Chapter Sixteen

Author pov

Devon had ordered his servant to prepare his car for a journey that he had kept under wraps. Valerie, having locked herself in the guestroom for far too long, had managed to gather every detail; the servants had informed her of the alpha's lack of movement.

Without knocking, someone barged in, confronting Valerie, who was pacing by the window with her head bowed. She lifted her gaze, jaw clenched, waiting for the woman to address her.

“Are you going to keep panting like a fool, or should I get you some springles, madam?” she commanded, venom dripping from her words. With a forceful slam of her hand on the table, she made the lady jump.

“I’m sorry, Lady Val, al—”

“Shush!” Valerie snapped. “I am Valerie. People like you don’t get to address me as Val. Understood?”

“Alpha Devon is visiting Alpha Sebastian's pack,” the servant informed, the details making Valerie’s heart race. She exhaled sharply, taking a step back as a smirk twisted her lips.

Valerie’s pulse pounded in her ears as she strode down the hallway, her steps resonating against the stone walls, consumed by one thought—she would not let him leave. Devon belonged to her, and he needed to realize that.

Reaching the stairs leading to the main level, she spotted a servant by the door, blissfully unaware of the turmoil about to unfold. A dangerous gleam sparked in Valerie’s eyes as she smirked. She knew exactly where Devon would be: in the stable, inspecting his horses before the trip. This time, she wouldn’t let him go without a fight.

Her steps quickened as she descended, her breath shallow but steady. She was determined to make him listen. If necessary, she’d drag him back to the guestroom by his collar. The closer she got to the door, the bolder her thoughts became. She had forgiven him once when he publicly denied their bond, claiming there was no mate in his life. That was enough. The time for patience was over. If he was intent on seeing her sister, she would demonstrate exactly how far she was willing to go to remind him of where he truly belonged.

As she pushed open the door to the stable, the scent of hay and leather hit her, mingling with the rhythmic sound of hooves. There he was—Devon, his broad back to her, inspecting the horse that would take him away. His tall frame was both familiar and infuriating. How could he even consider leaving her behind? How dare he think he could walk away from her and see her sister without repercussions?

"Devon," she declared, her voice low yet commanding, cutting through the space like a blade. He tensed at the sound of her voice, his shoulders tightening. He didn’t turn immediately, but Valerie could sense the charged atmosphere growing between them, thick with anticipation.

"Where are you going, Devon?" Valerie stepped forward, her heels clicking decisively on the stone floor. She halted just a few feet behind him, the words flowing with a sharp acidity.

Finally, Devon turned to face her, his expression inscrutable, but there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Perfect. That’s exactly what she wanted. She would make him question his choices.

"I’m going to see Alpha Sebastian," Devon asserted, his tone firm, though she could detect an undercurrent of uncertainty. "There are territory issues that require my attention."

Valerie smirked, her lips curling as she stepped closer, locking her gaze onto his. "Territory issues, is it?" she challenged, confidence radiating from her. "And you honestly think leaving me behind is the answer? You believe that attending to his pack is more crucial than what we—" She paused, her voice dripping with contempt. "—than what we share, Devon?"

His jaw tightened, yet he remained silent. She could see his gaze wavering, the internal struggle evident. She would not back down. Not now.

“Valerie,” he began, his voice low and weary, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. “This is business. It’s not about us.”

The words struck her like a physical blow, stinging deeper than she was willing to admit. Yet, she wasn’t about to back down. She stepped closer, invading his personal space until she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, a heat that once comforted her but now felt like an electric tension.

“It’s always about us, Devon,” she replied, her tone smooth as silk but laced with an undercurrent of venom. “You don’t get to just walk away from me, not after everything we’ve been through. Not after you—” Her voice quivered for a brief moment, but she quickly reasserted her control. “Not after you humiliated me in front of everyone, saying you didn’t have a mate.”

She pressed even closer, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills, the intensity between them palpable. “I forgave you for what you said last night, but you can’t just turn your back on me now. You won’t walk away.” Her voice sharpened, insistent, as if she was offering him an ultimatum he couldn’t ignore.

Devon’s jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists at his sides, a stark contrast to the calm facade he struggled to maintain. He opened his mouth, likely to protest or to explain, but she spoke over him, her words rushing forth like a tide that refused to be held back.

“Do you think I don’t see what’s happening?” Valerie’s eyes blazed with indignation, each word punctuated with the fury she felt inside. “You’re leaving to meet with Sebastian’s pack, aren’t you? I know exactly what that implies.” She stepped forward again, the gap between them vanishing, their bodies nearly touching, a powerful magnetism at play. “You’re going to see her, aren’t you? My sister.”

Devon’s eyes widened momentarily, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face before he masked it with a stoic expression. He opened his mouth to counter her accusation, but Valerie pressed on, her voice growing colder, each word sharpened to a fine point.

“You can’t deny it. You can’t hide from the truth.” She reached up, her fingers brushing against his chest, feeling the strength beneath his shirt, a reminder of the bond they once shared. “You and I both know that seeing her will only reinforce how wrong this all is. The charade we’ve been playing, the pretense that this—” She inhaled deeply, the weight of her emotions almost suffocating. “—this bond doesn’t exist. There has to be a reason we were brought together.”

Devon’s face contorted, frustration battling with confusion in his expression. “Valerie, I’m not—”

“Shut up.” The command slipped from her lips like a snap, firm and final, and the air between them thickened with palpable tension.