Chapter 425 Worthy Gift

Chapter 425 Worthy Gift
Hope stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

Ansley stood waiting.

Behind her were the betas who had wanted Allison removed from the barracks. They held everyone involved in the attack, forcing them to kneel.

"Oh, shit," Valduz muttered beside Hope.

Hope looked at Ansley.

They held each other's gaze for a long moment.

Then Ansley lowered her head, turned toward the crowd, and held out her hand.

Hope walked over and took it.

"You all wanted my mate out of your pack because she broke tradition," Ansley said.

A dark laugh came from the left.

Hope glanced over.

Mr. Valduz was practically glowing with pride.

She sighed to herself.

She had a feeling she knew where this was going.

"Yesterday, at two fifty-eight p.m., you tried to have her assassinated in front of her pups."

Her voice stayed calm.

"In front of every child who welcomed them into this school and this pack."

She slowly looked across the crowd.

"I admire your loyalty to tradition."

"I know the traditions of the Neo-Awakening Era and the early Battle Wolf centuries."

She paused.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Blue Shore tradition says the heir of the pack must receive a gift worthy of them when their mate is revealed."

"That is correct, Alpha Valduz," several betas answered together.

"Good."

Ansley turned to Hope and took her other hand.

"In honor of that tradition..."

"And in honor of the promise I made you..."

"I officially declare the newest branch of Valduz Enterprises."

She smiled coldly.

"Sealed with the heads of those who tried to hurt you."

"With what?" Hope choked out.

Hope cried out as Ansley's betas moved.

Within seconds, the room fell silent.

The prisoners were executed without hesitation.

One by one, the betas stepped forward, each holding proof that the sentence had been carried out.

Valduz pinched the bridge of his nose.

Perry was barely holding back her laughter.

Mr. Valduz looked happier than Hope had ever seen him.

Hope looked back at Ansley.

The dried blood from the mark on her neck was still visible.

Midnight purred with satisfaction.

The scent of blood and fear filled the room, making her wolf restless.

All Midnight could think about was sharing the victory with her mates.

Ansley's lips moved.

Without resistance.

Hope understood.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

Her eyes shifted to Justin Calihan.

He took a slow step backward.

Rin immediately kicked his leg out from under him and grabbed him by the hair.

"We missed one."

Ansley started to signal another beta.

Hope raised a hand.

"Wait."

She carefully stepped around the blood on the floor and walked through the line of betas.

They all made room for her.

Hope crouched in front of Justin.

Jason—the beta everyone wanted to replace Allison—pressed his boot onto Justin's hand when he tried to crawl away.

Hope looked him straight in the eye.

"You're the reason Allison is dead."

"I want you to know something."

"You're probably the worst mate I've ever seen."

"And I'm saying that while I'm mated to two of the biggest assholes in modern history."

"You're a fucking abomination," Justin growled.

Hope let out a small laugh.

"You know..."

"That's not the first time I've heard that."

"I tried really hard not to become one."

She gave a small shrug.

"But here we are."

She looked around at everyone watching.

"You..."

"And all the hate you spread..."

"You turned innocent people into weapons."

"You killed the last bit of concern I had for anyone outside my family."

Midnight surged forward.

Hope's claws slid free.

Before anyone could react, she struck.

Justin slammed against the floor.

Hope held him there with all her strength.

The room echoed with the force of the impact.

Then everything went still.

Hope rose to her feet and calmly shook the blood from her hand.

"I don't know about the rest of you," Perry snorted, "but that gave me chills."

"The pups will be here with this King in two hours," Ansley said. "This place better be spotless before they arrive."

Her eyes shifted to Carmen.

"Carmen, this is your domain now."

"You will shadow your Luna and help her with anything she needs."

"That includes pack duties, training, and babysitting."

"Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, Alpha."

Carmen dropped to one knee and lowered her head.

Hope looked at Ansley.

"You didn't sleep with her, did you?"

Ansley looked Carmen over before answering.

"She's straight."

"And a little too small for my taste."

"Good."

Hope turned to Valduz with a smug smile.

"See? That's how you get a shadow approved."

Valduz groaned.

"You're never letting that go, are you?"

"Never."

Hope cleared her throat.

"Oh, that reminds me," Ansley said.

She waved one of the betas over.

A large cooler was placed in front of Hope.

The beta opened the lid.

Hope and Valduz both leaned forward.

Inside...

Amy's head rested on a bed of ice.

Ansley looked at Hope.

"Are you pleased?"

Hope slowly looked up at her.

"Am I pleased?"

"With your gifts."

Ansley casually stepped between Hope and Valduz.

Valduz let out a warning growl, but she ignored him.

Hope pressed her lips together.

"Well..."

"I've always wondered what it would be like to receive the freshly cut heads of my enemies."

She nodded once.

"Very traditional."

A smile tugged at her lips.

"Do you mind if the three of us talk?"

"In my study."

"Of course."

Ansley motioned for Carmen to take over before stepping aside.

Hope wiped as much blood as she could from her boots.

When they reached the stairs, she slipped them off so she wouldn't leave bloody footprints through the house.

Without a word, Valduz picked her up.

He carried her to the study.

Once inside, he gently set her on the sofa before taking a seat across from her.

Ansley closed the door and sat beside him.

Hope studied them quietly.

Side by side...

They looked so much like Zenep and Zoey.

The resemblance was impossible to ignore.

Ansley sat perfectly straight, leaving as much space between them as she could.

Valduz leaned back carelessly, almost like he was doing the exact opposite on purpose.

Hope smiled.

"This is crazy."

"I never made the connection before."

"It's like looking at older versions of the twins."

"They're Valduzs," both of them answered at the exact same time.

Hope couldn't help smiling wider.

"Were you really never going to tell me?"

"Never," they answered together again.

"Can I ask why?"

Valduz answered first.

"I wanted to keep you to myself."

"I don't like sharing with him," Ansley said without hesitation.

Hope sighed.

"This thing between the two of you has to stop."

"What thing?" they both asked at once.

Hope burst into laughter.

The whole situation was completely ridiculous.

Why was she enjoying this so much?

There had to be something seriously wrong with her.

"Fuck," Valduz muttered under his breath.

Ansley immediately sat up.

"What?"

She frowned.

"What's happening?"

Valduz rubbed a hand over his face.

"She only laughs like that when she's about to snap."

He looked at Ansley.

"We're not going to like what comes out of her mouth next."