CHAPTER 15: FREEDOM

CHAPTER 15:

The black SUV tore through the estate gates and slammed to a halt outside the main entrance. Before the driver could even step out to open my door, James came charging out of the house.

He yanked the car door open himself, his face pale and his silver eyes wild with pure panic. But before he even looked at me, he turned toward the team of bodyguards with terrifying fury, shouting at the top of his lungs.

"What the hell were you doing?!" James roared, his voice shaking the entire driveway. "How could you let him out of your sight?! What am I paying you for?!"

The lead bodyguard bowed his head, trembling under the Alpha's overwhelming aura. "I'm sorry, Mr. Vance! He sneaked out through the back without his phone... we didn't realize until he was already gone."

Seeing the situation getting heavily heated and the security team shaking in fear, I stepped out of the vehicle and cut in. "Stop yelling at them, James! It wasn't their fault. I sneaked out on my own!"

James whipped his head toward me, grabbing my shoulders and scanning every inch of my body. "Are you out of your mind, Soren?!" he yelled, his voice trembling with a terrifying mix of fury and intense fear. "Why would you go out alone?! Why would you slip past security like that?!"

I stumbled back slightly, surprised by his intense outburst. "James, I just wanted to see Charles—"

"You could have been killed!" James yelled, his eyes glossy as he fought back actual tears. His broad chest heaved as he gripped his own hair in frustration. He was breathing heavily, his dominant Prime Alpha scent spiking with pure agony.

Deep down inside, James's mind was spiraling into pitch darkness. If anything had happened to Soren... if he had died today, I would have died right alongside him. I can't live in a world without Soren. He is my everything.

Seeing him yell at me triggered my own defensive walls. I pulled my sweater tighter around my body, stepping backward to put clear distance between us.

"Lower your voice, James," I said, keeping my tone as cold and sharp as glass. "Let me remind you—we are partners in a contract, not a real marriage. If you're acting this crazy, it's only because of this baby. But you can stop worrying. This baby is my responsibility, not your business!"

James froze, looking at me as if I had shoved a knife into his chest. His smoked cedar scent darkened into absolute heartbreak.

Without waiting for him to reply, I turned on my heel and marched straight back into the estate, slamming my bedroom door shut.

Later that afternoon, James drove back to the executive office in total silence. He slumped into his leather chair, staring blankly out the high glass window, looking completely drained and moody.

Arthur walked in carrying a warm pot of tea. He took one look at his boss's miserable, heartbroken face and set the tray down softly.

"Sir..." Arthur asked gently. "What happened?"

James rubbed his face, his voice barely a rasp. "My... my friend had an argument with his partner. The partner almost got hurt today, and my friend lost his temper out of fear. But the partner just reminded him that they are only bound by a business contract, and told him to mind his own business."

Arthur shook his head softly, giving a sympathetic sigh. "Sir, tell your friend not to be annoyed. When people are frightened, they build their walls higher. The more your friend's partner tries to pull away and create distance, the closer your friend needs to stand by him. He shouldn't distance himself now. He needs to make it up to him and keep showing him that he's not going anywhere."

James looked up at Arthur, taking a deep, steadying breath as the secretary's words grounded him.

His heartbreak slowly transformed into sharp, cold resolve. Soren was trying to protect himself behind contracts, but James wasn't going to let Matthew or Tyla tear their family apart.

Ten minutes later, James didn't call a lawyer. He drove straight to Mercer Holdings.

He pushed past the front security, kicking open the doors to Matthew’s private office. Matthew was sitting at his desk with a arrogant smirk, but the moment James walked in, the temperature in the room plummeted to sub-zero.

James marched right up to the mahogany desk, leaning down and slamming both hands flat against the wood. His Prime Alpha command exploded in the room, making Matthew physically choke and tremble in his chair.

"Listen to me very carefully, Matthew," James said, his voice dropping into a lethal, terrifying whisper that promised complete destruction. "Tell Tyla—that useless, jealous dog of yours—to leave my fucking wife alone. If he ever tries to lay a finger on Soren or hurt my family again, I won't just ruin your company. I will destroy both of your lives so completely you won't even have a name left to hide behind."

Matthew’s face turned paper-white. He couldn't even form a word as James turned on his heel and walked out, leaving absolute terror in his wake.