Chapter 0139
“Tell me where he is!” Ethan demanded sharply.
Alexander’s distinct woody scent filled the air just as he spoke. “I’m right here. And I suggest you release my mate.”
Hearing his voice sent overwhelming relief through me. He was home.
Ethan dropped me instantly, whirling to face Alexander. Julian stood tall beside him, along with Sophia. And then there was Brianna—the girl who had nearly beaten me to death.
“You murdered my brother!” Ethan shrieked.
“No, I didn’t,” Alexander replied calmly, shrugging.
“I felt him die! Don’t lie to me.”
“Yet it wasn’t me. It was a Lycan.” Alexander’s tone remained steady, though I sensed his irritation.
“Don’t bullshit me!” Ethan yelled, grabbing me and yanking me back against him. His hand closed around my throat, squeezing tightly.
I stared at Alexander, struggling for air.
The music cut off abruptly. All eyes were on us.
“It wasn’t Alexander,” Brianna said, stepping forward with her hands raised. “There are Lycans who crave flesh. It was them.”
“Bullshit!” Ethan tightened his grip. “They’re all dead.”
“Do you really believe that? I understand Dark Ridge was your brother’s pack, correct? Just before that territory, there’s a town claimed by Rogue Lycans. Your brother passed through with one of our kind as his prisoner.” She gestured toward Sophia. “He was never leaving that town alive.”
Her brown eyes locked on mine as Ethan’s hold restricted my breathing. My vision began to darken. She was the last person I wanted to see.
“So you killed him?” Ethan growled.
“No.”
‘Nyx,’ I whispered inwardly, gasping for air.
‘What about the pups?’ she whispered back.
‘There will be no pups if I’m dead. Just the claws.’
Excruciating pain tore through my body. I felt my claws extending from my fingertips as Brianna continued speaking.
Reaching behind me, I drove my claws deep into Ethan’s stomach.
He cried out in pain, releasing my throat immediately.
My feet hit the ground. I tried to run but stumbled, falling face-first into the dirt.
‘GET UP!’ Nyx screamed inside my head.
I couldn’t move.
‘ATHENA, GET THE FUCK UP NOW!’ she yelled again.
Shouts erupted around me. Warm hands slipped under my shoulders, helping me to my feet.
Brianna’s face came back into view.
“I know,” she muttered. “I’m the last person you expected to see.”
I was speechless. I had rehearsed this conversation countless times since learning she was coming. So much anger. So many words. Yet now, staring at her, nothing came out.
All my confidence vanished.
“You need to move,” Brianna urged.
“I’ll take it from here.” Isabella appeared at my side, looping her arm through mine and glaring at Brianna.
“I was only trying to help!” Brianna frowned.
“Let’s go,” Isabella said, steering me away from the crowd and the woman who had almost killed me once.
“Ethan,” I muttered once we were away from the party.
“Alexander is handling it,” Isabella snapped. She seemed annoyed, but not about the attack. Something else was bothering her.
She began inspecting my neck, though we both knew it had already healed.
“Are you okay?” I asked softly.
“Yes!” she snapped again, avoiding my gaze. “You shouldn’t have shifted.”
“It was just my claws,” I grumbled. Studying her face, I knew something was wrong. “What’s going on?”
She sighed, turning her back to me. “This is going to sound insane.”
“Insane like a pack man targeting my twins?”
“The woman with Alexander…”
“Brianna?” I spat the name.
She nodded. “She carries someone else’s scent.”
“Okay.”
“My mate’s.”
“Gabriel?” I asked, confused.
She shook her head, frowning deeply. “My new mate.”