Chapter 266 Chapter 266

Chapter 266 Chapter 266
BRAD

I grab Andrew’s arm, ignoring the terror on Ariana’s face and whisper into his ears, “Where’s Bella?”
“She’s around the back,” he replies, “I will tell Lucian to make sure she is safe.”

I shake my head with a frown, “This can easily be an ambush and they could have men in the back. Let him make sure she stays in the mansion because that is the safest place for both her and that boy.”

He frowns, “We are really safeguarding the son of the enemy,” he mumbles with disdain, his expression grim and disapproving. “Your father would be turning in his grave right now.”

I stare at the men riding on horses as they come closer and without looking at Andrew, I reply. “He waged this war that’s coming to my doorstep now, Drew. The same war that had made General Ragar to take the rogues and flee…so he can turn.”

Andrew sighs and turns to Lucian. He gives the order shortly and Lucian falls back instantly. Ariana climbs the stairs until she’s at the same level with the both of us and Andrew scoffs. A line of guards form a barricade right at the foot of the stairs as the riders come to a halt.

They jump down from their horses, grabbing onto the reins as they stare up at me. One of them steps forward and stares at the guards without bowing to me. He looks me dead in the eyes and his voice booms throughout the front yard.

“We are here on behalf of Alpha Dominic of the Blackshades pack,” he announces loudly, “we have not come here to wage war, only to pass a message.”

Ariana suddenly scurries to my side and whispers with urgency, “Dominic doesn’t negotiate. If he’s truly sent these men here to negotiate, if everything goes wrong, the next time he returns…” her voice trails off as her darkened, terrified eyes sink further into their pale sockets.

I stare down at the men and signal for the guards to step away. I beckon on them, my heart hardening with a malicious intent I haven’t felt in a long time. I have that lustful thirst for blood on my tongue as I walk back into the mansion. I return to the living room, sitting at the highest chair in the room as Andrew ushers them in with hostility.

All three of them line up at the door and the spokesman steps up once more. He stares up at me silently, as if waiting for something. I do not offer them the simple courtesy of a seat or even a glass of water. They exchange stunned glasses and their faces twist into baffled frowns.

“I have a lot of things to do, so whatever you have to say, best get on with it.” I say flatly.

He takes a deep breath, glowering at me from under his eyelids as he says, “Alpha Dominic demanded that we give him a full report of how this meeting goes, which means he will definitely hear of this…lack of hospitality.”

I look him right in the eyes, my heart flaring at anger at his audacity. “Did you just walk into my pack—my own mansion—and threaten me?” I ask in a slow, cold voice.

His eyes flicker with hesitation and he stutters when he speaks again, “I…I a-am just saying, Alpha—”

“You are mere messengers and you have no place sitting in the Alpha’s living room,” I cut in impatiently and snap, “state your purpose.”

He swallows hard and tries to instill some steel into his nerves. As he opens his mouth to speak, my eyes suddenly catch Bella’s figure by the door. She stays just out of sight, peeking into the room with curiosity.

“You have the Alpha’s son in your pack,” the spokesman says, “he has demanded that you return the child with immediate effect.”

Andrew scoffs and chuckles wearily. The other two messengers frown at him in confusion as he walks towards them, stopping only a few feet away. “Your Alpha has really got some nerve sending you three to hell so heartlessly,” he remarks, “I’d so hate to swap places with you, right now.”

The spokesman takes a deep breath, his eyes widening with fear, “This is an official message, Alpha Brad,” he says, his voice filled with panic, “Alpha Dominic has insisted—"

“I heard you the first time,” I say flatly and he bites his tongue with a grimace at that moment, “And I am actually stunned that you’d been so foolish to actually undertake this mission. Your Alpha wants to send a message to me through you?”

I slowly rise to my feet, a rush of hot blood pumping through my veins and into my head. I glance at the door again, my vision partially blurred with red. Bella’s eyes meet mine and for a split second, she sees a flash of my wolf’s ferociousness behind the curtains I have been hiding them under.

I signal for her to leave and with a gentle, silent nod, she disappears from the doorway.

The other two messengers unsheathe their swords, and take a defensive position, ready to strike at us. But I see the way their hands tremble as they hold their swords up. The sweat that breaks out on their faces gives them away cheaply and when I look at Drew, that knowing look tells me that he’s seen the exact same thing.

“My men will strike if they have to,” The spokesman says, but his voice is so strangled by the rising panic in his chest that it sounds like a mere whisper.

Andrew suddenly rushes at the other two, clawing at their spines viciously and bringing them to the ground with howls of agony and despair. Blood splutters on the walls and carpets as they roll on the floor. The spokesman’s face goes absolutely pale and his voice trembles as he begs for mercy.

I pat his shoulder and smile at him, “You, I won’t kill, because you have a message to take to Dominic from me.” I say softly and walk past him to where Andrew stands.

He hands over a sword, propping up one of them to his knees. I aim at his neck, my hands wrapped around the handle so tightly that my knuckles ache. I know this can potentially start a war, but I won’t mind fighting one to keep Bella.

Without thinking twice, I swing the sharp blade down at his neck thoroughly.