The Beta's Salvation

FOURTEEN

NEO’S POV

As I sat at the head of the long, ornate dining table, my blood boiled beneath the surface. The scent of the lavish meal in front of us wafted through the air—roasted meats glistening under the chandelier, vegetables seasoned to perfection, and decanters of wine reflecting the flickering candlelight. But despite the exquisite setup, steam seemed to rise not just from the food but also from my head, my temper simmering just beneath the surface.

I glanced at my watch without needing to; I knew exactly how late she was. Thirty-three minutes. Unacceptable. Punctuality was non-negotiable; any deviation was an affront to my authority. Sky's tardiness was a blatant disregard for both, a direct challenge to the structure I enforced within our pack.

As I stewed in my growing anger, vivid fantasies of retribution played in my mind—dragging her out by her hair, locking her away until she learned obedience. The image of her, forced to submit and behave, the harsh discipline stripping away her defiance, ignited a dark satisfaction within me.

Around the table, the important pack members shifted restlessly, their hungry eyes darting between the food and the empty seat meant for Sky. Their impatience irritated me; they were like vultures circling a carcass. They had already asked once if they could begin without her, and my sharp refusal should have been enough.

"Can we not just start without her?" It was Marcus, a bulky enforcer with more brawn than brains, his beady eyes fixed greedily on the spread before us. The room grew tense, the air thick with unease as others awaited my reaction. Yet, here they were, asking again.

I clenched my jaw, my fists tightening as rage surged through me. Just as I stood, gripping a plate of meat with enough force to make my knuckles white, ready to hurl it across the table in a display of fury, someone appeared in the doorway.

"May I be dismissed, Alpha? I have completed my duties for the evening," the omega's voice was timid, barely above a whisper. She was young, perhaps eighteen, with a pretty face that she tried to enhance with makeup—a futile attempt to stand out. Her skirt was rolled up just a bit too high, a desperate plea for attention. In my eyes, she was like all the others—pathetic, insignificant, and utterly disposable.

With a snarl, I dropped back into my seat, shoving the plate across the table to the pack members, who immediately started to grab at it like a pack of starved wolves. Their lack of self-control was pathetic, a disgrace to my table.

"The halls cleaned? The silver polished? The waste disposed of?" Turning my attention to the omega, I listed off the tasks I expected to be done.

She nodded vigorously to each question, her eyes wide with the fear of missing any.

"Yes, Alpha, all has been done."

"And who is cleaning up after these pigs when they have eaten?" I barked, motioning to the men around my table who were devouring my food. I watched her look towards the men, no doubt nervous to answer in case she offended them, yet scared not to answer in case she offended me.

"Lisa," she spluttered, lowering her eyes. I leaned forward, a sinister grin tugging at my lips. The thrill of doubt creeping in—was she lying? The prospect of catching her in a lie, of doling out punishment, invigorated me. Power coursed through me; control was everything. Without it, chaos would ensue, and I couldn't allow that.

With a flick of my eyes towards the door, I dismissed her. Her tangible relief as she scurried away only fueled my sense of superiority. Back at the table, the uneasy silence from the other pack members pleased me. They knew better than to cross me and understood the precarious edge they all balanced on.

Tonight was a stark reminder for them all: I was the absolute authority, and any deviation from my rules would be met with swift retribution. My grip on the pack was ironclad; fear was not just a motivator—it was a weapon I wielded with precision. As I sat there, watching the others eat nervously, I reveled in the tense atmosphere, the air thick with apprehension. This was my domain, and I would govern it with an iron fist, ensuring everyone—Sky included—knew exactly where they stood.

"Go and get her," I seethed to Zeke, who was the only one still sitting patiently; unlike the others, he had not touched the food.

"Yes, Alpha," he replied, immediately pushing his seat back and standing; my eyes met his, catching the glimmer of excitement that lay in his mismatched eyes. I clenched my jaw, knowing it was not so he could reprimand my sister for her tardiness but simply be in her presence. He was a lovesick fool, infatuated beyond reason. The moment she reappeared, he reverted to the lapdog he always was.

"Not you," I growled, motioning with my finger for him to sit. The motion seemed to confuse him as he eyed me suspiciously.

"You just told me to," he laughed, shaking his head in amusement.

"Now I am telling you to sit, so do as you're told and f*****g sit," I barked, moving my eyes to the male to the right of him.

"You. Stop deep-throating the chicken leg and drag my sister down here," I demanded with the authority the alpha gene gave me. The oaf slumped back in his chair, throwing his chicken onto the plate like a petulant child denied dessert. As he pushed his chair back, the screech of wood against stone grated on my nerves, a nails-on-chalkboard reminder of their incompetence.

"That's a 100-year-old chair. Have some respect for it, or I'll kill you with it," I snarled, my patience running dangerously thin thanks to Sky's games.

"Yes, Alpha," he ground out. His resentment was palpable, but I didn't care. I wasn't here to be liked—only to be obeyed.

I watched him head to the door and smirked, seeing Zeke let out a long breath.

"And use force if needed," I added as he left, my eyes never leaving Zeke's. "Lots of it."

"Yes, Alpha," came the reply as the door swung shut. I relished the thought of my wayward sister being dragged here, a lesson she wouldn't soon forget.

I am the Alpha.

I am the boss.

I am everything.

She is nothing.