Alpha’s Hybrid Cinderella
Chapter 59

It was a stalemate. Evan's side had the discipline, the experience, and the Alpha himself to bolster their strength tenfold. But handicapping that was the crumbling unity thanks to the wave of mass suspicion and accusations different sub-packs and families threw at each other in the midst of the boiling tension. It took Evan's snarling warnings to everyone involved that he would personally deal with their pettiness if they didn't shut up.

But besides that, the enemy had rogues who would resort to anything, even the lowest of tactics like holding hostages. There were rescue missions here and there to pry free the last of the captured civilians who had been snatched before they could evacuate. It was brutal work with casualties, but the people came first.

It was transformative. I had only known Evan these last few month, but before then, I knew as well as anyone else of his blood-soaked reputation. Before this catastrophe, no one would ever have guessed he would devote himself so tirelessly to the civilian residents of the Scarlet territory.

Even other packs functioned with the understanding that their own came first, the Deltas, the pack fighters, the Beta if there was one, and most of all, the Alpha. Civilians residing on Scarlet territory were technically affiliated with the pack since they had permission to live there, but they weren't part of the real family.

But there was no sign of that differentiation now. Evan went out himself after making sure I was protected with his most trusted. He made sure with his own hands that he saved those who could be saved. There was nothing too dangerous for him to take on, nothing too inconsequential. If there were lives at stake, he went. That vibrancy reminded me of Peelle.

His presence haunted both of us, not in a bad way, but one that cut us to the quick nonetheless. It was the reason I didn't put up a stubborn fight when Evan asked me to stay behind. Peelle had given his life to keep me safe, and my throwing it away because of something petty like feeling useless was spitting on his sacrifice.

I wasn't going forward with only the weight of my own life in my hands. I carried Peelle's too now. I couldn't forget that.

"Evan!"

I embraced him, not caring that he was covered in blood. There were no marks on him anymore because of his regeneration, and that was all I cared about. Every time he left with his Deltas, the fear that he would be attacked with the toxin again tortured me, but until now, another three days since we arrived, we had yet to see any sign of its return.

It was probably because Evan always attacked out of the blue like a lightning strike, and the enemy couldn't predict where to target him next. But I could still hope it was because they simply had no more of it. That was the only thing in his way. No one could hope to defeat him otherwise. Security was always at its peak around the campus to ensure no one could sneak in and ambush him while he recuperated, and there was one good thing that came out of the tensions infected the entirety of the pack. Everyone distrusted the other factions enough to keep a close eye on each other as well as watching out for external threats.

Victory was within reach. If we hung on a little longer, we might see it the next day. And if not then, surely the day after that.

That was the true power of an Alpha. If only the old Evan could see himself today. He had chased power for so long and had struggled with it to the very end, always tempted by the promise of reaching greater heights, but what did he need that for? He had strength and speed and intelligence. Most important of all, he could bind everyone to him, make them stronger, raise up the pack and make them swell with power.

This was all he needed. The roaring loyalty of the Scarlet pack behind him, the surging drive to make the world safe for the ones he wanted to protect, the determination to succeed whatever the odds, whatever the obstacles.

Alpha Evan of the Scarlet pack had never been more powerful, and everyone gravitated to it as if he were the sun.

But even the sun could grow dim, and where there was day, there was night.

And the night was about to come upon us.

***

"The Glilies family has been transported safely! They're being guarded in their private bunking area."

Evan continued to towel his hair dry as one of the sub-pack's Betas rattled off the report for the morning. Evan was naked, having just gotten out of the shower, and as usual, it took extra willpower on my part not to visibly react. In the Dark Moon pack, nakedness had never been openly exposed the way it was so comfortably among the Scarlet, probably because Dark Moon werewolves never really had many occasions to shift.

That self-consciousness might be something I carried with me all my life no matter what. Oddly, not for my own sake, but for others, like Evan.

Or maybe that was because I couldn't stop thinking about how attractive he was. Something about the chaos of the last week had ramped up all of my more shameless emotions, not only the fear and anxiety I fought daily. I wanted to run my hands over Evan's chest and remind him how much I needed him, how much he needed to make sure he always returned to me.

Last night had been the most dangerous clash yet. The enemy rogues had rigged homemade explosives in an area and baited the Scarlet pack into attacking. There had been three more casualties last night because of it despite Evan giving orders to rush them back to base immediately. He had had to fight the enemy werewolves and a devious group of hyena shifters almost singlehandedly, and the state he had come back in last night proved it.

It killed me that no matter how hurt he was, he would have to leave again. There were too many lives at stake. For me to wish that we could run away together where no one could follow us was selfish.

So in return couldn't I at least have him to myself for a few hours a day?

"The Joseph family has also been secured! They are on their way. They couldn't relay the expected arrival time since the rogues have probably found out which frequency we communicate on again, but we're still working on the code system to try to circumvent that." "Good work. Tell everyone to keep at it, I want to establish regular communication by the end of the week. Distributing the radio transceivers was a good idea, but we need to be able to use them to the full." "Yes, Alpha!"

"And what was that earlier about the Glilies and a private bunk? Do we have space for that with the civilians needing room, too?"

"Parham's squad cleaned out and included another section of the dormitories within our perimeter. The Glilies can use that for now. There likely aren't any civilians left to extract out of the rest of the city anymore, so we won't need to worry about limited space from here on out."

Evan's exasperated grimace betrayed his opinion of the situation. I had never actually asked him what he thought of the main families in power among the Scarlet, now that I thought about it. He had made it clear he didn't like Ken being around me, but he had never said anything negative about the Joseph family in general. Not to mention Flicka had visited the Scarlet manor too, as if she were some old friend of his...

Wait, what was I doing, being jealous? Was I going crazy?

"But there is one more thing, Alpha. The Glilies have been asking to see you since they arrived. They were told you would be busy but that we would let them know when you have time."

"Good. Don't give them anything specific. I'll sort them out when I've rested."

"Yes, Alpha."

The man left. Evan turned to me before I could say anything.

"You look antsy. You want to say hello to Ken that much?"

For a second, I was confused, then I read the raised eyebrow and unsubtle jealousy emanating from his mind. With a laugh, I shook my head in disbelief. "Are you going to make it weird! Of course I want to say hi. He's a friend." I made sure to emphasize the final word with a glower.

"A friend who still thinks he has a chance with you if I end up gone."

"You make it sound like he'll plot your demise."

"For you? I could believe it. I'd believe anyone would." The sharp stare turned into a predatory smile as he walked toward me. "Maybe you need a reminder how beautiful you are."