Chapter 117
Chapter 117
Valencia’s POV
I had expected Dante to negotiate the price down, perhaps even ake advantage of Jaxon’s weakened position to drive the cost lower.
But instead, he had agreed to the full amount–without hesitation, without so much as a flicker of doubt.
It startled me.
It shouldn’t have. By now, I had seen enough of Dante Steele to know he wasn’t like the others.
He was ruthless, yes.
Possessive, undeniably.
But heartless? No.
Still, $185,000 was no small amount. My lips parted slightly as I stared after him, watching the way his broad frame disappeared through the entrance of the Wolfe mansion, probably to call Caius to arrange the money.
I should have been used to him surprising me by now. But this this was different.
Dante was an Alpha. Alphas were territorial, proud, jealous creatures. If anything, I had braced myself for resistance. Especially after his bout of jealousy back at Norsor Isle.
But the moment I had whispered my request to him, he had acted as if there was never any other choice.
My heart ached strangely as I turned my gaze back to Seven.
Dante was… admirable.
Not just because he was powerful, or handsome, or a man feared by all–those were things I had come to understand about him long ago. No, it was because I could finally trust him. Completely.
That realization hit me harder than I had expected.
I had loved an Alpha before. But trusting an Alpha completely? That was unexpected after Jaxon. And terrifying.
I swallowed hard, pushing aside the thought as I made my way toward Seven.
The boy had been laid down on a garden sofa, barely conscious. His silver hair, now clean, framed his delicate face in damp strands. The doctor had finished treating his wounds, stitching up the gash on the side of his forehead and wrapping fresh bandages around his head. Yet, despite the treatment, he had been left outside instead of being given a proper bed inside the Wolfe estate.
Of course.
The Wolfe pack treated slaves as little more than disposable objects.
I sat down beside Seven on the outdoor sofa, brushing my fingers lightly over the bandages to check for any signs of fresh bleeding. His face was so pale, so still, that it made my chest tighten uncomfortably.
Aiden stood a few feet away, watching the scene with stiff shoulders and an unreadable expression.
I understood why.
Unlike me, Aiden couldn’t so easily ignore the weight of his packs expectations. Unlike me, he couldn’t just sever ties and turn his back on his birthright.
Standing beside Seven–beside me–so openly, he was making a dangerous statement.
His loyalty to Jaxon was already under scrutiny.
And soon, there would be consequences.
Still, he didn’t back away.
Instead, he lingered for a moment longer, watching the boy’s faint breathing before shifting his gaze to me. A silent look passed between us–one I recognized but couldn’t quite name.
Then, without another word, Aiden turned and walked away, his steps purposeful as he approached Anastasia, who had been waiting for him.
Her expression was ice cold as she grabbed his arm, pulling him aside. I didn’t need to hear their conversation to know what she was saying.
Why didn’t you stand with my brother?
Why do you care about some slave?
I sighed softly, dragging my fingers through my hair as I turned my attention back to Seven.
I felt guilty.
Would things have ended up differently if I had saved him as soon as I saw him back at Norsor?
Had I done something then–had I fought for him sooner–would he still have ended up like this?
Bleeding, bruised, discarded?
The thought made me sick.
I reached out, gently combing through his hair, the strands sliding through my fingers like silken threads. He was so fragile, and yet, there was something resilient about him. Something that reminded me too much of myself.
I sighed again and began braiding his messed up hair.
It was difficult with him lying down, but I did my best, weaving the strands together carefully.
At the very least, he deserved some dignity.
As I worked, the sound of laughter and cheering rose around me.
The hunters had returned, the competition officially over.
To no one’s surprise, the Onyx Crown pack had won, given that Dante and Aiden had abandoned the hunt midway.
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Nico, Alpha Selene’s younger brother, stood at the front, his smug expression unmistakable as he presented his catches.
Three alive. Two dead.
The crowd whistled and clapped as the animals were placed in the center of the gathering.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Alpha Selene smiled softly, stepping forward before raising a hand.
“I think we should let them go,” she murmured.
A hush fell over the clearing.
For a brief moment, everyone stared, trying to determine if she was serious.
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Then, without hesitation, she knelt, reaching out toward one of the rabbits–a small, dark brown creature with twitching
ears.
Her fingers grazed its fur gently, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place.
Then, one by one, she set them free.
The moment was so surreal, so unexpected, that I could only watch in silence as the rabbits hopped away into the darkness of the woods.
I think I understood why she was chosen to be the representative of wolves. Her personality wasn’t just resilient, strong and confident, but as an Alpha she had a quality most didn’t. Compassion.
I smiled faintly, shaking my head as I turned back to Seven.
Only, after a while a blur of movement caught my eye.
One of the rabbits had strayed from the others, its tiny body bouncing clumsily toward me.
I reached out instinctively, catching it before it could leap onto Seven’s injured form.
The little creature squirmed in my grasp, its dark fur soft beneath my fingertips.
I chuckled softly.
“Hello there…” I murmured, cradling it gently. “Aren’t you a little cutie?”
The rabbit stilled in my hands, its tiny nose twitching.
For some reason, its dark brown fur reminded me of Dante’s hair.
The thought made my cheeks warm, and I scolded myself inwardly. The peaceful moment didn’t last long.
A blood–curdling scream shattered the air, making my breath catch in my throat.
The rabbit leapt from my hands, bolting toward the trees.
I turned sharply, my pulse racing as I tried to locate the source of the sound.
12:27 Mon, reu
Chapter 117
Then-
A maid stumbled out of the mansion, her eyes wide with terror
She gasped for breath, gripping the edge of her apron as if it was the only thing keeping her upright.
Her voice shook as she cried out,
“Y–young master Ja–Jason! He–he collapsed! There’s blood!”
A stunned silence swept over the gathering.
Then–chaos.
“Call back the doctor!” someone shouted.
My stomach dropped.
Jason?
