“You should talk to Brock. Tell him?—”
“Itried.” My teeth flash.
“Yes,” he nods, dipping his head in a subtle display of submission. “But…why not now?”
“Why the hell would I tell anyone I let a monster like that into my home? That I ignored every sign, every bruise?”
Oli stares at the floor. Then nods again. “I get that.”
“And then,” my voice drops into a vicious growl, “I walk into Charlie’s room to find another piece-of-shit alpha trying to rip my mate’s throat out. All I wanted was to dragyou into that kitchen and bash your fucking face in until there was nothing left.”
My anger takes over, and my fist slams into his face. His head snaps back.
I instantly regret it.Please, Charlie, don’t feel that through the bond.
“Don’t stop,” Oli grits, eyes squinting with pain. “I deserve it.”
“Fuck off,” I snarl at his pathetic attempt at self-pity. “Charlie’s in agony because of you.”
He looks up at me, dark eyes full of pain. “You think I wanted this? You think Iwantedto hurt Charlie?”
I clench my fists then force them open, trying to collect myself. Because all I want to do is hit this fucker again.
“You don’t get it.” Oli exhales bitterly. “Charlie’s scent. His taste…” He closes his eyes, face twisting like the memory hurts. “I couldn’t stop myself.”
My eyes snap to his, sharp as a blade. “We all make choices,” I say flatly. “You marked my packmate. Now you live with the consequences.”
Oli turns away, jaw tight. “I can feel him,” he whispers, eyes locked on the floor. “Through the bond—I feel his pain. His love. He’s hurting.” His voice catches.
I rise slowly, every joint stiff, my body screaming from days without rest. Then I take a step back, but I don’t untie him. Not yet. Not until I’m sure I won’t put my hands on him again.
“You deserve to die for what you did,” I growl, my voice shaking.
I see the flicker of fury flash in Oli’s eyes—rage barely held in check—but he doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. He bites it down and submits, jaw locked tight. But it’s not remorse. It’s survival.
“Get cleaned up.” I jerk my chin toward the showers. “Charlie needs you.”
Oli’s head jerks up. Hope floods his face. “Did he ask for me?”
“He’s being ripped in half with pain!” I shout. “Myrick and Autry are doing everything they can. We all are, but I’m just one man! I can’t—” I choke on my next words and my chest heaves. “If you’ve got anything left to give, you better find it fast. Because your mate is burning up.”
Oli nods, jaw set. Grim. His expression is unreadable. “Yes, sir.”
My muscles tense at his pathetic attempt at respect, but I don’t have time to torture this fucker any longer. Charlie is in pain.
I crouch and start untying him. The knots are tight. I meant them to hurt. Bruises mar his arms and chest as the cords fall away.
The wrongness of this sits heavy on me, like ice. It feels like I’m unleashing something dangerous. Something I should’ve killed.
But Myrick wanted to date Oli, Autry clearly has some kind of affection for the young alpha, and now Charlie’s mated to the fucker.
I feel like I have no control over my pack.
Fear grips me as the last cord falls away, and I slam my hand against Oli’s throat, holding him in place. He doesn’t resist or fight. He just lets me dominate him. “If you so much as startle Charlie…” I squeeze. Hard. He just takes it, letting me choke him until his cheeks flush red. “If you scare him. Hurt him.Breakhim,” I snarl, my face inches from his, “I will drag you back here and pound you into a bloody pulp.”
Oli’s breathing is ragged, but he nods. No aggression. No defiance. Just submission.
I let go. “Wash up. Then get your ass in Charlie’s room.” And I walk out.
