ANMELDENThis chapter isn't an excuse for Vivienne’s actions. It’s here to show that no one is born evil, and that in this world, even "powerful" women are treated like garbage. No woman is safe here. Men hold all the power.
Kale POV“His cover name was John, but his real name was Alberto. How we caught him is a long story, but he was sent to find a woman. A woman with black hair and blue eyes who was supposed to be dead over two decades ago. But his employers believed she somehow survived and escaped,” Damian explained.“What happened to the spy?” I asked.“Well… he got complications after Dorian had his legs broken, so there’s a high chance he’s dead,” Damian said, making me gasp softly.“How certain are you that she’s the one they’re looking for, though? I mean, they said her name is Lydia,” I asked.Damian shook his head slowly. “You really can’t be that stupid,” he muttered. “Do you honestly think a woman on the run would keep using her real name? Especially someone who’s been hiding for over twenty years?”“Right,” I muttered, my mind already racing.“Look… I’m not a hundred percent certain she’s the one,” Damian admitted, “but she’s one of the very few people I could barely find anything on. The ot
Kale POV “Yeah, yeah, I’ll be there in about 30 minutes,” I said into the phone to Damian, who had been whining nonstop about me bringing him fresh clothes to the hospital. “No,” he cut in with a frustrated sigh. “Just hurry up. I need to take a bath.” “Sure thing, Your Highness,” I replied with a chuckle before I hung up, then let out a breath as I made my way toward his bedroom. A room he never really liked me stepping into, but of course, he didn’t have much of a say right now, not while he was stuck in a hospital bed. Too bad for him, because I was fully prepared to snoop around. Pushing the door open, I stepped inside. Damian’s room was exactly how I remembered it. Neat, organized, and completely devoid of any personal touch. No photos, no trinkets, nothing that hinted at the man who actually lived here. It was like he was trying to erase himself from his own space. I shook my head and walked over to his closet, pulling out a set of fresh clothes: a shirt, pants, underwea
Kale POV “Sarah,” she whispered, taking a few quick steps back and putting distance between us. “What are you…” “We need more hands at the banquet hall,” Sarah spoke slowly, her expression fixed solely on Rhea as if she was doing everything she could not to meet my gaze. “You were taking so much time. I was getting worried…” An awkward silence followed, with Rhea fidgeting nervously with her fingers as both women continued to stare at each other. Ah. So much for keeping it a secret. It hadn’t even lasted an hour. Exhaling quietly, I stepped forward, closing the distance before the silence stretched any longer. “Rhea and I are dating,” I said confidently. Maybe a bit too confidently, judging by the soft gasp that slipped out from behind me, but it was already too late to take it back. Sarah had seen us. There was no point pretending otherwise. “You’re her friend, right?” I added, stopping in front of her. Her gaze stayed on the floor, but she gave a small, polite nod.
Kale POVShe said yes.I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe I was standing here, holding the woman I had wanted for over a decade, and she had just kissed me.She kissed me.It didn’t feel real. It felt like one of those dreams I used to have, the ones that always ended too soon, the ones that left me staring at the ceiling for hours after, wishing they hadn’t.And maybe that was why I held her tighter, my arms tightening around her without thinking, like if I didn’t, she might slip away and I’d wake up to nothing again.When we finally pulled back, I didn’t let her go completely. My hands found her face instead, gently cupping her cheeks like I needed to keep reminding myself she was real.“I’m so happy,” I whispered, my voice low as I leaned in again, unable to stop myself from kissing her.The third time.A quiet chuckle slipped out of me when she kissed me back just as easily.“What is it?” she whispered when she pulled away slightly, her breath warm against my lips, and my t
Rhea POVCompared to Dorian’s, Kale’s kiss was gentle and soft, almost like he was hesitant, like he didn’t want to make the wrong move or hurt me in the process.This was the first time I was willingly kissing another man. Another man who wasn’t my mate.His grip tightened around my waist, pulling me closer as he slowly deepened the kiss.It felt odd.Not in a bad way. Just… unfamiliar. Like my body didn’t quite know what to do with it. Like I was betraying myself. Betraying the mate bond.But knowing Dorian was watching, I didn’t stop.I kept my eyes closed, just so I wouldn’t have to face it. The guilt. Him.I wanted this to hurt him.I wanted him furious, watching me with someone else. I wanted him to feel what I had felt—no, worse.He wouldn’t hurt Kale. Even if he was angry, I knew Kale would be safe. If Dorian wanted to hurt him, he would have done it a long time ago, just like what he did to Theo.But Kale was different.Not because Dorian didn’t want to hurt him… but because
Dorian POVThe plan was simple: announce the pregnancy and end the event as quickly as possible. I still had a lot of work to handle.After the incident at the cave, there had been no more cases of the undead, but I couldn’t tell if that was because it had actually stopped… or because Ragnar was covering it up.He had been going in and out of the pack, dealing with matters he made very clear were none of my concern.Two of the men I sent to gather information were killed. Their hands were delivered directly to my office.So I understood the message.Stay out of it.Or else.But of course, that wasn’t enough to stop me.Whatever he was hiding, I would uncover it.For now, I was just being careful. Subtle. Especially with Damian still in the hospital.---In the banquet hall, I stood beside Vivienne, my arm wrapped around her waist exactly how she wanted it.I was bored out of my mind as the crowd cheered and cameras flashed nonstop.“Smile, darling,” Vivienne whispered through her teet
Rhea POVThe silence that followed was deafening.Why did I even ask that again? Isa didn’t say anything about him loving her, even when he got attached. I was just being ahead of myself. Fuck, I’m so stupid. I shouldn’t have—“I don’t know,” came the reply I hadn’t expected, draining all the voice
Rhea POVVivianne looked flawless even this early in the morning, her silk robe slipping off one shoulder, her hair tousled like she’d just rolled out of a bed made of pure moonlight.No matter how much I hated her for what she had done to me, there was no denying how beautiful she was. Perfect fac
Rhea POVLess than thirty minutes later, the food came.He brought the tray back himself, carrying it into the bedroom and setting it beside me on the bed. He didn’t say anything as he took the chair across from me and sat down, just watched while I ate.I could feel his eyes on me the whole time.
Dorian POVThis went on for hours.For those hours, I was relentless, showing no sign of stopping. I still wouldn’t have if she hadn’t passed out from exhaustion beneath me.And like the flip of a switch, my wolf went deadly quiet.The rage vanished completely, replaced by ice-cold guilt that slamm







