Page 26 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)

I can feel my pulse kicking like a startled animal as we cross into East Hills territory.

For all my bravado and tough talk, I’m flat-out nervous about bringing Theo here.

It’s one thing to confess I’m from this pack and another thing entirely to parade him through the front gates, especially when he’s been on such a volatile track with his own brothers.

Add to that the secret I kept from him, and it’s a recipe for disaster.

He walks beside me with his hands jammed into his pockets.

It’s the quiet that bothers me more than anything, the silence that feels loaded with everything we haven’t said since we left River Valley.

The look in his eyes tells me he’s hurt, maybe even furious that I kept so much hidden.

I haven’t exactly done a great job explaining myself, but I wanted to do it in my home territory, where I can prove I’m not just spinning a tall tale.

As we enter the outer circle of East Hills, wolves on patrol recognize me.

Their faces flash with shock, then relief, then outright confusion when they notice who’s at my side.

One woman drops her cell phone, staring open-mouthed.

I give her a short nod, trying to look composed, even though my insides feel like they’re churning.

Theo keeps his gaze forward, clearly on high alert. He probably expects an ambush the moment we move too far in.

We pass a set of stone arches that mark the official boundary, and I see the watch post on the right. A pair of wolves I recognize from childhood stand there with their crossbows slung over their shoulders. The second they spot me, they let out startled gasps.

“Kai?” one blurts, nearly dropping his crossbow. “We thought you were dead.”

I open my mouth to respond, but a familiar voice booms from the left.

“She’s very much alive, apparently.” My brother Quincey steps around the corner, muscles tensed, wearing his well-worn beta armband.

His gaze locks on me. In two strides, he’s in front of me, grabbing me by the shoulders. “Where the hell have you been?”

My attempt at a smile feels wobbly. “Nice to see you, too, Quincey.”

“We’ve been combing every lead for months. Our witches tried spells to locate you, but they never pinned you down. You just vanished.” His grip tightens on my arms. “I thought you were gone forever. Do you have any clue what that did to me? To the pack?”

My throat constricts. “I know, and I’m sorry. Things got complicated.”

“Complicated doesn’t cover it,” he snarls. Then his gaze shifts past me, locking onto Theo. “Who’s that?”

Theo lifts his chin but doesn’t speak. This is exactly what I dreaded: two strong men posturing. I place a hand on Quincey’s wrist to remind him I’m right here.

“This is Theo,” I say carefully. “He—he’s from Black Cauldron.” I sense Theo tensing further when I don’t elaborate that he’s their alpha… sort of. I glance at him, hoping he’ll let me handle the introduction. “He came here with me, willingly.”

Quincey looks from me to Theo with open suspicion. “Why would you bring a stranger into our territory after disappearing for months? Did he kidnap you? Force you to run with him?”

At that, Theo scoffs. “I never forced her to do anything. Even though I have the absolute power to do so.” His voice is low, laced with anger.

I can practically see Quincey’s hackles rise. “He speaks for himself. Great. I’d love to know why my sister was missing for months and then shows up with some random wolf. Start talking.”

I step between them, hoping to head off a confrontation.

“Quincey, calm down. Theo didn’t kidnap me.

Malcolm and Wiley did that months ago. Remember the mission that went wrong?

After that, I ended up in Black Cauldron, and…

it’s complicated.” I’m not sure how else to tell my brother that the wolf standing beside me purchased me from said assholes, so I just go with that.

“Complicated,” Quincey repeats, eyeing Theo like he wants to tear out his throat. “I’ll bet. You vanish, and suddenly you’re running around with a wolf from that pack? Smells suspicious to me.”

Theo tenses again, likely biting back a snarky remark. I hold up a hand to stop him. If he says the wrong thing, Quincey will snap. And if Theo snaps, too, we’ll have a brawl in the middle of East Hills, which I absolutely don’t want.

“I came here because I need your help,” I tell Quincey. “There’s trouble brewing with Theo’s brothers, Jacob and Reed. It’s about territory and fights that might escalate. I figured we could—”

“Hang on,” Quincey interrupts. “I still don’t know what part he played in your disappearance. Did he buy you? Because I heard rumors about you being sold.”

