Chapter 120
The hotel entrance swallowed me like the mouth of some overfed beast. My phone had been vibrating in my van to hours, but I’d chosen to ignore the incessant buzzing. Fuck whoever needed me. Everyone could wait.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, I strode down the hall, already planning how I’d spend the moving done with my thoughts–and a bottle of whatever overpriced poison the hotel bar had to offer.
Those plans evaporated the moment I unlocked my suite door.
Varian sat on my couch, phone pressed to his ear. When he saw me, he immediately ended the call and shot to his bet
“Tristan, where have you been? His voice was tight with frustration, bordering on insubordination.
I ignored his question, tossing my key card onto the nearest surface. “Why are you in my room, Varian?”
“Are you serious right now?” Varian’s jaw clenched. “This isn’t our territory. You’re the Alpha of Silverblood Pack. What if someone attacked you? I’ve been worried sick.”
I rolled my eyes, shrugging off my jacket. “Your Alpha is perfectly capable of fighting off any attack. Stop panicking
I moved to the closet, pulling out a fresh suit for tonight’s celebration. The fabric was smooth beneath my fingers- charcoal gray, expertly tailored to emphasize my natural advantages.
“How can I not worry?” Varian persisted, following me across the room. “My Alpha in’t thinking straight. He’s in love with
I turned, fixing him with a glare cold enough to freeze blood. Varian raised his hands in surrender, knowing he’d crossed a
line.
Without another word, I headed for the bathroom, suit draped over my arm.
“You’re regretting your divorce,” Varian called after me, his voice muffled by the closing door.
“Fuck off, Varian, I muttered, turning on the shower with more force than necessary.
As steam filled the bathroom, I stripped and stepped under the spray, letting water cascade over my tense shoulders. Eyes closed, I leaned against the cool tile, attempting to silence the thoughts raging through my head.
Varian was wrong. Dead wrong. I didn’t love Lysandra. I couldn’t. That woman had betrayed me, given birth to another man’s children, hidden her true identity–there was nothing to love.
Yet her face suddenly materialized in my mind, green eyes bright with challenge, lips curved in that half–stile that had once been reserved just for me. I snapped my eyes open, shocked by the clarity of the vision.
Tilting my head back, I let cold water pound against my face, combing wet hair back with my fingers. Whatever this obsession was, it wasn’t love. Couldn’t be.
The venue appeared ahead, lit up against the darkening sky. As the car pulled to a stop, wolves turned to state, whispering among themselves at the arrival of Silverblood’s Alpha. I ignored them all, buttoning my suit jacket as I stepped out.
1/3
Chapter 120
The grand hall glowed with warm light, casting subtle shadows across polished floors. Crystal chandeliers threw rainbow prisms across the walls, while staff in crisp uniforms wove between guests with trays of champagne and delicacies.
I scanned the room, noticing most Alpha wolves had brought companions–Lunas or mates who hadn’t attended yesterday’s business meeting. The women dressed in their finest, competing for attention they’d never receive from me.
“Alpha Tristan.” Alpha Liam appeared at my side, his expression cautious. “About earlier today—I hope I didn’t offend you with my comments.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I replied, dismissing his concern with a wave. What did I care who noticed Lysandra? I certainly didn’t.
That lie shattered the moment she entered.
The room seemed to shift on its axis as Lysandra stepped through the doorway, wrapped in a pearl–white gown that plunged daringly low between her breasts.
My gaze instantly dropped to her right arm–the arm where I’d seen that crescent–shaped scar. Nothing. Her skin looked flawless under the chandelier light, not a mark in sight. How was that possible?
“Ravencroft’s daughter has arrived,” someone murmured nearby. “What an extraordinary woman.”
I forced myself to look away, jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached. Why the fuck was she dressed like that? What was she trying to prove?
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Alpha Liam watching her with unmistakable interest. I turned toward him, eyebrow raised in silent challenge.
Feeling my stare, Liam slowly turned his head, offering a nervous smile. “Just looking. Nothing serious.”
I looked away, reminding myself that Liam was now an ally. No need to make him fea
-at least not over this.
Needing distance from the room’s prying eyes, I moved toward the bar. The bartender had my whiskey ready before I even spoke, a small benefit of being feared.
I took a slow sip, letting the alcohol burn down my throat. All the while, my eyes tracked Lysandra through the crowd. She moved with natural grace, commanding attention without effort. The woman clearly belonged in Alpha circles–had I been too blind to see it before, or had she changed this dramatically?
‘Don’t dream of impossible things, Alpha Tristan.” Kieran’s voice broke through my thoughts as he slid onto the barstool beside me. “She isn’t yours anymore.”
“Beta Kieran,” I murmured, not bothering to look at him. “Enjoy your drink.”
Kieran raised his glass in mock toast. “Cheers.”
I watched as his gaze drifted across the room to Lysandra, his expression softening. Something ugly twisted in my gut.
“You all lied to me about her children,” I said, keeping my voice low. “They’re not yours.”
A smirk played at the corner of Kieran’s mouth. “They’re not yours either.”
My fingers tightened around my glass, but I controlled the surge of strength that might have shattered it. His words hit their mark with deadly accuracy. What could I say? According to the DNA test, he was right.
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Chapter 120
“Alpha Tristan, this isn’t a warning but a heads–up from my side.” Kieran’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “Stay away from Lysandra. She has nothing to do with you anymore. She likes me, and I love her. We have a future. Alaric has arranged it.”
I frowned, studying his face for any sign of deception. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not.” He shook his head, smiling slightly. “Ask her yourself.”
“Right,” I scoffed. “It’s obvious you want to be with her. That woman is your Alpha’s sister. That’s why you’re even willing to be with a divorced woman with children.”
Kieran’s expression hardened, his voice dropping dangerously. “I love her. I don’t care who the father of her children is. 1 raised them with my own hands. I was there when they were born. I will be their father and give them my name.
Each word felt like a knife sliding between my ribs. I didn’t like Kieran’s words–or rather, I didn’t like the way he claimed Lysandra and her children as his own. Something territorial rose within me, an instinct I had no right to feel
“If that’s the case,” I countered, searching for holes in his story, “why hasn’t Alpha Alaric announced anything about the two of you?”
Kieran shrugged, annoyingly calm. “She told her brother she wants to focus on her career for now. But I’ll take care of her eventually.”
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