Three Alphas, Fated To One, Played By One, But Mated To One-Chapter 84: Cracks in Control

Karl’s POV

I didn’t like the way things were changing.

There were changes in this pack, in Valerie, and in me as well.

I stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching from a distance as Valerie moved across the field.

I have been coming to this spot every morning recently.

I watched Valerie train everyday. But I haven’t approached her in days.

Today, she wasn’t sparring with anyone.

She was running the normal drills, including basic movements, footwork, balance, and endurance.

But the way she did them...was as if every movement had already been calculated before she executed it.

That wasn’t normal.

Not for someone who had been locked away as a slave for years.

Not for someone who supposedly hadn’t trained in nearly a decade.

And yet, she was doing exactly that. Her improvement was insane.

My eyes narrowed into slits.

Something wasn’t right.

"You’ve been staring for a while."

I didn’t turn around to look because I already knew who it was.

"I’m observing training." Of course I would never admit that I was watching Valerie.

A low chuckle came from beside me.

"Call it whatever you want. You’re still staring. And the person you are staring at happens to be my mate." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

I finally glanced sideways.

Mike.

He stood with his arms crossed, his expression dark as he watched the same figure I was watching.

"You’re still upset about the other day," I said.

It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

His jaw tightened.

"She is disrespectful to me and doesn’t treat me like her mate."

He said with resentment.

"But do you treat her as one?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Don’t provoke me. Being paired with her is enough disgrace. Do I have to take up a loudspeaker to announce our relationship?"

His head snapped toward me.

For a moment, it looked like he might actually attack me.

"Then stop bothering about her." I taunted.

He scoffed and looked away.

"She’s nothing."

I didn’t respond immediately.

Because I knew that wasn’t true.

And deep down....and so did he.

"She’s changing the pack," Boris muttered.

That made me look at him again.

His expression wasn’t just angry anymore.

It was... uneasy.

"The women are acting differently," he continued.

"They used to just obey their mates, but I have witnessed several cases of women talking back to their mates. They don’t even care whether it’s in public."

I smirked upon hearing that.

"Sounds like a problem for you. Didn’t she talk back to you at the library. She just set an example."

"It’s a problem for everyone."

"Not for me."

Mike let out a humorless laugh.

"Of course not. You’re leaving soon."

That was true.

In a few days, I will return to the Bloodfang Pack.

My ascension was coming and I would become Alpha.

And everything would change.

But for now, I am still here.

And Valerie...was still in front of me.

My gaze returned to Valerie.

She had stopped running and was now practicing strikes.

Her form wasn’t perfect, but it was improving rapidly.

In only a few days, her strength had grown a lot.

And as expected, I wasn’t the only one who had noticed.

"She’s been training every day, and won’t stay weak for long." Mike said.

I crossed my arms at his statement.

"She was never weak."

Mike scoffed.

"She was a slave."

"Keep telling yourself that."

Silence settled between us, but my mind wasn’t quiet.

Because the more I watched her, the more something felt off.

I had spent years planning how to dominate her. How to break her. How to make her depend on me.

It was supposed to be simple.

A slow and controlled game.

But now, the board was changing.

And I wasn’t the one moving the pieces anymore.

"She won’t listen to you," Mike suddenly said.

I frowned at his words.

"What makes you think I want her to?"

"Because you’ve been hovering around her for three years. And we have a bet, remember?"

I smirked.

"Careful. You’re starting to sound jealous."

His expression darkened.

"I don’t care about her."

"Then stop talking about her."

That shut him up. For a moment.

"You should put her back in her place," he said finally.

That caught my attention.

I turned to look at him fully this time.

She is his mate. Why should I be the one to do that?

Also,

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

"You’re stronger than her."

"That’s obvious. But so are you."

"You have influence over her." That made sense.

"More than you."

His jaw clenched.

"Then use it."

I studied him for a moment.

Then... I smiled.

I finally understood what was going on.

"You’re scared of her."

His eyes widened slightly.

"I’m not..."

"Yes you are."

I stepped closer.

Lowering my voice just enough for him to hear.

"You’re scared because she said things you couldn’t argue against. Or because she is doing things you can’t reverse."

"That’s not...."

"You’re scared because your mate is starting to think for herself."

His breathing grew heavier.

"And you’re scared," I finished, "because you don’t know how to control that."

I turned back to Valerie.

Completely ignoring the fellow alpha beside me.

"You’re making a mistake," Mike muttered behind me.

I didn’t turn.

"Maybe."

"She’ll turn on you too."

I smiled faintly.

"That’s the interesting part. A docile prey wasn’t interesting at all. I like challenges."

"You know she has changed. Then why are you still interested?" he asked.

That was a good question.

One I didn’t have a clear answer to.

At least....

Not one I was willing to admit.

"Because," I said finally,

"I don’t like losing."

Mike let out a scoff.

"You haven’t even won yet."

I chuckled softly.

"Exactly."

Valerie stopped training and her gaze lifted.

Our eyes met for a split second.

But it was enough to see that there was no fear or submission in her gaze.

There wasn’t even that dependent look she used to give me.

My smile deepened.

She was becoming more interesting.

Then she turned away.

Just like that.

As if I wasn’t important enough to hold her attention.

And that.....I didn’t like.

I watched her walk away from the training field.

She was so calm and composed.

"She’s ignoring you," Boris said.

"I noticed."

"That doesn’t bother you?"

"It does."

And I felt that the game I started, I was no longer the one in control.

And I had a feeling that if I didn’t regain that control soon...

I might end up losing something far more important than I intended.