Page 1 of My Ruthless Alpha (Alpha Outlaws Club #5)

The beat of my heart in my ears nearly drowned out my daughter's quiet playing in the living room. She chattered to herself, switching between stacking blocks and moving her dolls around, giving them voices unique to her imaginary scenarios.

Despite how I felt inside, I sat nearby, trying to focus on the calm scene in front of me.

Watching how Margo played so creatively without a care in the world always warmed my heart. How she was able to do as kids should, and how she was completely unaware of the turmoil around us. The rising tensions in our pack and how I was terrified of how it would affect us both.

At that moment, I was a stark contrast to her carefree playing, even if I had never voiced it.

Instead, I watched, pulling gentle smiles for her whenever she glanced over at me as if checking in to make sure I was still present…still paying attention.

However hard I tried, my mind just wasn’t there. It was far away, and in its absence was the lingering dread I knew I’d have to face eventually.

Regardless of my mental state, I swore to myself that I wouldn’t let Margo know. I’d keep her in the dark for as long as I could, all with the hope of shielding her from the hard truths I didn’t want to bring her down.

She was blissfully unaware, and that was how I wanted her to remain—for her sake.

After a moment, I glanced at my phone, checking again for new messages.

I didn’t know what I was waiting on or who I was hoping to hear from, but it became a habit I was struggling to shake.

That anxious, almost expectant reaction started when our previous alpha was killed. It happened only a few months ago, and ever since then, the pack seemed to be hanging in the balance.

It happened in a vicious, gruesome way that none of us expected.

Cyrus and his Luna were cornered by a young, power-hungry omega turned lone wolf who wanted what they had, and without warning, he killed them both.

That was when Colton Ashton assumed the alpha title and claimed the pack as his own. He has been holding everyone hostage, bolstered by the status he took by force.

Cyrus was well respected as our leader, and our pack only ever knew peace under him. Because of our respect for him, many of us have been unsettled ever since, not wanting to follow Colton but finding it nearly impossible to resist the call to do exactly that.

It took immense willpower for any subordinate shifter to resist the allure of an alpha, especially one who managed to gain their title via challenge, which made the situation even more difficult.

Because of how Colton came to power, many of us were still on edge, wondering what kind of leader he was and what he hoped to achieve with us. However, some didn’t resist and gave him their complete support.

Either way, things hadn’t been the same ever since Colton became alpha, and it was hard to shake the unease.

Because of that, I found myself wondering when the other shoe would drop—when I’d get a message detailing the next heinous thing he’d done…would he torment us just because he could?

I didn’t want to be so uneasy, especially not around Margo. I was the only parent figure in her life, and I didn’t want her childhood clouded by the dark, awful things around us.

She meant the world to me, and I couldn’t let our current situation affect her.

It was bad enough that she didn’t know her father…and I didn’t know how to navigate that topic yet. That uncharted territory seemed so daunting that I usually left that answer open-ended if she ever asked me about it.

Losing myself in thought, I jolted back to the present as her block tower tipped over and hit the floor. Margo wore a big smile and got up to grab a different toy from across the room.

I jumped as the doorbell rang, shattering any lingering concerns. I threw Margo a reassuring smile as I headed for the door.

Pulling it open, a flicker of relief moved through me when I found my closest friend standing there, glad to see a face I could rely on.

But the moment I caught that grave expression engraved on Sydney’s face, my heart squeezed.

That wasn’t what I was hoping to see. Not when my nerves were already frayed, and I struggled to keep myself steady while worry threatened to consume me.

Sydney let go of a breath and moved inside, carefully closing the door behind her. I could only watch, leaving room for her to come in as I crossed my arms.

“What’s going on?” I asked softly, worried about the remorse in her eyes. “That look on your face…something’s happening.”

Looking away for a moment, her green eyes returned to mine. “Sorry for showing up like this…but Colton wants to see you. He sent me here to tell you.”

My heart nearly stopped at that, eyes widening as a flicker of anxiety moved through me. “…He what?”

She sighed, troubled expression deepening. “He’s requesting for you to leave Margo here while you go to him…I think you know why.”

I swallowed hard as it felt like thorns punctured my lungs, leaving my head to run through hundreds of questions at once. I couldn’t even find the words, only stared at Sydney, feeling lost. Some sort of guidance to ease how deeply that idea terrified me.

To my dismay, I knew exactly what she was talking about. I already knew what Colton wanted.

Ever since he took over leading the pack, he made his interest incredibly clear…and given how he didn’t have a Luna yet, it was obvious that he would eventually be looking for one.

While I should be flattered to be wanted by an alpha, I didn’t want him that way, and I knew I never would.

