Chapter 75
Chapter 75:
The line went dead. I dropped the phone, a sickening wave of helplessness washing over me. I had Kain’s protection, his wealth, and his terrifying name — but Bryan still held the chain to my biggest weakness.
The Parrish Estate loomed under the darkening sky like a cold stone fortress. I pushed open the heavy wrought-iron doors and stepped into the dimly lit foyer. The air was suffocating, thick with the scent of old lilies and lemon polish, entirely polluted by the sour, acidic stench of my family’s resentment.
“Look what the cat dragged in p>
My mother, Carolyn, stepped into my path. She exaggeratedly sniffed the air, her lip curling in absolute disgust. “You smell like his property, completely marked by that ancient cedar stench. What a pity a wolfless can’t even truly accept a Marking p>
Her words were a precision strike against my deepest insecurities — a cruel reminder of my defective nature and my doubts about Kain’s true intentions.
Before I could formulate a response, Kira sauntered out of the drawing room, swirling a martini in her hand.
“Where is your Lycan King?” Kira sneered, her cloying jasmine perfume failing to mask her rotting jealousy. “Did he finally get tired of playing pretend with a defective stray who doesn’t even have an Inner Wolf p>
I squared my shoulders, refusing to let them see me bleed. I channeled the cold authority Kain had taught me. “He is running an empire, Kira. Unlike some people, who only scheme to marry into one p>
Kira’s face flushed a violent, ugly red, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled for a comeback.
A heavy footstep sounded from the shadows near the grand staircase.
Th𝘦 𝘮o𝘀t 𝘱𝗈рu𝗅аr n𝗈𝘃еl𝘀 о𝗇
Brent Parrish emerged, his massive frame blocking the hallway. The scent rolling off him made my stomach violently heave — stale sweat, cheap cologne, and raw, unadulterated menace. He looked me up and down with a sickening, predatory hunger, his Inner Wolf clearly emboldened by Kain’s absence.
He stepped directly into my personal space, leaning down until his hot breath brushed my ear.
“You reek of him, but underneath is still that sweet wild rose,” Brent whispered, his voice a repulsive, guttural rasp. “A wolfless must be so lonely without her King around. Maybe I can show you what a real Warrior feels like p>
A jolt of pure terror and profound disgust shot through my veins. I shoved hard against his chest, putting distance between us. “Back off, Brent p>
Brent just chuckled — a dark, sadistic sound — his eyes cold with promise.
“Dinner is served p>
A trembling maid stood in the doorway of the dining room, her eyes downcast. The interruption shattered the immediate physical threat, but the suffocating danger remained. Brent smirked, gesturing toward the dining room with a mocking bow, his eyes promising that the night was far from over.
Adelina POV
The dining room of the Parrish Estate felt less like a place for a family meal and more like an execution chamber. The seemingly endless polished mahogany table was set with fine china, but the air was suffocating, thick with the sour, rotting scent of Bryan’s greed and Kira’s bitter jealousy.