Chapter 95
Valencia POV
Sir Joseph’s fists crashed into Auden’s jaw, sending him staggering back against the wall. I blinked, stunned at the raw ferocity in the older Alpha’s movements. Joseph wasn’t holding back, not even a little.
Aiden, for all his sharp tongue and arrogance, couldn’t seem to keep up. Every time he tried to lunge forward, Joseph either sidestepped him or met him with another brutal punch. It was a fight; it was a beatdown.
“What the hell are you doing?!” I gasped, but neither of them seemed to hear me.
It seemed unreal how easily he was beating one of the strongest Alpha’s of the Wolfe pack. I could understand Dante, considering his half dragon genes. But why was it that the Steele pack seemed to be way stronger than the Wolfe wolves.
Once again a question tickled the back of my mind. Then how the hell did they lose the war in my past life?
Joseph’s silver eyes blazed with anger as he shoved Aiden back again. “Touching a Lady of the Steele family? Are you out of your damn mind?”
Aiden growled, wiping a smear of blood from his lip. “She’s the reason I’m trapped here!”
“And that justifies putting your hands on her?” Joseph’s voice was sharp, his tone colder than I had ever heard.
Lopened my mouth to yell again but froze. My gaze flickered between the two men, and for the first time, I noticed the uncanny resemblance between them. The same piercing silver eyes. The same sharp features. The same blond hair, though Joseph’s was peppered with streaks of gray.
What…? Then I remembered the sense of familiarity I had felt when I first saw Sir Joseph.
The thought trailed off as Joseph swung again, and I snapped back to the present. “Stop!” I shouted, stepping between them just as Joseph raised his fist.
He froze, his eyes narrowing.
“What the hell are you two acting like kindergartners for?!” I demanded, glaring issues by talking instead of constantly trying to beat each other up?!”
at both of them. “Why can’t we resolve our
A slow, deliberate clapping echoed behind me, and I turned sharply.
Raiden Steele stood in the doorway, his tall frame leaning casually against the doorframe. His lips curved into a faint smirk, though his skin looked pale, almost sickly.
“Ah,” Raiden drawled, his voice smooth but tinged with exhaustion. “Why don’t we listen to this sensible young lady and talk everything out? If only we stopped running away or beating each other up at the drop of a hat.”
I flushed, recognizing the taunt in his words, and cleared my throat awkwardly. “Uh… I was just trying to help.” Raiden pushed off the doorframe, but before he could take another step, a violent coughing fit overtook him. “Alpha!” Joseph was at his side in an instant, steadying him with one hand. “Why are you out of bed?” Raiden waved him off weakly, his voice hoarse as he replied, “It’s just a cold. I’m not dying or anything.”
Chapter 4
I pursed my lips, mumering under my breath, “I wouldn’t be to sare of that if I were you
Raiden’s sharp gaze flicked toward me, but instead of scolding jr, he fet our a quiet churkle “Come. Let’t move this to my
Joseph helped him down the hall, and Aiden and I followed. Aidey’s expression was tight, his silver eyes darting to Joseph every few seconds. I could tell he was just as confused as I was by their similarities. He must have noticed
I leaned closer to him, whispering, “Well, at least you being trapped here wasn’t a complete waste of time.”
Aiden shot me an annoyed look, but I couldn’t help the small laugh that bubbled up. Was it bad? Maybe. But after everything he’d done to me, didn’t I deserve just a little revenge
He had asked me earlier if I knew how it felt to be trapped somewhere for days without food or water. The answer was yes. I wanted to scream in his face that he was the one who had trapped me on a false accusation in my previous life.
But I held it in. Because, I knew how it felt to go hungry and how crazy it could make you. If I had the brute strength of Aiden in my past life, I would have choked someone too, out of anger. But I didn’t. So all I had done was scream, and accept the accusation and punishment, just for a bite of food and a drop of water.
He rolled his eyes, his voice a low growl as he whispered back, “Who is he?”
I blinked, surprised. “You don’t know? I thought you said you suspected someone. Was it someone else?”
Aiden nodded, his frown deepening. “I don’t even know him. Is he new?”
I shook my head. “He’s Raiden’s second–in–command. Can’t be new.”
Aiden’s expression darkened further. “That’s weird, then. We should have encountered each other during the battles.”
I shrugged. “Alpha commanders are usually in their wolf forms during fights, aren’t they?”
He didn’t respond, and by then, we had reached Raiden’s office.
Raiden settled into his chair, waving off Joseph’s hovering hands. “I’m fine,” he grumbled, though his cough betrayed his words. His sharp gaze turned to Aiden. “Now then. Let’s talk.”
Aiden crossed his arms, his silver eyes narrowing. “What is Dante?” he asked bluntly.
I stiffened at the question, my heart skipping a beat.
Raiden’s expression didn’t change, but there was a slight pause before he responded. “I’m afraid that information is… classified.”
“Classified?” Aiden scoffed, his voice dripping with disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”
Raiden leaned forward slightly, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. “If you want answers, you’ll need to sign this.”
Aiden
Joseph placed a document on the desk in front of Aiden.
“A non–disclosure agreement?” Aiden asked, his tone incredulous
“Bound by magic,” Raiden clarified. “If you sign, you’ll be unable to break it without… severe consequences. If you choose not to sign, you won’t be released from here.”
0931 Po, Jan 24
Chapter 95
Aiden’s jaw clenched, his silver eyes blazing with anger. He glanced at me, then back at the document. Finally, with a frustrated growl, he grabbed the pen and signed it.
Raiden leaned back in his chair, his expression calm. “Good. Now that’s out of the way..”
He glanced at me briefly, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “You know, we should have used such contracts before. Would’ve avoided unnecessary issues.”
I bristled at the offhand comment, crossing my arms. “Don’t look at me like I am the only one at fault,” I muttered, even though I knew that wasn’t much of an argument. “And anyways, didn’t ask Aiden to come in person, you know”
Aiden scoffed, glaring at me. “My mistake. I’was worried about my sister.”
His tone was sharp, but there was a faint undertone of something else–misery and worry. Genuine worry.
I blinked, surprised, and for a moment, my heart ached.
A thought bubbled up, one which I had tried many times to drown.
Maybe he had changed. He wasn’t the same cowardly man from before. But would it make me a bad person to not forgive him so easily?
Raiden coughed violently again, breaking the tension in the room. He stood slowly, handing Aiden back his phone. “You’re free to explore the estate and join us for lunch before leaving. Our driver will take you to the airport afterward.”
Aiden looked like he wanted to protest, but before he could, I cut in and agreed for him. He shot me a glare as Raiden and Joseph left the room.
His gaze dropped to Castor in my arms, then to the mark on my neck.
“So… he marked you,” he said, his voice low and bitter.
I flushed but met his gaze. “It wasn’t forced.” Not completely, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Sure it wasn’t,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped.
“You’ve always been a pushover, Valencia-”
I scoffed, cutting him off. “You’re really something, aren’t you? Do you think I had a choice? Would I have been able to safely remain in that house if I wasn’t a pushover? Have you forgotten what Jaxon did when I finally, for once, stood up for myself? He tried to rape me!”
A loud bang made me jump, and I turned sharply to find Caius standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing.
