Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Dante’s POV
(Yesterday)
The meeting room on the ground floor of the Steele mansion was heavy with tension, the air thick enough to choke on. I paced back and forth, my boots clicking sharply against the polished wooden floor, while Caius stood rigid, his frustration barely contained. Marcelene and Raiden sat at the long table–Marcy looking angry, her arms crossed defensively, while Raiden leaned back in his chair, his face unreadable.
I clenched my fists, my patience wearing thin as Caius tried, yet again, to apologize.
Caius spoke, “I’m sorry, brother. It was my fault. I should have
Marcelene, cutting in sharply, “Fault? What fault? She’s not a fucking child, Caius! She knew exactly what she was doing when she left. Ikanything, this is his fault,” she spat, her glare laser–focused on me.
Her tone made my jaw tighten. I turned my eyes to her, and the beast inside me growled to punch the little Beta, but I held myself back for now.
Marcy’s anger didn’t waven She leaned forward, her nails digging into the wood of the table. “You must have done something to scare her. To make her feel so trapped that running away was her only option.”
Lfroze in place, the accusation stinging more than I wanted to admit. The weight of her words settled in my chest, cold and sharp. But I wasn’t about to let her win.
“Like I’ll believe you,” I shot back, my voice laced with veno decoy.”
“For all we know, she did tell you, and you’re just here playing
Marcy’s scoff was sharp, and she rose from her seat, slamming her palms on the table. Her voice rose with righteous fury. “She’s been agitated for days! I can’t believe she didn’t tell me either… But no, it’s really not my fault that you’re incompetent enough to-”
“That’s enough, Marcelene!”
The room fell into stunned silence at Caius’s outburst. Marcy’s eyes widened in shock–he rarely raised his voice–but her surprise quickly turned into a rueful smile. She pushed her chair back, straightening her posture with a sneer.
“Fine. Whatever.”
だった
“Where are you going?“, Caius asked.
Marcy rolled her eyes and threw her hands up dramatically. “Home. Or do you plan to confiscate my kitchen privileges, too?” Her tone was biting as she stormed toward the door. “You’ve already taken my phone, have people trailing me, and installed cameras everywhere. What more could you possibly want from me?”
“Let her go,” I said coldly, turning my back to her. “She’s useless!
The sound of Marcy’s fists clenching was almost audible. She stood frozen for a moment, then scoffed and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Caius sighed heavily but didn’t say anything. He just turned to me, waiting for instructions.
“She left for Velhaven last time,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “Start searching there. I want the whole city combed. Every street, every building, every shadow. Don’t stop until you’ve searched every nook and cranny.”
1/3
Chapter 79
He nodded and left without another word, leaving the alone with Father, who was will lounging casually in his chair.
“What do you plan on dising?
What I snapped ning to glare at him.
Father’s gaze was cabin, calculating “What do you plan on doing Bnce you find her?”
I didn’t answer immediately, his words hanging in the air like a ballenge. Finally, I spoke, my voice colder than I intended. “Bring her home.”
He narrowed his eyes, leaning forward slightly. “Against her will
“Will you stop me if I do?” I asked, a twisted smile curving my lips.
He sighed and shook his head. “No. But you should think about this carefully, Dante. You may be able to force her body to submit to you, but not her heart. And you’re not the type who will be able to bear the hatred she might feel for you after that.”
His words clawed at my chest, and for a fleeting moment, doubt flickered in my mind. But I crushed it, burying it under layers of anger and frustration.
She was the one who broke the contract first. She went back on her word.
And I had warned her.
Now, she was mine–whether she liked it or not.
By the time Caius reported back, it was clear Valencia had been careful–too careful. Smart, cunning little fox. She’d taken an Uber to a petrol station in Velhaven, then switched to another ride, throwing us off her trail.
But she couldn’t hide forever.
“We’ve tracked her third ride to Gashville,” Caius said, his tone cautious. “But…”
I frowned, my sharp gaze fixed on Caius. “But what?”
Caius hesitated for a moment. “It’s a bigger city than Velhaven. She could blend in more easily. And it’s where Paragon Networks is headquartered. If she’s hiding there-“.
“She won’t be that stupid,” I interrupted, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “She’s smarter than that.”
He seemed confused, but I didn’t elaborate. Gashville was Steele territory through and through. Ninety percent of the city was controlled by my pack. If she was hiding there, she’d be found within days–hours, even.
No. She wouldn’t make it that easy.
The only other plausible option was Ravenwood City.
The thought made my blood heat. A city of humans, free from any pack influence, where she could easily blend in. I had traveled world wide before, but that city was on the smaller side that I hadn’t had the need to visit. It was too lowkey.
Clever, Valencia. Too clever for her own good.
I grabbed my gun, wallet, and keys, my gaze falling on the small trinket I’d bought for her weeks ago–a delicate anklet with a tinkering charm shaped like a fox. I knew she loved shiny little things, even if she tried to hide it. Her eyes would always sparkle when looking at expensive stuff but she’d never reach out to it or even speak up, as though afraid of being too greedy.
2/3
10:47 Wed, Jan 15
Chapter 79
I pocketed the bracelet and headed for my Kawasaki Ninja, not bothering to change out of my black shirt and jeans. It was past midnight already. By the time I reached Ravenwood, the sun would be rising.
+23
I couldn’t shift into my dragon form–not this time. The last thing I needed was to draw more attention and endanger her or my son. Valencia had completely shut down our connection, but could still feel Castor’s pulse faintly. It wasn’t enough to track her, but it was enough to know she was alive.
Castor was still an egg so he himself wasn’t aware of his whereabouts which was why I couldn’t use our connection to track them down, as for Valencia she seemed to have figured out already that not only can I read her emotions through our bond but I can also tell where exactly she is. That is, if she keeps the connection open.
After all that was how I had found her the first time.
Nonetheless, at least I could tell they were safe with Castor’s bond. That was enough–for now.
As I revved the engine and sped out into the night, the only thought in my mind was her.
Valencia was afraid of something. She couldn’t have run away because she hated me right?
I was going to find her and this time I would make sure she wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone, even if it meant killing every single person who made her fearful.
Even if it meant I had to burn the whole world down to do it.
SEND GIFT
