Alpha's Dark Desires

Chapter 36: Behind The Ruthless Pack

Elena POV:

After that stupid alpha finally left, I shuffled to the bathroom, feeling more like a zombie than a person. My whole body ached, and I was half-convinced that I’d just narrowly escaped death. But as soon as I flipped the light on and took in the sight of the bathroom, I couldn’t help the small spark of surprise.

The place was spotless. Everything gleamed, from the marble sink to the pristine tiles. Who would’ve thought that Mr. Arrogant Alpha was actually a clean freak? I’d have pegged him as the kind to leave muddy boots everywhere, maybe with the smell of the forest clinging to every corner of the room. But no, everything was meticulously in place, as if he had a personal vendetta against dust and chaos.

I leaned over the sink and looked at my reflection. And wow... if Kane had been looking at me like I was beautiful, it was clearly because he needed glasses. I looked like the living dead. Dark circles under my eyes, a pale face, and messy hair that looked like I’d been dragged through a hedge backward. I looked like I’d walked straight out of a horror movie. My skin was pale, bruises starting to bloom along my collarbone, and my eyes looked hollow and tired. I was a mess.

I almost laughed out loud, though it was more of a hollow, disbelieving sound. *This* was the woman he’d kissed like he was staking his claim? I shook my head, trying to imagine what had been going through his mind. That kiss... damn, it had been intense. I could still feel the way his lips had pressed against mine, firm and possessive, like he was branding me. He’d looked at me like I was something precious, something he wanted to protect. How had he not seen how awful I looked? Or maybe he had, and he just didn’t care. That thought made something strange flicker in my chest, a warmth I didn’t want to acknowledge.

Honestly, if I were him, I’d have run in the other direction. I wouldn’t even kiss myself if I looked like this! But he had, and not just a casual kiss—no, he’d kissed me like he meant it, like he’d been waiting a long time for that moment.

The hot water cascaded over me, working its way into my sore muscles, melting away the aches and bruises I’d earned from the crash and the exhausting run. I let myself sink into the warmth, letting it wash away the tension that had wound itself tight in my body. By the time I finally decided to step out, I felt like a new person—relaxed, healed, and free from pain, thanks to my alpha blood that sped up my healing. No scars, no bruises; just my own reflection in the mirror, looking a little less like a zombie and a lot more like myself.

Zena, my wolf, was wide awake now, her presence pulsing through me with strength and energy. I could feel her approval humming in the back of my mind, as if she, too, was glad to be rid of the aches and pains. It was like coming back to life, in more ways than one.

After brushing my teeth with a fresh toothbrush I found on the bathroom cabinent, I wandered over to Kane’s closet. Curiosity pulled me in, but as soon as I opened the doors, my jaw nearly hit the floor. It was packed with suits—row after row of crisp, expensive-looking suits that practically screamed money and power. Not a wrinkle in sight. I had to give it to him; for someone who spent so much time in the wilderness, he definitely knew how to dress.

But I wasn’t in the mood for something formal. I wanted something comfortable, something cozy. So I dug deeper, rummaging past the suits and dress shirts until I found what I was looking for—a stack of casual clothes hidden in the back. I picked out the longest T-shirt I could find and a pair of sweatpants. But even those were huge on me. The sweatpants were hopelessly baggy, so I ditched them and settled on the oversized T-shirt and a pair of his thick socks.

I glanced in the mirror and couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips. Sure, the shirt was practically a dress on me, but I didn’t look half bad. The fabric was soft, smelling faintly of him—a mix of cedar and something warm and earthy that felt oddly comforting. The sleeves hung past my elbows, and the hem skimmed my thighs, but with the socks pulled up, I looked... well, cozy. And there was something kind of thrilling about wearing his clothes, even if I’d never admit that out loud.

Satisfied, I padded out of the closet and glanced around the room. The bed looked inviting, and for a moment, I considered lying down. But I felt restless, too alive to just sit still. Instead, I wandered over to the window, staring out at the darkened landscape, wondering just what I’d gotten myself into.

Curiosity tugged at me, stronger than my initial reluctance, so I slipped out of Kane’s room. As I stepped out of Kane’s room, I couldn’t help but take in the space around me with a kind of quiet awe. His house was... majestic. It was beautiful in a way that felt both opulent and grounded, as if every inch of it had been carefully designed to reflect power, elegance, and an almost ruthless attention to detail.

The hallway outside his room was wide and open, with high ceilings that made it feel even larger than it already was. Soft, warm lighting spilled from fixtures embedded in the walls, casting a gentle glow across the polished wooden floors beneath my feet. The wood itself was rich and dark, gleaming like it had just been polished. Not a speck of dust, not a smudge of any kind – it was spotless, almost unnaturally so, as though Kane commanded even the air to stay still and perfect.

As I moved further down the hallway, my gaze was drawn to the walls. They were adorned with large, striking pieces of art—abstract paintings, some in muted tones, others with dark, vibrant colors that seemed to pulse with life. Each piece was perfectly spaced, perfectly placed. Somehow, they added to the intimidating elegance of the place, like the walls were watching me, echoing Kane’s intensity in their silence.

I passed a sitting area—a luxurious space with a sleek leather couch that looked like it belonged in a designer showroom. There was a low glass coffee table in front of it, and on top sat a single crystal vase, holding a minimalist arrangement of fresh white lilies. The entire area seemed untouched, as if it was waiting for someone, yet somehow I knew it was more for show than for relaxation. Kane didn’t strike me as the type to lounge around in his own home.

