Chapter 44
Chapter 44
My lips are swollen, tingling, my breath uneven. I’m frozen in place as he stares down at me, his pupils blown wide, a dangerous amusement curling his mouth. My lips twitch–like my body’s idiot reaction is to follow him when he pulls away
“ I
I catch myself too late, flushing furiously. “You” I shove at his chest. “Y–you didn’t have to do t–that
He smirks, cocky as hell. “It worked, didn’t it p>
I glare, trying to steady my heartbeat. “You could’ve just… I don’t know, pretended to be alone in here like a normal person p>
“Sorin,” he drawls, stepping closer again, “nothing about us has ever been normal p>
I hate that he’s right.
He turns and starts leading me down the hidden corridor like he’s done this a thousand times. His confidence here is irritating. I mutter curses under my breath the entire way, mostly to keep from acknowledging how my legs still feel like jelly.
He glances back, amused. “Something to say p>
“Yeah. You’re an arrogant bastard p>
His grin widens. “And you’re terrible at staying out of my way p>
We walk in tense silence for a few seconds. Beneath the smugness, I catch it–a flash of possessiveness in his eyes. Wade almost recognizing me pissed him off more than he’ll admit.
“He would’ve recognized you,” Alaric growls suddenly, voice sharp.
I cross my arms. “I had it handled p>
“Bullshit p>
The word cracks between us. I whirl on him. “I’m not some helpless little wolf you have to save every damn time p>
He steps forward, towering, his presence swallowing the narrow space. “No,” he says softly, dangerously, “but you’re mine to protect p>
My chest tightens. The air shifts.
I push him. He pushes back lightly, more like a tease than an attack, but the heat between us spikes again. For a moment, it feels like we might start kissing all over again, right here in the secret hallway like two idiots who forgot the world exists.
I tear my gaze away, forcing a shaky laugh. “You’re insufferable p>
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Chapter 44
He hums, low and satisfied, like he knows damn well I’m lying.
We walk to the nearest door when Wade left. The air outside is colder than I expect. The moment we step out into the courtyard, a chill slips beneath the thin fabric of my clothes and brushes against the hear still clinging to my skin from what just happened.
My cheeks are still burning, the memory of his mouth on mine and his hands… oh his hands, refusing to fade no matter how many times I tell myself to breathe.
Alaric stands a step ahead, the glow from the lanterns catching the sharp lines of his jaw. His scent–dark cedar and smoke–lingers on me like a brand I can’t scrub off.
He doesn’t look back at me right away, but when he does, his eyes are pure Alpha King. Cold, Commanding. That dangerous glint that makes people fold.
“If you need something,” he says, voice smooth but edged with iron, “come to me.” His gaze pins me in place. “Always p>
There’s no softness. No trace of the heat that was between us seconds ago. Just the King issuing an order to someone beneath him. My stomach twists.
What the hell? What the fuck was that? Was the kiss nothing to him? Just another power play?
Before I can figure out how to respond, he turns and walks away, cape brushing the stones, posture screaming authority. The night swallows his tall figure until all I’m left with is the sound of the fountain trickling nearby and the faint taste of him still on my lips.
I let out a breath. “Well… fuck p>
I cross my arms, partly for warmth, partly to keep myself from unraveling. The courtyard is beautiful, annoyingly so–white marble columns covered in creeping vines, orange blossoms perfuming the air, lanterns hanging from wrought iron hooks.
Somewhere beyond the walls, I can hear distant music from the ballroom. It’s all too perfect, too calm.
Which is exactly why the hairs on the back of my neck rise when I hear the faint rustle from the hedges behind me.
A slow clap follows. “Well, well,” a voice purrs. “The King’s favorite little slut p>
My spine stiffens before I even turn. Ariel steps out from between the bushes like a viper slithering out from its hole. She leans against the fountain, draped in silk, golden curls perfectly arranged, lips painted like fresh blood. Two attendants flank her, both wearing that sick, smug look that makes me want to knock their teeth in.
Of course it’s her. The timing is too neat. She’s been waiting.
