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122

WRITER

Diana walked into her room, falling onto the bed. It had been two days since she had witnessed Damon fall over the cliff.

The last time she saw his face, she couldn't believe it, not until now. Somehow she had been waiting for him to text, telling her he still wasn't giving up on her.

Her eyes had been tinged red for days, and the crying she had done was something she couldn't believe. Her heart, the way it ached for him.

The way it remembered all the good memories, because even though he had been a bad alpha and mate at the end, they had their moments when it seemed like it was the best.

She couldn't believe that he was gone. She didn't want to.

A knock came on the door just then. She walked to see who it was.

Marian stood there, knocking and waiting for her. Bradley told her she had been the one to tell him that Damon had taken her because she had seen them.

Sometimes she wondered how different things would be if she hadn't informed or seen them. Would Damon have really killed her there? Or would he have taken her somewhere far away, just the two of them?

She would never know and maybe she didn't want to know. One thing she had known and was sure of, was that even if he had stayed alive, she wouldn't have been able to love and give herself to him as she had before.

She opened the door and Marian walked in with a tray, two other maids behind her.

Her face scrunched up, she wasn't too worried about herself, she had been fine and all these nutrients were almost useless to her.

It wasn't she who had been hurt badly.

“Have you given food to the alpha?" She asked Marian.

“Not yet, Luna, the cook is preparing his now," Marian answered, avoiding her eyes.

“Then take this to his room, I'll eat with him," she said.

Ever since Bradley had saved her, she felt more connected to him, wanting to stay by his side. He was healing just fine but not entirely yet. The healer, Elena, had said he would need at least three days of rest, and she had been with him for the two days so far.

Marian bowed and turned to the other maids. They walked out with the trays to the Alpha's quarters to carry out her instructions.

After Diana had finished taking a shower, she was sweating from her training with Anna. She changed and headed directly to his quarters.

They were empty when she walked in, but she could hear the sound of water running in his bathroom.

Both their foods had been presented on the table, neat and ready. Diana sat down on her end and waited.

Not long after, Bradley came out of the bathroom, just a towel tied around his waist, with nothing to cover his body.

Diana couldn't help the way her eyes trailed over him. His broad, sexy chest, the muscles that were dripping with water.

Bradley noticed the look and smirked, “You like what you see?" He teased her.

Diana turned back, rolling her eyes. She had been caught.

He wore his suit trousers; he would have to do some work today anyway, he had left for too long, although Elias would take care of things if he needed more time.

He didn't want to get back to work, couldn't stand losing the way Diana had been taking care of him so carefully. She had treated him with such care, he never wanted it to end but it had to anyway.

“How did you sleep?" He asked her.

She had been having nightmares of that night since it had happened, one of the things she confided in him about and he had been worried they would make her healing slower or weaken her heart, or they would make her not want him entirely.

She looked up at him as he sat down on the chair, “It's been okay, didn't have any nightmares last night" she announced with a smile.

Ever since the fight, their dynamic had been easier, she had seen the loving and caring parts of him even more.

Bradley nodded, all was fine as far as she was concerned.

“I've got to get back to work-" he didn't finish his sentence because Diana cut him off.

“No, you can't. Three days of rest, remember? Surely you can spare this last day” she said exasperated, leave it to Bradley to think he was bigger than healing.

Bradley let out a hum, "I know all about that, but really, do I need it? I'm so much better." he pointed to the scars; they had healed over his wounds, and just the minor ones remained. They healed much faster and more easily.

“That's not what Elena said. You need more time. You have injuries inside, too," she pleaded with him.

“Come on, I'm not going out, just working on my computer, can I do that?" He asked sulkily.

Diana released a sigh. He wouldn't listen unless he got what he wanted. "As long as it's not past the confines of your office,” she told him.

He shook his head, "No, definitely not. Elias can deal with any of that”

She nodded approvingly, she would be here to monitor him anyway.

They both ate, talking about the war that might be coming with Loras and the one they had just fought. They also spoke about the wolves they had lost.

“I'll be trying a different strategy whenever he attacks," Bradley said.

He had realized the mistake of sending most of the men to the border, so he would try to equalize as much as he could.

Diana agreed, she was glad to be included in the planning. He had taken her idea that they send an apology parcel to the Whitemores, at least this way, the council will know they tried to prevent war.

When they finished eating, Bradley went to his office. He wanted to get back to work immediately.

Elias came to see him briefly, telling him about the packs that had aligned with them, who would send their troops whenever the battle came.

Bradley had already known that would happen; after all, everyone knew who he was, and he never lost.

He immediately went to his email to see any new messages, especially on the stocks and shares in the market, and how well his company had been doing.

He scrolled through, replying to the very necessary ones when an email stopped him. It had been sent from a user, ‘J’ and that was what had stopped him.

He didn't need to open it to see who had sent it.

Good day, Bradley Blackwood, whenever you receive and read this email.
I have been watching you, your every move that led up to the days of war.
I know you think you have won, the alpha of the Underwood pack yours to obliterate but not really.
I'm still on the battlefield and you won't see me coming. It's hilarious that victory will never be yours because I said so.
Because you see, this war isn't over until I say so, then I will take your pack, make it mine. Guaranteeing victory for me and the Whitemores.
All you need to do this time is prepare for your first failure because I will ensure that.
Finally, we will soon meet. Wherever you want to, at just the right time.

Yours sincerely
J.

Bradley reread the message, it was clearly a threat but one thing stood out to him, his last sentence. They would soon meet and Bradley was excited to.

He wanted to meet the man who had been terrorizing the packs, the one who had caused so much death, from Diana's parents to his.

He bowed as he sat there, blankly staring at the monitor that he would tear him into pieces whenever they did, even if it meant he would have to lose his life.
….

He could already guess the reaction Bradley would get when he received that email. Ever since he had learnt that Damon had died, he had prepared to reveal himself to his allies.

For too long, he had been in the shadows, orchestrating everything. The world thought he was gone, but he had hidden so well, and he wanted to reveal himself first to his son.

The one who had taken his pack to greater heights.
….

There was a knock on Bradley's home office. He hadn't expected any visitors so he expected it to be his beta. Maybe something new had happened since the war between the Underwoods and the Blackwoods.

“Come in" he called out, putting his work done to pay attention to him.

The door opened, his beta walking in first. “Alpha, there's someone here to see you"

He looked different, but Jay couldn't put his hands on why.

A man walked into his office. he looked familiar, but he wasn't sure who.

“I am Idris Halter. I've been sent by my boss; he requests your presence." He told him mechanically.

Jay Cross raised a brow, “Does he know who I am?" The audacity to request his presence was funny.

Idris nodded, “He does"

Jay Cross looked at his beta who shrugged. He was curious, and he wanted to know who this was, so he stood up.

“Where does he want to meet?" He asked.

Idris walked away without a word, and he followed. “Make sure you trail us, anything off, attack," he ordered his beta as they walked.

He got into the car with Idris and they drove to a small house in the middle of nowhere, the outskirts of town.

Idris pointed at the door, “He's in there"

Jay Cross gave him a long look before going in.

The area was dark; he could see just around him, but not far off.

He heard footsteps and looked up eager to see who it was. The overhead lights turned on and he saw him.

Jay Cross froze in shock.

“Hello son, how long has it been?"

He couldn't believe his eyes.

Jael Cross had been dead for years.

His father had been buried.