Chapter 179 A FEW MINUTES TO BETRAYAL
Chapter 177
Jax’s POV
I watched his eyes widen like I had spoken in a strange tongue he could not understand. His brows pulled together, then lifted again, like he was searching for words that would not come.
His feet shifted. One step forward. Then back. The floor creaked under him.
“But…” he paused.
His lips trembled. Not just a little. It was the kind that made his whole face shake. His shoulders dropped right after, like something heavy had been placed on them without warning.
Something was wrong. It changed too fast.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall. My fingers tapped lightly against my sleeve. Slow. Then faster.
“I will be waiting for you,” I said, my voice low, steady. “Dress up and meet me at the garage. My driver will be waiting for us there too.”
He nodded once, but his eyes did not meet mine.
He turned and walked out of the room. His steps were uneven. Not weak, but unsure. Like he was walking into something he did not want.
“At the doorway,” I said.
He stopped.
“I am giving you just ten minutes.”
He did not turn. Not even a glance over his shoulder. His body stayed still, but I saw his hand curl into a fist at his side.
Then he stepped out.
The door stayed open for a second longer, then slowly creaked shut.
I let out a long breath. My chest rose, then fell.
Something was off.
My jaw tightened. My fingers stopped tapping.
I pushed myself off the wall and stared at the door. My eyes narrowed slightly.
Ten minutes.
No more.
Rosa’s POV
I stepped back into my bedroom and shut the door behind me. The soft click echoed louder than it should.
The room felt too quiet.
I walked to the mirror and paused. My reflection stared back at me. My hair was loose, falling over my shoulders. My lips were slightly parted.
I reached for the edge of my dress and slowly pulled it down.
The fabric slid over my skin and dropped to the floor with a soft sound.
Only my pant remained.
A chill brushed against my skin.
I wrapped my arms around myself, but it did not help.
I needed a man’s touch. The thought came sharp and sudden. It made my fingers tighten against my arms.
Jax had refused to touch me.
My lips pressed into a thin line.
Ryder… I let out a small scoff. He was no better. Always laughing. Always moving from one woman to another. Never still.
My fingers curled into fists.
It was because of him I had started this journey.
“My queen,” a voice called from the living room.
I froze.
My ears perked up. My head tilted slightly toward the door.
“My queen,” the voice came again, louder this time.
I bent quickly and grabbed my dress from the floor. My hands moved fast, almost clumsy.
I slipped into my gown, pulling it over my body in a hurry. The fabric twisted at my waist, but I did not stop to fix it.
My feet moved toward the door.
Each step felt heavy.
I reached for the handle and paused for a second. My fingers hovered over it.
Then I opened it.
“Leon!”
The name slipped out before I could stop it.
He stood near the entrance. His chest rose and fell quickly. Sweat lined his forehead.
I glanced at the main door behind him. It had been broken earlier by Jax, but now it stood firm again, shut tight.
“What do you want at this moment?” I asked, my voice sharp, but low.
He lowered his head slightly. “Sorry, my queen…”
His hands twisted together in front of him.
“The journey starts now,” he said quickly. “The king said both you and him are heading to where Brielle is now.”
My stomach dropped.
It felt like the ground had opened under me.
My eyes widened. I could feel them stretch, almost painfully.
“But you said it is tomorrow…” My voice came out softer this time.
“He changed his mind,” Leon replied. He shrugged slightly, but his shoulders stayed tense. “I don’t know if someone told him to do so or the gods just…”
“Just stick to the plan,” I cut in.
I stepped closer to him and pointed my finger straight at his chest. My hand shook, but I did not pull it back.
“Go to Alpha Dominion’s pack,” I said, my words quick and firm. “Show him the wrong healer’s house. Just do something apart from the real truth.”
Leon’s eyes flickered.
“Don’t let him see Brielle,” I added, my voice dropping.
My finger stayed pointed at him.
“Come back tomorrow and have your gifts.”
He looked at me.
Once.
Then again.
His eyes did not blink for a moment.
Then he blinked slowly. Once. Twice. His hands lifted slightly, then dropped.
“If you say so…” he muttered.
But his tone had changed.
The meaning behind his words hung in the air.
I felt it.
He could sell me out.
The thought hit me hard.
He had gold already. Enough to leave this pack. Enough to start fresh somewhere far away.
He could go to Jax. Speak. Trade my secrets for more gold.
Jax had already given him a gold bar just for speaking once.
My chest tightened.
Leon knew it.
He needed nothing from me anymore.
His eyes stayed on mine. Watching. Waiting.
“Rosa,” I thought, “you are about to lose this.”
My throat felt dry.
“So you want a promise now?” I asked.
He nodded slightly.
A small movement. But it said everything.
“This may be my last day in the pack,” he said quickly. His words rushed out. “He gave me ten minutes to meet him in the garage. He is waiting for me now.”
His hands shook as he spoke.
“He knows I might sell him out,” Leon added. “I can see it in his face.”
I swallowed.
“I think I need to go now,” he said.
Fear was clear on his face. His eyes darted toward the door, then back at me.
“He will kill me if he gets to know,” Leon continued. “I am even scared others might tell him. Or he may have sent someone to follow me here.”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“He is losing confidence in me,” he said. “I am sorry. I may not be able to do this again.”
He turned slightly, ready to leave.
“Ok… wait…” I raised my hand quickly.
My palm faced him.
He stopped.
I could not let him walk out like that. Not now.
Not like this.
My heart pounded hard in my chest.
“Do you have anyone you trust?” I asked. “Someone I can drop it with?”
“My… my fated mate…” he said.
His voice broke a little.
He turned again, like time was chasing him.
“Go to Alpha Aubrey’s house,” I said fast. “At the north end street.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice.
“You will see an omega,” I continued. “Slim. Average height. Red hair.”
I paused for a second.
“Her name is Melissa.”
Leon nodded quickly.
Then he ran.
He moved fast, like a man chased by fire. His feet hit the ground hard as he rushed out of my room.
The door slammed behind him.
I stood there.
Still.
My hands slowly dropped to my sides.
I waited.
My fingers clasped together, then loosened again.
Why am I even running like this? I thought.
Why am I scared someone will leak my secret?
I lifted my chin slightly.
At least Alpha Vexhood is there.
He is the main architect of all these things.
I turned toward the mirror again.
My reflection stared back at me, but this time, my eyes looked harder.
Let me go and meet him, I thought.
He must find a solution to this issue.
I can’t keep running around the pack like this.
I can’t keep disgracing myself in front of all these omegas.
My lips pressed together.
I am not giving a single gold bar to Leon for anything.