Robert’s POV “Get your hands off me! You’re all fools! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill every last one of you—” Her screams bounced off the dungeon walls, followed by the heavy thud of boots and the drag of chains.I stood frozen, the sound of her voice cracking something inside me.Judy.For so long, that voice had meant something to me. Power. Loyalty. Family.Now it sounded like poison.I didn’t move as the guards dragged her past the hallway outside the cells. Her hair was a mess of snarled curls, her robe torn at the shoulder, eyes burning with something feral. Unhinged. She looked nothing like the woman I had once stood beside, defended, protected with my own damn life.When her eyes met mine, there was a flicker of something I couldn’t name. Not remorse. Not guilt. Something uglier.“Robert,” she gasped as the guards dragged her past. “Please—help me.”Her voice cracked now, no longer a weapon but a plea. Desperate. Panicked. She reached for me with bloodied fingers like I was her l
Liz’s POVJudy stood so fast the chair behind her screeched, her face twisted in disbelief and rage.“He’s lying!” she shrieked, pointing at Gabe like he was the monster in the room and not her. “You’re all letting him lie!”Her voice rang out, high and cracked.Arthur didn’t even flinch.“Sit. Down,” he barked, his voice suddenly thunder.The room stilled.Judy froze, her eyes darting around as if looking for someone, anyone, to back her. But there was no one left. Her web had torn. Her mask had shattered.She turned to Arthur, lifting her chin. “It’s my word against his.”Arthur laughed.It was sharp. Humourless.“No, Judy,” he said, stepping forward. “It’s not.”His voice dropped, low and cold, each syllable cutting clean.“Because we gathered everything we need to put this on you. Witnesses. Pack records. Phone logs. Security footage. And Gabe’s testimony.”He let that sink in.Then he tilted his head, gaze boring into her.“Did you really think I—the Alpha King would be as carel
Gabe’s POVI woke up with the taste of blood in my mouth.It was metallic and bitter, sticking to the back of my throat like regret. My vision swam as I blinked, the world tilting sideways before it snapped back into place. I was lying on a bed I didn’t recognise, in a room that smelled like antiseptic and stone.And someone was watching me.A man stood by the door, arms crossed, eyes sharp. There was something cold and heavy in his expression, something that made my heart start to pound before I even sat up.“What… what happened?” I croaked, wiping at my mouth with the back of my hand.The man didn’t blink. “That sweetheart of yours,” he said, voice like ice, “showed her true colours.”My gut twisted. “What are you talking about?” I sat up straighter, searching the room, trying to make sense of any of this. “Judy wouldn’t— She loves me.”He snorted. Actually snorted. Then threw a bundle of clothes at me.“Get dressed,” he said. “We’re leaving soon.”I didn’t catch the clothes. They
Arthur’s POVShe didn’t flinch.Didn’t blink.Just stared at me across the table like the word “pregnant” had meant nothing. Like she hadn’t just been handed a truth that should’ve shattered her.Then she laughed. A hollow, brittle sound. “That’s ridiculous,” she said, waving a hand like she was brushing away a rumour. “I’m not pregnant.”I leaned back in the chair, watching her. I didn’t move. Didn’t speak.That kind of silence makes people nervous.Judy didn’t disappoint.“If you don’t believe me,” she said, eyes sharpening, “then bring in a doctor. Right now. I have nothing to hide.”“Very well,” I said, pushing back my chair.I walked to the door and opened it.The doctor was already standing there.Judy’s composure slipped just for a second. Her brows drew together, lips parting the tiniest bit in surprise.Good.That’s what I wanted.All of this was part of the plan.The doctor gave a small nod and stepped inside, his expression neutral, professional. I didn’t need to say anyth
Judy’s POVI froze.He was sitting in my chair.Arthur.Legs crossed, eyes like sharpened steel, as if he’d been waiting for me his whole life.I blinked, heart stuttering. “What… what are you doing in here?”He didn’t answer at first. Just leaned back, hands steepled in front of him like this was a conversation he’d rehearsed a hundred times.A chill ran down my spine.“I should scream,” I said, forcing steel into my voice. “You’re in my room uninvited. That’s a crime.”He smiled, but it wasn’t kind. “Go ahead. Let’s see who comes running for you.”“You should be more careful, Judy,” Arthur went on, standing now, slow and measured. “Sloppy ends tend to unravel the whole plan.”My stomach tightened.He knew something.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said smoothly, even as my pulse pounded in my ears. “If this is about Liz again—”He stepped closer. “It’s always about Liz.”There was something dangerous in his voice. Not loud, not angry. Worse. Cold and Controlled.I squar
Judy’s POVSlipping out of the Blood Rose Pack was almost laughably easy.I’d done it.Gabe was gone. Dead. And with him, the last thread that could ever lead back to me.I was proud of myself.There had been hiccups, sure. Little setbacks. Arthur showing up had been… annoying. But I handled it. Just like I always did.No loose ends.No one to talk.No one to point fingers. Sure, there was Robert, but he didn't really know anything, and if I had to, I would end him. To sure, killing my own brother wouldn't be easy, but if I had to, I would know that no one was ever going to stand in my way.I should’ve never doubted myself. I was smarter than all of them, Arthur with his kingly brooding, Liz with her fragile little doe eyes, and Gabe… stupid, desperate Gabe. Always chasing a dream that was never real.Now he was rotting in the dirt where he belonged.I pressed down the smile that threatened to rise as the road stretched out in front of me. All I had to do now was tie up the final thr