Chapter 145: Chapter 145

Rose’s POV

“Don’t do this, brother,” Kavian said, his voice low, edged with desperation.

“You left us with no choice,” Arman replied—and the satisfied smile stretching across the leader’s face made my stomach twist in dread.

But then something happened so fast my mind struggled to keep up.

Instead of attacking Kavian and me, Arman moved—lightning fast—and drove his hand deep into the man’s chest. The leader’s eyes flew wide in shock, a strangled gasp leaving him as his men staggered backward, mirroring his horror.

Even I froze, breath trapped in my throat… yet for a second, I swore I saw a faint, disbelieving smile flicker on the man’s lips.

He tried to say something, but Arman ripped his hand back—pulling out his heart. Blood choked the man’s final breath as he collapsed, lifeless, at Arman’s feet.

Arman didn’t pause. He turned, eyes sharp with cold resolve, and Roshan and Shirin instantly joined him. The three brothers tore through the remaining men with brutal efficiency, sparing not a single one.

When the blood finally settled, Kavian stepped forward.

“Thank you, brother,” he said quietly.

“Do not thank me,” Arman snapped, though his anger wasn’t directed at Kavian. “I still think what you’re doing is stupid and reckless. But I won’t allow anyone to speak to my brother with such disrespect.”

His gaze flicked to the man whose heart he’d torn out… then back to Kavian.

“So… are you going to take us back to Father?” Kavian asked, tension thick in the air.

Arman stared at us for a long moment before answering.

“You killed all these men. We never met.”

He turned away, and it took me several seconds to understand what he meant.

“Thank you, brothers,” Kavian said. “Let’s go.” He reached for me, but something inside me broke loose.

I ran to Arman and wrapped my arms around him from behind, pressing my cheek to his back. He went rigid—stunned—but didn’t pull away. One of his hands lifted, resting gently over mine.

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling his heartbeat beneath my palm.

He turned to face me, eyes softer than before. “You should start going with him,” he said, and I nodded.

Roshan and Shirin came next, pulling me into their arms.

“Take care of yourself, sweet thing,” Shirin murmured with a small smile. But beneath it, his sadness was unmistakable. It made my throat tighten, the moment feeling painfully final—like I was saying goodbye to them forever.

Kavian mounted his horse and stretched out his hand to me. I took it, and he pulled me up behind him, settling me securely against his back.

“Goodbye, mate,” Roshan called out, voice rougher than usual.

They stood there watching as Kavian rode off with me. I kept looking back—again and again—until the three of them finally disappeared from sight.

We moved past the place where the men had intercepted Laura and me, but no one was there—not even Laura. Worry gripped my chest, sharp and cold, but Kavian tried to reassure me, reminding me she likely returned to our pack just like I told her to when they released her. The reminder eased my panic only slightly. From then on, the ride became faster, almost desperate, as Kavian pushed the horse hard, determined to get me home before his father’s men caught up.

It was already getting dark when Crescent Moon’s pack came into view, but something immediately felt wrong. Before we even reached the gates of the pack house, people in the city were staring—really staring—their eyes wide, their expressions filled with a kind of shocked horror. Some whispered frantically to each other behind their hands; others rushed away and hid as if they’d just seen a monster.

“What’s happening?” I asked, shivering at the strange atmosphere. Kavian didn’t seem bothered, but tension coiled in his shoulders.

“When we get to your father, we will know,” he said, urging the horse forward.

But the moment we reached the pack house, I knew something was absolutely different. Warriors were assembled outside the gate, formation tight and ready, as if expecting an attack. My father stood at the front with my aunty Vivian, Tristan, and—most shockingly—Alpha Damian.

“What is he doing here?” I muttered under my breath. Even Kavian’s brows furrowed at the sight of him.

“I do not know,” he replied.

“Lady Rose!” one of the warriors called out, and suddenly every pair of eyes snapped toward me with that same unnerving look the townspeople had given. Before I could process it, the warriors surged forward, surrounding us completely.

“What is going on?” I asked, panic rising like a tide.

“Get her away from him!” my father barked. A warrior yanked me off the horse—roughly enough to make me gasp.

“Hey, careful—!” Kavian began, but he didn’t get to finish. Every warrior around us drew their swords, all of them pointed at him, tips so close they nearly pressed against his skin. Yet Kavian remained perfectly still, calm… controlled.

“What’s going on, Father?” I demanded.

“Don’t worry. You are safe now,” he said.

“Safe?” I stared at him. “I am safe with Kavian.”

“He is not what you think he is, Rose. He has been lying to you—lying to everyone,” Damian said, stepping forward. His tone was cool, self-assured, and it made me frown in confusion and irritation.

“Why are you even speaking to me? Why are you even here?” I snapped at him before turning to my father again.

“He’s right,” my father said grimly. “Kavian and his brothers have deceived us all. Their intentions toward you are not good ones. Damian has told us everything.”

A cold shiver ran down my back. “What exactly did he tell you?”

“How they are murderers—going from country to country, city to city—destroying everything, killing everyone in their path without mercy or remorse,” my father said. “They wanted you not because you are their mate, but because you’re the Phoenix wolf. They need your blood.”

“No.” My voice shook. “There is a misunderstanding—”

“No, Rose,” Tristan cut in sharply. “There is no misunderstanding. I am sorry but this is the truth.”

“No, it’s not the truth…” I whispered, trying to explain, my voice trembling.

“Then ask your beloved mate what he and his brothers did to the city of Riverdale.”

“Riverdale?” I muttered, searching my memory, but the name didn’t strike any familiar chord.

“That’s the city they visited before coming to Ashwood,” Damian added smoothly, almost as if he could hear my thoughts. Then he turned to Kavian, his eyes glinting.

“Why don’t you tell her what you did to that beautiful city?”

Kavian’s frown tightened, then slowly faded into a sad, hollow look. But he stayed silent.

Damian didn’t stop. He stepped closer, voice dripping poison.

“Can’t talk? Or are you afraid she’ll finally realize the truth about all the innocent people slaughtered at your hands? Women and children. Or maybe it’s the women who were raped and violated in front of their families? Should we also talk about how the entire city was burnt to ashes?”

“No… no, no. That can’t be true,” I said, shaking my head as panic rose like a tide in my chest.

“Will you deny this?” Damian asked Kavian sharply.

But Kavian still remained quiet.

“Kavian, say something. Please…” I begged, my voice cracking as I looked into his eyes.

Slowly, he turned his gaze to me.

“It is the truth,” he said.

The moment the words left his lips, my heart broke so violently it almost felt physical. My knees buckled, and Tristan had to catch me as the ground swayed beneath my feet.

“I told you he is a monster,” Damian said with a wicked, satisfied smile.

“Seize him!” my father roared, fury shaking his voice.

The warriors grabbed Kavian, dragging him off the horse and slamming him to the ground. He didn’t struggle—not even once. Even as fists pounded into him, as boots struck his ribs, he didn’t react. Blood ran down his face, but he only knelt there, silent… almost as if he had accepted every blow, every accusation.

And I felt each hit like it landed inside my own chest.

“Take him away from my sight and lock him up in the deepest and darkest dungeon,” my father ordered.

As they dragged him away, tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. The world around me blurred until a pair of arms wrapped around me.

Laura.

She pulled me close, holding me tightly as I broke.

“It will be alright,” she whispered gently, trying to console me as my whole world shattered in her arms.