Her tears

When she said nothing, Alex tossed Morgan into the backseat of his car, her fury practically radiating off her as she glared at him with intense hatred. He slammed the door shut, frustration bubbling up inside him. He made his way to the driver’s seat, started the engine, and sped out of the Silver Claw Pack’s territory without a second glance.

The drive was painfully quiet, with neither of them willing to speak, and as they got closer to his pack house, the tension in the car grew even thicker. Alex could feel the emotion gnawing at him.

When they finally pulled up to the pack house, Alex wasted no time getting out of the car. He yanked the door open and gestured for Morgan to get out.

But she didn’t budge. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at him with cool defiance. “Get back in and take me home. I don’t care what the law says about me having to be with you. You’re an arrogant bastard, and I can’t tolerate you.”

Shaking his head slightly, Alex chuckled, though there was a dark edge to his amusement. “You don’t have a choice, Morgan. The law is clear, and you will abide by it.”

Her eyes blazed with defiance as she stood her ground. “I’ll never accept this law not after what you just this, Alex. I’ll fight you every step of the way.”

He stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers, just as intense. “Then prepare for a war, Morgan. Because I’m not backing down.”

Not breaking eye contact, Morgan’s response was immediate and scathing. “You’re a delusional tyrant, Alex! Kidnapping me won’t change anything. I’ll never submit to you!”

Scoffing, Alex’s patience snapped. Without another word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the car, ignoring her furious protests. He slung her over his shoulder and made his way toward the pack house, her angry shouts echoing in the otherwise quiet surroundings.

“Let me go!” Morgan yelled, her fists pounding against his back. “You can’t do this!”

Dispite the pain from her hits, Alex ignored her, his stride steady as he pushed open the doors to the pack house. The room went silent as all eyes turned to them, his pack members watching with a mix of curiosity and concern. Alex didn’t care about the stares. His only focus was getting Morgan to the Alpha’s quarters.

He carried her through the main hall, her struggles only adding fuel to his simmering anger. When they reached the Alpha’s quarters, he tossed her onto the bed. His chest heaved as he stared down at her, his anger barely in check.

“If this alliance is going to work, you need to learn your place,” he growled.

Locking eyes with him, Morgan spat at him, “And what place would that be?”

As his brows draw together, he stepped towards the bed, “You know exactly what your place is.”

“Are you threatening me?” she shot back.

Leaning closer, Alex’s voice dropped to a near whisper, his tone deadly serious. “I’m giving you one more chance to comply. One more step out of line, and I’ll—”

“You will what?” Morgan interrupted, her voice sharp.

Rage flared in Alex, and he grabbed her wrists, pinning her to the bed. His eyes bored into hers, the low growl in his chest a clear warning. “One more misstep, and I swear—”

“Master,” a voice suddenly called from the doorway. “News has spread about Alpha Morgan’s arrival, and the elders wish to speak with both of you.”

Looking deep in her darting gaze, Alex’s grip on Morgan’s wrists tightened briefly before he let out a frustrated sigh and released her. Morgan turned her head away, biting her lip as she tried to regain her composure.

“Let go,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

With a deep breath, Alex stepped back and released her wrists. He rose to his feet, watching her as she lay there, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she stared blankly ahead. For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Finally, Alex broke the silence. “I don’t want any more blood being spill either or war, Morgan. Believe it or not, there are people in my pack who do, and they’ll force my hand to make it happen.”

Hearing the genuine concern in his tone, Morgan’s eyes snapped back to his, confusion and suspicion warring in her gaze. “What do you mean?”

“The history of our pack is messy,” Alex explained, his tone weary. “Not everyone agrees with the moon goddess’s vision of a unified pack. There are people in my pack who think the war should end with one pack wiped out completely. Trust me, I’m the least of your enemies here.”

Hesitating, Morgan’s gaze softened slightly, her expression less combative than before. “And I’m supposed to believe you’re not one of those people? That you’re somehow different?”

He met her stare head-on and said, “Believe what you want. But know this: I may be the Alpha, but I’m not blind to what’s going on. There are those within my pack who seek power through conflict, but I’m not one of them.”

She regarded him with uncertainty. “How can I trust you? You’ve already shown you’re willing to use force to get what you want.”

Looking away from her, Alex ran a hand through his hair, his frustration clear. “You don’t need to trust me. You just need to stand by my side as the Luna in the public eye and support the alliance. Beyond that, your trust is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.”

With a soft sigh, Morgan hesitated, looking down at her hands before meeting his gaze again. “What about… what about…”

“Sex? A real relationship?” Alex finished for her, bitterness creeping into his voice.

Not meeting his eyes, Morgan’s cheeks flushed as she looked away, embarrassed. “Yes.”

“We’re playing pretend, Morgan. I won’t force you into anything you don’t want, but appearances matter. Our packs need to believe in our unity, even if it’s just a facade,” Alex said.

Finally looking his way, Morgan seemed to relax slightly, her defiance giving way to a reluctant understanding. “So, we’re just supposed to pretend to be mates for the sake of politics?”

“For now, yes. Until we find a better solution that satisfies both our packs… We’re not mates by bond, so that should be easy.” Alex nodded, his expression serious.

With a deep breath, Morgan rolled her eyes, her tone lightening just a bit. “I don’t like you, so this is ideal.”

She extended her hand to him, and Alex took it reluctantly, feeling the warmth of her palm against his. He watched as she slowly got to her feet, straightening her clothes and brushing herself off. As she prepared to face the elders.