Logan's POV
I let the door slam behind me with a weight I wasn’t ready to carry. As I walked down the dim hallway, my mind replayed Ryker’s words over and over again.
"Please, don’t let anyone hurt her." His voice trembled, and for a moment, it felt like the entire room was spinning. I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen my brother that vulnerable—hell, I didn’t even know he was capable of it.
But I was bound to my word. I had never broken a promise, not once. That was something Ryker and I shared, despite everything.
The uneasy tension in my chest twisted tighter as I exited the house. My boots thudded against the cold concrete, and I made my way to the black Lamborghini parked in the driveway. Every step felt heavier. But there was no turning back now. If I was going to fix this, I had to do it my way. No more hesitation. No more second-guessing.
I slid into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut, the roar of the engine almost drowned out by the pounding in my head. My hands gripped the wheel, knuckles white. This wasn’t just about Ryker. This wasn’t just about a promise made in a vulnerable moment. This was about Violet. About protecting her. About securing her place in this world, no matter the cost.
"Get the car ready," I ordered over the phone, speaking to one of the guards. There was no room for hesitation, not for this.
The engine purred to life as I tore out of the driveway, speeding down the road. My mind, however, couldn’t stop spinning. Violet. I could see her face in my mind’s eye, her smile—soft, innocent, but guarded. I had to protect her. I would protect her.
The tires screeched as I turned onto the main road, heading straight for the enemy pack. Alpha Aaron’s territory. The man was ruthless. A total savage when it came to getting what he wanted. I had to admit, I respected him for his strength, his ability to control his pack with a single glance. But that didn’t mean I was about to let him do whatever the hell he wanted with Violet.
The city lights blurred past in a haze of red and white as the distance between me and my destination shrank. My heart thundered in my chest. The closer I got, the more I could feel the atmosphere shift—this was no longer just a drive. This was a declaration of war.
The gate of the pack’s territory came into view, and my foot slammed down harder on the accelerator. I could already see the guards stationed at the entrance, watching as I approached. As soon as I stopped the car, they were all around me, circling like vultures.
I got out slowly, the sound of my boots hitting the ground ringing in my ears. The tension was palpable, thick as smoke. One of the guards stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon, but I wasn’t fazed. If they thought they could intimidate me, they were wrong.
I met his gaze head-on, and with a smile that could have cut glass, I spoke.
"Is your Alpha Aaron around?" My voice dripped with sarcasm.
The guard hesitated for a moment, looking back at the others, before motioning for them to back off. "He’ll be out in a second."
I didn’t move. I didn’t have to. They could feel the weight of my presence, the sheer determination in my eyes.
Seconds later, Alpha Aaron appeared on the balcony above, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp. He looked down at me, his gaze cold and calculating.
"So, Logan," he called, his voice dripping with disdain. "What brings you to my humble home? Come to beg for mercy, or just looking for another fight?"
I stood taller, my eyes never leaving his. "Oh, I’m not here to beg for mercy, Aaron." I could feel the words leaving my mouth like ice, cold and unfeeling. "I’m here to make sure you understand something very clearly."
Aaron raised an eyebrow, his expression still unreadable. "And what’s that?"
I took a step forward, my voice lowering but growing in intensity. "I’m here for Violet. I don’t care what kind of games you’re playing, but if you think for one second I’m going to let you hurt her, you’re wrong."
There was a long silence, thick with tension, as Aaron studied me. His lips curled into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "So, this is about her?" He chuckled darkly. "I didn’t realize she was so important to you, Logan. You’ve never been the type to get attached."
I didn’t flinch. "Things change."
"And you think you can just waltz in here and demand what you want?" Aaron’s voice was low, dangerous. "You’re not in charge here. I make the rules."
I took another step, closing the distance between us. "I don’t care who makes the rules in your pack," I said through gritted teeth, my tone hard as steel. "But I’ll tear your world apart if you even think about laying a finger on her."
Aaron’s smile faltered, but he didn’t back down. "You’ve got a lot of nerve, Logan. You’ve always had that about you." His gaze flicked to the guards behind me, then back to me. "You do realize that I could have you killed on a whim, right? No one would bat an eye."
"Then why haven’t you?" I shot back, my voice sharp as a blade. "Why haven’t you just done it already, Aaron?"
He looked at me, considering my words carefully. There was a flicker of something—was it hesitation? Or perhaps fear?—but it was gone almost as soon as it had appeared.
"I’m letting you speak because I find your bravado amusing," Aaron said, leaning forward against the railing of the balcony. "But I’m not a fool. You’re not going to scare me with your little threats."