Page 358 of Fated to the Wolf Prince
As we sat drinking tea and spreading cream and jam onto scones, we chatted about the happenings in the town, andSabrina shared stories of the outpouring of love she’d seen from our patrons since my disappearance.
“Seriously,” Sabrina said between bites, catching the dripping jam with her napkin. “You wouldn’t believe how many people were asking about you. There were cards, flowers, even a few teddy bears left at your office.”
“Really?” I asked, genuinely touched. “That’s incredibly sweet.”
“I told you… you’re loved.” Sabrina winked. “Now you just have to make sure you stay safe so we can keep it that way.”
“Speaking of...” Rosalie chewed on her thumbnail. “How are you holding up with all this craziness?”
“Truthfully?” The steam rose from my cup of tea as I took a sip, the familiar taste grounding me, helping me collect my scattered thoughts. “It’s been... difficult, but I’m handling it. My parents have been amazing, and with Ty and Liam by my side, I feel even more empowered.
“Good.” Sabrina was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “Just remember we’re here for you too, okay?”
Rosalie echoed the sentiment.
“Thank you.” Their unwavering support meant so much to me.
Just as Sabrina was about to entertain us with more gossip from the town, a commotion from downstairs interrupted our conversation. My wolf immediately tensed within me, sensing the disruption of the otherwise peaceful atmosphere.
I rose from my seat and headed toward the door. The instinct to protect my friends, both human and otherwise, surged within me like a powerful current, propelling me into action. As I hurried toward the source of the noise, my thoughts raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. What danger awaited me this time?
The house was a mess of chaos; the noise bouncing off the walls as I rushed down the stairs. My wolf’s hackles were raised, fur bristling beneath my skin as we prepared for whatever threat was waiting for us. The scent of anger and fear hung heavy in the air, guiding me to the source.
“Stay here,” I growled at Sabrina and Rosalie, who had followed me before racing down the remaining steps. I rounded the corner into the living room and skidded to a halt at the sight before me.
Liam had Nico pinned to the wall by his throat, and his razor-sharp claws were perilously close to the main artery. Nico’s face was contorted with fear as he desperately clutched Liam’s wrists, struggling to break free.
The memory of telling Liam about Castro and Nico’s involvement in our father’s death resurfaced like a tidal wave. I cursed inwardly, realizing my confession may have triggered this violent confrontation.
“Liam, let him go!” I rushed forward, grabbing his arm in an attempt to pull him away from Nico.
“Why should I?” Liam snarled. “He helped kill our father. He doesn’t deserve your sympathy.”
“Because he didn’t know,” I shot back, trying to appeal to Liam’s rational side. “He was completely unaware of Castro’s motives. He’s not responsible for what happened.”
Liam hesitated, his attention flicking between Nico and me as he weighed his options. My muscles burned with the effort of keeping my wolf in check. Liam’s aura, so like my own, had every instinct in my body screaming to protect my family, to ensure their safety at any cost.
“Please,” I begged. “He’s not a threat, Liam. Let him go.”
The tension in the room was so thick, it had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. Liam’s aura made the timber walls groan and heave beneath its power.
My wolf paced restlessly within me, gnashing her teeth, desperate to be released and eliminate this threat to our family. She strained against the confines of my skin, raring to shift and protect. To protect Liam and Ty, even though Nico wasn’t a threat. It was a gut reaction. A primal instinct that clawed at my insides, urging me to act.
“Enough!” Ty’s low rumble echoed around the walls as he strode in as every inch the alpha he was born to be. “Release him.”
“Stay out of this, Ty,” Liam snapped as he glared daggers at my mate, but Ty held his ground, his own aura rising to challenge Liam.
“Listen to yourself.” Ty’s eyes never left Liam, watching his every movement. He was poised and tensed, ready to jump in if Liam took it any further. “This isn’t you. You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”
“Maybe my judgment needs to be clouded.” Liam tightened his grip on Nico’s throat a fraction more. “Maybe I need justice.”
“Justice?” Ty scoffed, taking another step closer. “You call this justice? Attacking someone who’s already suffered enough.”
The struggle between my human self and my wolf was reaching a breaking point. The atmosphere in the room was electric. The slightest spark would set off an explosion. I clenched my fists, with my nails biting into my palms, but it wasn’t enough to keep the wolf at bay.
“Get away from him,” I snarled, sounding rough and guttural to my own ears.
How could I control something so primal, so raw? It was like trying to tame a wildfire with a single bucket of water. My wolf’s fierce desperation to protect our family—Liam, Ty, and even Nico—from any harm overwhelmed me.