Ariel’s gaze slides over me, taking in the flushed skin, the messed hair, the faint tremor in my hands. Her grin sharpens. She starts to circle me slowly, heels tapping against the stone. “Or should I say… Sorin p>
My blood turns to ice. I don’t flinch, but my heart punches against my ribs hard enough that I swear she can
Chapter 44
hear it.
Her laugh is soft at first, then blooms into something sharp and delighted, “Oh, this is rich. All this time- the disgraced Luna hiding in plain sight. And not just hiding. You’ve been fucking the Alpha King under everyone’s noses.” She tilts her head, mock sympathy dripping from her tone. “A tragedy… or a scandal
Her attendants snicker. My lingers curl into fists, I imagine slamming her perfect head against the fountain until that serpent smile cracks, but I hold still. I can’t give her the satisfaction.
“You talk a lot for someone who’s a bitch seducing someone’s husband.” I say. My voice is steady, thank the Goddess.
She gasps dramatically. “Oh, Sorin, always so fiery. But tell me–yiou weren’t married yet when I came right? You were waiting so bad for him to come back and announce it p>
I grit my teeth at the past I so tried to bury. My vision blurs at the edges for a second. She notices. Of course she does.
Her smile widens. “Poor Edith. Loyal to the end. She died screaming your name, didn’t she?” She steps closer, lowering her voice to a venomous whisper. “I heard it. While I was fucking Wade in your room p>
I clench my fist.
“And for what? So you could spread your legs for a King who will never see you as anything more than a dirty secret p>
I lunge forward before I can stop myself, but one of her attendants blocks me. I shove her arm away. My voice comes out low, raw. “Say her name again and I’ll rip out your tongue p>
“Oh, I hit a nerve.” Ariel laughs, spinning the dagger in her hand like it’s part of some performance. “You always were predictable p>
Then she drops the bomb.
“I already sent word to Wade p>
My stomach drops. “What p>
She circles me again, dragging the dagger’s tip along the stone wall as she moves. “He’ll be here soon. I thought it would be poetic,” she muses. “For him to see you like this. Broken. Filthy. A pretty little Omeg playing house in another man’s kingdom p>
“You’re insane p>
“Maybe,” she whispers. “But I’m also very good at ruining lives p>
“No, you wouldn’t p>
Ariel’s grin is all teeth. “Try and stop me p>
She moves closer to me, the dagger gleaming under the lantern light. And then, slowly, she presses the handle
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Chapter 44
into my palm. Her fingers wrap around mine, guiding it. The blade points toward her stomach.
58 Vouchers
“You’ve always wanted to kill me,” she murmurs. “Why not do it now? End it. Kill the child growing inside me
-the child of the man you loved so much p>
Her breath is hot against my car. She’s the devil whispering in the dark. My hands start to tremble. For a split second, I imagine plunging it in. Taking back everything she stole. Edith. My pack. My life p>
Her voice snakes through me. “Do it. You’re already a monster. This is just the last step p>
I snap out of it with a sharp breath. “No,” I rasp, trying to pull the blade back. “I’m not p>
Her expression shatters into fury. She tightens her grip, faster than I can react, and jerks the blade forward into her own stomach.
The sound is wet and horrible. She screams.
It’s high–pitched and raw enough to make my ears ring. Blood blooms across the silk of her dress like spilled wine. She lets go of the blade and staggers back dramatically, clutching her stomach. “Help!” she shrieks, loud enough to echo through the courtyard. “She tried to kill me p>
“No-” My voice breaks, but it’s useless. The attendants rush forward, grabbing her, yelling for guards.
And then I hear the one voice I never wanted to hear again.
“Ariel p>
I turn slowly. Wade stands at the courtyard archway, flanked by warriors. His eyes lock onto Ariel first, then the bloody dagger still in my hand. Recognition slams into him like a storm. I quickly drop it.
Ariel points a trembling finger at me, her voice cracking just right for the performance. “She did it. She tried to kill me and my child p>
The world narrows. His gaze sharpens and I feel it on my back. Everything stops.
“You, it’s you again.” His voice rumbles.
And I run.
Again.
As I always do.
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