Chapter 341 341
Sabine POV
“My sister and I are packless,” Didier said evenly. “We may be alpha-born, but we relinquished our heritage when we left our pack.”
“And which pack would that be?” Damien asked, his eyes narrowing with quiet suspicion.
“A pack that forgot the difference between right and wrong,” Didier replied with a weary sigh.
“Hm. Interesting.” This time it was Aurélie who spoke, her gaze briefly flicking to me. “Are they aligned with Darkvale… or Bloodnight?”
“I” Didier began, only to be cut off by the screech of tyres outside. Rubber screamed against gravel, brakes pushed to their limit.
“Wonderful. Perfect timing,” Damien muttered, leaning back in his chair as my eyes darted toward the windows, searching for any hint of who had arrived.
“You didn’t tell him where she was?” Aurélie growled at Damien as she rose gracefully from the table, irritation barely denting her composure as she crossed to the window.
“It may have slipped my mind,” Damien said casually.
“Goddess, Damien he’s your best friend”
“Where is she?”
Maurice’s roar thundered through the house as the front doors slammed open. If the walls could tremble, I was certain they would have.
“Dominique, go with Lucas,” Fabrice said calmly. Dominique slipped from my lap at once and climbed onto Lucas’s, whose eyes had taken on that strange, glassy look again. Delphine remained on Fabrice’s lap, though I felt him tense beneath her alert, ready.
“Where is she?” Maurice bellowed again, stopping short when he took in the sight of us all seated at the dining table. His gaze locked onto me as he stepped closer.
“Bee?” His voice dropped, hoarse now, almost raw.
Every head turned in my direction including Didier’s and Caroline’s, both clearly unsure who the intruder was.
“And you are?” Didier stood abruptly, positioning himself between me and Maurice.
I couldn’t believe it.
He was blocking my own mate.
Maurice stilled then his posture shifted, chest broadening, spine lengthening as he took a deliberate step forward.
“Maurice Dufour,” he announced coldly. “Alpha of the Ash Valley pack.”
He wore nothing but loose sports shorts and a baggy T-shirt clothes hastily thrown on after shifting, no doubt. His eyes slid past Didier’s shoulder, finding me instantly.
Didier glanced back at me once, then returned his attention to Maurice, showing not a shred of fear.
“I told you,” Damien muttered smugly. “Another alpha-born. Honestly, Sab how did you miss it?”
I rolled my eyes. Of all the moments.
“You forget, dear brother,” I said tightly, “I was raised human. I walk blind in your world more often than not.”
“That does seem to be the case,” Damien replied dryly.
“Damien,” Aurélie growled low in warning, clearly done with him. I was grateful my irritation was growing fast, and I’d barely been here a day. The thought of that drafty caravan with no heater was suddenly looking very appealing.
“Are you going to move out of my way… boy?” Maurice’s tone was nothing like Damien’s teasing. This wasn’t play. He hadn’t come for a family dinner.
“That depends,” Didier replied coolly, unmoving. “Who are you here to see?”
A slow smirk curved Maurice’s lips as his eyes flicked briefly to Damien before returning to Didier.
I felt a prickle of fear for Didier then.
A dark, oppressive aura seemed to radiate from Maurice something I couldn’t see but could feel. Like my father when he was angry with me. The air itself shifted. I’d never questioned that sensation before learning about werewolves. Now I understood it for what it was.
“Maurice no auras at the dinner table,” Aurélie snapped.
“Didier,” I said quietly, standing. “Please.”
Maurice broke the tension with sudden ease, clapping Didier on the shoulder. “Quite the little protector, aren’t you? Even back in the woods.”
“The woods?” Didier asked sharply.
“Yes. I’ve been tracking you for days.” Maurice stepped aside at last, his attention never leaving me. “Surprised an alpha-born didn’t sense another alpha nearby.”
He moved toward Aurélie, kissing her cheek and murmuring an apology. “Sorry, Aurélie, dear.”
Didier followed his line of sight noticed how Maurice’s focus never wavered from me, even while greeting the lady of the house.
“You know him?” Didier asked, brows furrowed.
“Yes,” I answered softly.
“What was that? Didn’t quite hear you.” His hand cupped his ear mockingly.
I could feel the betrayal rolling off him.
“Careful, kid,” Maurice warned, voice low.
Didier ignored him. “Who is he to you?”
Every word was slow, heavy with bitterness.
All eyes were on me now especially Maurice’s. He was circling the table with effortless confidence, closing distance without touching me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, my body reacting like prey sensing a predator.
I needed my tablets.
I could almost smell him coffee and cinnamon. My gaze snapped away at last, landing on Caroline and the others, all staring at Maurice with parted lips.
I swallowed.
“He’s my mate.”