Chapter 179
Tristan’s POV
I played the video again and then a third time because my mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
Seraphine was there on the screen, her face a mask of pure fury as she shoved her way into Athena’s apartment and then moments later she and someone
was carrying her out, while my mate was clearly unconscious or too weak to fight back.
I couldn’t see the other person’s face, but I knew it was a guy. Who was he? He looked familiar but I couldn’t place his face.
But I saw Seraphine’s face clearly. She was working for Daxon. She was his accomplice.
For how long now?
My wolf surged inside me and I felt my vision blur with the kind of rage that could level buildings.
The phone creaked in my grip as I watched my pack member betray everything we stood for and everything I believed about her.
“Tristan.”
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Orion’s voice came from behind me, low and strained. I didn’t need to look at him to feel his rage. It was a living thing in the room, a heat that matched the
fire in my own blood.
I turned my head and saw his eyes fixed on the phone screen, his jaw clenched so tight I could hear the grind of his teeth.
I turned slowly to face Max who was still bleeding from the silver wounds Orion had given him.
His face had gone completely white and I could smell his fear mixing with the metallic scent of his blood. A new kind of coldness settled over me.
“I gave you a chance to tell me the truth,” I said, and my voice was too calm, too quiet for the storm/inside me. “I gave you every opportunity and you
looked me in the eye and you lied.”
Max flinched but didn’t speak.
‘Seraphine never tried to kill herself, did she?” I asked him and I felt my voice starting to rise with each word.
‘Alpha I can explain…”
‘Answer me! The command ripped out of me with the full force of my Alpha voice. It wasn’t a request. It was a compulsion, and his head bowed automatically as his wolf submitted to mine.
He was shaking. “Alpha…”
I took another step, closing the distance between us. “Why would you do this? Why would you protect her and betray me?”
Max swallowed hard and I could see his hands shaking as he tried to find words. “I did it to protect Seraphine,” he finally whispered. ‘She’s a pack member Alpha. She’s family. Athena isn’t.”
The words were a spark to the tinder of my control, I saw red. My wolf screamed for blood and violence and I wanted nothing more than to rip Max apart
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Chapter 179
with my bare hands.
A roar built in my chest and I moved to lunge for him, to tear the lie from his throat with my teeth, but Orion’s hand shot out and locked around my arm. holding me back.
“Easy,‘ he said quietly but I could see the rage flickering in his own eyes. “We need the whole truth first.”
His grip was iron, his own anger a palpable force, but his eyes were clear. He was stopping me because we still needed answers.
He was right, saving Athena was what’s important for now.
Bringing her back safely, so I need to control my emotions.
“Tell me everything, I growled, forcing the words out. “Every single detail of what happened and what you know.”
Max shook his head, his lips pressed together in a weak attempt at defiance.
“Speak, I commanded again, layering my voice with more power, enough to make his bones vibrate with the need to obey.
Orion moved in closer, his presence looming over Max and his tone turned sharp and dangerous.
“Max you and I don’t have a relationship and you’re not under my command but don’t think that means I can’t make you talk. Your Alpha is asking nicely right now. Don’t make us drag the answers out of you. Don’t make this more painful than it has to be.”
Max looked terrified as his eyes darted between all of us. He glanced at Derek like he was hoping for help but Derek stepped forward with his voice like ice.
“Don’t look at me,” Derek said, his voice cold and flat. “I’m not as patient as they are. The only reason I haven’t caved your skull in for lying to our faces, is because this is his fight. But my patience is gone. So if you know what’s good for you, you will start talking.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
