Chapter 205 205
Maurice’s POV
“Bring him.”
“But, Alpha”
“I won’t let anything happen to him. You have my word.”
Damien’s promise was steady, unwavering. He was not the same man he’d been just weeks ago. This was someone who had finally accepted the truth that he deserved happiness, deserved to be loved.
And I still couldn’t quite wrap my head around the bastard’s luck getting to call Aurélie his.
Damien’s POV
Too much time had passed.
The blood smeared across the shattered car window. The head wound captured on the CCTV footage. Every second that ticked by tightened the noose around my chest.
It was a race against time now.
The vehicles that had taken them vanished shortly after leaving CCTV coverage. That was what haunted us we had nothing. No trail. No direction.
Until a human home’s doorbell camera picked them up.
My men were relentless. Thousands of recordings combed through in mere hours. It would never have occurred to me to hack private systems like that but they did. And it worked.
Théo alerted the Darkvale alliance. Élodie and Simon arrived soon after, warriors in tow, ready without hesitation. I owed them more than I could ever repay. And Maurice who hadn’t even waited for my call had shown up anyway.
Lucas notified the Bloodnight alliance, somehow managing to make it all sound terrifyingly real.
We were ready for war.
Alphas always lived under threat, but Aurélie was loved. Respected. And the packs were furious that the Alpha twins had been dragged into some twisted grab for power.
“It’s going to be okay, man,” Maurice said, slapping my shoulder through the open car window. “They’re going to be fine. I’m certain of it.”
The second group of warriors held back, just as planned.
“You know the plan ”
“Damien, please,” he cut in with a tight smile, teeth flashing. “I’m an Alpha who’s managed to stay out of the Bloodnight alliance’s claws. I know what I’m doing.”
The smile didn’t reach his eyes. None of us were untouched by the fear gnawing beneath the surface.
“Keep the boy here,” he muttered quietly, tilting his head toward Roland in the back seat.
“No,” I said firmly. “I promised him. I’ll keep him hidden. I’ll protect him.”
Maurice studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Good luck.”
He held out his hand.
“Thanks, Maurice.”
I took it, a strange, peaceful truce settling between us.
Lucas didn’t linger. The moment Maurice withdrew his hand, the car peeled away, tyres screaming as it disappeared down the road.
We found the vehicles parked near a shipping container too similar to the one Dominique had once been held in for comfort.
We were on the wrong side. Access was opposite our position, which meant waiting. Watching. Longer than I wanted.
It was late morning now, the sun working against our cover.
We ditched the cars in a nearby human housing estate and approached on foot. Warriors took positions everywhere hidden in thick bushes, high in well-covered treetops, even beneath abandoned plant machinery.
Théo was beside me.
So was Roland.
He still had Bunny clutched tightly in his arms.
He’d kept his promise. He was looking after it for her.
We crouched behind an overgrown bramble thick enough to shield us from view. Théo acted as my link to the Darkvale warriors.
We were ready.
We just didn’t know for what.
Our armour sat heavy against our skin. Guns were loaded. Swords rested at our sides, royal emblems etched into their blades.
Then
“Look,” Roland whispered urgently, pointing toward the container. “There’s movement.”
My head snapped in the direction of his finger.
He was right.
“Hold,” I commanded through the mind-link, repeating it to Théo so it could be passed along.
“Get your guns ready,” I murmured.
Théo raised his weapon, aiming toward the shifting figures ahead.
Then my world stopped.
A gunshot rang out from inside the container.
A scream followed.
Movement exploded into chaos. Théo tightened his grip, preparing to fire—
“It’s Delphine!” Roland screamed, shoving his father’s gun out of the line of fire.
She burst from the container, running then stumbling, her cuffed hands throwing her balance. She fell hard.
I didn’t hesitate.
In that moment, I wasn’t an Alpha commanding two alliances.
I was a father.
I launched forward, my body moving on instinct alone, legs carrying me at the speed and strength I was born to wield.
Another gunshot cracked through the air.
Terror flooded her face. She froze, confused, turning as if to run back.
“Delphine!” I roared.
“Daddy!” she cried.
She ran.
Straight into my arms.
Safe.