85

85

Andrea was determined. The kind of fiery, vengeful determination that burned in her bones. Her jaw clenched with resolve as she shoved open the restroom door, her footsteps echoing across the empty tiled floor. She was not going to let him go scot-free this time — not after everything.

Not after the lies.

Not after the blood.

Not after Jaxon.

She changed quickly, stuffing her usual clothes deep into her bag and zipping it shut. The hoodie she wore wasn’t his — not Jaxon’s. That would have been too sentimental, too painful. No, this one was hers. Black, oversized, and nondescript. She dragged the cap low over her eyes, lips set in a thin line. Her entire body felt tight with rage and betrayal. She couldn’t afford another mistake.

When she stepped outside, her breath hitched. There he was. Mr. Hoodie himself — Rock.

His eyes widened when he saw her. For a split second, something flickered in them — fear? No. Surprise. Maybe both. Andrea saw it clearly.

He hadn’t expected her to show up like this.

She tilted her head slightly, voice slicing through the tension. “Why are you so surprised, Mr. Hoodie?” she asked, arms crossed. Her tone was mocking, cold, but inside, she was burning. “Are you surprised to see me? Why? You asked to see me, didn’t you?”

Her glare pinned him. “Well, I’m here. So go on. Bring it on. Whatever it is you want to say, say it.”

Rock’s face twitched slightly, but then he grinned — the kind of slow, arrogant smirk that crawled beneath the skin. Andrea remembered what the old man had told her just days ago.

“He’s been working for me,” the elder had said in that low, gravelly voice. “For years. Bringing down anyone who dared stand against our clan. His name is Rock. He’s been trying to bring Jaxon down longer than you’ve been alive.”

The memory stung. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms.

Rock stepped closer, still smirking. “Surprised?” he echoed, mocking her words. “Of course not. You’re a child compared to me. You think you scare me?”

His voice dropped to something darker. “I’ve been working for that old man for ages. Watching. Planning. Following every step of Jaxon’s fall. And you? You were just the icing on the cake.”

Andrea’s stomach turned. Her lips trembled slightly, but she refused to look weak. She held his stare.

He continued, voice venomous. “That Alpha position was supposed to be mine. You were always a threat. A pretty little problem standing in my way. So yes — I sent the wolves. I stirred the fights between your pack and Jaxon’s. I made sure chaos bloomed wherever you walked. It was me. All of it.”

Andrea’s breath caught. Her heart pounded in her ears. She could barely process his words.

But still, she spoke, her voice low and deadly. “I’ll give you one warning, Rock — or whatever the hell you call yourself. Stop now. Or I won’t.”

Rock laughed. Loud and cruel. “Oh please. Save the speech.”

He stepped forward again, too close. “Do you know what I’d do before you even think of climbing the next step? I’d come for you. Fully. When I’m done wiping Jaxon’s clan off the map, I’ll come for yours. And I’ll slit your throat myself.”

Andrea didn’t flinch. But inside, she was ice and fire all at once.

Then he turned to leave, steps echoing into the silence. But halfway down the path, he stopped. Slowly, he turned his head back, eyes gleaming.

“Oh — and by the way, Andrea. Or should I say… Alayna?” he sneered. “There’s something you should know.”

He lifted his hands to his hood, slowly pulling it down. Then he tugged off the black mask that had covered half his face.

Andrea’s entire body locked up.

Her eyes widened.

She froze.

It was… him.

Mr. Ruu.

“You… You’re one of our servants,” she stammered. Her voice was barely a whisper now, broken and trembling. “I know you. You worked for our pack. You walked beside my father in the chambers. You— you were so kind.”

Her voice cracked.

“You were like family…”

Ruu — no, Rock — smiled. It wasn’t warm.

“Of course I was,” he said, eyes cold. “What, did you expect the devil to show up in horns and fire? No. The devil does what he must to get close to you.”

Andrea staggered back a step.

“All those years… you were pretending?”

“Pretending? No.” He crossed his arms. “I was learning. Gathering. Thanks to your precious little pack, I have all the information I need.”

Then his expression shifted. His lips curled cruelly. “Do you remember the flower vase?”

Andrea blinked.

“What?”

He stepped closer again. “The one you broke in your father’s chamber. That precious vase from his best friend. You shattered it and begged me to keep it a secret.”

Andrea’s face turned pale. “I… I was ten…”

Rock nodded. “Yes. Ten. And do you remember the promise you made to me that day?”

She stared at him, mouth slightly open. “I— I told you… if you helped me… I’d make you… chairman…”

His smile widened. “Exactly. You said, ‘If you keep my secret, I’ll make you the leader someday.’ And I never forgot.”

Andrea shook her head slowly, tears threatening to blur her vision. “That’s why you came to our pack? All this… because of that childish promise?”

Rock didn’t answer right away. He only leaned in close.

“I don’t care what you think. What matters is — you made that promise. And now… you’re going to keep it.”

Andrea stepped back, her mind reeling. She couldn’t breathe. The room felt like it was spinning.

“Make me the leader,” Rock said coldly, “or I’ll start killing. One by one. Every last person in your pack.”

Andrea stared at him, lips trembling. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall.

Rock’s voice dropped lower. “I’ll start with the youngest. End with the elders. And you— you’ll watch it all.”

Then he turned and walked away, footsteps echoing like gunshots in her skull.

Andrea stood there, frozen, her heart pounding wildly. Her knees nearly buckled.

She had no words.

Only questions.

Was he bluffing?

Was he serious?

What if he truly did destroy Jaxon’s clan?

Would he really come for hers next?

And if he did — could she stop him?

Could she ever look at her pack again knowing she brought the devil into their home?

Could she trust herself again?

Her hands trembled as she touched her chest. Right where her heart ached the most.

“Should I make him the leader…?” she whispered to herself, voice hoarse with confusion.

“If I do… will he stop?”

She closed her eyes tightly.

“What if it works? What if… it saves us all?”

But one final thought sliced deeper than all the others, the name dragging across her conscience like a blade:

Jaxon.

Would he ever forgive her?

Would she forgive herself?

And if Rock succeeded… would he let Jaxon’s clan be?