Chapter 11

Over the next few days, I tried to settle back into my normal life.

James and I grew closer, finding solace in each other’s company despite the unspoken fear of Zara’s looming influence and Aiden’s lingering presence.

The pack felt tense, as if everyone was on edge, waiting for something to tip the scales.

But just when I thought things might finally settle, an unexpected visitor arrived at the packhouse, The Alpha King, the one who had a longstanding alliance with ours.

I first saw him during a training session. He was tall, with a rugged face and sharp, calculating eyes that scanned the grounds as if assessing everything at once.

When his gaze landed on me, something about the way he stared made my skin prickle with unease.

Later that evening, I heard whispers circulating among the other pack members about his arrival.

Apparently, he was here to discuss territory negotiations, something that hadn’t been an issue before now.

Tensions were high in the pack, and rumors about a rogue uprising were only making things worse.

James and I discussed it late into the night, but neither of us could shake the feeling that this Alpha King’s visit was more than it seemed.

The following day, I was summoned to meet with Aiden, the visiting Alpha King, and Zara.

Nervous but determined to stay strong, I made my way to the main hall, where they were already waiting.

As soon as I entered, the visitor’s gaze fixed on me, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “So, you’re the omega who’s causing all this trouble.”

The way he said it made my skin crawl, but I squared my shoulders and met his gaze evenly. “I’m not causing any trouble, Alpha King. I’m simply living my life.”

Aiden’s expression was tight, his eyes flashing with a warning as he looked between us. “Alpha Kane, this is Layla. She’s an important member of our pack.”

“Is that so?” Kane’s gaze lingered on me, something calculating in his eyes. “I’ve heard rumors of an unusual bond…”

I felt Zara’s eyes on me, her glare sharp enough to cut glass, but I refused to look away from Kane. “Whatever you’ve heard, Alpha, it’s none of your concern.”

“Hmm.” Kane chuckled, crossing his arms. “Interesting. You have spirit, I’ll give you that.”

Aiden’s jaw tightened. “Kane, I think we’ve discussed everything we needed to. Layla has no part in this conversation.”

But Kane only smirked, his gaze still fixed on me. “Oh, I think she might. I have a proposal, one that could benefit both our packs.” He glanced at Aiden. “How about an alliance by getting her to go back with me?”

I froze, shock flooding through me.

The room fell silent as his words hung in the air.

Aiden’s eyes flared, and for a moment, I saw the raw fury simmering beneath his calm exterior. “Layla is not up for negotiation,” he said through gritted teeth.

But Kane simply shrugged. “Consider it, Aiden. An omega like her could bring a unique strength to my pack. And if she’s a complication for you here, well…” He trailed off, letting the implication linger.

The weight of his proposal settled over me, icy and inescapable.

I glanced at Aiden, trying to read his reaction, but his expression was a mask of restraint.

“Layla isn’t a pawn,” Aiden finally replied, his voice low and dangerous. “And I’ll thank you to remember that.”

But as I looked around the room, I realized that my future was no longer entirely my own.

In a world of Alphas, where power and alliances dictated every decision, I was about to become a bargaining chip.

The silence in the room was stifling, as if every ounce of air had been drawn out by the weight of Alpha Kane’s proposal.

My pulse thudded in my ears, and I felt every eye on me, waiting, as though I were on display.

This wasn’t just a conversation, it was a negotiation that threatened to change my entire life.

Kane’s stare was calculating, his gaze moving over me with a look that made my skin crawl.

Aiden’s fury simmered beneath his calm exterior. His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might crack.

The raw possessiveness and anger in his eyes betrayed the thin control he maintained. But what was worse was the sick feeling in my stomach when I realized just how vulnerable I truly was, an omega, tethered to a rejected bond, and now offered as a bargaining chip by a stranger.

Zara watched from the side with a calculated expression, her eyes flicking between me and Aiden. Her lips twisted in a barely concealed smirk, as though the idea of me being removed from the pack had already entertained her for some time.

If Kane took me away, I would be no more than a distant memory, the irritating problem in her path to becoming Luna, neatly solved.

Aiden finally broke the silence, his voice cold. “Layla is an important member of this pack, Kane, and she’s not some piece of property to be traded.”

Kane chuckled, a sound devoid of humor. “Important? She’s an omega, Aiden. And we both know omegas often… complicate things. I see it on your face. You may refuse now, but think carefully. A strengthened alliance with my pack would solve a lot of our shared issues. A bond between her and my pack could create a stabilizing force.”

“A stabilizing force?” I echoed, my voice cutting through the tension. I could feel my hands trembling, but I refused to let my fear show. “I am not a bargaining tool, and I certainly don’t need an alliance to ‘stabilize’ me.”

Kane’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his lips curling into an amused smile. “You’ve got a fire in you, Layla. Maybe that’s why Aiden’s been so reluctant to break the bond fully. But I think a little fire could be useful.”

Aiden’s hand shot out, placing himself between Kane and me. “She is not interested,” he said sharply, his voice almost a growl. “And you’re crossing a line.”

Kane raised his hands in a mocking show of surrender. “Fine, fine. But think it over, Aiden. You may find that it’s a choice you don’t want to overlook.” His gaze shifted to me one last time, lingering. “We’ll speak again, omega.”

Without another word, he turned and strode out of the room.

The heavy door closed behind him, leaving silence in his wake.

The tension that remained was thick and nearly unbearable.

I couldn’t bring myself to look at Aiden. I felt like I was going to suffocate if I stayed in that room a second longer. Without another word, I turned and left, not bothering to see if anyone followed.