4. Another Perspective, Continued

Axel's POV

Today was my last day as the Alpha's son. Tomorrow I'd turn twenty-one, and together with my brothers, we'd become the quadruplet Alphas of the pack. Which meant freedom was over. And even though I didn't let it show, a knot of nervousness sat heavy in my chest. But an Alpha never shows weakness, so I was getting ready to go out with Sander, my current girlfriend, and celebrate my birthday eve like nothing could derail me.

Yesterday we'd had a meeting with my brothers to discuss how we'd divide up the territory. Alex would handle the diplomatic side -- the boring laws and bureaucracy that never interested me. But of course, someone like him thrived on that stuff, so he was the right fit. Ian, with his effortless charm, would manage social gatherings. Kind of funny how he got the easy gig, but I'll admit he had the talent for it. Sam and I would focus on combat and patrols. I didn't mind missing the formal talks; I enjoyed the field, not the speeches.

There was one issue hanging over us like a heavy cloud: our Luna. Tomorrow would mark three years since we'd started searching for her. And even though we all knew a Luna strengthened her Alpha, I never thought the lack of one would hit me this hard.

Sam worried about it more than any of us, as if his life depended on finding her. Maybe in some way it did. But I had always considered myself above all that.

That feeling of looming change was what sent me rushing downstairs. When I looked at the table, I spotted the last waffle Alex had left untouched. Selfish bastard. A surge of frustration made me reach for it before anyone else could.

"What do you think you're doing, Kattie?" I teased, relishing the moment I caught her red-handed.

I loved watching her tense up at my prodding. I was about to keep pushing when I heard Sam behind me.

"Can't you wait until you finish your chores?" he said with a wicked grin, pretending to stop her.

"Let her eat," Ian cut in. I shot him a dismissive look. I never understood why he insisted on protecting her.

She went back to the kitchen and returned a second later. That annoyed me -- she didn't even seem to care about the food. Lately, every time I was near Kattie, something felt off in the air. At first I chalked it up to teenage hormones -- and sure, she was gorgeous, so it wasn't surprising. But then, her constant bragging about how amazing her parents were set me off.

Every chance she got, she'd go on about how incredible her parents were, making mine look like the worst in the world. Lines like: "When I was with my parents, I was the happiest girl alive. We used to go to the movies, to the park..." and on and on, always capping it off with "not like now." My parents weren't the best in the world -- definitely not -- but at least they were giving her a roof, an education, and food. Meanwhile, hers had dumped her with complete strangers.

Ever since my wolf emerged, things got complicated. It was like a part of me couldn't take my eyes off her. I needed her attention, and the best way to get it was by getting under her skin. But there was something unsettling: the fear I saw in her eyes whenever she looked at me or at Sam. The truth was, even though I enjoyed messing with her, my wolf demanded I treat her differently. "She deserves to live like a queen. My princess shouldn't have to dirty her hands," he'd say, and it threw me off completely. I would never let any woman except my Luna have me wrapped around her finger -- that wasn't right. And yet, somehow, Kattie remained a kind of maze in my mind. While my wolf defended her, I couldn't help but enjoy the contradiction she brought to my life.

Sam's POV

Kattie was finishing up cleaning the dining room. Axel and Ian had already left. Axel was going to meet his current girlfriend, Sander, and Mom had dragged Ian to her room for one of their mother-son talks.

I could tell she was nervous -- her whole body was tense. That happened every time we were alone. All her instincts kicked in, and she tracked my every move. I could feel how afraid she was of me. But I didn't care.

I watched her head for the door, clearly planning to go to school. It was nearly seven -- she'd definitely be late. The start time was seven-thirty, and the bus came at seven-oh-five. No way she'd make it. So I decided to follow her. I had nothing better to do anyway. Who was I kidding? Sara was probably waiting for me, but this was more entertaining.

"I'll walk you, Pup," I said, falling into step behind her.

I watched her stiffen, and a shiver ran through her body. That wasn't unusual between us -- every now and then I liked to mess with her.

It had all started three years ago. After turning eighteen and failing to find my Luna, my wolf had pushed me to find ways to make Kattie stronger -- to crack that shell of self-pity and self-punishment she'd built around herself, the one that let everyone walk all over her. It drove us crazy, made us furious, that she wouldn't fight back when we knew she was perfectly capable of it.

If I chose to completely ignore my wolf, I could end up losing control, and that was something that couldn't happen. An Alpha who can't control his wolf is a symbol of weakness.

Of the four of us, I'd always been the most connected to my wolf -- deeply attuned to my wild side. There were moments when I couldn't contain him and everything spiraled. Like at breakfast: having her so close, my wolf had seized control and moved in on her more than necessary. Luckily he'd settled for just that, and I managed to rein him back in. That was why I was so anxious to find my Luna -- she'd help me keep him in check.

This was one of the reasons I liked making Kattie angry -- pushing her to the edge where all that restraint she constantly tried to maintain would collapse and she'd have no choice but to explode, to fight back and show her true self. I hated this version of Kattie with every fiber of my being: the submissive, fearful, cautious girl who measured her every move.

My wolf lived for glimpses of that other side of her. It was pure ecstasy every time we clashed, every time she couldn't hold back and told me exactly what she thought -- no filters, no inhibitions. The real Kattie. The one she would have been if she weren't crushed under the weight of that damned debt her parents supposedly owed.

It was strange, I know. As an Alpha, no one could rebel against us -- anyone who tried would lose their head the next second. But with Kattie it was different. It filled me with pride every time I saw her stand her ground, every time I saw her unable to bow her head, even if only for a brief moment. I knew there was so much more where that came from. And I wanted all of it.

I didn't care what methods I had to use to bring out that side of her, even if it meant being cruel sometimes. It was worth the price. My wolf didn't agree with the approach, but he approved of the results. We argued constantly, and I lived with a permanent headache from our disputes. He wanted me to be gentler, but I'd already tried that. It didn't work. With her, I had to go to the extreme -- otherwise she'd just bow her head, the way she always did.

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