Page 2 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)

The first thing I learned after my father died was this: the dead are a lot easier to deal with than the living. Corpses don’t argue, don’t fight, don’t steal territory out from under you. They stay in their graves and out of the way, where they belong. Unlike my brothers.

Reed’s temper is a powder keg, always one insult away from blowing up in someone’s face. And Jacob? That sly bastard’s never met a scheme he didn’t like. Together, they’re a walking advertisement for why peace was never going to last in the Black Cauldron pack.

Not that peace was my father’s style, either.

He ruled in isolation, keeping the pack quiet, tucked into the mountains like a secret no one was allowed to share.

That worked for him, and to his credit, it kept us safe.

Kept the wolves out of trouble. But it also made us weak.

What good is a pack that can’t defend its borders and expand its influence?

That’s why I’m going to change everything.

If I can survive my brothers, that is.

I shove the map off the edge of my desk, letting it hit the floor in a crumpled heap.

It doesn’t matter how many times I look at it; there’s no strategy that accounts for three brothers who’d rather stab each other than share a piece of land.

The old man didn’t do us any favors by splitting the territory like it was a pie to be divided.

Now all three of us want the whole damn thing, and no one’s willing to back down.

This was supposed to be simple. I’m the eldest, the strongest, the one with the right to lead.

I am alpha by all traditions and rights.

But nothing’s ever simple with Reed and Jacob.

They’ve spent their entire lives acting like this was some sort of competition, as if the alpha position was a prize to be won instead of a responsibility to bear.

And now, thanks to our father’s last great idea, I’m stuck playing referee between two wolves who wouldn’t know diplomacy if it bit them in the ass.

Reed’s already staked his claim to the southern border, where the forest meets the river.

It’s rich with resources and hunting grounds, but that’s not why he wants it.

He wants it because Jacob wants it, too.

But Jacob also wants the eastern cliffs, where the territory opens up to neighboring packs.

And Reed is determined to block Jacob’s every move, even if it means burning his own house down in the process.

My father used to say we were a pack of three, but brothers in name only.

He wasn’t wrong. Growing up, we fought over everything—food, training, attention.

Especially attention. Having different mothers only made things worse, dividing us into factions within our own family.

The only thing we ever agreed on was that none of us wanted to be like our father.

We just couldn’t agree on what we’d be instead.

“Are you planning to sulk all day, or do you actually have a plan?” Elder Leonard’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

I glance up, scowling. “I don’t sulk.”

Leonard snorts. “No, of course not, Theo. Scowling in the dark like a wolf with a thorn in his paw is entirely different.”

I grit my teeth, but I don’t bother arguing.

Leonard’s one of the few elders who actually has the guts to talk to me like that.

He’s been around since before any of us was born, back when my father was the alpha of this pack.

Maybe that’s why he’s the only one who hasn’t written me off as another hot-headed Hunt brother with too much ambition and not enough sense.

He steps closer as he looks over the mess I’ve made of the desk. “You’re thinking too small.”

“It’s a big territory,” I shoot back. “There’s nothing small about it.”

“You’re thinking about the wrong thing,” he corrects. “This isn’t just about land. It’s about leadership. Stability. You can’t conquer the pack if you can’t even hold it together.”

“Stability,” I echo. “You’re talking about Reed and Jacob.”

Leonard shrugs. “They’re part of the problem. But that’s not the real issue.”

I cross my arms and lean back against the desk. “Enlighten me, then. What is the real issue?”

“You.” Leonard doesn’t flinch, doesn’t blink, doesn’t stop to soften the blow. “You’re the oldest. The strongest. The one everyone expects to take the alpha position. But the pack isn’t going to follow someone who doesn’t have an anchor.”

“I don’t need an anchor. I need them to get in line.”

“You need a mate.”

My wolf stirs, bristling at the suggestion, and I shake my head before he can say anything else. “I don’t have time for this.”

“You don’t have a choice,” Leonard counters. “No one’s going to accept your claim to the alpha position without a luna. Not with the way things are now.”

I let out a growl, low and rough, but he doesn’t back down. “That’s bullshit, and you know it. My father didn’t need a mate to rule.”

“Your father ruled in isolation,” Leonard reminds me. “You want to take the Black Cauldron pack out of the shadows, do you not? Then you need a mate. Someone who can strengthen your claim, stabilize the pack, and show the others you’re not just another Hunt brother trying to grab power.”

My fingers dig into the edge of the desk, and the wood splinters under the pressure. “And where exactly am I supposed to find this perfect mate? You think I’ve got time for negotiations? For courting?”

Leonard raises an eyebrow. “Who said anything about negotiations?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

“There’s a way to make this easy. None of that posturing is necessary. Just a simple arrangement.”

“An arrangement,” I repeat, suspicion lacing every word.

Leonard nods. “I’ve got a contact. Someone who deals with… unusual circumstances. He can help you find what you need. A mate strong enough to match you, smart enough to hold her own, and bound to you in a way no one can question.”

“You make it sound like I’m buying a new weapon.”

Leonard’s lips quirk in a faint smile. “In a way, you are. A mate is a weapon for an alpha. One that can cut through the doubt, the division, and the chaos your brothers are stirring up.”

I hate how logical it sounds, how much sense he’s making.

Everything in me despises the idea. My father taught us that mates were unnecessary distractions, liabilities at best and weaknesses at worst. We were raised to think of them as something less, something beneath us.

But my father is dead, and I can feel the weight of his absence in every decision I make.

If this is what it takes to secure the pack, to take what’s rightfully mine…

“Fine,” I concede. “Do it.”

