Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)

Chapter 474 - [J] ...And The ’4X Strategy Game’ Sigma

Claws dug into my shoulders. Even though I couldn’t smell another werewolf nearby. He found some fucking scent blockers and made someone use them.

But there was black fur in my peripheral. And blue eyes that didn’t look directly at me.

"Thank you, Kyle. Hey, come on. Did you really think I’d leave myself unprotected with you? You of all fucking people, you unstable ’I should be the Alpha’ narcissist? Are you that much of a real idiot?"

His voice was as calm as ever despite making fun of me. The same one that used to annoy me into punching trees because I couldn’t clock the Beta’s fucking son.

I thrashed and snarled, trying to throw Kyle off. But he was stronger than me. Had always been stronger, even back when we first got our spirits and started wrestling in the dirt.

Jaws closed around the back of my neck. Not biting down to kill. Not yet. But the threat was clear.

And I don’t trust him not to do whatever the fuck this asshole wants anymore.

"Hold him there."

Chad circled around, pretending to brush dust off his coat. Like this was all going exactly according to plan. Damnit. Maybe it was.

"A wolf with nothing much to lose is a wolf who might do something stupid. Like trying to kill his Alpha in his own tent. Not very clever."

Can he tell when we’re bucking his chains? I should have thought of that.

He crouched down, meeting my eyes. His glow white now.

With a spiky circle of dim red at the edges. Like that Σ symbol repeating in an arc.

Chosen to lead my ass. All it did was find the monster among us and give him more power.

"There’s that spirit. You know, I kind of wondered how I should use you in your last moments. Thought about it a while."

He walked to a supply crate near the tent wall. Started rummaging through it in my line of sight.

"Oh, and don’t worry. Kyle understands the necessity. His mother is comfortable back at the village, after all. Safe and well taken care of. Not like some of the other she-wolves the rogues *use* that she has to tend to."

He made a sound. Like a chuckle, but without any humor to it.

"So, let’s help him keep it that way, yes?"

Ah. So that’s how this sick fuck has been doing this to him. Threatening his mom.

Above me, Kyle’s grip tightened. He growled while biting down until I could feel punctures in my skin. I’m going to die because he can’t live without his ’momma’.

"No, no, not that way. I’m being practical about this. The Chosen wearing your former mate’s face doesn’t give two shits about you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t work as a little parting present."

He turned around and there was a gun in his hand. Smelling of silver. Chad crouched again, letting the gun dangle loosely from his fingers.

"Killing you would be a waste. You’re still useful to me, little resource. Citra might appreciate seeing you again. With her little miracle pup out there a bastard. Hey, what do you think about me making your kid my own, hm?"

He pressed the gun barrel against the back of my spine, right above my stomach. The metal was cold even through my fur. He silver plated the barrel, too...

"Oh, you can feel it? Yes, silver rounds too. Had them made special before the blizzard. You know what silver does to us, right? Slows the healing. Makes sure the damage sticks good."

Closer to my face. Hand cupping his mouth, almost like I was being added to a conspiracy.

He was finally as close to danger as I’d ever seen him. Could I bite him before my neck is bitten through? Do I want to kill him that much?

"I need someone to send a message to Vossden, you see. They’ve been finding my spooks. And you’re someone the Rimecoat Alpha might actually listen to. Even if it’s so she could hear you beg for mercy."

The gun pressed harder. Making me brace against the floor. Fucking asshole. I should have bit at him. I should have-

"You’re probably going to tell them exactly what’s coming. And they’re going to waste time and resources preparing for an assault that’s going to happen differently than you were ever told. Just like you are right now... by the way, this is *really* going to hurt."

The shot was loud. The pain came a beat later. Cold and wrong, spreading through my gut like

Two rounds hit my legs next. I screamed and tried to thrash. Couldn’t help it.

"Dump him somewhere the Rimecoat patrols will find him. He’ll probably be fine, but make sure he’s still breathing when you do."

Chad’s voice felt distant, muffled more by my own pain than actual distance. Since I can still see the asshole’s feet right next to my face.

The weight on my back lifted but claws closed around my wrists. Fucking dragging me wordlessly across the ground, hitting every bump he goddamn could.

I nearly blacked out when I was tossed on my stomach into a utility sled, more human than wolf at this point...

"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m-"

His voice just kept mumbling as the engine started.

I tried to say curse him out loud, but all that came out was blood.

The ice kicked up by him flooring it landed on my wounds, covered in that salt they spread on the slick roads.

And I finally passed out.

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

Cold.

That was all I could think of for who knows how long.

So deep it felt like snow had replaced my blood. Face down, one arm twisted under me at an angle that would have hurt... if I could feel much.

The silver was still burning away my healing power. And order following Kyle had left me here close to the Vossden.

I managed to turn my head, crack open eyes crusted with ice and blood I’d coughed up while in the sled. Lights in the distance.

That fucking skyscraper. The Rimecoat territory. Where she was. Where the child was.

Where that bitch who’d turned my life inside out had built something new while letting mine collapse like it was cursed. And the pull I felt didn’t even point there, where I know she is.

Just reached out to nothing. Were we ever even really bonded?

Eventually, I started crawling. Somehow.

Not because I wanted to warn them. That asshole’s little speech about being a messenger was the furthest thing from my mind.

Didn’t even give much of a shit about being saved.

I just crawled because spite was the only thing left that felt warm.

And if I was going to die from this bullshit, I was going to do it somewhere that she would have to see.

If I can get her to look at me just like that human did...

Then I can at least die well.