Theo’s face darkens, and I cringe. “It’s not like that,” I insist. “Yes, a deal was involved, but it’s more involved than a mere purchase. Theo wasn’t even aware who Malcolm and Wiley really were when we first crossed paths.”

“That’s a flimsy excuse for someone who got my sister under his roof,” Quincey scoffs. “You better watch it, buddy,” he barks at Theo.

Theo glances at me, then steps forward. “Let me be perfectly clear: I never kidnapped your sister. She stayed with me because we were trying to figure out the best way to handle the poison in her system. I wasn’t about to force her to do anything.”

My brother scoffs. “Right, so we’re supposed to believe you’re some saint? She’s clearly not wearing cuffs right now, but that doesn’t mean you’re not controlling her some other way.”

I see the rage in Theo’s eyes, but I grab his wrist, giving it a quick squeeze. “Theo saved my life. Not just from the poison, but from a hopeless situation. I’d likely still be trapped if he hadn’t intervened.”

Quincey’s scowl deepens. “You said you needed help with his pack’s problems, but why would we do anything for him when he’s half the reason you never came home?”

I open my mouth, uncertain how to phrase this, when Theo’s temper snaps. “I am not half the reason. She chose to stay. Don’t pin this on me.”

Quincey rounds on him, looking ready to punch. “She wouldn’t choose to vanish on her family. You must’ve—”

“Enough!” I shout, pressing a hand against Quincey’s chest. “I’m not a fragile toy. No one forced me. I stayed in Black Cauldron because I was regaining my strength and trying to uphold my part of a bargain we made. And yes, I hid who I was at first. That’s my choice. Not his.”

Theo stands there, chest heaving with emotion, while Quincey clamps his jaw. I spot movement in my peripheral vision—Alec, our alpha, approaching with a small group of shifters. Great, exactly what we need: more onlookers.

Alec halts a few feet away. “Kai. You’re alive.”

I swallow, nodding. “Sorry for the scare, Alec.”

His stern gaze lingers on me, then shifts to Theo. “I see you brought company. Care to explain?”

“He’s… well, I guess you’d call him my mate.” The words nearly catch in my throat. I glance at Theo to see his jaw flex. He might not be thrilled with how I declared it, but I need them to know. “We’re here in peace. He wants to talk about his situation, and I need you to hear him out.”

Silence falls over the gathering. Quincey looks dumbfounded, and Alec’s brow arches. “Your mate? The last time I checked, you refused to even consider a partner from outside East Hills.”

I shift on my feet. “Things change. Long story. He’s not here to fight, but he will defend himself if attacked. Please don’t start something.”

Alec studies Theo, who meets his gaze head-on. “I’ll allow him to stay, for now,” Alec declares. “But if he raises a single fist against us, he’s gone.”

Theo inclines his head in a gesture of acknowledgment. A rush of relief floods my system, though it’s tinged with anxiety. This is far from a warm welcome, but at least it’s not immediate hostility. Well, no more hostility than we already have.

Alec motions for me to take Theo inside the territory. “I expect you both to keep a low profile until we figure out a plan.” Then he gives Theo a pointed look. “Step carefully. I’m not averse to kicking outsiders out.”

Theo’s lips press together. “Understood.”

With that, Alec and the watchers depart, leaving us with Quincey. My brother doesn’t budge, though. He’s still eyeing Theo like he’s deciding whether to punch him, anyway. Finally, he snaps his gaze back to me. “We’ll talk later,” he says before striding off, still fuming.

I exhale, turning to Theo. “You okay?”

He nods, though I can see the tension lining his shoulders. “I’m not about to brawl with your pack’s beta, if that’s what you’re asking. But I’m not thrilled by how everyone’s blaming me.”

I rub my forehead. “Sorry. They’re protective. This is my home, and I vanished. Give them time. Come on. I’ll show you my place.”

I lead him through a maze of houses, much more modern than anything in Black Cauldron territory, until we reach the small cabin I once called mine.

A wave of memories assaults me—quiet nights reading by the fire, sparring with Quincey in the yard, patching up stray wolves in the living area.

Now I’m bringing Theo, an outsider to East Hills.

I unlock the door and step in. The interior is still cluttered with old personal items. Dust motes swirl in the corners.

My bed’s in the far corner, a single table stands near the window, and shelves line one wall with a random collection of books and trinkets.

