Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Valencia’s POV
Caius’s voice was sharp, cutting through the charged silence that had settled in the room. “He did what?”
1 froze, realizing too late that Caius had heard the worst part of my argument with Aiden. The ferocity radiating from him was unlike anything I’d ever seen before. His dark blue eyes burbed, his jaw clenched so tightly that I swore I heard the faint creak of teeth grinding.
I bit my lip, trying to think of a way to deflect. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice a little too loud, too rushed. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Dante?”
Caius’s eyes narrowed further, and he took a step closer. The envelope he held crinkled in his hand. “Does Dante know about this?”
I stiffened. “Well, in a way, yes,” I admitted, my gaze flickering toward the floor. I had told him what happened. That Jaxon tried something and that I had smashed a glass over his head.
Because in this life he really didn’t get the chance to rape me.
Caius’s face darkened, his fury now more palpable. “And he didn’t do anything about it?”
“What do you mean by ‘do something‘?” I snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. “What happened, happened. What is he supposed to do? I don’t need a hero running around trying to serve justice‘ for me, Caius.”
I didn’t want to be a fucking damsel in distress.
His expression twisted in disbelief. “Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath. His gaze briefly darted to Aiden, who was sitting silently with a clenched jaw, before returning to me.
Caius shifted slightly, the envelope in his hand catching my attention. “What’s that?” I asked, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Caius’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “An invitation,” he said, holding it up as though it were some grand proclamation.
“An invitation to what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“An engagement,” Caius said casually, though his voice carried a faint edge. “At the Wolfe pack.”
My breath caught. “What?” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aiden stiffen. He looked equally surprised. “When?” I managed to ask, my voice strained. “This week,” Caius replied, his tone casual but his gaze watchful.
I barely heard him. My thoughts raced, crashing into each other like waves in a storm. This week? How was that possible? Aiden and Anastasia weren’t supposed to be engaged for another six months. Why was everything happening so fast?
“Apparently, I was on my way to deliver this to Dante, but he wasn’t in his office. I thought he might be here.” He added.
I reached out to Dante through our connection. The faint hum of energy that always lingered between us was stronger today, and as I focused, I could feel his emotions. They were… joyful? Was it because of the mark?
09:31. Fri, Jan 24 Y CO
Chapter 96
I frowned. Was it possible to sense his thoughts now? The bond between us felt deeper, more profound, and I could almost sense him basking in the sunlight. My lips twitched into a small, onwitting smile as I glanced down at Castor in my arms.
“I think he’s outside,” I said softly.
Cainx nodded, seemingly unfazed. “Yeah, I figured. With the full moon approaching, there are preparations to be made.
I stood, ready to follow him, but Aiden remained seated.
“What are you doing?” I asked, frowning at him.
Aiden’s silver eyes locked onto Caius. “Whose engagement is it?”
Caius raised an eyebrow, glancing back over his shoulder. “Oh, I forget to mention? Jaxon Wolfe and Celeste Kallistar.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart d
the breath leaving my lungs in a shaky gasp. “What?”
It wasn’t Aiden getting engaged? It was Jaxon?
Caius’s sharp gaze flicked to me, his brows furrowing. “Why do you look so horrified?”
“Should I not be?” I snapped, my voice rising despite myself. “Did you not hear what I just said? A person like that is going to marry my sister, and I’m supposed to be happy about it?”
Caius’s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing further. “Your sister?” he asked, his tone worried about her? After what she’s done to you?”
pping with disbelief. “You’re
My mouth opened, but no words came out. Was it half–bullshit? Maybe. But as the words left my lips, I realized they held some truth.
Celeste wasn’t a good person. That much was obvious. She was spoiled, manipulative, and selfish. But she was also young, influenced by the people around her. An Omega caught up in the toxic dynamics of our fucked up family.
And Jaxon?
Jaxon was cruel. He had a unique brand of cruelty that was as seductive as it was destructive. He didn’t break people outright; he took them apart piece by piece, pretending to cherish them as he slowly drained them of everything they had to give. And when there was nothing left, he made them believe it was their fault for giving too much.
Celeste had no idea what she was walking into, at least not in this life.
In the
past
she had made it clear that all she wanted was power. But by then she was at least twenty four.
She was only eighteen right now.
I felt sick, conflicted, and disgusted all at once. But most of all, I felt a faint, bitter sympathy.
I didn’t realize I was trembling until Aiden’s voice cut through my haze. “You’re getting worked up for no reason,” he said sharply. “Jaxon won’t dare to behave badly with the Kallistar princess. You know our father won’t allow that.”
The disdain in his voice when he said ‘father‘ made my chest ache. Did he feel comfortable enough to share that hatred with me now? Did he know that I felt the same?
Caius scoffed, his expression filled with mockery. “Yeah, honestly, why are you even worrying about a bitch like that? If my brother showed up to my wedding wearing the same outfit as me like he was the groom or something, I would have cut
09:31 Fri, Jan 24 TG O
Chapter 96
contact long ago. And here you are, filled with overflowing compassion.”
His words stung, but I ignored them. My mind was elsewhere, ring through memories of the past. Something wasn’t adding up. Jaxon and Celeste weren’t supposed to have any sort of relationship yet. Their connection didn’t spark until years later or so I had thought. Had I been wrong?
Had they always been interested in each other? Or was this engagement purely political?
What the hell was going on?
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