The training gym echoed with the sound of fists hitting padded targets and the dull thuds of boots on the mat. Aiden moved like a predator, swift, controlled, lethal, each strike aimed with surgical precision. But in his mind, it wasn't his beta standing in front of him.
It was Alpha Gunnar.
His beta barely managed to block a vicious hook before Aiden's elbow came down toward his collarbone. He jumped back, narrowly avoiding what would've been a bone-cracking hit.
"Do you want to kill me, Aiden?!" the beta barked, chest heaving.
Aiden froze mid-motion, his own breath harsh and ragged.
"You're doing it again," his beta said, pointing at him like he'd caught him red-handed. "I'm not Alpha Gunnar. You keep training like this, and one day you'll end up killing me. Actually—" he tossed his gloves aside. "I think I'm done being your punching bag for today."
Aiden's icy blue eyes narrowed into slits. "If you weren't my friend, Ellie, I'd punish you for speaking to me like that."
Ellie rolled his eyes. He'd known Aiden too long to be fazed by that cold, razor-edged voice. The Alpha liked to keep everyone at arm's length, building walls so high even the pack didn't bother climbing them. But Ellie? He knew exactly what the man was like beneath all that frost. He just wished Aiden would ease up on himself before he burned out.
"See, Aiden—"
"Alpha," Aiden cut in.
"Huh?"
"Alpha Aiden," he corrected, voice like ice over steel. "Always add it. I'm your Alpha. Never forget that." He strode toward the bench by the wall, snatched up a water bottle, and twisted the cap with deliberate slowness. His damp jet-black hair clung to his forehead, the sheen of sweat making his sharp jawline even more defined. Those glacier-blue eyes, cool and unyielding, didn't so much as blink while he drank.
"Seriously?" Ellie asked, incredulous. "Whatever I call you doesn't change the fact you're my Alpha and will forever be my Alpha."
Aiden scoffed, capping the bottle with a snap of his wrist.
He stood. "Let's go again."
"No damn way." Ellie took a cautious step back.
"You frustrating coward." Aiden's voice was sharp enough to cut. "Is that how you plan to serve me as my beta — running from fights? Maybe it's time I got a new beta."
"Come on, Aiden," Ellie said, deliberately ignoring the "Alpha" correction this time. "You know how crazy you get when—"
"Are you calling me crazy?" Aiden's gaze sharpened, and he took a step forward, muscles coiling like he was ready to pounce.
"Wait, wait!" Ellie backed up, hands raised in mock surrender.
"Alpha!" a voice called from behind them, breaking the tension.
Aiden's head snapped toward the newcomer, his stare cold enough to freeze blood. Ellie let out a quiet sigh of relief, muttering, "Thank the goddess."
"What do you want?" Aiden snapped.
The young man standing at the doorway looked barely old enough to shave, with sandy hair sticking up at odd angles. He shifted nervously from foot to foot, clutching something in his hands.
"A letter… arrived from the council," he stammered, holding it out with trembling fingers.
Aiden's frown deepened. The word council alone was enough to make his jaw tick. His gaze flicked toward Ellie, who gave a silent nod and stepped forward to take it.
"You can go now, Cody," Ellie said.
Cody bobbed his head to both of them before practically sprinting out of the gym.
"You really need to take it easy on them, you know," Ellie said, holding the envelope out.
"What's the letter about?" Aiden asked flatly. "I'm not touching that."
Ellie's brows raised. "It's a letter, not a time bomb."
"Open the letter, not a time bomb then," Aiden replied.
Ellie blinked. "Is that a joke? Did you just try to be funny?"
He smirked. "Open the damn letter, Beta."
"Aye aye, Alpha." Ellie tore the envelope open and started reading through it, his eyes skimming the lines while Aiden just stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable and cold.
After finishing, Ellie exhaled — long and deliberate.
"What does it say?" Aiden asked.
Ellie drew out another slow breath on purpose. "You know… you could've just read it yourself."
Aiden's glare darkened.
"Alright," Ellie said quickly. "It says the council's calling an emergency meeting. They didn't say much — just that all Alphas must attend."
Aiden's jaw ticked, his mood souring instantly. He hated those meetings. It meant seeing him, and the thought alone made his blood pressure rise.
"I'm no longer in the mood to train," Aiden muttered.
Ellie's lips twitched into a smirk — clearly pleased, but Aiden didn't notice. He grabbed a towel and started walking toward the exit.
"Come on, it's just a meeting. I'll be there with you," Ellie called after him, trailing close.
"I need time alone, Ellie," Aiden said without looking back.
"Seriously, Aid—"
"Ellie!" Aiden snapped, turning on his beta.
Ellie froze, eyes widening. "Oh no… that's your serious face."
Aiden just raised a brow, exhaled, and turned away, walking out of the gym. Ellie stayed rooted for a moment, scratching the back of his head before muttering, "I guess I'll just…" He drifted toward the punching bag.
*******
Aiden made his way toward the pack house, his steps slow but radiating authority. Every pack member in the corridor quickly moved out of his way, eyes lowered, bodies angled to avoid brushing against him. His presence didn't just command respect—it wrung fear from their bones.
As he reached the staircase that will lead him to his suits, sudden arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
Aiden didn't even turn. Only one person in this entire pack would dare — Ceryth, the former beta's daughter.
"Get your hands off me, Ryth," Aiden said through clenched teeth.
She let go with a playful giggle, but when he tried to step forward, she blocked his path. "Haven't seen you all day."
This is getting too damn annoying, he thought. "I don't have time for this."
"Come on, Aiden. You don't make much time for me anymore."
"Ryth," his voice dropped, cold as ice, "I don't have time for this. Get out of my way — and this will be your last warning. Don't ever call my name without adding the Alpha title to it."
Ceryth pouted. "But Ai... Alpha," she corrected quickly, "I'm just..."
"Enough." His tone cut through her words. "Stop acting this way with me. I'm not your mate, and we're not even sure I will be. Until the mating ceremony confirms it, don't ever touch me without my permission."
"Alpha…" she said, voice cracking like she might cry.
"Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Alpha," she murmured.
He brushed past her, stomping up to the third floor, irritation simmering hot. If the moon goddess actually gave him Ceryth as a mate, she'd be adding one more name to his long list of people who pissed him off.
Reaching his door, he shoved the black handle down and stepped inside — then paused.
A battered mop leaned against the wall, a rusted bucket on the floor beside it. No cleaner in sight. His brows furrowed.
Then — hmm, hmm — a muffled sound, like someone chewing. Not just chewing — devouring.
Following it, he turned the corner and found a battered-looking Omega, munching on his apples. The fruit wasn't what caught his attention. It was the fact she looked like she shouldn't even be standing.
She swallowed the last bite in her hand like it was the only food she'd seen in days, then reached for the final apple on the plate. She lifted it to her lips...
"What do you think you're doing?" Aiden's voice cut through the room.