Chapter 18: The Beast Unleashed

Alexander's POV

Fuck. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this.

He stood frozen in the doorway, his heart pounding wildly as he took in the scene before him—the blood, the mangled body, and her. Elena was kneeling in the middle of it all, her entire frame trembling, her hands coated in crimson. His wolf snarled inside him, a guttural mix of fury and guilt, but Alexander shoved it down, his focus locking on the fragile, terrified expression on her face.

No. She shouldn't have shifted—not now, not this early. He'd taken every precaution to keep her wolf dormant, to keep her human side in control. Hell, he'd put himself through the goddamn wringer trying to make sure she stayed normal. But that rogue had thrown everything to hell. One fucking moment of weakness, and now... this.

She was the last of her kind. The last hope—or curse—of a bloodline meant for extinction. If she ever learned the truth, if she ever tapped into what she really was, it would be more than just him at risk. She'd burn through this pack like a wildfire and leave nothing but ashes in her wake.

But looking at her now—lost, terrified, covered in the blood of the man who'd tried to take her—he felt something twist painfully in his chest. Damn it. She looked so broken, so small. And it was his fault. He should've been here sooner. He should've protected her, kept her safe, but he'd failed. Again.

"Elena," he called softly, stepping closer despite the way his gut tightened at the scent of blood and fear rolling off her. "Hey. It's okay. It's me."

Her eyes, wide and unfocused, snapped to his, and he flinched at the raw pain and confusion in her gaze. Fuck. She had no idea what had just happened, did she? She didn't even realize what she'd done. The blood on her hands, the body on the floor—it was like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.

"Alexander, I—" Her voice was a broken whisper, trembling with fear and something darker. She backed away, her gaze darting between him and the corpse like she couldn't quite grasp what was real. "I didn't mean to. I swear, I didn't—"

"Shhh." He moved quickly, closing the distance between them and wrapping his arms around her before she could bolt. She stiffened, her entire body trembling, but he tightened his grip, pressing her against his chest. "It's okay, Elena. I'm here. You're safe."

"Safe?" She gave a hollow, hysterical laugh, her nails digging into his arms as she tried to push him away. "Safe? I—I killed him, Alexander. I killed him!"

"Because he was trying to hurt you," he growled, his voice rough with a mix of anger and desperation. She was spiraling—he could see it in the way her eyes kept darting around, her breath coming in shallow gasps. If he didn't get her under control, if he didn't calm her down, she'd lose herself completely. And that... that would be catastrophic. "He would have taken you, Elena. You had to defend yourself."

"No, no, no—" She shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face. "This isn't me. I'm not a... a monster—"

"You're not a monster!" he snapped, his voice harsher than he'd meant it to be. Her eyes widened, startled, and he took a deep breath, forcing himself to soften his tone. Shit. He wasn't handling this right. She was slipping further away by the second. "Elena, listen to me. You're not a monster. You were protecting yourself. Protecting us."

"Us?" She blinked, confused, her gaze finally focusing on him. "But I—"

"You're mine, Elena," he murmured, tightening his hold on her, his heart aching at the way she trembled against him. So fragile. So fucking strong. He pressed his forehead against hers, his breath warm against her skin. "Mine to protect. Mine to keep safe. And I'm never going to let anyone take you from me, you hear me?"

Her lip trembled, more tears spilling over as she clung to him, her nails biting into his flesh hard enough to draw blood. But he didn't care. He'd bleed for her. He'd fucking die for her if it meant keeping her safe. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, and he swallowed hard, his wolf growling low in his chest.

No. He couldn't think like that. Not now. Not when she was hanging on by a thread. He needed to get her calm, keep her in the dark about what had just happened. If she ever found out what she truly was... if she ever awakened her full power...

It would destroy her.

It would destroy everything.

"Elena, please." His voice was low, rough with emotion he couldn't quite hide. He cradled her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him, to see him. "Just breathe, okay? You're okay. You're safe. Just... breathe."

She shuddered, her gaze locked on his, and for a moment, he thought he'd gotten through to her. But then her eyes fluttered shut, her body going limp in his arms. Panic surged through him, his grip tightening as he felt her weight sag against him.

"Elena?" he whispered, shaking her gently. "Elena, wake up. Come on, baby, stay with me—"

But she didn't respond. She was out cold, her breathing shallow, her pulse too fucking fast. His mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through his head. What the hell had just happened? Was it the shift? The shock of what she'd done? Or was it something else entirely?

He didn't have answers. All he knew was that he couldn't let anyone see her like this. Not the pack. Not the rogues. No one. If they realized what she'd done—if they knew—

A low growl rumbled in his chest, his wolf clawing at his control. Fuck. Fuck. He had to get her out of here. He had to keep her safe. Because there was only one truth that mattered in all of this, one truth that burned through the chaos and fear and pain:

She was his.

And he'd tear the whole fucking world apart before he let anyone take her from him.

With a low snarl, Alexander scooped her up, cradling her limp form against his chest as he turned and stormed out of the house. The battle outside had ended, his wolves standing victorious among the bodies of the fallen rogues. But he barely registered it. His focus was locked on the precious, fragile creature in his arms—the woman he'd sworn to protect.

"Back to the mansion," he barked at the nearest wolf, his voice cold and hard. "Now."

They moved quickly, falling in line behind him as he made his way through the blood-soaked clearing. The night was still, the air thick with the scent of death and violence, but all he could think about was her. What she was. What she'd become.

What he'd have to do to keep her safe.

Because this... this was just the beginning.

If the Blackwater Pack knew what she was, if they'd sent those rogues specifically for her... it meant more were coming. It meant the war he'd been trying to avoid for years was about to explode. And when it did, every single one of them would be gunning for her.

He glanced down at her pale face, his heart clenching painfully.

"I'm not going to let them take you," he murmured softly, his voice a dark promise. "I don't care who they send. I don't care what I have to do. You're mine, Elena. And if anyone tries to take you from me again..."

He bared his teeth, his eyes glowing a fierce, deadly gold.

"I'll fucking kill them all."

Author's Note:

Chapter 18 delves deeper into Alexander's perspective, highlighting the emotional turmoil and possessiveness he feels for Elena. As her powers awaken, the stakes are rising, and the danger is closing in from all sides. Keep reading to see just how far Alexander is willing to go to keep her safe—and what dark truths are still lurking in the shadows.

If you're enjoying the story, please leave a comment or rating! Keep an eye out for the twists in Chapter 19!