Chapter 283
Chapter 283:
The two Warriors froze in their tracks. Their Inner Wolves let out pathetic, audible whimpers of terror, instantly submitting to the crushing, undeniable aura of the Lycan King. They lowered their heads and backed away, refusing to meet his molten gold eyes.
Kain walked to my side and placed his large, warm hand firmly on the small of my back — a deeply possessive, protective gesture, a silent and absolute declaration to every Pack on the continent that I was his.
We stood together on the dance floor, an impenetrable wall of power, waiting for the Davenport Alpha to finally face the ruins of his kingdom.
Jase POV
The heavy, suffocating weight of Kain Blackwell’s aura pressed against my chest, but it was nothing compared to the crushing realization tearing my mind apart. The video on the massive screens had stopped, but the agonizing sound of Adelina’s teenage screams still echoed relentlessly in my skull.
The silver-lined vault.
і𝘯𝘴𝘁a𝗇t 𝖺𝗰𝗰eѕ𝘀 𝗈𝗇
I stumbled back from the edge of the head table, my breathing ragged. Kira reached out, her hand trembling, the massive Davenport diamond catching the harsh light of the chandeliers. “Jase, please, you have to listen to me p>
I violently recoiled, slapping her hand away before my fingers clamped around her upper arm. My Inner Wolf was thrashing, howling in a blinding mix of betrayal and self-disgust.
“The storeroom,” I choked out, my voice shaking with a rage I could barely contain. “Did you lock her in there p>
Kira’s face was ashen. The cloying jasmine of her perfume had turned completely rancid, reeking of sour fear and desperate lies. “It — it was just a stupid childhood prank, Jase! We were kids!” she stammered, tears spilling over her flawless makeup. “And the silver today — I only gave it to Branden to protect us! To protect our Pack from her p>
A wave of profound nausea hit me. My entire life, my arrogant pride in being Adelina’s savior during her First Shift, was built on a sickening illusion. I hadn’t saved her. I had bound my soul to the very monster who had destroyed her.
“You’re insane,” I whispered, dropping her arm as if her skin burned me.
Realizing she had lost me, Kira’s panic twisted into cornered, venomous rage. She spun toward the dance floor, pointing a shaking finger at Adelina.
“She deserves it!” Kira shrieked, her voice echoing hysterically across the silent ballroom. “She’s a pathetic Rogue! She seduced the Lycan King with a fake Mating Contract just to ruin me p>
Kain Blackwell didn’t even flinch at her absurd accusations. He stepped fully in front of Adelina, his massive frame shielding her completely. The atmospheric pressure in the room plummeted to a freezing vacuum. His scent of ancient cedar and pure, unadulterated power swallowed Kira’s toxic jasmine whole.
“You attacked the future Queen with silver,” Kain stated. His voice wasn’t a roar — it was a glacial, emotionless decree that sent a violent shiver down my spine. “This isn’t a personal grudge, Kira Parrish. This is a declaration of war against every Pack on the continent p>