Unlike Theo’s place, my appliances are all stainless steel, and my countertops are marble.

I don’t miss the luxury of modern living as much as I thought I would, I’m surprised to find.

Theo follows, setting his bag down. “So, this is your place. It’s…

homey.” He looks around, noticing the small touches that say “Kai” even more clearly than the changes I made to his cabin.

A battered picture of me and Quincey in front of the packhouse rests on a shelf. He stares at it for a moment.

“Yeah, it’s my place,” I confirm, fiddling with the doorknob nervously. “I always liked being near the boundary so I could come and go for missions. I never enjoyed living in those big old mansions my brother and Alec love so much.”

He sets the photo down carefully. “You look happy in that picture.”

I swallow. “I was. That was before everything went sideways. Before I thought I could handle that mission alone.”

“So who exactly were you here, aside from ‘best warrior’?”

I chew my lip, deciding how much to divulge.

“My uncle was the alpha, but after he died, his successor took over. That’s Alec.

My parents passed in a rogue attack when I was young, so I poured my entire being into training.

I guess I needed to prove I was worthy, that I could protect everyone else so they wouldn’t meet the same fate. ”

Theo’s features soften. “I understand that drive. And your brother’s the beta?”

“Yep, Quincey,” I confirm, sinking onto a small stool by the table. “He wanted me to be his right hand, but I never liked politics. I preferred being on the front lines, busting heads if needed.”

Theo huffs a sound close to a laugh. “Sounds like you. Did your pack rely on you a lot?”

“They did,” I admit. “Which brings us to why I ran. I couldn’t leave them wondering, and I also couldn’t watch you march to your death, stuck in that plan to fight your brothers for territory. I don’t want you walking into that. My pack might help if you let them.”

“Help how? Force me to back down? Force Reed and Jacob to back down? I can’t just surrender my claim. I have a duty to my pack.”

I sigh. “I’m not asking you to surrender. I’m asking you to consider an alternative. Maybe an alliance or a diplomatic approach that doesn’t involve you beating Reed or Jacob into submission.”

His jaw works for a moment. “You think East Hills will wave a magic wand and solve my family drama?”

I snort. “Hardly. But they might bring enough leverage to the table that your brothers realize they can’t just pick fights. Or at least, we could negotiate. If East Hills stands with you, that’s a pretty big statement.”

He paces the small space, scanning the shelves stacked with old books. “So, your big plan was to run away, recruit your pack, and hope I wouldn’t do anything stupid while you were gone? You didn’t think I’d worry when I found you missing?”

“I knew you’d freak out, but I had no choice. You were so obsessed with that plan, ignoring every warning I gave you. My only hope was to get help. I didn’t want to do it behind your back, but I was out of options.”

“You should’ve told me. I might’ve come with you willingly.”

“Would you, though? You were so certain your plan was the only way.”

He rubs his temple. “Okay, maybe I wouldn’t have. But you could’ve tried.”

We let the moment hang between us, along with the weight of our mutual regrets. Finally, he crosses the room and sits on the bed. “What now? Alec might let me stay, but I doubt he trusts me. Quincey wants my head on a pike, and half your pack probably thinks I’m a kidnapper.”

I take a breath, forcing calm. “Now we see if my pack can help you. I’ll talk to Alec, to the others.

We might have to lay out a negotiation plan, or at least gather enough support that your brothers realize attacking you isn’t a quick victory.

But we can’t do that if you keep doubling down on a battle plan.

Show them you’re open to a nonviolent solution. ”

“And if that fails?”

“Then at least I tried. At least we both tried, instead of charging into a bloodbath.”

He exhales, a slow, measured sound. “Fine. I’ll attempt to keep an open mind, for your sake.”

Relief floods me, even though I know this is only the beginning. My wolf aches at how complicated everything’s become, but I remind myself that we’re alive, and we’re here together. That counts for something.

I stand, stepping closer. “Thank you,” I tell him, letting my hand rest on his shoulder. He looks at me, and his expression is torn between anger, sorrow, and that same longing I’ve seen before. My heart clenches at the swirl of emotions in his eyes.

We linger in that fragile moment. There are no immediate answers, but a shared understanding that we both want to find a way out of this mess without losing each other. It might be impossible, but I’m sure as hell going to try.