Chapter 2

Veronica POV

The room dissolved into darkness, except for him. 

Dever. 

“It–it’s not possible,” I whispered, half believing what I was seeing. My fingers trembled as I pinched my arm, hard.

No, it couldn’t be. He couldn’t be here. I saw him bleed out.

I wetted my dry lips. “How’s this… you’re dead… I watched you...” my voice shook, my throat burning. “You’re dead. There was no pulse. I searched.”

His lips parted. “Vee.”

The sound of my name from his lips shattered me all over again. Goddess, I’ve missed him. I’ve missed hearing him call my name.

A sob clawed its way up my throat. I wrapped my arms around myself, rocking back and forth, trying to breathe. “You’re really alive,” I whispered, half crying, half laughing. “You’re alive.”

He nodded once, dragging a hand through his hair. Same old habit, same old him. Except he was growing out his beard now.

“Why?” The word tore out of me. “Why didn’t you come for me?”

“It’s a long story,” he offered reluctantly. “And this isn’t the time for it.” his gaze flickered past me to the man standing near the fireplace. “Did you put her up to this, Kade? Is this your sick idea of a joke? You bastard!”

Kade... the second twin. A stroke of luck that they were both here.

“Watch your tongue, Dever,” the man with the golden eyes, Kade, growled. “Remember whose house you’re in.”

“I know exactly where I am,” Dever snarled. I froze at the tone of his voice. Dever’s never spoken like that. Never lost his temper even in the worst situations.

“Right in the lair of devils!” he continued, his feet tapping the floor nervously. “I should have listened when they told me not to do business with the lunatics of River-Valley. We had a deal, you fool! At least your word should mean something, even if nothing else about your lot does!”

“Say one more word,” Kade barked, storming toward Dever. “I dare you.”

Something inside me snapped. Before I could think, I was on my feet, my dagger lodged in my hand and pressed into Kade’s back. 

“One more step towards him,” I hissed, twisting the blade just enough to draw blood. “And I’ll gut you.”

His body grew rigid. He threw his hands into the air. “Easy now,” he said, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

I pushed my knife deeper, smiling when a string of curse words left his mouth. Conscious of the other person in the room, I flattened myself against Kade and manoeuvred him until he was acting as a barrier between his brother and me. 

“How funny do you think it is now?” I teased, watching his blood form a wet spot on his shirt. The thought of driving the knife clean through his bowels crossed my mind. But I pushed it down. It didn’t feel right anymore. Not with Dever standing behind me.

“Was never funny,” Kade said, his voice dropping all humour. “Now, take a deep fucking breath and steady your hand. I’m going to walk towards my brother and away from your man. understood?”

He gestured towards the man on the couch. “Nice and easy…”

He moved without waiting for my response. I reached for his arm, but he was faster. He twisted, grabbed my wrist. Pain shot through my arm, loosening my grip on my knife.

“You bitch,” Kade snarled, pressing his knee into my back. “You’ll pay for this, I–”

“That’s enough,” the calm voice interrupted him. “Let go of her.”  

“You are not my father!” Kade spat. “I don’t take orders from you!” 

“You do now,” the command came, followed by the shuffling of feet. A few seconds later, the weight on my back came off.

I sucked in a shaky breath and crawled towards Dever, pushing to my feet once I was behind him. The guy with the mismatched eyes had Kade by the collar. He looked calm, unnaturally calm despite Kade’s fighting to get free. And when his eyes met mine, I froze at the hatred in them. Cold. unmistakeable. 

“Does she even know?” Kade chuckled, finally accepting his defeat. “About your little deal with the monsters of River-Valley? Should I tell her, Dever? Should I tell her why you’re still breathing?”

“Kade.” Dever’s voice was low, but the threat was loud and clear, raising the hair at the back of my neck.

Kade turned his gaze on me, his eyes red with rage. He seemed on the brink of losing it. “Do you want to know, sweetheart?”

“We’re leaving.” Dever grabbed my arm, tugging me towards the door, but I couldn’t move. Couldn’t hear anything except the ringing in my head.

“Kade. Don’t–”

“He sold you to us.” 

Everything stopped. My heart. My breath. The ringing.

Kade's grin widened. “The night in the garden? That was all a setup. a hoax. He planned everything to the last bit. Insisted it happened on the night of your anniversary. The perfect ending, if you ask me.”

The words sank in slowly, torturing me.

“Sold?” I whispered. It was the only word I could form.

The room fell silent, and I could feel every eye on me. Something was ticking at the back of my head, growing louder. 

I stared at my man. His face was blank, devoid of emotion.

“It was for the pack,” Dever offered, his voice annoyingly gentle. “I made some bad investment decisions. They offered to help only if you’re on their land. I had no other choice,” he lowered his voice. “They know about you. It was going to be a temporary arrangement till I was able to repay my debt.

My eyes darted between the brothers, panic slicing through my chest. If they knew about me, that means they’ve been watching. They knew about Ginny.

“What do they know about me?” I breathed, my heart pounding. “Everything?”

Dever hesitated. Then nodded. 

My knees almost gave way.  “Why didn’t you come to me?” I demanded, my voice breaking. “We could have figured it out together. We could have–”

“He couldn’t,” Kade interrupted, laughing under his breath, “because there were no investments. Our Dever here is a naughty little boy who developed a healthy appetite for gambling and losing. And let’s not also forget sweet little Dana.”

“Dana?” I blinked through the haze.  “What has she got to do with this?”

“Nothing,” Dever growled, his eyes darting around before finally resting on me. They were restless and cold. Something in them told me I wouldn’t like the answer to the question I was about to ask. 

“Have you been having an affair with your best friend’s fiancée?”

His jaw clenched. “My fiancée, now,” he corrected bitterly. “And she’s carrying my child. Something you failed to do after years together.”

My world tilted. I felt all the emotions at once, but rage consumed me the most. I couldn’t even bring myself to cry. 

The man I’d mourned. The man I was ready to die for was nothing more than a liar. How didn’t I see through him all these years? How long have they been laughing behind my back? How long had I been the fool?

I glared at him, letting my rage cover my broken heart. “If you are not here for me, then why are you here?”

“To collect what’s owed to me,” he replied coldly.

A laugh escaped my lips, though it sounded more like a broken sob to my ears. “You mean what you sold me for?” 

I turned to the monsters, and instantly, I knew what I’d lose my life for. Dever, yes. But for a different reason this time.

“Deal’s changed,” I stated flatly. “If you want what I think you want, then a new deal is on the table. I find you a cure to your curse, and in return, I want the Silverclaw pack.”