CHAPTER 80

CHAPTER 80
Nico’s warning echoes in my head but I choose to ignore it. For the first time in what feels like forever, I actually feel good. Erin is currently trapped inside the abandoned house at the eastern edge of the estate, and unless someone suddenly develops a heroic urge to go wandering through that area, she isn't getting out anytime soon.
My wolf seems pleased too. She has been unusually quiet since I locked the door behind Erin. Perhaps she enjoys the irony. Perhaps she simply likes seeing our enemies get a taste of their own medicine. Either way, I refuse to feel guilty.
Erin locked me in there first. All I did was return the favor. Hopefully, Erin will finally learn that not everyone bends when she throws a tantrum. Or maybe, she will think twice before targeting me again. 
"That's a dangerous smile,” Nico mumbles. 
"What smile?" I ask.
“Never mind. Anyway, what about dinner? Aren’t you hungry?” 
I blink. "Dinner?"
"That's usually how invitations work."
I roll my eyes but then my stomach chooses that exact moment to betray me by growling. Of course, Nico hears it and his grin becomes unbearable. 
As he treats me to a sumptuous meal in the gazebo, I force myself to focus on the food. I am halfway through the steak when the atmosphere suddenly shifts. Across from me, Nico stiffens and his fingers tighten around the stem of his wine glass before he slowly sets it down on the table. 
“What’s wrong?” I ask. 
But before Nico can respond, I see Alpha Cassian sauntering toward us. He doesn’t speak for a moment. He simply stands there, arms crossed over his chest, his piercing gaze fixed directly on me and the intensity of it makes my stomach tighten. Sensing the tension immediately, Nico rises from his chair and gives his brother a respectful nod.
"Alpha."
Cassian doesn't even look at him. His attention never leaves me. "I believe we need to have a conversation," he says coldly. "Alone."
The knife slips slightly in my hand, clinking softly against the plate. Instantly, my appetite vanishes. Nico remains standing beside the table. I notice the way his jaw tightens and how one of his hands flexes at his side as though he is fighting the urge to interfere.
"Alpha," he begins carefully, "if this is about Erin..."
Cassian finally turns his head.
"Out,” he orders and the command crashes through the room like thunder. 
Nico hesitates. For a brief moment, I think he might argue. Instead, he glances at me, his expression unreadable, before finally nodding. A few seconds later, I see Nico leaving the gazebo. 
I expect Cassian to explode immediately, but he doesn't. Instead, he slowly walks farther into the room, his eyes dropping to my nearly empty plate.
"You look well-fed," he remarks.
I lean back in my chair and force myself to meet his gaze. "Just enough to survive after being starved for an entire day.” 
His eyes narrow slightly. "Is that what you think this is about?" he asks. 
“Then why are you here, Alpha? Is this about that woman?” 
“That woman? How dare you talk about her like that? She is the future Luna of this pack!” 
I smirk. “With your mate being here? That’s very unlikely to happen, Alpha. Don’t you think so?”
“It will happen because I said so. So, going back to Erin, what did you do to her?” 
"I didn't hurt her," I say.
A humorless laugh escapes him. "No," he replies. "You only locked her inside an abandoned house and walked away!” 
I slowly rise from my chair. "There's no evidence I did that, Alpha."
His expression darkens. "No evidence? Erin practically described the entire thing. According to her, you even smiled while doing it, Vivienne.”
Of course she did. "And you believed her?" I ask. "Did you bother asking anyone else what happened? Did you ask the servants? Did you ask the head servant what they did to me first? I was trapped in that house for an entire day, Cassian. No food. No water. No one came looking for me!” 
"And that gives you the right to do the same thing to someone else who is innocent?"
"Innocent someone else?" I echo, unable to stop myself. "Are we really talking about Erin? She is a liar and you know that! Alright, she’s your fiancée. Fine. I understand that. But if you honestly believe she's some innocent victim, then you're not the Alpha I thought you were."
For the first time, genuine anger flashes across his face before disappearing behind that familiar mask of control. "She could have frozen to death!”
"But she didn't," I snap. "And you know what? She worked with the head servant to trap me there!” 
Cassian stares at me for several long seconds. "Are you jealous of her, Vivienne?"
I blink in disbelief. "Jealous?" The laugh that leaves me this time is sharp. "I didn't do it because I'm jealous. I did it because she did it to me first!”
He studies me with those piercing gray eyes, as if searching for something beneath my anger. Finally, he exhales. "You're bold," he says. "But boldness won't protect you forever. One day, you're going to push too far."
"Then decide now," I challenge. "But don't ever call Erin innocent again. That word doesn't belong to her."
"Damn it, Vivienne!" he mutters. "Why do you always have to challenge everything?"
I laugh bitterly. "Maybe because no one else does."
His nostrils flare. Slowly, he closes the distance between us until he is standing directly in front of me. "This is your final warning," he says quietly. "Defy me again, and I won't be so merciful."
My chest tightens. "Were you ever merciful to me? You are my mate," I continue before fear can stop me. "And yet you can’t protect me, Alpha. Or should I say that you just refuse to do so?” 
"Enough!” 
"You expect me to fear her after everything she's done? I am not afraid of her, and I will never be,” I inform him. 
"Then fear me."
"Is that a threat?" I ask.  
“Nope…but a warning,” he says.