Even if it wasn’t out of the ordinary for a new alpha to fight for and win his title, the way Colton came in so suddenly and just took it…brutally killing the old alpha and his Luna in one shot…it didn’t sit right with me. Especially not with how respected the two of them had been.

His arrival shook everything up, making it difficult to look past that.

I didn’t even want him as an alpha…it was out of the question for me to want him as a mate.

At the thought of it, a wave of overwhelm hit me at once, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“To make matters worse, I heard rumors that he’s planning on announcing you as his mate and Luna to the pack soon,” Sydney added while her eyes expressed every regret she had on my behalf. “He’ll expect you to go along with it regardless of what you want.”

That information felt like a stake right to the chest, and I could’ve sworn my heart stopped on impact.

“I can’t…” I said weakly, looking at Sydney like she was the one person who might be able to keep my sanity intact. “If he wants me as his mate, he won’t want Margo in the picture at all. Dealing with someone else’s child would hurt his image and likely his pride...I can’t just abandon her, but he’ll expect me to. And with him being the alpha…”

“I know,” Sydney said with remorse and sadness in her voice as she put a calming hand against my arm. She sighed and did her best to be strong when I couldn’t be. “He’s the alpha, and it would be next to impossible to say no…especially knowing him.”

Letting go of a shattered breath, I felt as the tears gathered in my eyes. “The thought of anything happening to Margo…of me having to give her up all for a man I don’t want…I can’t handle it. I can’t stand it.”

“And you shouldn’t have to,” she reaffirmed me, well aware of how important my daughter was to me. She had been there for me every step of the way when it came to my pregnancy and giving birth, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it all without her as my rock. “You shouldn’t have to give her up for anyone. No decent alpha would expect that of you.”

Her words only validated my thinking, and the more I lingered on the idea of being without my little girl, the more it became apparent that I could never do it. I would go insane. I would become a shell of myself, and I’d never get that piece of me back again.

Margo was my everything, and I’d be damned if I let anyone take her away from me.

Even if that submissive part of my wolf was telling me to stay and do whatever my alpha asked, it wasn’t as loud as the maternal instinct within me screaming to put my own life on the line before I could even consider giving up on her.

It didn’t matter. The desire to appease and prove my worth in the pack meant nothing if my daughter couldn’t be around.

“I can’t stay…I have to leave,” I said, nearly shaking from how terrified and angry I felt. “I need to take Margo and go before he does anything.”

While Sydney’s eyes reflected a deep sadness, I could still see her deeply rooted understanding. She knew better than anyone how critical that decision was for me.

“Of course,” she murmured, expression sad as she thought it over. Regardless of that fact, she gave me a look of determination that helped to spur me on. Gently, she put her hands on my arms and looked at me straight-on. “You just need to be prepared for the outcome…if you run and deny Colton despite his intentions to name you his mate and Luna, there will be consequences. You won’t be able to come back here, and there’s a high chance he won’t let it go. You know how his pride is.”

Swallowing hard, I was well aware of what she meant. Pulling in a brave breath, I nodded. “I know…but it’s a risk I have to take. Regardless of how he might retaliate, I need to get Margo away from here.”

“Do what you need to. I’ll cover for you…when he asks me, I’ll say you were already gone and act like we never talked about this.”

Despite the spiking anxiety within me, her reassurance and help allowed me to breathe a little easier.

“Thank you…really. It means a lot to me,” I said, wasting no time pulling her in for a hug. “I’ll miss you.”

The shakiness in her voice gave away how much it affected her, too, as she embraced me. “I’ll miss you too…it won’t be the same without you two here, but I understand. Protect your little girl.”

After giving her a gentle squeeze and pulling back, I let go of another deep breath and wiped my eyes. “I will. Above all else, I’ll keep her safe.”

Sydney pulled a smile for me through the tears, and she nodded. “All right…get ready to go. I should get out of here before my scent lingers too long.”

Aware that time wasn’t on my side, I snapped back to the present and pulled away to grab whatever we needed. Sydney slipped out of the house, and as much as I wanted to spend more time with her before leaving, I knew it wasn’t possible.

I quickly put whatever I could into a bag and did my best to prioritize. With my focus narrowed on getting as far away as possible, I packed light, and by the time I finished, I was so strung out that I could hardly think.

Instead, I told Margo we were going on a quick trip, scooped her up, and left the house.

Luckily, the grounds were quiet as I ducked out through the trees and stayed as far away from any main paths or roads as I could.

Knowing I couldn’t risk being seen, I held Margo against me, urged her to stay quiet, and ran as fast as I could with her in my arms.

I didn’t know how long I’d be able to maintain it, but regardless of my strength, I knew I couldn’t waver. For Margo, I couldn’t let myself get caught.

I wasn’t prepared to spend my life without her in it, and I certainly wasn’t going to let Colton take me as his mate.