Chapter 45 45
Damien POV
Her eyes flashed her wolf surfacing for a heartbeat before settling on me. I couldn’t read her. She was cold now. Controlled. Soldier-like. Brutal. This wasn’t the gentle Aurélie I had once been married to. The one I had pushed away.
“My son has been kidnapped.”
Her body trembled as the words left her.
“What?” I gasped, a sharp flare of anger bursting unexpectedly inside my chest.
“He was taken from me,” she snarled, the words ground out through clenched teeth.
“When? Why?” Lucas asked, motioning for Aurélie to sit. She ignored him completely, remaining by the window instead.
“Two of our warriors were escorting Master Dominique,” Théo growled, his hands curling into fists. “Their vehicle was attacked. Both men were shot in the head, execution-style. The car was later found overturned on a heavily used human road.”
“This happened on human soil?” I turned toward Fabrice, concern slipping into my voice before I could mask it. He tilted his head, clearly not expecting that reaction.
“Yes. I found evidence we’re still investigating,” Fabrice replied. “I also sent a note recovered from the scene for forensic examination.” His eyes never left Aurélie, even as he spoke to me.
“There was a note?” I started only to be cut off.
“Where is he?” Aurélie demanded, her eyes blazing a deep, violent green. The promise there was hell.
“Who… the boy?” I frowned. “Why would I know?”
What possible use would I have for her child? Kidnapping cubs wasn’t my way. I didn’t harm the innocent.
“You took him,” she roared. “I wouldn’t put anything past you, Damien. You’re a monster.”
My wolf surged, furious. This was my pack. My office. No one spoke to me like that on my own land.
My chair screeched as I stood, force sending it skidding backward.
“I wouldn’t touch your child,” I snapped. “I’m not the monster you think I am, Aurélie.”
“Oh no?” she shot back.
“No.”
The air thickened instantly charged, violent. Our auras rolled outward, colliding and pressing until breathing felt like dragging air through water. If they were visible, they’d look like storm clouds crashing together, filling the office wall to wall.
“Damien,” she said tightly, pinching the bridge of her nose in barely contained fury. “I’m going to ask you one last time.”
She exhaled slowly.
“Have you taken my son? Because if you have, this affects you too and you’ll regret the day you crossed me.”
“Aurélie…” Fabrice warned, his voice sharp.
A warning for what, exactly?
“I have no choice,” she whispered. Her eyes closed, chin tipping toward the ceiling, as if she expected the Moon Goddess to be standing in my office.
“OUT!” she roared, never taking her eyes off me.
“Not a chance,” Geneviève scoffed at my side.
“I said OUT!” Aurélie unleashed her full Alpha aura in response and fuck, it was magnificent. With every alliance she forged, her power had grown sharper, heavier, more dominant.
Geneviève and Lucas both looked to me, visibly struggling beneath Aurélie’s command.
“You heard her. Out,” I ordered.
They obeyed. Geneviève resisted the longest her neck twitching as her wolf battled the instinct to submit to both Aurélie’s authority and my command.
“Aurélie” Fabrice tried again.
She didn’t even look at him.
“You and Théo as well. I’ll be fine,” she ordered.
“Alpha,” Théo acknowledged with a bow before heading for the door. Fabrice followed, reluctance heavy in every step.
Once we were alone, I opened my desk drawer and pulled out a cigarette. Quitting wasn’t an option right now.
I moved around the desk and leaned back against it, lighting up before dragging deeply. The burn eased something ugly tight in my chest as the smoke filled my lungs.
“Damien… where is he?” she tried again.
Her complete lack of faith grated on me.
“Like I said, sweetheart,” I exhaled, smoke curling between us. “I’m not the monster you think I am.”
Her next words hit me so hard I choked on the smoke.
“Is your office soundproof?”
“For the most part,” I said hoarsely. “Why?”
“Damien…” Her voice faltered. “My children… they…”
She struggled, words refusing to come.
“Spit it out, sweetheart,” I groaned. “Your surprise visit’s already wrecked my schedule for the day.”
She looked straight at me.
“My children,” she said softly.
“You’re their father.”