Chapter 80 THE GHOST OF THE PAST

Chapter 80 THE GHOST OF THE PAST
AVRIELLE’S POV

I carried the silver tray up the staircase, my bare feet padding softly against the steps.

Reaching the high archway of the master suite, I balanced the tray on one hand, reached out with my free arm, and gently pushed the door open to step inside.

Xavier was sitting up on the mattress, resting his back against the tall, carved wooden headboard. His shoulders were bare, his dark hair falling wildly over his forehead, and he was running a large, weary hand through the thick strands, staring blankly at the far wall as if trying to clear the heavy cobwebs of his long sleep.

A gentle, tender smile touched my lips as I pulled the door shut behind me with my foot.

“You’re awake,” I said softly, stepping into the room.

Xavier’s head snapped toward the sound of my voice. The moment his golden eyes locked onto mine, the cold, exhausted tension in his face seemed to melt away instantly. A faint, genuine smile curved his handsome lips, and he motioned for me to come closer, extending a broad arm toward his side.

I walked over to the bed and set the silver tray down gently on his lap, the rich, mouth-watering aroma of roasted garlic steak, seasoned potatoes, and steaming herb broth filling the space between us.

“I made you dinner,” I told him, smoothing down the front of his oversized white silk shirt that still hung loosely off my shoulders.

Xavier looked down at the loaded plate, his dark brows lifting in genuine surprise. He looked up at me, his eyes dancing with a warm, disbelieving light. “You made this yourself?”

I gave him a small, proud nod, leaning against the edge of the mattress. “Every single bit of it. I had to chase your stubborn head chef out of the kitchen to get it done, but yes… I cooked it for you.”

Xavier let out a low, gravelly chuckle, his gaze softening as he took in my appearance—wearing his shirt, smelling like his cologne, and looking after him.

“I’m a really lucky man,” he murmured softly.

He grabbed the fork and knife from the tray, cut a generous piece of the tender, seared steak, and popped it straight into his mouth. The moment he began to chew, his eyes widened slightly. He let out a low, appreciative sigh, quickly cutting another piece along with a chunk of the golden, roasted potato.

“Gosh…” Xavier gushed around his bite, shaking his head as he chewed, his tone full of honest delight. “It’s so delicious, Avrielle. Seriously… this is incredible.”

I laughed softly, watching the feared, terrifying Alpha devour the food like a starveling warrior who hadn’t seen a full meal in weeks. “Slow down, Xavier! The food isn’t going anywhere. You’re going to choke if you keep shoving it in like that.”

Xavier grinned, taking a quick sip of the hot herb broth before stabbing another thick slice of steak. “It’s so good I can’t slow down! I didn’t realize how starving I was until I tasted this.”

I tilted my head, resting my chin in my hand as I watched him eat, a playful, mischievous sparkle rising in my eyes. I leaned in a fraction closer, my tone dropping into a sweet, teasing murmur.

“Hmm…” I purred softly, raising an eyebrow at him. “Between the food and me… which one is more delicious?”

Xavier paused mid-chew, his fork hovering inches from his mouth. A slow, smirking smile spread across his handsome face as he set the fork down on the edge of the plate. He looked straight into my eyes, his gaze turning dark, heavy, and intensely possessive as his voice dropped into a low, rumbling register.

“You, of course,” Xavier whispered smoothly, his eyes lingering on my lips before rising to meet my gaze. “Nothing in this world can compare to you, Avrielle.”

My cheeks flushed warm with a sudden, involuntary heat. I reached out and playfully slapped his broad, bare chest, letting out a breathless chuckle. “Oh, stop it! Enough with the smooth pickup lines already and just eat your food!”

Xavier burst into a loud, deep laugh, the rich sound echoing off the stone walls and warming the quiet room. He picked up the heavy crystal goblet resting on the tray and drank a deep gulp of cold water to wash down his meal, his eyes never leaving my face.

He finished every single scrap on the plate, wiping his lips with the clean linen napkin. Once he was done, I reached over and cleared the heavy plate, bowl, and silverware, setting the tray aside on the spacious marble side table near the bed.

I turned back to him, sliding off the edge of the mattress and climbing properly onto the bed. Xavier immediately opened his broad arm, pulling me firmly against his side. I slid into his hold, resting my head comfortably against the warm, solid muscle of his chest, listening to the slow, steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. His hand came up to rest over my waist, his long fingers gently stroking my side in a quiet, soothing rhythm.

For a long, peaceful moment, neither of us said a word. Then, Xavier’s gentle stroking slowed down. A heavy, quiet sigh escaped his lips, his chest expanding beneath my cheek before deflating with a subtle, melancholic weight.

“Do you think I went too harsh with Adrian?” Xavier asked softly, his gravelly voice thick with a lingering, bitter doubt that cut through the silence.

I shifted slightly against his chest, turning my head to look up at his profile. His jaw was set tight, his golden eyes staring blankly at the flickering flame of the candle on the nightstand, clouded by the ghost of guilt that had plagued him for years.

I raised my hand, gently placing my palm flat over his heart, shaking my head firmly.

“No, Xavier… I don’t think so,” I said gently, my voice steady and resolute. “You gave him a hundred chances he didn’t deserve. You protected him, raised him, and even when he betrayed you and tried to steal your pack, you still couldn’t bring yourself to execute him with your own hands. You did your absolute best as his uncle… you really did. Stop feeling bad already. He chose his own path.”

Xavier was quiet for a second, his fingers tightening slightly around my waist. He slowly turned his head to look down into my eyes, a faint, deeply pained shadow passing over his sharp features.

“Do you know… that Adrian was really my nephew?” Xavier murmured quietly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. “He was my brother’s son.”

I blinked, pulling back slightly to stare at him in sheer surprise. “Really?”

Xavier gave a slow, somber nod. “He was Jeremy’s son.”

My brows pulled together as I processed his words, searching my memory of the pack’s dark history. “Jeremy?” I asked softly. “Wasn’t that your elder brother… the one who died in the fire years ago?”

A soft, bitter smile touched Xavier’s lips, though there was zero warmth behind it. He looked back up toward the stone ceiling, his chest rising with a heavy, ragged breath.

“I also thought he died in that fire…” Xavier whispered, his voice trembling slightly with a mixture of profound sorrow and dark, burning fury. “I spent fifteen years carrying the crushing guilt of his death on my shoulders… but he didn’t die, Avrielle. I don’t know if I should be grateful he survived or not… because it hurts so damn much to think my own brother is my own greatest enemy.”

I stared up at him, my heart hammering against my ribs, a cold, unsettling dread pooling in the pit of my stomach at the sheer intensity in his tone.

“Enemy?” I echoed, my voice shaking as I looked into his bloodshot, golden eyes. “I… I do not understand, Xavier.”

Xavier looked down at me, a sad, broken smile curving his lips as he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand, delivering the terrifying truth that shattered the quiet sanctuary of the room.

“Jeremy is Malphas.”