I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Claire, listen to me.” My voice softened, though I kept it firm. “I promise you, soon, this will all be over. You’ll be by my side, but I need a little more time to sort things out with Lilian.”
That was the lie I fed her—the one she clung to so desperately.
The truth? I’d never let Lilian go.
All of this—everything with Claire—was a game I started to make Lilian pay. She betrayed me first. After everything we’d been through together, I wanted her to feel the same hurt, the same betrayal. But along the way, things had gotten messier. Claire had grown... attached. Too attached.
My phone beeped, interrupting my thoughts.
I glanced at the screen. “It’s time. The anniversary celebration is starting.”
Claire pouted, stepping closer again. “Why can’t I go with in your car?”
I leaned down, brushing a kiss against her lips to pacify her. “I’ll have a car bring you,” I said, my voice soothing. “I’ll see you soon.”
I turned and walked out, not giving her a chance to argue further.
The two warriors stationed by the door straightened as I approached, bowing their heads respectfully.
“The car is ready, Alpha,” one of them said.
I stopped, letting my Alpha aura roll over them. “Where’s Lilian?”
The two exchanged a brief glance before one of them spoke. “As instructed, the Luna is already on her way to the venue.”
I nodded, stepping outside. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, a low growl rumbling in my mind. He hated what I was about to do, but I locked him out, shoving his protests aside as I climbed into the car.
The drive was quiet, save for the hum of the engine. I stared out the window, my thoughts a tangle of emotions I didn’t want to acknowledge. Lilian. Claire. The celebration. Everything was spiraling out of control, and I wasn’t sure I could stop it.
Then it happened.
One moment, the road stretched clear ahead of me, and the next, a car swerved into my path. My driver shouted, slamming on the brakes, but it was too late. The impact was deafening, metal crunching against metal as the world tilted violently.
The car jerked to a halt, and I was out before the dust even settled, my heightened senses already on edge. Warriors that had been tailing me scrambled behind, shouting orders, but their voices were muffled by the sound of my pounding heart.
Something wasn’t right.