Chapter 83 83
Aurélie POV
“That’s absurd!” Geneviève snarls at Dominique.
It sounds absurd but my son is perceptive in ways that go far beyond his years, and I wouldn’t put anything past her.
“Dominique,” Fabrice asks quietly, calmly, “what are you saying?”
He knows me too well. I’m still standing behind Dominique and Delphine when Fabrice subtly turns, extending his arm to brace against the kitchen island boxing me in, blocking my path without making it obvious.
“Her voice is identical to the one on the phone,” Dominique says with such certainty that the room plunges into silence.
My gaze snaps to Damien. He hasn’t looked away from Dominique, Delphine, or me once not since this began.
“This is madness,” Geneviève snaps. “Damien, she’s got it in for me. She’s clearly manipulated the boy.” She points directly at me, her accusation sharp and venomous, while Damien watches her unraveling denial.
“Dominique, it must just be a similar voice,” Damien says carefully.
“You’ve got this wrong.”
“Don’t doubt my son!” I growl, my wolf surging forward without restraint.
She is just as ferociously protective of our pups as I am—and she wants answers too. Of course he would side with Geneviève. Of course he would. He doesn’t know how to do anything else.
My body begins to shake with fury violent, uncontrollable. I’m frozen in place, because if I move, I will attack. Him or her. I haven’t decided yet.
Her. Definitely her, my wolf snarls.
First she tried to hurt Dominique and Delphine by dragging me down the stairs. Now she’s kidnapped my son.
He may be a monster but she is evil. A she-devil.
Get Delphine out, I mind-link Fabrice, the words refusing to form aloud.
My aura begins to spill into the room, thick and oppressive, curling like smoke. She may be a devil but I can bring my own kind of hell.
My aura has always been stronger than most, reinforced by alliance and sharpened by motherhood. Its power is relentless when justice for my children is at stake.
All but Damien and Maurice begin to gasp beneath it. Maurice won’t withstand it much longer. I usually keep it restrained I’ve never needed it but like this, unleashed, my aura is unstoppable.
By everyone except him.
Damien’s aura meets mine matching it, not surpassing it. He keeps the rest of his power hidden, deliberately restrained. Still seated. Still calm. A smirk ghosts across his face.
“Aurélie…” Fabrice’s voice enters my mind, trying to soothe me.
I shove him out and repeat the command, harder.
Get them out! I order firmly through the pack link.
“Aurélie, you need to calm down.”
Maurice’s usual teasing tone is gone, replaced with authority as he slowly rises to his feet. My wolf surges forward in response, furious, and I pour every ounce of control into stopping a shift.
Then Fabrice stands fully and steps directly in front of me, completely blocking my path to Geneviève.
“Just calm down for a moment,” he says quietly. “Attacking her will only give her more power over you. If she’s behind this, we’ll find the evidence.”
“I know exactly what you’re doing, Fabrice,” I snarl, my voice no longer confined to the mind-link. “Take the children out and move.”
Damien rises slowly, a low growl rumbling from his chest.
“Élodie,” he says evenly, “can you take Dominique and Delphine into the garden?”
Élodie responds with a growl aimed squarely at Geneviève. She knows she’s always known what that woman is capable of. Simon places a steadying hand on Élodie’s arm.
Fabrice turns toward the kitchen island, where Florence and Michelle are staring at me frozen, trembling with barely contained rage.
“Florence,” he says urgently, “can you take the children out… please?”
After a brief pause, she nods quickly, sweeping the twins into her arms and hurrying them out of the room.
“You took my son?” I demand, finally forcing a step forward only to be blocked again by Fabrice.
Damien had better not shield her from what she deserves.
“No, of course not,” Geneviève scoffs weakly, attempting a laugh as she looks to Damien for support. “The boy is delusional.”
“Did you kill my men too,” I roar, “when you took Dominique?”
Fabrice’s body goes rigid. His hands curl into fists at his sides. He no longer blocks me he stands beside me now. Those were his men too, and his Beta instincts rise to flank his Alpha.
“First you pull me down the stairs,” I snarl, “and now you endanger them again. What is wrong with you?”
I launch myself at her, slashing for her face.
She moves to strike back but Damien yanks her away from me. I surge forward again, rage blinding me, but Maurice catches my wrist mid-air and pulls me hard into his chest, locking me in his arms as my wolf howls for blood.