Breeder To The Brutal Alpha King

Rebecca’s POV

​The midday sun was blaring down on the green fields of the Crystal Pack’s massive racing grounds. Hundreds of Alphas and high-ranking wolves stood along the white wooden railings, cheering, drinking, and shouting out their bets. The air was filled with the powerful, overlapping scents of tobacco, expensive leather, and dominant males.

​I walked beside Alpha King Kaden, my eyes lowered. About thirty minutes later, we stood at the edge of the enormous racing field. I had expected something small and private. I was wrong.

​Hundreds of wolves crowded the grandstands surrounding the massive oval track. Pack flags fluttered high above us, and the excited roar of the spectators filled the morning air. Powerful horses stood near the starting line as their riders prepared for the race.

​I stared at them in awe. For the first time since arriving here, I forgot about the collar around my neck. I forgot about Helen. I even forgot about Kaden.

​”You like horses.”

​His deep voice beside me startled me, breaking my trance. I turned toward him. His expression had changed slightly, his green eyes watching me intently. It wasn’t a question.

​”How do you know?” I asked, my brow furrowing.

​For a moment, Kaden didn’t answer. He just looked away, his jaw tight. ”I know more about you than you think.”

​My frustration flared. There he went again. First, he mysteriously knew exactly when my birthday was. Now, he knew I loved horses, even though I had never told him. There were deep, secret things this man wasn’t telling me.

​Before I could question him further, a loud voice interrupted us. ”Alpha King!”

​I turned to see Alpha James approaching us with several high-ranking men. Behind them, grooms were leading three magnificent, muscular horses. Across the courtyard, I noticed a figure standing by the royal viewing deck. It was Alpha Zach. A thick white bandage was wrapped around his bloody left wrist from this morning, and his face was pale with pure rage. He didn’t speak to Kaden, and he didn’t dare approach me, but his eyes locked onto us. He just stared at me with a silent, psychotic hatred that made a chill run straight down my spine.

​”We were beginning to think you wouldn’t participate this year,” Alpha James said with a wide grin, drawing Kaden’s attention away.

​Kaden scoffed, his cold mask firmly in place. ”I have nothing to prove.”

​”Oh, come on,” James laughed, nudging a nearby Alpha. ”The mighty Alpha King is afraid of losing a friendly race?”

​Several Alphas nearby chuckled, whispering among themselves. Kaden’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his dominant aura flaring. I almost rolled my eyes. These men had discovered the absolute easiest way to manipulate him: challenge his pride.

​”Fine,” Kaden said sharply.

​Of course. I shook my head in exasperation. Men.

​Kaden’s sharp eyes immediately snapped down to me. ”What was that?”

​”What was what?” I asked innocently.

​”That look.”

​”I didn’t give you a look.”

​”You did.”

​”I didn’t.”

​His eyes narrowed suspiciously, but the heavy, dark tension between us softened just a fraction. I fought the sudden, ridiculous urge to smile.

​Then, something else caught my attention. A beautiful black horse stood several feet away, tied near the edge of the trees. Unlike the other restless, aggressive stallions, she stood quietly beneath the shade, her dark coat shining like polished glass beneath the sunlight. Without thinking, drawn by a powerful instinct, I walked away from the men and toward her.

​”Rebecca,” Kaden called out. I ignored him. ”Rebecca.”

​Still completely ignoring him, I reached the horse and slowly lifted my hand. The beautiful animal didn’t flinch. She just stared at me with intelligent, calm eyes before leaning forward, letting her soft nose touch my palm. A strange, sudden happiness filled my chest. I smiled—a real, genuine smile. The first one I had given in what felt like forever.

​I didn’t notice the sudden silence that fell behind me. I didn’t see Kaden completely freeze, staring at me like he had just seen a ghost. But when I finally turned around, his expression made my smile disappear. He was looking at me with a raw, intense look that I couldn’t understand.

​”What?” I frowned.

​Kaden blinked, quickly pulling his mask back up. ”Nothing.” He turned away entirely too quickly.

​Before I could think about it, Alpha James walked over, looking between me and the animal. ”Interesting,” he murmured.

​”What?”

