Chapter 385 385
Sabine POV
“Damien isn’t responsible for the sins of his father.”
Maurice’s voice carries quiet strength, every word deliberate and unwavering. There is no hesitation in him, no doubt clouding his thoughts. Whatever darkness existed between our fathers belonged to them alone. Damien was innocent in it all.
And so was I.
He doesn’t blame either of us.
Before me stands a man of rare goodness the kind that feels too pure for the world we live in. The best man. A man neither Damien nor I deserve.
I hadn’t thought it possible for my heart to stretch any wider, yet it does. Heat blooms in my chest, a fierce swell of love burning brighter than ever. I don’t believe there will ever come a day where he lets me down.
“He doesn’t deserve you,” I murmur softly, lifting my hand to his face.
My thumb glides along the sharp line of his jaw, brushing over the roughness of his light stubble against my smooth skin. Love surges through the mate bond, powerful and warm, rushing from me straight into him.
I see it the moment he feels it the slight widening of his eyes, the knowing smirk tugging at his lips before it melts into that smile I adore.
“Well,” he murmurs, leaning close, his breath warm at my ear as he draws me against him. His chest presses protectively beneath my chin while his strong hands slide up my lower back, steady and firm. “Looks like he’s stuck with me now. You seem pretty determined to keep him in your life.”
I scoff playfully. “Don’t pretend you’d want it any other way.”
I rise onto my toes, pressing my lips to his but before the kiss can deepen, Auntie Thérèse clears her throat loudly, reminding us we aren’t alone.
“So,” she prompts, her voice echoing through the room. “What will it be?”
I inhale slowly, letting my wolf’s presence settle beside mine as we come to the decision together.
I was finished with my past. Finished with being controlled even from beyond the grave.
This wasn’t about money.
This was about reclaiming my mother’s legacy. About keeping her name alive. About avenging her in death when I couldn’t protect her in life. When I couldn’t save her from him.
With every business, every account, every share I take back from my father’s name, I will rewrite it into hers.
It won’t bring her back to me.
But I will reclaim everything he stole from her after his betrayal of her, after his betrayal of me.
I will erase him from the human world. He will become nothing more than a distant, forgotten memory.
“I’m done being controlled by my father, even in death,” I say firmly. “I want my mother’s legacy. I want that for our children.”
Though my words are directed at Thérèse, my eyes never leave Maurice.
“Very well,” Thérèse nods. “I’ll begin the proceedings.”
Maurice steps slightly away, pulling his vibrating phone from his pocket as he answers it.
I turn back to Thérèse, placing my hand gently on her arm.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “You have no idea how much it means to me that you never gave up on me… that you never gave up on Mum.”
I needed her to understand how much this mattered. That someone had believed I was still alive even when all evidence said otherwise.
“She was my best friend, Sabine,” Thérèse says softly, pulling me into her embrace. “And you were her entire world. I’m only sorry I didn’t reach you before Gaston did.”
She pulls back slightly, lifting my chin tenderly with her fingers.
“Aurélie, I can barely hear you.”
My head snaps toward Maurice as his voice grows sharper with concern. Through the mate bond, I feel his rising distress panic flooding into me from him.
“Maurice,” I ask quickly, “what is it? What’s wrong?”
He moves the phone outward, pressing the speaker button.
The sound of Aurélie’s frantic breathing fills the room followed by Frédéric’s piercing cries.
“Aurélie, what’s happening?” I step closer, leaning toward the phone as my brows knit together.
“It’s Damien and the twins…” Her voice trembles, barely audible over Frédéric’s sobs. “I—I don’t know what to do.”
My heart leaps into my throat. “Is Frédéric hurt?”
“No, no he’s fine,” she rushes out. “It’s just…”
She breaks off, trying to soothe Frédéric, though she sounds just as shaken as he is.
“Take a breath,” I urge gently. “Start from the beginning.”
“They’re gone,” she sobs. “Someone’s taken my children… Maurice…”
She calls his name desperately, as if needing to be sure he’s still there still listening.
“Aurélie?” His voice stays steady, though his eyes betray his fear.
“Someone’s taken them again,” she cries. “I can’t believe this is happening again.”
My heart shatters for her. I can’t imagine the terror she’s feeling.
“Where are you?” Maurice asks firmly, cutting through her panic to keep her grounded.
“I’m home. I was going to look for them.”
“No,” he orders calmly. “Stay where you are.”
“I’ve alerted the alliances. No one’s seen them yet. Fabrice’s on his way but”
Frédéric’s cries begin to soften, either from exhaustion or Aurélie’s comfort.
“We’re coming,” I say firmly. “Stay there.”
I pull away from the phone, already moving back toward Thérèse as we prepare to leave.
Everything else could wait.
Aurélie needed us.
That was all that mattered.
“Maurice?”
Her voice suddenly turns hollow.
The sound hits me like icy water poured down my spine.
“Aurélie?” Even Maurice freezes.
“I can’t feel him through the mate bond…”
Maurice’s eyes lock with mine. His wolf surges forward, alpha energy rolling off him in powerful waves.
“We’re on our way,” he says sharply before ending the call.
He grips my arm. “We leave now.”
“Thérèse,” I call as we rush from the room, “it’s my brother and his children”
“I understand,” she says quickly, waving us on. “Go. Don’t worry about me.”
I catch one last glimpse of her before we turn the corner and she disappears from sight.
The moment we step outside the safe house, Maurice opens the pack mind-link to his warriors and to Maxime.
“Maxime, I need you to escort Luna safely back to the Ash Valley pack.”
The words slam into me like another bucket of ice.
“What? No I’m coming with you!”
“Absolutely not.”
“That’s my brother,” I snap. “That’s my nephew and niece who are missing!”
This wasn’t a debate. Every second wasted arguing was time we could be closer to Aurélie.
“Bee,” he growls as I pull from his grip and stride toward the passenger door.
If I could drive, I’d have started the engine already.
“No, Maurice!”
“If anything were to happen to you”
“Why would anything happen to me?” I shout back. “Aurélie needs me!”
My voice roars with emotion. I can’t believe this is even a discussion.
My brother’s children were gone.
My sister-in-law was breaking apart.
I needed to be there.
He stares at me for what feels like forever, jaw tight, fists clenched.
When he finally exhales
“Maxime.”
“Yes, Alpha?” Maxime steps forward cautiously.
“Gather the Ash Valley warriors…” Maurice pauses, conflicted as his eyes burn into mine.
“…and meet us at the royal pack lands.”
Relief floods me.
“Yes, Alpha!” Maxime responds, already taking off.
Maurice opens the passenger door and pulls me close.
As I move to climb in, he catches my wrist firmly.
“You stay by my side,” he warns. “No matter what.”