My father, the richest, most powerful man in the state, maybe even the country, usually gets whatever he wants, without much effort. I am putting him through the ringer, and I enjoy watching him this way.
My father raises a sympathetic hand towards me. “Our family, for generations, have not only been one of the Chosen, but we have always become the Alpha. If you do this, you’re breaking our history.”
I sigh and look around our extravagant room. Dim light shines through the Egyptian curtains into the large room that is used mostly for having tea or coffee. “We have everything already. What purpose does it serve that I become Alpha like you did?”
“We will always be rich, but power…power is fleeting, son. Can’t you understand?”
I shake my head. “You just don’t want Aldridge’s son to win. You would pay several million just to see an Aldridge lose at being Alpha.”
Arthur Cain slams the coffee table, spilling his drink on the floor. “I led The Beasts as Alpha in my youth, and so will you!” My father stands up, about to leave the room.
“Sit back down! I’m the one leaving.” I take out another cigarette from my pack and put it to my lips, lighting it quickly. I blow the smoke towards my father, who is now clenching his fists. I turn and walk towards a patio door that leads to our back deck. Before I leave, I turn back to him. “I still can’t believe you think I would have done it. I can’t believe you did it to become Alpha.”
“Lower your voice, now!”
“You actually thought I would kill her? Kill Elle? For what? So, I could be like you?”
My father looks around the empty room, and back at me coldly. He quickly softens his face in one last attempt to sell me. “Don’t be short-sighted, son. I know it’s different, but we have our reasons why the Ritual needs to be done. I thought you did not even like Noelle anyways. So what does it matter? You can still win this. You can still live up to the Cain name, son.”
“Fuck the name, fuck the Ritual, and fuck The Beasts.” I take a quick drag and blow out more smoke. “Fuck you too.” I turn and leave, slamming the patio door behind me.
I look out at our massive property from the deck. I finish my cigarette and flick the bud into the sky, watching it fall to the ground below.
The Beasts have been a part of my family for generations, and from what I understand of its past, a Cain has always overseen them. It is the reason my family is so powerful. It is the reason why my father is obsessed with me becoming Alpha. Being an Alpha puts you in a position where the world’s most powerful can trust you, can depend on you.
The only downside is you must kill to be one. Something that was not exactly explained to us when Chase, Jaxson, and I were the three Chosen. Only one of us can be Alpha, but all three of us have a chance to complete the Ritual.
That is where Elle Maven comes into the picture.
There have been many Elle Mavens in the history of The Beasts.
I feel a sickness in my stomach thinking about what my father did to become Alpha. Somewhere in the Beast’s archives, I could find the footage of what he did. To think he wants me to have footage of my own stored beside his makes me sick.
I look out towards the guest house. I wonder what Elle is doing.
I sigh. This would be a lot easier had my father not chosen Elle Maven to be the Sacrifice.
She is beautiful, smart, and fucking stubborn as all hell.
How much more can I make her life hell here in Ryland, and she does not care?
As soon as she came to the town of Ryland, she wanted to be one of us.
My father dangled the carrot of free education at the country’s wealthiest secondary school in front of her, and she willingly jumped into a bear trap.
I thought publishing her diary and giving it to the whole student body would have crushed her to the point where she would leave the party and Ryland that night. She barely blinked. It may have made her even more determined to stay.
What can you do with a girl like that?
I had even tried to flat out tell her about The Beasts while we were alone at my family’s cemetery.
A fleeting thought of her lips stirs my emotions. I kissed her that day so that lousy security guard, Bart, would not catch on to what I was trying to do. Ever since, I cannot stop thinking about that moment. The kiss was only for a few seconds, but I wish it could have gone on longer. She seemed pretty open to that in the moment as well.
I had made her life hell in Ryland, and when I embraced her, she was willing. Her mouth was warm and welcoming. I felt electricity run through my whole body when our lips touched.
I have never felt that way with a woman, ever.
I smile to myself.
I am not sure what made me content in this moment more. Was it the thought of Elle and I embracing, or that she was safe in the guest house?
Jaxson and Chase know better than to try anything on our property. Completing the Ritual on a Beast’s property without their consent is against the rules, after all.
I guess the rules are not all bad.
Part of the deal struck with Elle staying here was that I could not complete the Ritual on my property at all. Jaxson and Chase agreed to the terms.
I wondered how Jaxson could be willingly going along with this. I had always thought he was a decent guy. Now he is willing to kill to be Alpha. That fuck Nathanial Price is rooting for him the most. Nat thought it should
