Page 33 of Brutal Alpha’s Sold Mate (Starfire Hollow Alphas #4)

I wake up thinking about my brothers again.

It’s barely dawn, and already they’ve barged into my thoughts like unwanted guests, pushing aside the calm I’ve worked so hard to cultivate these last few months.

I roll onto my back, staring at the beams overhead, wondering if Reed is plotting a border raid or if Jacob is sweet-talking more rogues into his corner.

It’s an old worry, one I’ve carried for years.

The difference now is that I’m not alone in facing it.

I glance over and see Kai curled at my side.

She brought more than her fierce spirit when she arrived.

She also brought an alliance that’s been blossoming across three packs, plus a tangible sense of stability I never thought I’d feel again.

I can’t imagine returning to the days when I wanted to solve everything through brute force, or when I believed conquering my brothers was the only route to securing my territory.

That old me feels like a ghost. I’m still proud, still stubborn, but less consumed by that tunnel vision.

Strengthening ties with East Hills, Red Arrow, and River Valley packs has taken a lot of my time, but it’s worth it.

Instead of preparing for war, I’ve been sharing resources, training with their watchers, and even hosting a few of their witches at my place.

They’re studying ways to detect demon activity sooner, hoping to prevent another fiasco like the one Malcolm and Wiley stirred up.

If someone told me a year ago I’d be entertaining witches from rival packs, I’d have laughed them out of my territory. Now, it’s our new normal.

My wolf stirs, urging me to get out of bed and make the rounds.

The day’s schedule includes a meeting with some Red Arrow representatives about a joint demon-scouting patrol.

I sigh, ignoring the urge to brood, and slip from the bed without waking Kai.

She’s been traveling a lot for alliance talks, and I figure she deserves every extra minute of rest she can grab. I toss on a shirt and step outside.

The morning light reveals the subtle changes we’ve made to my territory.

My watchers have put up a few new cabins to host traveling shifters, and we’ve widened some trails to handle bigger patrol groups.

A few of my wolves greet me, each wearing a polite smile that says they’re adjusting to our alliances.

The tension that once tainted my interactions with them—born of my single-minded quest to dominate everything—has softened.

I chat briefly with an East Hills shifter who stayed overnight to monitor rumors about demons crossing our borders.

She reports no sightings, though stray rogues mention Reed sniffing around the southern perimeter.

That worry returns, but I remind myself we have patrols in place.

Reed can test my patience, but I’m not about to let him disrupt the balance we’ve worked so hard to build.

I find a quiet spot near the main cabin to think.

Memories swirl: the first time I met Kai, the night she almost caved my ribcage in a spar, the morning I woke up realizing I’d trade everything to keep her safe.

Now we lie in bed talking about treaties and demon probes instead of planning a conquest. My younger self wouldn’t recognize me.

Before my thoughts spiral, I sense movement behind me. Kai appears, her hair tousled and her eyes bright with the same energy that first drew me in. “You snuck off,” she complains. “Anything wrong?”

“Nothing urgent. I was just checking on the watchers.”

She studies my face. “You’re worried about your brothers again, right?”

My mouth quirks in a half-smile. “It’s a habit I can’t break. Reed’s been sniffing around the border, and Jacob’s probably up to something devious. I’m almost tired of hearing their names in my head.”

She sets a hand on my shoulder, and her warmth steadies me. “They’ll keep testing you, but you’re not the same man who tried to conquer them all by brute force. If they come at you, you have allies now. Better ones than ever.”

I let out a low chuckle. “It still feels foreign, trusting other packs. But seeing how we banded together to stop Malcolm and Wiley showed me I’ve been barking up the wrong tree. I want a life that doesn’t revolve around crushing anyone who challenges me.”

She slides her fingers through mine. “A few months ago, I would’ve called you a liar for saying that. Now, I believe you.”

We stroll across the clearing, nodding to a River Valley wolf who passes, carrying a basket of supplies.

It’s still strange watching outsiders move so freely on what was once my closed-off land, but I can’t deny it makes everything feel more connected.

Kai rubs her thumb over my knuckles, pulling me from my musings.

“Speaking of bigger threats,” she says, “the witches want to expand their wards in case demon activity creeps closer. They asked if you’d supply more resources. They figure your pines are perfect for the magical components they need.”

My wolf bristles at outsiders harvesting from our forests, but I remind myself that we’re forging a unified front. “They can have what they need if they keep me informed. I’m not letting them strip my land without oversight.”

She grins. “Fair enough. I’ll tell them we’ll do a shared patrol to manage the resource collection. Happy compromise?”

I nod. “Deal.”

After finalizing the witches’ request, we join a handful of watchers at the training field.

We can’t stay still, not when demons might surface again or my brothers might try something reckless.

The field is alive with energy. Shifters from multiple packs spar, practicing group maneuvers.

I offer tips, feeling a twinge of satisfaction that they listen without hesitation.

Kai leaps into a demonstration, tossing one of my watchers onto his back with a fluid twist. He groans, then laughs, impressed by her technique.

I watch her in action, my heart thrumming with contentment. Every day she’s here, my territory feels more vibrant, more open to possibility. She swings around, catches me staring, and cocks an eyebrow. I can’t help but grin. She rolls her eyes but gives me a tiny smile back.

