Chapter 202 202
Aurélie’s POV
He was clearly funding her keeping her comfortable, indulgent even. This was no desperate, disgraced ex-Luna hiding in the woods, sleeping on damp earth and scavenging to survive. She looked flawless. Polished. Just as immaculate as the day she stormed into the Bloodnight pack all those years ago and shattered my life beyond repair.
“Oh, Aurélie… how the mighty have fallen.”
She sniggered, delighting in what she perceived as my ruin, her version of my fall from grace. Her lips pulled back just enough to flash her teeth a deliberate warning to my wolf to stand down.
“See? He never marked you,” she continued smoothly. “I told you. You mean nothing to him.”
She stepped closer and stopped directly in front of me, lifting her foot to kick at my legs, which were forced apart and bound far too tightly to the chair beneath the chains.
She had the power now and she knew it. She was intoxicated by it.
I refused to rise to her bait. Her words reeked of jealousy, of the same twisted bitterness she had always carried.
What did she think she would gain from holding us hostage? She had failed once with Dominique, and I would make sure she failed again.
“Disgusting,” she sneered. “What kind of Alpha ends up covered in blood? A weak one.”
She began to turn away, her attention drifting toward Florence.
No.
You keep your eyes on me.
“A kidnapped one,” I cut in coldly. “Kidnapped by my mate’s psychotic ex. What’s wrong?” I smirked when I saw her jaw tighten, her hands curling into fists. “Didn’t realize he was my fated mate?”
“I wouldn’t worry,” she said slowly, turning back to face me. “I have a feeling Damien will be single again very soon.”
The hatred in her glare was staggering but at least her eyes were on me now and not Florence.
“Were you followed?” she barked at the rogue, never once breaking eye contact with me. She didn’t even grant him the courtesy of turning toward him.
Her fingers dug cruelly into my head, pressing into my injury. White-hot pain shot down the side of my face and neck. I clenched my teeth, swallowing the scream that threatened to escape. I would not give her that satisfaction.
“No. We were not followed,” the rogue replied with confidence.
My heart dropped. Surely someone would have noticed we were missing by now.
“You’re certain?”
“What’s wrong?” I taunted, unable to mask the sarcasm. “Can’t handle a little aggressive warrior action?”
“How’s that for you, wench?” she spat.
Her hand struck my face with brutal force. The crack echoed, sharp and violent, followed by an explosion of pain that left my head ringing.
A growl thundered through the shipping container. For a split second, I thought it was Fabrice
but it wasn’t.
It was Dominique.
He stood behind Geneviève, handcuffed but defiant.
“Leave her alone!”
“Or you’ll what, squirt?” she snapped. “Sit down.”
She shoved him hard, sending him crashing to the floor. Rage ripped through me, savage and unrestrained. I yanked at my chains, pulling until my muscles screamed but they wouldn’t give.
Shit.
“So the beta has a mate now?” she mused, amused. “Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?”
She reached behind her back and pulled out a gun. Methodically, almost casually, she removed the bullets.
The rogue stepped forward and dropped several others into her waiting palm.
Silver-tinted.
Only a fellow Alpha would have caught the subtle change in my heartbeat just then. Damien would have noticed instantly—the faint spike of fear at the sight of silver, magnified by the fact that my children were trapped in the same confined space.
I didn’t look away as she reloaded the weapon. I knew silver wasn’t the only thing newly added to those bullets.
I needed to move.
I needed to act.
I had to get Dominique and Delphine out of here.
“Geneviève… please,” I begged, my voice breaking despite my resolve. “Let my children go. They haven’t done anything to you. Please just let them go.”
I searched for any fragment of humanity left in her but I already knew it was futile.
“I understand your predicament, Aurélie,” she said coolly. “But they are also his children. And they will serve their purpose soon enough.”
She paused, then smiled faintly. “Now… where was I? Ah yes. The female beta.”
Her attention shifted back to Florence and this time, I didn’t fight to reclaim it.
Instead, I scanned the container, my mind racing, desperate for an opening. Any weakness. Any chance no matter how small to get my babies to safety.