Chapter 223

Chapter 223
WREN

I woke to the sound of someone calling my name. A firm hand pressed lightly on my shoulder.

“Wren,” Christina said, her voice urgent. “Wake up, dear.”

I blinked, groggy, sunlight spilling through the curtains. “Christina?” I murmured, sitting up slowly. “What’s wrong?”

She held out her phone. “Cassian just called. He says it’s important.”

My heart immediately skipped. I took the phone from her, pressing it to my ear. “Cassian?”

“Wren,” his voice came through rough and tight, the sound of wind in the background. “Are you okay? Is everyone there?”

“Yes,” I said quickly, glancing at Christina. “I’m fine. Why? What’s going on?”

“Listen to me carefully,” he said. “Don’t leave the house. Not you, not Sybil. Keep the doors locked and stay near the guards. Derek’s close. We don’t know how close, but he’s planning something.”

I felt my throat tighten. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure,” Cassian said, his voice shaking slightly. “We found his men, but not him. He’s on the move. Just promise me you’ll stay put, alright? I know you and Sybil were planning to go into town soon but no. Don't leave the pack estate. Promise me.”

“I promise,” I said softly.

“Good.” I heard him exhale. “I’ll be home soon.”

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone slowly, my heart pounding.

Christina frowned. “What did he say?”

“Derek,” I said quietly. “Cassian thinks he’s close.”

Her face paled. “Then we’ll be on alert,” she said firmly. “I’ll make sure the guards double their patrol.”

....................

By morning, the entire estate felt tense. Guards moved through the halls, alert and silent. Sybil came to my room with two cups of tea, her face pale but calm.

“You heard about Derek?” she asked.

I nodded. “Cassian called. He said we shouldn’t leave the estate."

Sybil sighed, setting the tea down. “That man is like a ghost. Reed said they almost had him last night, but he slipped away again.”

I rubbed my swollen belly absently, feeling a soft kick. “He’s getting desperate.”

Sybil nodded. “Still, we can’t cancel everything. The wedding’s in a week, we were supposed to go meet the stylist today but she said she can come over instead. We’ll just… be careful. The annex is guarded, and she’s human anyways."

I hesitated but finally nodded. “Alright. We’ll stay cautious.”

The stylist arrived around noon, her van pulling into the courtyard under heavy guard. She was a cheerful, round-faced woman with a rack of dresses and fabrics that filled half the annex.

“I’m so thrilled to be here!” she said brightly. “Ms Knight told me to bring the final fittings and some new samples for the wedding party.”

Sybil smiled, trying to mask her unease. “Thank you for coming. We’ll make this quick.”

We led her inside the annex, around an area reserved for human visitors. Four guards stood outside, and I felt safer knowing they were there.

The stylist began unpacking gowns, chatting as she worked. “Oh, since this is your final dress fitting, I brought the veil. And some other dresses you might like to see for the reception dress you had in mind."

I smiled weakly, sinking into a chair. The baby was restless again, turning and kicking.

Sybil leaned toward me. “You okay?”

“Just tired,” I murmured. “She’s been active all morning.”

Before Sybil could reply, a strange sound came from one of the garment racks, a low metallic clink, like something scraping against metal.

The stylist froze mid-sentence. “What was that?”

Sybil frowned. “Probably one of the hangers...”

The rack toppled over.

A man stepped out from behind it. Dressed in black with a buzz cut, he almost looked unfamiliar till he looked up. And I saw that face.

My blood ran cold.

“Hello, ladies,” Derek said, his smile sharp and unhinged.

The stylist screamed, dropping the dress she was holding. Derek moved like lightning, grabbing her by the arm and throwing her aside. She hit the wall hard and slumped unconscious.

Sybil lunged for the door, but Derek was faster. He shoved her back, locking it with a twist of his wrist.

“Going somewhere?” he taunted.

“Derek,” I whispered, standing slowly, my legs trembling. “What are you doing?”

He looked at me then, wild-eyed, pale, and thinner than I remembered. He looked batshit crazy. Far from the polished and cool Derek I knew.

“What am I doing?” he repeated, laughing harshly. “Finishing what you started.”

Sybil stood protectively in front of me. “You don’t want to do this,” she said. “Cassian will...”

“Cassian,” Derek spat. “Always Cassian. The golden Alpha. The hero.” He kicked the overturned rack. “Do you know what he took from me, Sybil? What he made me lose?”

Sybil glared. “You did that yourself.”

Derek’s jaw clenched. “Maybe. But now he’ll feel it too.”

He pulled a phone from his pocket and hit a button. A second later, Cassian’s voice crackled through on speaker.

“Derek.”

“Cassian,” Derek drawled. “Funny how we keep finding each other.”

“What do you want?” Cassian’s voice was sharp, furious.

Derek grinned, holding the phone up. “Oh, just a chat. Thought you might want to say goodbye to your wife and your dear little sister before I end them. You've made my life so miserable these past few days, only right I return the favour."

“Don’t you dare touch them,” Cassian roared through the phone.

I stepped forward, my voice trembling. “Derek, please. You don’t have to do this.”

He turned to me, eyes blazing. “Don’t talk to me like we’re still friends, Wren. You chose his side.”

“You were my friend,” I said softly. “You protected me once. Remember that?"

His face twisted, torn between rage and something like regret. “I was a fool back then.”

“No,” I whispered. “You were good. You cared. it's not too late Derek."

He stared at me for a long moment, then his expression hardened again. “You're the reason I'm in this mess the first place."

Cassian’s voice came through the speaker again. “Derek, whatever this is, don’t do it. You don’t want to cross this line.”

“I already did,” Derek said. “A long time ago.”

He grabbed Sybil suddenly, dragging her closer, his arm around her neck. She gasped, struggling.

“Derek, stop!” I screamed.

He smirked at the phone. “You watching this, Alpha? How much pain can you take before you break?”

Cassian’s growl rumbled through the line. “If you hurt her, I swear...”

Derek laughed. “You swear? You swore a lot of things. But this, this will hurt the most.”

And then he raised his clawed hand.

Something in me snapped.

“Stop!” I shouted, my hands shaking. The air in the room shifted, electricity crackling at my fingertips. I could feel the energy pulsing, wild and alive.

“Wren,” Sybil gasped. “Don’t.."

But I couldn’t stop.

The lights flickered. A blinding flash filled the annex, and lightning shot from my hand, slamming into the floor beside Derek. He staggered back, the shockwave sending racks and fabric flying.

He barely dodged it, his face twisting in rage. “You bitch!!"

The explosion of power triggered chaos. The guards outside shouted, pounding at the door.

Cassian’s voice shouted through the phone, “Wren! What’s happening?”

“Cassian!” I cried.

I could hear the commotion outside. The door splintered open as Cassian’s wolves stormed in, their eyes glowing gold.

“Get him!” one shouted.

Derek spun around, slashing at the nearest wolf. Blood sprayed. Chaos erupted? growls, screams, the smell of blood and fur.

“Enough!” Derek shouted. He broke free from their grip for a moment, eyes wild and desperate. “You won't take me! Not alive you won't!"

Before they could restrain him again, he raised his claws...

And slit his own throat.

“No!” I screamed.

He collapsed to the floor, blood spreading beneath him. The room went deathly still.

Cassian’s voice on the phone was faint. “Wren? Talk to me! Wren!”

I sank to my knees, trembling, staring at Derek’s body.

“It’s over,” Sybil whispered, her voice shaking. “It’s finally over.”