Jackson's POV

I stared at my beta, trembling, sweating, and pathetically trying to keep eye contact and I felt my jaw clench so hard the muscles ached. He stood before my desk like a frightened pup, head lowered, but even that did nothing to calm the rage boiling inside me.

“You failed.” My voice was calm, too calm. That was when men usually learned to be afraid of me.

He swallowed audibly. “Alpha, I tried. But she was protected. I didn’t expect the guards…”

“Did I ask for ...