​”Midnight doesn’t usually allow strangers anywhere near her,” James explained, nodding toward the horse. ”She’s one of our fastest horses. Alpha King Kaden was actually scheduled to ride her in the opening match.”

​My eyes widened in surprise. ”Really?”

​”Would you like to ride her instead?” James asked with a grin.

​”No.” Kaden’s answer came instantly, his voice booming over ours.

​I turned toward him, my stubbornness rising. ”I wasn’t asking you.”

​Kaden’s eyebrows shot up in pure shock. James coughed quickly, clearly hiding a laugh. Kaden stepped closer, his shadow completely towering over me. ”You haven’t ridden in Goddess knows how long.”

​”And?”

​”And you’re not riding.”

​My irritation immediately returned, hot and heavy. ”I know how to ride a horse, Kaden.”

​”Rebecca.”

​”Kaden.”

​I couldn’t believe I was actually naturally calling him without his title.

​His jaw tightened, his green eyes flashing with warning. I folded my arms tightly over my tracksuit. For several seconds, we just stared each other down, neither of us willing to back away.

​Finally, Alpha James cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. ”Well, there is a smaller, less competitive exhibition track right before the main Alpha race. She could ride Midnight then, King Kaden.”

​”No,” Kaden muttered.

​I glared at him. Something wild and deeply rebellious suddenly rose inside my chest. I had spent months being told where to stand, when to eat, when to sleep, and what to wear. I was a slave in a collar, but right now, looking at that beautiful horse, I was completely tired of being handled.

​”I want to ride,” I said firmly, looking James right in the eye.

​Kaden stepped directly into my space. ”No.”

​”I wasn’t asking for your permission.”

​His entire face darkened, his wolf practically growling beneath his skin. I turned away before he could grab me or order his guards to lock me up. ”Alpha James, I’ll do it. Prepare the horse for the exhibition track.”

​”Rebecca!” The warning in Kaden’s voice was terrifying, echoing across the grass.

​But for once, I didn’t care.

​Twenty minutes later, I was sitting high on Midnight’s saddle. Kaden was standing by the rails, looking ready to murder absolutely everyone responsible for this—especially me.

​”You are going to stay at the very back of the track,” he ordered roughly, walking up and adjusting the leather strap beneath my helmet himself. His large hands were trembling slightly.

​I slapped his hand away. ”I know how to wear a helmet.”

​”Apparently, you also know how to disobey every fucking thing I tell you,” he hissed, his face inches from mine.

​”Maybe stop giving me orders,” I countered.

​His green eyes flashed with a dangerous, possessive heat. I just smiled sweetly at him. ”You can punish me later, Alpha King.”

​Then, I nudged Midnight, and we trotted away toward the starting line. I could practically feel his hard glare burning a hole straight through my back. For some strange reason, a small, breathless laugh escaped my lips. Maybe today wouldn’t be so terrible after all.

​The starting horn sounded, booming across the fields. The horses exploded forward. The wind rushed violently against my face as Midnight surged beneath me, her powerful legs eating up the dirt track.

​My heart soared. For several glorious seconds, I wasn’t Rebecca the slave. I wasn’t Kaden’s branded breeder. I wasn’t the broken woman accused of murdering Queen Helen. I was entirely free. I laughed out loud as Midnight flew across the track, leaving the world behind.

​Then, I heard a sharp, terrifying snap.

​My smile instantly vanished. The leather saddle shifted violently beneath me, tilting to the side. My heart stopped. No.

​I gripped the reins tighter, trying to balance my weight. Suddenly, Midnight let out a high-pitched, painful scream. Her entire body jerked in agony, her hooves flailing wildly.

​”Whoa! Midnight, whoa!” I cried out.

​Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. The saddle slipped sideways completely, dragging me with it. I tried desperately to regain control, but Midnight was completely panicking, blind with pain. And then, looking down, I saw it.

​Blood. Dark red blood was running rapidly down her side, staining her black coat. Someone had placed something sharp directly under the heavy saddle. It was cutting into her with every stride.

​”Oh, Goddess,” I whispered, panic suffocating me.

​Midnight reared back, her front hooves kicking the air. I screamed, losing my grip on the stirrups. The crowd in the grandstands erupted into chaos and shouting.

​”REBECCA!”