Chapter 5

Blaire's POV

My heart thudded in my chest so loudly that I was scared Ares might hear me. Instead of bursting into the dining hall and likely getting killed, I stopped by the door, leaning closer as I took a peek at what was happening.

Ares stood opposite my brothers, who were held back by four strong men with tattoos, dressed in completely black clothes.

A low chuckle left his lips, softening his stern composure. I would have relished it if he wasn’t about to kill my brothers. “You think I’m just going to hand over the second war book to you, Nightmoons?” he asked in a mocking tone. “Because you won a measly battle? Let’s see how your father reacts when you two aren’t there to protect his pack.”

“You’re crazy, Ares,” Noah groaned, trying to break free from the men holding him. “If you think you’re going to get away with this.”

Ares arched a brow, cutting him off. “Of course I’m going to get away with this, just like your father got away with killing my parents.”

My eyes widened at his words, and I quickly covered my mouth to keep from gasping. Noah and Jake looked just as shocked. We had no idea what Ares was talking about, and a strange unease crept into my chest as I tried to think of what to do.

“What are you talking about?” Jake finally asked, his voice strained but firm. “My dad only killed rogue wolves… unless your parents were one.”

Ares’s eyes darkened. He signaled to the man holding Jake, and the man tightened his grip, forcing a groan out of him.

“Watch your mouth, Jake,” Ares said coldly. “Or you’ll be the first to die.”

“You think we’re scared of your threats?” Noah snapped. “If you weren’t so afraid of us, you wouldn’t have tricked us. Why didn’t you face me on the battlefield? I’d wipe that look off your face.”

Ares chuckled, slow and mocking. “You talk too much, Noah.”

He stepped closer, pulling out a sharp dagger from his pocket. My breath caught in my throat as he lifted it toward Noah’s head. My fingers twisted in the sleeves of my shirt as panic rushed through me.

I couldn’t just stand here. Before I could think myself out of it, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Ares.” My voice echoed more than I expected, and every head turned toward me.

Ares froze for a second, the dagger still in his hand, before his eyes locked onto mine. His expression hardened instantly.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

I swallowed, forcing my legs to move forward despite how they trembled. “I think the better question is… when are you going to claim me as yours?”

Silence fell over the room.

The men holding my brothers exchanged looks, confused, and even Noah stopped struggling. Ares’s grip on the dagger tightened, his jaw clenching as he stared at me like I had just lost my mind.

“Blaire,” he said slowly, warning laced in his tone. “Leave. Now.”

But I shook my head, my chest tightening. “No. Not this time.”

His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place, but it was gone just as fast, replaced by that cold look again.

“Don’t test me,” he said. “You don’t want to be here.”

“I do,” I replied, my voice shaking but firm. “Because I care about you, Ares. And you know it.”

His expression darkened further. “This isn’t the time for this.”

“When is it ever the time?” I shot back, my emotions spilling over. “You saved my life once, remember? It showed you care about me. So what changed? Why did you reject me? Why did you act like our mate bond means nothing to you?"

A muscle ticked in his jaw. For a moment, he said nothing. That moment was all my brothers needed.

Noah suddenly drove his elbow back into the man holding him, breaking free, while Jake shoved his captor hard enough to stumble. The room erupted into chaos as they fought off the men.

My heart leaped, a breath of relief left my lips as I thought that they were going to fight and then we would leave together.

But instead of coming toward me, or even toward Ares, they turned and ran, straight for the exit.

“Noah,” I called, my voice breaking.

But they didn't stop or look back. Ares’s head snapped toward the door, fury flashing across his face as he realized what was happening. In that split second, I stood frozen, the truth sinking in painfully.

They left me.

I had stepped out to save them… and they left me behind.

Before I could move, strong hand grabbed my arm and yanked me back. I stumbled, crashing against Ares’s chest as his grip tightened.

“Don’t,” he growled when I tried to pull away.

But it wasn’t his grip that hurt the most. It was the emptiness spreading through my chest, the sharp sting of betrayal that made it hard to breathe.

“I thought…” My voice came out weak. “I thought they would,”

I couldn’t even finish it. Ares didn’t soften. If anything, his expression grew colder.

“You just made a very big mistake,” he said, his voice low and filled with anger. “If your brothers don’t come back for you, you’ll regret this for the rest of your life.”

My heart dropped. He released me only to signal to the men behind him. “Take her.”

Two men stepped forward immediately, grabbing my arms before I could react.

“Wait, no,” I struggled, panic rising fast. “Ares, please.”

He didn’t look at me. “Take her to the dungeon,” he ordered flatly. “Lock her up.”

“Ares!” I cried, fighting against the men as they dragged me toward the door. “I don’t want to go there! I’m your mate!”

My words echoed, but he didn’t respond. “Why are you doing this to me?” I begged, my voice breaking. “You are my mate, how can you treat me like this?”

Still, he didn’t turn. Not even once.

Tears blurred my vision as they dragged me out of the room. My chest felt tight, each breath harder than the last.

I had come here to save my brothers, I had trusted them, and now I was alone.

As we moved down the dark hallway, the air growing colder with each step, the reality of everything settled heavily on me. My brothers were gone. Ares had turned his back on me. And I was being taken somewhere I knew I might not come out of.

I closed my eyes briefly, trying to hold onto the smallest piece of hope. Maybe they would come back, maybe they would realize what they had done, maybe my parents would send help, because right now that was all I had left, hope, and it was slipping through my fingers.