Chapter 230
Elle’s POV
I stared at Calista in shock, my hand instinctively moving to protect my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
Calista’s eyes glittered with something dangerous, something that made my skin crawl. She gestured toward the tray I’d just set down. “Don’t play innocent with me. That food – laced with laxatives. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
“Calista, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I took a step back, my heart racing. “A maid asked me to bring this up because she was feeling sick. I never touched the food.”
But even as I spoke, the pieces were clicking together in my mind. This wasn’t about the food at all. I could see it now.
“You’re not really angry about the food,” I said slowly, my voice steady despite the fear creeping up my spine. “This is about Peter, isn’t it?”
Calista’s expression shifted, her carefully constructed accusation cracking. For a moment, I saw something raw and desperate beneath the surface.
There it was. The truth laid bare.
“So you’re doing this because of Peter’s feelings toward me?” I kept my voice calm, even as my heart hammered against my ribs. “You know I’m Brad’s mate. I’m carrying his child. How could I possibly be interested in your brother?”
The golden glow in her eyes intensified, and I could see her fingernails beginning to elongate into claws. This wasn’t just anger – this was werewolf rage, the kind that could turn deadly in seconds.
“You think because you have that face, you can manipulate my brother’s attention!” Her voice was getting rougher, more animal. “He’s only bewitched by
Dakota’s ghost!”
I forced myself to remain calm, even as every human instinct screamed at me to run. “Calista, you’re talking about your own brother. Are you really suggesting he’s so weak–minded that he’d be manipulated by a resemblance?”
But she wasn’t listening anymore. She was advancing on me, her transformation becoming more pronounced with each step. Her nails were now fully extended claws, her canine teeth had sharpened into fangs, and that golden glow in her eyes was getting brighter.
‘Since you know the reason,” she growled, her voice barely human now, “then you should know what I plan to do about it. That face is the root of the
problem!”
Terror shot through me as I realized her intention. She wanted to destroy my face, to make/sure Peter would never look at me the same way again. I backed toward the door, but she was faster, blocking my path with predatory grace.
“You can’t escape,” she said, and her smile was all fangs now. “Today, I’m going to make sure that face never bewitches my brother again!”
My mind raced, searching for options. Alex was gone – Calista had made sure of that. No one knew where I was. I was trapped in here with a half–shifted werewolf who wanted to tear my face apart.
But I wasn’t going down without a fight. If I could keep her talking, maybe someone would come looking for me.
‘Calista, think about what you’re doing,” I said, pressing my back against the wall. “Think about the consequences. If you hurt me, Brad and the Rayne family won’t let it slide. Do you really want to start a war between our families?”
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17:39 Fri, Dec 26
Chapter 230
She laughed, a sound that was more snarl than humor. “You think I care? As long as it keeps Peter from being bewitched by you, I’ll pay any price!
‘You talk about Peter like he belongs to you,‘ I said carefully. Don’t you think your feelings for your brother are… unhealthy?”
Something flickered in her eyes – panic, maybe guilt – but it was quickly replaced by rage.
“Shut up!” she screamed. “You don’t understand anything! You’re just a pathetic human!
“Then explain it to me,” I pressed, sensing I’d hit a nerve. “Help me understand why Peter’s happiness threatens you so much. Why can’t you just want him
to be happy?”
“Happy?” Her voice cracked with something that might have been pain. “He was never happy! Not even with that precious Dakota of his! Do you know what it was like, watching him pine for a weak little human girl?”
Her claws flexed, and I could see the madness building in her eyes.
The pieces were falling into place now, painting a picture that made me sick to my stomach.
“You were jealous of Dakota,” I said quietly. “You couldn’t stand that Peter loved her.”
“She should have died sooner!” Calista snarled, completely losing control now. Her eyes were fully golden, her voice distorted by the partial shift. “If she hadn’t died when she did, I would have killed her myself! I would have destroyed that face just like I’m going to destroy yours!”
The confession hung in the air between us, shocking in its viciousness. But she wasn’t done.
“Why should Peter waste his love on some inferior human?” she raged. “I’m the one who loves him! I’ve loved him for years! I’m the one who deserves his attention, his care, his devotion! Not some dead human girl, and certainly not you!”
Before I could respond, she lunged forward, her claws raking across my neck just below my ear. Pain flared hot and sharp, and I felt warm blood trickling down my skin.
‘Stop!” I gasped, pressing my hand to the wound. “Think about my baby! You could hurt the child!”
Desperation gave me courage. ‘Do you really think this will make Peter love you?” I demanded. “Do you think hurting me hurting a pregnant woman – make him see you as anything other than his disturbed little sister?‘
–
will
For just a moment, uncertainty flickered in her eyes.
“You’re deluding yourself, I continued, pressing my advantage. ‘Peter will never love you the way you want him to. Never. And if he finds out what you’ve done here, if he learns about your twisted feelings for him, he’ll be disgusted. You’ll lose him forever.”
‘Shut up!” she screamed, but I could see the doubt creeping in.
‘Incestuous love is forbidden even in werewolf society, isn’t it?” I pushed harder. “What do you think happens to someone who break that taboo? You know better than I do what the consequences would be.”
Calista’s face went pale beneath her fury, and for the first time since this confrontation began, she looked genuinely afraid.
“If Peter ever finds out how you really feel about him,” I said softly, “you’ll lose everything. Everything! Is destroying my face really worth that risk?”
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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.
