Chapter 240 240
Sabine POV
We’re alone now mostly. A few of his warriors linger at a distance, far enough away to give us the illusion of privacy, close enough to remind me I’m never truly alone here.
Maurice carries me through the woods slowly, deliberately, as if I might shatter if he moves too fast. There’s no need for such care. I feel safe in his arms. Completely. Even if he were running at a hundred miles an hour, I don’t think I’d be afraid.
My head rests against his chest, the steady beat of his heart grounding me as my eyes burn and overflow. I try to silence my sobs, biting down on them, but they slip free anyway. I don’t belong here no matter how right it feels to be held like this.
“Just let me go…” I whisper, tears trailing down my cheeks. This world—this hidden life—it terrifies me.
“I can’t, kitty cat. Not now,” he murmurs. “Not now that I’ve finally found you.”
His voice almost purrs, warm and low, like the name he keeps calling me belongs to something precious. It wraps around me like a lullaby, coaxing my eyes closed until one of his warriors shatters the moment.
“Alpha, what do you want to do?”
The man steps closer, breaking the fragile bubble of calm. The intrusion jolts me upright, my mind snapping back to that horrific scream echoing in my memory.
“What was that?” I ask, lifting my head to look at Maurice. “That scream.”
His eyes meet mine green bleeding back through the black, the monstrous fury that had faced Damien fading now that I’m safe.
“I imagine it was Aurélie,” he says quietly. “In pain.”
His arms tighten around me as I instinctively try to wriggle free.
“Pain?” I repeat.
“Oh yes,” he replies grimly. “Something only Damien can fix. So tonight…” His tone shifts, firm and unyielding. “You’re staying in my room. No arguments.”
Confusion swirls through me. Maurice is clearly close to Damien and Aurélie far closer than my presence has made things lately. So why is he moving so slowly? If Aurélie is hurting, shouldn’t he be racing back to help them?
Eventually, the house comes into view Damien’s house, though the warriors call it the Alpha House.
Maurice finally sets me on my feet but doesn’t release me. His arm slides around my waist, pulling me flush against his side, his grip protective and unyielding.
Then he stiffens.
I don’t blame him.
It sounds like the beginning of a war.
We step inside to find Florence at the base of the stairs, clutching the hands of two small children a boy and a girl.
The moment we enter, the children’s attention snaps to me. The boy’s stare is particularly intense, unwavering.
“Florence,” Maurice says evenly, “I suggest you take the children back to yours and Fabrice’s for the night. My men will escort you and stay until Fabrice returns.”
Horror flashes across her face just as a high-pitched scream followed by a feral growl erupts from upstairs. The little girl bursts into tears, clinging to Florence.
“Mummy will be okay, Delphine,” Maurice says gently. “She just needs some rest.”
“Who are you?” the boy asks.
He hasn’t taken his eyes off me not even when Aurélie screams again.
“Dominique. Delphine,” Maurice says calmly. “This is Bee. She’s your auntie.”
My eyes snap to him.
Auntie?
They have twins?
“H-hello…” I manage, forcing a small smile, unsure how to cut through the heavy tension choking the hallway.
“Florence,” Maurice continues, voice firm with Alpha authority, “the children need to go. I promise I’ll stay the night.”
She nods slowly. “Thank you, Alpha Maurice.”
Taking the children’s hands, Florence leads them toward the door. I watch them leave, my gaze following until they disappear from sight.
I have a niece and a nephew.
Damien POV
Her scream rips the air from my lungs.
Panic floods my veins pure, violent panic. My wolf surges forward, forcing the shift, and this time I don’t fight him.