20. Alpha Josh

Zara tenses when my hand drift from the skin of her back. Teasingly, I wisper in a husky voice. "Behave, Omega."

She breathes heavily and clinches her thighs. Her dress rises, displaying her curvy legs. I fight the urge to spread them wide, eat her out, until she can't scream nor walk properly. I'm painfully aware of the dent in my trousers.

"If you're done with your little show, you can join us." Father's voice drips with sarcasm. He pulls a chair, and plop on it. No curtsy, just a giant elephant in the room.

Lily takes the tray from one of the maids, and as the little doll she is, she begins to serve father a plate of salad and chicken; he hums satisfactorily every few seconds. There's something about his relationship with Lily that seems off, and no one, even Allen can achieve that closeness despite being a favorite.

I clasp Zara's hand in mine, squeezing not too tight but enough to put a leash on her.

The dinning table is made out of a mahogany imported from abroad with a robustness which could last a lifetime. It consists of twenty-five chairs, each a symbol of what the Pack stands for, unity. Or at least that's what Father wants the neighboring Packs to think. Something about twenty-five men ruling the world, he claims it's the perfect number. It's so stupid, I scoff each time at the thought of it.

"Are you avoiding me?" Father lifts his head from his plate, and motions with a fork of chicken to where I am—clutching a chair—few meters away from him.

"I wouldn't want you to influence me with your bad habits, I already have your genes." I smirk knowing I've got him, all what Father yearns is submission, he has Allen and Lily wrapped around his pinky. He is just angry he doesn't have me. He slams his hand on the table, gripping the fork so hard his chuckles are white and his teeth are gritted.

"It's okay." Lily massages his shoulders. He pats her arms and she bows before taking a sit next to him.

"Let's just sit here." Zara timidly walks me to the chair opposite his. She pulls it out without letting go of my palm. I sit mesmerized by her calming technique, or whatever this is. Just her presence is enough to stop me from having my hands wrapped around his neck with him begging for mercy.

"Good morning." She takes a plate— from the stack by the center— and uses a serving spoon to reach for the chicken wings on the tray. Father doesn't spare her a glance, but shrugs his shoulders and widens his smile. She has just fed his ego. It's a wonder she talks to him after what happened the last time in his office. My wolf frowns, his way of saying, 'it's a wonder she still talks to you.'

"I see! The maids couldn't handle your fire, they abandoned you." Jack barges in, casually swinging his arms back and forth, oblivious to the uneasiness in the air or, he is just pretending not to, so as to get on Father's nerves—he hates it when no one is on his side—either way, he is pissing me instead.

"Where's Allen?" He searches, craning his neck when his eyes landed on Lily.

"He doesn't want to get stuck in this mess. He is getting ready for the council meeting." My blood pumps so fast my eyes narrowed, and my hands ball into fists.

"The fuck!" I slip out. My voice echoes, Jack throws the file he's clutching and Zara flinches, hugging her arms to her body.

The sight of her frail figure breaks my nonchalant façade, I am mad at myself than I do Father. Her eyes are wide, her breathing is labored, and she can't stop gripping the edge of the linen.

"Breakfast is over." He throws the fork, it clinks when it touches the floor. This is all part of a plan, it's always a game to him. He has managed to let out the beast in me like all the other times.

"No, it isn't," I bellow.

Lily's head is low, her hands are on the table, drawing circles on the satin and pretending not to know what the hell is going on.

This is so messed up.

"Is there anything you'd like to say Alpha Josh?" He wipes the corner of his mouth with a napkin mockingly.

"You tell me, Chad."

"Jack, you see the kind of Alpha you have. He doesn't even respect his dad." He turns to Jack, who's gripping the chair like his life depends on it while bubbling his head.

The bastard, he is probably enjoying it.

"You're not my dad. You stopped being one the moment mom died." I don't know what's it about wolves crumbling down whenever their mates are no more, but Father's own is just too—

"You're a bastard, we all know it." I relax a bit, smiling like I have just conquered the world.

"Choose your words carefully in the presence of my mate." I warn.

"Bullshit, you don't even want her to be my mate. Stop trying to be the good guy here. Nonsense, you're a manipulative bitch. A damn manipulative idiot," I add. He is trying to get through Zara, like he did me all these years.

The thoughts of him cuffed in the basement, blood dripping from his chin, eyes so lifeless they roll; is so oddly comforting. My wolf is enthusiastic at the thought of that, he is wiggling his tail, and licking his snout.

"Why don't she decide?" Chad keeps the napkin beside his plate. He is deliberate, maintaining eye contact with Zara—whom I can't still face— with his signature stupid smile on his face.

"Excuse me, this doesn't have anything to do with her." I'm grateful when Jack interferes. I have words lined up, filthy disgusting phrases that wouldn't help the situation but suits him.

"She has nothing to do with this, Chad."

"Let her decide," he says to me. And to her, he utters with a faux care, voice softening and eyes tender. "Are you going to let him control you? I hear you're a fierce one, don't disapoint me. Who do you think is in the wrong, my dear?"

"---"

Shit!