Chapter 190 INFERNO OF BETRAYAL
Edeline
Anita's face crumpled as William approached, torch in hand, lighting up the area around him. The flames flickered, casting shadows across the scene. "Tatiana, you should think about getting rid of that pup," Anita pleaded, her voice laced with desperation. "Just be with Nixx! You’ve wanted him since the day you saw him. Don’t let this pup destroy your future!"
Percival let out a low growl beside me, and I saw Tatiana stiffen, her hands instinctively wrapping protectively around her stomach. "I love my pup!" she shot back, her voice fierce and trembling. "He’s a part of me! He’s almost here! I’m nothing like you!"
Without a second thought, William lowered the torch, igniting the gasoline-soaked wood beneath Anita’s feet. The fire sprang to life, the flames racing up the platform. The crowd watched in stunned silence, unable to tear their eyes away as the heat intensified.
I couldn’t look away either, even as the stench of burning flesh filled the air, sharp and nauseating. Darius, however, seemed enthralled, his eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction.
The fire reached Anita’s body, and her screams cut through the night, piercing and raw. The smell of charred flesh and singed hair curled into the air, thick and suffocating. Through the flames, I could still hear her. "I love you!" she cried out, her voice desperate, breaking, as the fire consumed her.
Tatiana collapsed to the ground, her body trembling as she stared in shock at the smoldering remains of Anita. Percival, standing rigid, remained fixated on the tragic scene, a chilling silence enveloping him. Tatiana's scream pierced the night air, choked and raw, as she clung desperately to the stage. Overwhelmed by the horrific sight of the only mother figure she had ever known consumed by flames, she was paralyzed with fear and grief.
The fire crackled and roared against the dark backdrop of the night. Some wolves watched with grim satisfaction, while others stood in somber silence. They observed Tatiana's visceral reaction: her hands and knees on the ground, tears streaming down her face, her sobs mingling with the smoke. Percival, driven by an urge to help, bent down to lift her. But before he could reach her, Nixx surged through the crowd of wolves, shoving Percival aside with a forceful shove. In a swift motion, Nixx scooped Tatiana up in his arms and carried her away from the chaos, her cries echoing in the night. Her eyes, swollen with tears, never left the fiery silhouette of Anita.
Frustration churned within Percival as he watched Nixx disappear into the distance with Tatiana. His wolf’s eyes flickered, briefly surfacing through his human gaze. As if responding to an unspoken challenge, my own wolf emerged, and for a moment, our eyes locked. I could sense her fury and the deep desire to confront Percival. She was enraged at Tatiana, and I had thwarted her attempt to claim the blood of that new life. But I quickly turned away from Percival, who stormed off into the night, his anger palpable.
My feelings towards him had irrevocably changed. I could no longer view him in the same light. His repeated prioritization of Tatiana over me had shattered our past memories. I understood his perspective to a degree, but it was no longer something I could be part of. It was clear that our bond had been irreparably damaged.
As Tatiana staggered away, clearly distraught, I found a strange sense of amusement in my wolf. Something caught my eye, something I had previously overlooked.
I saw Conor’s gaze follow Tatiana as she moved away, a trace of melancholy lingering in his ruggedly handsome features. He turned and walked away from the gathering, his posture hunched, shoulders slumped. He seemed to withdraw into himself, leaving the scene behind.
The sound of a fire extinguisher sprayed white foam across the stage, and Anita’s charred remains were wheeled away, reduced to bones and ash. The crowd murmured softly, a mix of appreciation and curiosity. “Thanks for the show!” someone said, a comment that made me reflect on the coldness of the audience.
William’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Bring Darius back down to the cellar. His punishment starts tonight,” he commanded, his tone resolute.
A wave of disappointment washed over me as I watched Darius being escorted off the stage. He cast a disdainful glance at his father and muttered something under his breath before being forcibly taken away. I turned away quickly, tears stinging my eyes. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, a frantic rhythm that matched my racing thoughts.
Then, I heard wild growls and loud noises coming from the front yard. There was no mistaking it—one of the growls belonged to Percival. My legs moved swiftly, propelling me towards the commotion as I rubbed my eyes to clear my vision. The sight before me was chaotic: Tatiana lay unconscious on the ground, while two large wolves were locked in a fierce standoff.
Percival’s wolf and my brother’s wolf were in the middle of an intense confrontation. My brother’s wolf, exuding a cooler demeanor, clashed with Percival’s, each animal growling and snapping with determination. The argument was over who should care for Tatiana—Nixx, her partner, or Percival, the father of her pup. The tension in the air was palpable, the growls echoing the fierce rivalry between them.
I paused, taking in the scene with a growing sense of unease. Percival’s wolf locked eyes with me, his sharp gaze cutting through the chaos. I could feel my own wolf’s restlessness; she was eager for action, her focus fixated on Tatiana’s lifeless form and the prominent curve of her belly. The primal urge within her yearned for the taste of flesh.
Suddenly, Percival’s roar pierced through the night, making me flinch. I quickly reined in my wolf, pushing her back into the recesses of my mind, and glared at him, my frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.
Realizing the situation was spiraling, I made a split-second decision. I turned on my heel and bolted away from the scene. Sprinting with every ounce of strength I had, I knew this wasn’t my fight. I refused to be dragged into helping Percival avoid a confrontation with my brother. I wasn’t particularly concerned about my brother's ability to handle things, and to be honest, Tatiana’s plight was of little consequence to me.