Chapter 256 Chapter 256

Chapter 256 Chapter 256
BRAD

I stare at Lucian in disbelief, unable to believe a word he utters.

Drew stands aside, his face completely pale with shock. He catches Lucian by the wrist and pulls him to the door, his gaze intense and overly protective.

He tries to whisper it, but my sharp sense of hearing catches every word. “What the hell are you thinking? Have you lost your fucking mind? On the night of his engagement? Huh?”

“I am not fucking kidding, Drew!” Lucian whispers back furiously, his eyes darting towards me with hesitation, “why would I joke about that? She’s out there! I sensed her and couldn’t believe it myself. Not until…”

Drew frowns and glances back at me, “Until what?”

“Until I smelt her, Drew!” He mumbles, “I fucking smelt her and then I went to investigate. She’s really here, live, healthy—not fucking dead.”

I completely lose it, a shutter snapping in my head at that moment. My heart completely shatters at the thought of Bella’s presence in the pack again. I turn around, storming to the door but Andrew suddenly steps in my way.

I glare at him and place a hand on his shoulder, “Move out of the way, Drew, don’t make me hurt you.” I say to him.

He sighs and throws a glance at Lucian, almost as if asking him for help. “Your eyes are golden, Brad. It looks like your wolf is going out of control and…I don’t think it is best for you to approach her this way.”

“I am fine.” I insist flatly and try to walk past him, but Lucian steps in the way. “I will rip both of you apart if you don’t step out of the way.”

Lucian swallows and they both stand their guard firmly, refusing to budge. At this point, the fire in my blood burns so fiercely that it stings against my skin. I gasp slightly and step back, breathing heavily.

“Do you see what I am talking about, Brad? Your wolf is drawn to her and cannot think of anything but her,” Drew says, his tone soft and coercive, “I need you to remember what had happened the last time you both met. Think about it. If you go out there now, with so much hunger and desperation, but she still hasn’t forgiven you and even rejects you, what do you think will happen?”

I listen to the frantic throbbing of my pulse, my wolf growling desperately and the hunger burning on my parched tongue. I grab the edge of my desk tightly until the wound splinters under the sheer force of my grip.

“Did she see you?” I ask Lucian without turning around.

“I…I can’t really be sure, Brad. She was just staring at nothing in particular when I caught a glimpse of her. I didn’t want to tell Esme first, so I came to you.”

My heart clenches and I slam my fist into the desk with an enraged growl bursting from my throat. “Fuck!” I cuss angrily.

Lucian’s voice is hesitant as he asks, “Did I do anything wrong?”

“She has seen all of it! This futile celebration, the pack jubilating, fucking hell! She probably even knows what the occasion if all about! What do you think happens now?” I ask, my mind still unable to contain the excitement of her being so close to me after all these years of searching. “I bet she hates me more.”

I shake my head and run my fingers through my hair while the other two remain silent, “How did she arrive? On a horse or…or a car? Who found her?”

Silence.

I turn around and my eyes narrow at him. Drew also stares at him curiously as Lucian blows air into his cheeks, slowly releasing it.

“Answer my question, Lucian.”

He clears his throat and his eyes do not meet mine, “She came in chains, Brad. Forced to the back of a carriage by the men who’d found her. These are our men by the way. They brought her back in, not as the Luna you’ve been searching for…but as—”

“A prisoner,” I mumble, my voice rumbling with anger. “Get me every single one of them. Keep them in the stable, bind their wrists and feet. I will handle them properly. For now, I need both of you to go to her, approach her calmly and tell her that it is safe here.”

Andrew hesitates for a moment, “And…what will you be doing, Brad?”

I stare at the table with a frown, “I will handle this charade and end it in a moment.”

Lucian’s eyes immediately light up, nodding with an immediate approval. Andrew frowns, holding a hand out as he says, “I don’t know, maybe we should take it slow?”

“No. I am ending it tonight.” I reply flatly and walk to the door. I stare at the both of them for a moment and ask, “Now, will you let me out of my own room?”

They sigh and step out of the way. I throw the doors open and walk past Ariana's room. Her door is wide open and I catch a glimpse of the chaos going on in the room. I walk past it without looking back, strolling into the conference room where the elders are gathered.

They look up instantly, stunned by my sudden presence. The spokesman rises to his feet instantly but I signal to his seat.

“Sit down.” I say flatly.

He retreats to his seat, utterly confused and they begin to murmur amongst themselves in low, strangled voices. I take my place at the head of the table and raise a hand to stop the rumors.

“Cancel all of it,” I say flatly and the entire halls go silent, their gazes flying around the room, “The wedding plans, cancel all of it. Tell the entire pack that nothing is holding this night.”

The council erupts into confusion and chaos as I walk out of the room.

I rush towards the exit, my heart and wolf bursting to see her again.