Leonard inclines his head. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

The elder is nothing if not efficient. He never wastes time with needless questions, a trait I’ve always appreciated, even if it occasionally grates on me. A nod from me was all the confirmation he needed, and from that moment, the wheels were in motion.

It takes all but a single day for the arrangements to be made, and he assures me it’ll be a seamless transaction. That’s all I need to know—at least, that’s what I told myself at the time. It’s what I keep telling myself as doubt begins to creep in, uninvited and unwanted.

When he introduces me to Malcolm and Wiley the next day, I know right away something is off.

Malcolm’s grin is too perfect, like it’s been practiced in a mirror for hours, while Wiley’s teeth flash in a way that reminds me of the snarl of a cornered predator.

They don’t seem trustworthy. Everything about them screams opportunists.

My gut says they’re the kind of men who wouldn’t hesitate to stab you in the back if it meant getting ahead.

My wolf stirs uneasily in the back of my mind, growling low, but I shove the instinct aside. This is business, nothing more.

“Theo Hunt,” Malcolm greets me, stepping forward with an exaggerated bow. “The man, the myth, the soon-to-be alpha. It’s an honor.”

I don’t bother shaking the hand he offers. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Leonard says you can help me.”

“Help,” Wiley echoes, sidling up next to Malcolm with a nod. “That’s exactly what we’re here for. You’ve got a reputation, Mr. Hunt. Strong, ambitious, the kind of leader packs talk about.”

“I don’t need flattery,” I cut in. “I need results.”

Malcolm chuckles and pats his rotund stomach. “Of course. We’re men of action ourselves. And lucky for you, we’ve got just what you’re looking for.”

The two of them launch into their pitch, talking over each other in a way that’s clearly rehearsed.

They speak in vague terms, carefully avoiding specifics, but the gist is clear: they have a solution to my problem.

A mate. One who is strong, capable, and ready to fulfill the role without any of the usual complications.

“She’s perfect,” Wiley declares, spreading his hands as if he’s presenting me with a prize. “Beautiful, loyal, and more than capable of holding her own.”

“And where exactly did you find this perfect mate?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

“Oh, we have our ways,” Malcolm replies smoothly. “Let’s just say we have an eye for talent.”

Something about the way he says it makes my stomach twist. My wolf growls again, louder this time, but I keep my expression neutral. “Why are you so eager to help me? What’s in it for you?”

Malcolm’s grin widens, if that’s even possible. “Let’s just say we believe in strong leadership. A united pack benefits everyone, doesn’t it?”

It’s a good answer. Too good. But I’m not about to walk away. Not yet.

“When do I meet her?” I ask.

“Soon,” Wiley promises. “You won’t be disappointed.”

The negotiations drag on for another hour, and by the end of it, I have more questions than answers.

Malcolm and Wiley are slippery. They dodge every attempt I make to pin them down.

But no matter how much they dance around the details, one thing is clear: this isn’t going to be a traditional arrangement.

I’m buying a mate.

The realization hits me hard, and for a moment, I consider walking away. My father’s voice echoes in my head. Mates are a liability. A weakness. You don’t need one, Theo. You’re stronger alone.

But I’m not alone anymore, am I? Reed and Jacob are circling like vultures, each one waiting for me to make a mistake. The pack is watching, waiting for me to prove I can lead. And Leonard is right—no one will accept my claim without a mate.

So I push the doubt aside and make the deal.

They bring her to me the next day in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of town.

The place is a dump—cracked concrete floors, peeling paint, and a faint smell of mildew that seeps into everything.

But the moment they shove her forward and she limps my way, the setting fades into the background. All I can see is her.

She’s smaller than I expected, almost delicate, but there’s nothing fragile about her.

She moves like a wolf pacing the edges of a cage.

Graceful but deadly while somehow looking like the most innocent creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Brown hair falls in loose waves around her face, framing features that are equal parts soft and defiant.

But it’s her eyes that hold me. Deep brown rimmed with gold, burning with a fire that even captivity hasn’t dimmed.

“This is Kai,” Malcolm explains. “She’s yours at the price we agreed upon. We even had one of our witches add a little… insurance. She’ll obey her mate’s every command. It’s just a precaution. A little guarantee to make things easier for you. Trust me, you’ll thank us later.”

Kai. The name suits her—short, pointed, unapologetic. She doesn’t look at Malcolm or Wiley, doesn’t acknowledge their presence at all. Her gaze locks on me, steady and unflinching, and there’s a challenge in it. Like she’s daring me to prove I’m worth her time.

“She’s been a bit of a handful,” Wiley adds, laughing nervously. “But nothing a wolf like you can’t handle, I’m sure.”

I ignore him and step closer, my focus narrowing to her and nothing else. For a moment, I forget why we’re here. Forget about the deal, about Malcolm and Wiley, about everything except the way my wolf surges forward, protective and possessive in a way that catches me off guard.

“Are you hurt?” The question surprises me, even as I say it. I don’t know why I care. I shouldn’t.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Her voice is steady, but there’s an edge to it, a quiet fury that makes my claws itch to extend. I don’t know what Malcolm and Wiley have done to her, but I know enough to hate them for it.

“She’s perfect, isn’t she?” Malcolm praises. “Strong, beautiful, loyal. Everything an alpha needs.”

I don’t miss the way Kai stiffens. She doesn’t like this arrangement any more than I do. But the difference is, I have a choice.

“Done,” I declare without so much as blinking. “I’ll take her.”

Malcolm and Wiley grin like they’ve just won the lottery. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

They leave quickly, like they’re almost eager to escape now that the deal is sealed. When the door slams shut behind them, Kai doesn’t move. She just watches me like she wants to rip me apart inch by inch.

Something tells me this isn’t going to be as easy as I was told.