Page 24 of Cruel Alpha: Season Two
It’s beentwenty-four hours and there’s absolutely no reasoning with Annalise.
Not since last night have I been able to pull even a single word out of her. She uttered a firm, “Go,” as she slipped back into her underwear and not-so-politely instructed me to leave her bedroom. Now, tonight, she wouldn’t even look my way as she stood beside me in the ballroom.
It would’ve been nice if we could’ve suffered through Ms. Dawson’s introductionstogether, but it seems I’m on my own, proving that Annalise is true to her word.
She is, indeed, as she so bluntly stated… ‘still pissed’.
I haven’t heard a single word that’s left Creed’s mouth since he, Dimitri, and Archibald stepped foot inside my office this evening. I believe the gist of their being here is to debrief after the event, but there’s no point. This whole process—the new mates, adding to the household—is not only ruining what sliver of a chance I have at actually making Annalise happy, it’s also ruining my life.
It's times like this, when my duty to the clan outweighs my own personal desires, that I question whether it’s even worth it. But then I remember my father’s and grandfather’s sacrifices, and I sober up. While it would be nice to put my own needs first, I will always do what’s best for Clan Centauri.
Always.
No matter the cost.
My thoughts shift back to the introductions, and I can’t even recall a single name or face other than Ms. Dawson’s. Not one candidate stood out or impressed me. It has nothing to do with their looks or personalities not being up to snuff. They simply aren’t what I want.
They aren’t her.
They aren’t…Annalise.
I imagine trying to assimilate these women into the estate. The idea of holding a conversation with them is hard enough, but the thought of sharing my bed with strangers is something I can’t even fathom.
“Am I speaking too fast?” Creed asks, thinkinghe’sthe reason I’ve just buried my face in my hands and groaned.
“No. Continue. Please.”
He picks up where he left off, and I force myself to at leastlooklike I’m paying attention. Those in my circle not privy to the details of my medical condition view my circumstance as an audacious display of masculinity. But what theydon’tknow is that bringing in multiple mates is actually a reminder of my weakness, my own impending mortality that I can’t outrun.
That myfathercouldn’t outrun.
“Before we conclude, there’s one last thing I’d like to bring to the table,” Creed says, and the gravity in his tone has me shoving my own shit aside to actually listen.
“What is it?”
“Well,” he says, pausing to take a breath, “as you know, we launched a taskforce whose sole focus is on finding out whatever they can about the faction. And the latest update we received is that there are frequent underground meetings being held. Almost weekly, in fact,” he adds. “The agenda seems to be pretty straight forward, and it’s always the same. They aim to overthrow the High Chamber and overhaul the clan’s system, start fresh with their own ideals in place.”
“So, they’re gettingmoreorganized. Fucking perfect,” I sigh. “Are we any closer to bringing them down?”
“So far, our team has only observed fringe groups that have cropped up here and there. They mostly just seem to idolize the principles of the actual faction. Basically, they’re wannabes, posers playing house,” Creed says. “So, no insight into who the real key players are, but we’re working on it.”
“I’m guessing the odds of these fringe groups having any clue who’s really behind all this is pretty slim?”
Creed nods. “Miniscule, actually. But what wedoknow is the name the group seems to be going by.”
“Which is?”
“Order of the Death Adder,” Creed answers.
“If you ask me, it’s time we involve Knox,” Dimitri speaks up. As much as I wish he was wrong, the situation has progressed too far and too quickly not to get our clan general, Knox Carrington, involved.
“Agreed. Arrange a meeting with him in the morning.”
Dimitri nods, acknowledging my order.
“Gentlemen, I think it may be time we admit what involving General Carrington truly means,” Archibald says, and there’s no missing the solemnity in his tone. “The role of our general is to command our army. So, is that our next course of action? Are we truly of the mind that Clan Centauri may be heading toward civil war?”
Just hearing him say those words has the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.
