the desk, resting his forehead on his clasped hands.

He cursed himself silently. His distraction was hindering his ability to lead effectively.

He needed to speak with Olivia. He needed to resolve what she had initiated. Then his mind wouldn’t be so clouded.

The wheels were already in motion, and there was no stopping them. He hadn’t anticipated it would be this difficult.

But it was.

His mind was consumed by the mark on his neck.

It hadn’t been so bad when she was close, nestled between his legs, or wrapped in his arms…but now? He hadn’t seen her in hours and it was driving him to the brink.

He had to complete the bond.

It was the only solution.