Chapter 5: The Alpha's Burden

Jared paced back and forth in his office, the creaking floorboards beneath him a constant reminder of the house’s age, and the weight of his responsibility as Alpha. The Moonrise Pack had thrived under his leadership for years, and he had made it his life’s work to protect their lands, their way of life. He wasn’t about to let a couple of humans, no matter who they were, ruin everything.

But now, Kori and her daughter were here—on his land. Jared clenched his fists, his anger rising at the mere thought of it. How could Michael have been so reckless? Leaving the house to his daughter, his very human daughter, had been a mistake. A mistake Jared was now left to clean up.

The worst part was, she didn’t even belong here. Kori didn’t know anything about her father’s world. She was clueless, stumbling onto pack territory like a lamb wandering into a den of wolves. And bringing her young daughter? That complicated things even more.

A growl rumbled low in his throat as he thought about the fire his men had set at the old shed. It had been necessary—a warning. His pack needed to send a message to Kori: Leave, or things will get worse. He had told his wolves to scare her off, but under no circumstances were they to harm her or the child.

Michael would never forgive him if something happened to that little girl, the daughter he had quietly admired from afar, though he had never claimed her openly.

Jared’s thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He stopped pacing, inhaling deeply to calm his rising frustration. “Enter,” he called, his voice firm.

The door creaked open, and Frank stepped cautiously into the room. He was one of the few pack members Jared respected, but his loyalty to Michael, even after the man’s death, was becoming a problem. Frank closed the door behind him and nodded in greeting before moving to stand in front of Jared’s desk.

“A fire was set at the old shed,” Frank said, his disapproval clear. His sharp gaze held no sympathy for Jared’s decisions.

Jared leaned against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest. “A necessary move to ensure that she doesn’t stay on pack lands.” His voice was cold, and he left no room for argument.

Frank, however, was not easily deterred. “She says she saw wolves moving about in the trees.”

Jared let out a resigned sigh, rubbing his temple. “Of course she did. We wanted her to. That’s the point.” He pushed off the desk and started pacing again, agitation making his movements sharp. “I know you loved Michael, and that both of you were fond of the little human child he created one drunken night, but she doesn’t belong here, and you know it.”

Frank’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t speak immediately. Jared continued, his voice growing more frustrated. “You never should have gone looking for her in the first place. She has no claim to this land, no understanding of what we are. And now I hear you’ve given her money?”

Jared whirled around, slamming his hands down on the desk. Frank flinched at the sudden movement, but to his credit, he didn’t back down. Jared’s sharp eyes bore into the older man. “What were you thinking?”

Frank squared his shoulders, standing his ground. “Her husband abandoned her and their child, Jared. Left them with nothing. Michael would never have accepted his daughter being thrown out onto the streets with no support. You and I both know that he set aside millions for her, but you’re refusing to release those funds.”

Jared growled, a deep rumble of frustration that shook the room. “That money was never meant for her to stay here, Frank. She’s supposed to be living far away from pack lands, where she can’t disrupt our lives. You’re only making this harder.”

Frank met his gaze steadily. “I’m giving her what she needs to survive for now. You can’t stop me from offering her some of my own money.”

Jared’s lip curled in irritation, but he knew Frank was right. He couldn’t control the older man’s personal actions, but that didn’t make this any easier. Frank’s soft spot for Michael’s human daughter was getting in the way of pack business.

“You think giving her money is going to help?” Jared snapped, leaning forward. “You’re just encouraging her to stay. She’s not safe here, and neither is her daughter. If they’re smart, they’ll leave. But if they don’t—”

Frank cut him off, his voice stern. “If they don’t, we’ll figure something out. But running them off with threats and fires won’t solve anything. You’re risking exposure, Jared. The pack can’t afford unnecessary attention from humans. We’ve stayed hidden this long for a reason.”

Jared growled again, but this time it was quieter, more contemplative. Frank was right about one thing—drawing attention to themselves was dangerous. They couldn’t risk any human authorities sniffing around, asking questions. But Jared’s resolve was firm.

“Kori and her daughter are not staying,” Jared said, his tone final. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure of that.”

Frank let out a long breath, frustration flickering in his eyes. “You can’t keep blaming her for Michael’s mistakes. He may have made bad choices, but this girl had nothing to do with it.”

Jared clenched his fists. He didn’t want to talk about Michael. His pack had been loyal to their former Alpha, but Michael’s human entanglements had left them vulnerable. Now, Jared was left cleaning up the mess.

“They may not have had a choice,” Jared said quietly, his voice tight, “but that doesn’t change the fact that she doesn’t belong here. She’s human, Frank. You know what that means for the pack.”

Frank didn’t reply, but the unspoken truth hung between them. A human on pack land, especially one with a child, was dangerous. If Kori or her daughter got too close to the pack’s secrets, it could unravel everything.

Jared straightened, his cold expression returning. “This isn’t about Michael anymore. It’s about the safety of the pack. The longer she stays, the bigger the risk becomes. You and I both know that.”

Frank’s lips thinned, but he nodded slowly. “I won’t argue with you on that. But don’t forget—Michael was her father, and whether you like it or not, she’s part of this legacy.”

Jared’s eyes darkened. “Not if I can help it.”

Frank hesitated for a moment before nodding again. He understood Jared’s position, but that didn’t mean he liked it. Jared watched as Frank turned to leave, the tension in the room still thick. Just before he reached the door, Frank stopped.

“One more thing,” Frank said, not turning around. “If you push too hard, you might make an enemy out of her. And that’s something Michael wouldn’t have wanted.”

Jared’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He simply watched as Frank walked out of the room, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Jared slumped into his chair, rubbing his face with his hands. He couldn’t deny the truth in Frank’s words. But no matter what Frank thought or what Michael would have wanted, Jared knew one thing for certain: Kori and her daughter had to go.

By any means necessary.

Jared leaned back in his chair, staring out the window at the thick trees surrounding the pack’s territory. He had kept them safe all these years, and he wasn’t about to let a human, no matter who she was, tear that apart.

But as he sat there, brooding over the situation, a small, nagging doubt crept into his mind. He shook it off. He had made up his mind. Kori and her daughter didn’t belong here. And if they wouldn’t leave on their own, then he’d make sure they had no choice.

This land was pack territory and not meant for humans.