When training winds down, we drift back toward the main cabins.

An East Hills representative stops us, handing me a letter from Alec with updates on demon sightings near their region.

Nothing definitive, but rumors swirl about monstrous tracks along old forest routes.

My pulse ticks up. The threat isn’t gone.

I read the note, share a nod with Kai, and store it in my pocket. We’ll discuss it with the witches tomorrow.

As evening settles, we gather on the cabin’s porch, watching shifters head off for night patrol.

The moon rises, painting everything in a soft glow.

Kai leans against me, and her presence makes the heaviness of the day fade.

I brush a hand across her shoulder, enjoying the quiet.

For the first time in a long stretch, I’m content, even if worry about Reed and Jacob lurks at the edges of my mind.

She steps inside, gesturing for me to follow. “Don’t brood out there all night,” she teases. “I have something else in mind.”

A spark of anticipation crackles through me. I latch the door behind me, meeting her gaze in the dim lantern glow. She gives me a mischievous grin and trails a hand down my arm. “We’ve been so busy playing diplomat and demon hunter, we haven’t had a minute to ourselves.”

Heat rushes through my veins. “You’re absolutely right. All these alliances and training sessions can wait.”

She slides her arms around my neck, pressing herself against me. My heart kicks into overdrive, every muscle primed with yearning. I lower my head, brushing my lips over hers. The tension that built all day unspools in a wave of longing, and I tug her closer, deepening the kiss.

We move through the small living area, navigating around a stack of maps and leftover supplies.

Kai laughs against my mouth when I nearly trip over a fruit basket someone from River Valley sent.

“If we keep hosting half the packs in the region, we’ll need a bigger place,” she quips between heated kisses.

She hooks her legs around my waist. I carry her to the bedroom, ignoring the swirl of documents scattered on the table. That can wait.

When she slides her fingers through my hair, capturing my mouth again, my mind empties of everything but the feel of her skin and the electric current thrumming between us.

I lay her on the bed gently, lowering myself beside her.

We exchange a look that holds promises of unity far deeper than any alliance treaty.

I kiss her jaw, her neck, feeling the soft hitch of her breath.

Her hands roam over my back, tracing old scars.

I press closer, letting the weight of my body settle against hers, savoring every point of contact.

She arches under me, meeting each movement with a hunger that matches my own, and I realize how much I craved this closeness in the thick of all the negotiations and demon hunts.

Our breathing grows ragged, and quiet gasps punctuate the hush. She grips my shoulders, pulling me into a heated kiss that leaves me dizzy. I murmur her name against her lips, a vow that I’ll protect what we’ve built together.

***

Later, we lie tangled in the sheets, breath mingling as we surface from that private world. My heart still pounds, but now it’s a steady, content rhythm rather than the frantic beat of battle. Kai nestles against me, trailing lazy fingers across my chest.

“I still can’t believe how far you’ve come. A few months ago, you were ready to bulldoze your brothers and plant your flag on their territory.”

I brush a lock of hair from her face, admiring the reflection of moonlight dancing in her eyes. “I was convinced that was the only way. Then a certain stubborn she-wolf knocked sense into me.”

She smirks. “We’re a team now, right? You, me, and a few witches who want to keep demons at bay.”

I grin at the mental image. “And a bunch of shifters from every pack under the sun, plus my own rebellious siblings lurking in the background. But yes, a team.”

She tilts her head. “Speaking of them, are you truly at peace, knowing they might still cause trouble?”

I sigh, sliding an arm around her waist. “I’m not at peace, but I’m ready. If they step out of line, I’ll deal with it, hopefully without plunging into a brother-killing spree. If demons try to slither in again, we’ll unite and block them. That’s all I can do—stay prepared and trust our allies.”

She gives a satisfied nod before resting her head on my shoulder. “As long as you keep that perspective, I’ll support you.”

I tighten my hold on her, pressing a kiss to her temple. “We’ll face it all together. And if it ever gets too much, we’ll grab the witches, form a cross-pack strike squad, and show any demon or rogue sibling who’s boss.”

She laughs, a soft, musical sound that warms every corner of my soul.

Silence settles for a moment; not the tense hush of old grudges, but a gentle calm that speaks of shared trust. I breathe in the comforting scent of her skin, thinking about how different life is from the day we met.

I used to plan each morning around how to outmaneuver Reed or corner Jacob.

Now I think about forging a future that includes cooperation, building a stable foundation so that if demons knock at our door again, we won’t fight alone.

“Don’t disappear on me,” she whispers. “I spent too long missing you once you left East Hills.”

“Never again,” I promise, hugging her close. “We have too many alliances to manage, plus I’m not letting go of you a second time.”

She grins, relaxing fully into my arms. We lie there, listening to the quiet of the night and feeling each other’s heartbeat.

I picture a tomorrow where maybe Reed or Jacob makes a move, or a new demon threat emerges.

The difference is, I won’t face it driven by anger or desperation.

I’ll face it with the woman I love by my side, bolstered by a network of packs who trust me enough to follow my lead.

*****

THE END