I ran my fingers along the edge of a doorway as I passed, feeling the smoothness of the polished wood trim. Every corner, every surface was flawless, as if Kane demanded perfection from his home as much as he did from those around him. The air smelled faintly of cedar and something else—something earthy and clean, almost like fresh rain. It was probably the scent he carried himself, embedded into the very walls.

When I reached the main living area, my breath caught. The space opened up into a grand, high-ceilinged room with floor-to-ceiling windows that lined one entire wall, offering a view of the sprawling forest outside. The light from the setting sun poured through the glass, casting a warm, golden glow that illuminated every corner. It felt almost surreal, like stepping into a painting. I could see the trees in the distance, their tops swaying slightly in the breeze, and for a moment, I felt a pang of longing. I’d grown up surrounded by nature, but this view... it felt different. It felt... untouchable, somehow. As if Kane could look out over the world, but the world couldn’t touch him.

A sleek fireplace was built into the opposite wall, with a few pieces of firewood neatly stacked to the side. Above it was a large, dark mirror that reflected the light back into the room, doubling the sense of space. There were a few armchairs arranged around the fireplace, each one looking plush and inviting, but somehow I doubted anyone actually used them. This wasn’t a home in the usual sense; it was a masterpiece, a display of wealth and power, carefully curated to make a statement.

I walked across the room, feeling my bare feet sink into the luxurious rug underfoot—a thick, soft, cream-colored material that contrasted beautifully with the darker wood and leather around it. It was the kind of rug you could get lost in, but I had a feeling it was cleaned and cared for meticulously, like everything else here.

And then there was the staircase, winding up with a slight curve to the upper floor. The banister was crafted from polished dark wood, sleek and smooth, and the steps themselves were wide and solid, leading up to whatever lay above. Everything about it was grand, imposing, yet with a minimalist elegance that spoke volumes about Kane. He didn’t need to show off. He knew his power, and so did everyone around him.

I let out a breath, feeling almost like an intruder in this place. This was Kane’s world, and it was pristine. There was no trace of disorder, no hint of the chaotic energy I brought wherever I went. Everything here was exactly where it should be, perfect, unyielding. It felt both beautiful and... intimidating.

I took another step forward, letting my fingers trail along the edge of a marble countertop in the kitchen area. It was a sleek, open space, with state-of-the-art appliances that looked like they’d never been touched. A single bowl of fresh apples sat on the island, as if that was all this room needed. I realized, with a pang, that Kane probably didn’t spend much time here. He didn’t need to; he had people for that. This was a house designed to be admired, a fortress rather than a home.

As I stood there, surrounded by the quiet grandeur of his home, I felt an odd mix of emotions. There was admiration, certainly—this place was beautiful in a way that almost hurt to look at, a stark contrast to the messiness of my own life. But there was also a sense of isolation, a reminder that I was stepping into his world, and his world was far more controlled, far more disciplined than anything I’d ever known.

And yet... despite its perfection, its cool elegance, something about this place felt empty. It was like the beauty of it masked a loneliness, a kind of restrained power that kept itself hidden, as though waiting for something—or someone—to bring it to life.

I wandered through the house until I found the front door. The moment I stepped outside, I realized I’d misjudged what to expect from this place. Kane’s home wasn’t some rustic pack house in the woods like my father’s; it was something entirely different. noveldrama

The "pack house" was more like one house among many in an estate—a well-kept, upscale neighborhood with neat lawns, trimmed hedges, and rows of homes that wouldn’t have looked out of place in a high-end city suburb. The street was quiet and lined with trees, the kind that looked intentionally planted and maintained. I could see lights glowing from other houses, a few people here and there, some sitting on porches, others walking along the streets, as if they didn’t have a care in the world. This wasn’t the close-knit, old-fashioned kind of pack I was used to; it was something bigger, more organized, almost like a small city within itself.

I let my gaze wander further, and that’s when I noticed the highway off in the distance, cars whizzing by at regular intervals. A real, busy road, not a quiet gravel path or dirt track. Wolves or not, these people had adapted, blended right into the modern world.

But true to their nature, they still kept a connection to the wild. On the other side of the highway, stretching out as far as I could see, was a dense forest, dark and looming in the evening light. It was like a silent reminder of what they were—beasts at heart, even if they wore the mask of a civilized community. I couldn’t help but feel a strange kind of respect for them, for the way they managed to balance both worlds. This pack might be a far cry from my father’s, but it had its own sense of power, one that felt even more intimidating in its sophistication.

As I stood there, taking it all in, a few people walking nearby noticed me, some giving me nods of acknowledgment. They didn’t look surprised to see a new face, but there was a subtle tension in their stares, a wariness that made me wonder just how much they knew about me. I was Kane’s mate, after all, and in a pack this organized, I doubted they were left in the dark about that kind of thing.

The longer I looked around, the more intrigued I became. This place was so... different from everything I’d ever known. It wasn’t just the size or the way it was set up; it was the atmosphere, this underlying pulse of order and strength. Every person I saw seemed to carry themselves with a quiet confidence, a sense of belonging. They weren’t just members of a pack—they were part of a community, a world built and run on their own terms.

I felt a strange mix of emotions swirling inside me—fascination, a touch of envy, and, oddly enough, a flicker of pride. This was Kane’s pack, his world. And somehow, even if I hadn’t chosen it, it was my world now too.