Chapter 32 32
Damien POV
“Lucas, you’re taking this letter to the Alpha of the Darkvale pack. He won’t greet you don’t expect him to but that doesn’t matter. Make sure it ends up in the hands of a head warrior named Théo. He’ll deliver it to the Alpha.”
I hand him the sealed envelope, watching understanding settle over his features.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“I want you to leave immediately. Alone. And you do not tell anyone where you’re going. Am I clear?”
I let my aura unfurl with the command, heavy and unmistakable, leaving no room for debate.
“I understand, Alpha.”
…………
By the next day, Geneviève still hadn’t said a single word to me. She was clearly sulking, but I had no patience for her mood. I had bigger problems to face.
The Saint Wolf pack.
I needed answers especially what the hell they’d been offered to abandon years of my protection and switch allegiance to Darkvale.
“Alpha Damien… this is a surprise.”
Alpha Quentin greets me at the gates, tension rolling off him in waves. He hadn’t expected me truthfully, I hadn’t expected him to allow me in. But here we were.
“Alpha Quentin, thank you for granting me access on such short notice.”
I keep my tone polite, even though this fool chose to side with the very pack shielding my traitorous wife.
“Could we speak in private?”
“Erm”
“You have my word. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
He hesitates a moment longer before nodding. “Very well. Please, this way.”
He leads me into the Alpha house and straight to his office.
“How may I assist?” he asks once we’re seated opposite each other.
“I need you to tell me everything you know about the Darkvale Alpha.” I don’t dance around the point.
He hesitates. Deliberates. Probably trying to figure out whether I’m here to corner him.
“You must have visited them,” I push, brow raised. “Unless you abandoned our alliance without even bothering to investigate who you were siding with?”
“My beta went in my place,” he counters.
“I want to speak to him. Call him here.”
“He’s off pack grounds today.”
“Then I’ll speak to Élodie.”
“She didn’t”
“Don’t lie to me, Quentin.” My voice drops, low and sharp. “A beta doesn’t leave his mate behind. And remember her transfer to you was contractual. Are you absolutely certain Simon wouldn’t follow her home if I summoned her?”
His eyes glaze over. A mind-link.
A few minutes later, Élodie steps into the room, her presence nervous but trying to mask it with humor.
“Alpha Damien! What are you doing here? Denise hasn’t left you too, has she?”
“Hello, Élodie.” I force civility. “No. But I do want to ask about your recent visit to the Darkvale pack with Beta Simon.”
Her pulse jumps she doesn’t hide it well. Her eyes flick to Quentin in a silent plea.
“Alpha Quentin, perhaps you and I should speak privately…” I say pointedly essentially dismissing him.
Quentin’s eyes glaze again, and after receiving whatever assurance he needed, he leaves the room. The door shuts.
“So you went,” I say.
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Imagine my surprise,” I murmur, voice tightening, “when I discover Aurélie my wife, who I mourned as dead for four years has been living safely behind the Darkvale Alpha’s walls. Mated to Fabrice. Raising a child.”
Élodie’s eyes widen. Her brows pull together as she draws in a shaky breath.
“How could you not tell me?” My voice cracks quietly, anger and disbelief blending. “You may not belong to my pack anymore, but your family still does.”
“Alpha… it’s not that simple.”
“You saw her? My wife?” I demand.
“Yes…” Her shoulders slump. Her gaze drops to the floor.
“You spoke to her. You met her daughter?”
Her brows gather again something in the detail catching her attention.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“And Fabrice her mate. You saw him.”
“No!”
Her head snaps up, startled.
“You didn’t see him?” I push.
“No, I did. I saw him. But that’s not what I mean.”
She swallows, eyes steady on mine.
“They’re not mates, Alpha.”
“Yes, they are. They have a child together,” I grit out.
She shakes her head firmly.
“No. Did you not look at her neck? They aren’t marked. Neither of them. Whatever they are it is not a mating bond.”