Betrayed By My Alpha Fiancee Claimed By My Lycan King

Partner In Crime

My footsteps echoed against the hard floor as I wrapped my hands around my nightwear jacket.

I had never seen a sight like the one outside the window minutes ago.

Or maybe I had.

Just never this grotesque.

"You didn't call me for the show."

My voice rang out behind Alaric.

He glanced over his shoulder, blood splattered across one side of his face.

Then he smiled.

The kind of smile you'd see on the face of an anime protagonist after delivering justice.

Handsome.

Dangerous.

He walked over and cupped my face.

"You want to join the party?"

My gaze drifted past him to the two unconscious figures tied to chairs, their heads hanging to one side.

"Alaric... this is brutal."

He casually looked back at them, as if admiring his handiwork.

"You never told me when to stop. I thought this was only moderate."

My eyes widened.

I smacked his chest.

"You call this moderate? This is downright brutal, Alaric."

A groan suddenly broke the silence.

My eyes swept toward the sound.

Vale slowly lifted her head.

The moment her eyes met mine, hatred flared within them.

"You b***h! You're in on this, aren't you?"

"Manners."

Alaric's cold voice sliced through the room.

Vale immediately shut her mouth.

His fist clenched as he took a step forward.

I caught his wrist before he could move.

"Let me handle this."

He relaxed instantly.

He knew I would do a good job.

Stepping aside, he leaned against the wall, watching like a proud king waiting to see his queen at work.

I deliberately walked toward them.

Then I lowered myself into Alaric's vacant chair.

"I heard you have a lot to say."

I crossed one leg over the other.

"So... say it."

She exploded.

"You cursed b***h, I..."

Smack!

My palm landed across her face.

Blood spilled from her mouth, splashing onto my cheek.

I didn't even bother wiping it away.

Instead, I smiled.

"Tell me, Vale."

I tilted my head toward the unconscious woman beside her.

"Do you know this woman?"

She forced out a bitter smile.

"Why would I tell you anything? You've become so full of yourself just because the Lycan King is backing you. How pathetic."

I chuckled softly.

Rising from the chair, I picked up the whip resting on the table.

The color instantly drained from her face.

"W... what are you trying to do?"

"This?"

I casually stretched the whip between my hands.

"Just something to exercise with."

Behind me, Alaric folded his arms against the wall.

A faint, cold smile rested on his lips.

"I can call Kael for you."

I looked at her.

"Aren't you his plaything? Surely he won't hesitate to save you."

She smirked.

"I dare you."

Her eyes burned with confidence.

"I know you still love him. You're too scared to get on his bad side."

I nodded once.

"Very well."

I dialed Kael's number.

It barely rang once before someone answered.

"This is Cade Stag, Your Imperial Luna. Lord Kael is unavailable at the moment."

My gaze settled on Vale as I pressed the speaker button.

"This is urgent."

I paused deliberately.

"If Lord Kael doesn't want Vale to die under my whip, tell him I need to speak with him."

"Please hold."

Silence.

Then...

A muffled cough.

"Lord Kael says he's too busy to take your call."

"Very well."

I ended the call.

Turning back to Vale, I shrugged.

"I tried to help you."

A small smile played on my lips.

"I guess you chose the wrong person."

I glanced toward Alaric.

"Thankfully... I chose the right one."

Her face turned crimson with rage.

"Every second you refuse to answer..."

I slowly raised the whip.

"...this will answer for you."

I pointed toward Selene.

"Do you know Selene Ward?"

Vale stared at me before looking at the unconscious Selene beside her.

"I am your sister, Aria."

Her voice trembled.

"You're supposed to protect me."

I scoffed.

"Protect you?"

I stepped closer.

"The sister who shamelessly threw herself at her own sister's mate?"

I leaned down until our faces were inches apart.

"Was I supposed to smile and congratulate you instead?"

"I swear..."

She struggled against the ropes.

"I don't know, Selene."

Crack!

The whip tore across her skin.

Her scream echoed through the room.

Fresh blood seeped through the torn flesh.

"Tell me what you know, Vale."

Her breathing turned ragged.

Her desperate eyes drifted toward Alaric.

As though he would save her.

My gaze followed hers.

But his eyes never left me.

They burned with an obsession that belonged to no ordinary man.

Vale froze.

Even now...

The Lycan King couldn't take his eyes off me.

A broken laugh escaped her lips.

"I've always been the unwanted wolf."

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

"A useless daughter of a rogue woman."

She laughed again.

"So why do you get all the good things?"

"You can kill me today."

She stared straight at me.

"You'll get nothing from me."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Interesting."

I smiled.

She really thought she was the one I wanted.

She wasn't.

She was merely bait.

The real snake was still hiding somewhere in the shadows.

And I intended to drag it into the light.

I casually tossed the whip onto the floor.

Her eyes darted between me and it.

"What are you doing?"

She laughed hysterically.

"I said kill me!"

I walked over until only a few inches separated us.

"This..."

I smiled.

"...is only the beginning of your hell, Vale."

Straightening, I turned away.

"Kill me now, Aria!"

She screamed behind me.

I never looked back.

"I'm too kind to kill you."

Her furious screams followed me across the room.

I stopped in front of Alaric.

He gently cupped my bloodstained face.

"You were the very definition of beauty and power out there."

His thumb brushed my cheek.

"For a moment... I barely recognized you."

He understood me.

The most feared Lycan King wasn't just my lover.

He was my partner in crime.

The thought alone made me smile.

My gaze shifted back to Vale, who had finally stopped struggling.

"Release her."

I pointed toward Selene.

"But keep Selene here."

I narrowed my eyes.

"I still need her close."

He nodded before effortlessly scooping me into his arms.

Without another word, he turned toward the mansion.

My phone rang.

Father.

I answered.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

His voice thundered through the phone.

Confused, I tapped Alaric's shoulder.

He immediately set me down.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you involved with Magnus Blackridge?"

I frowned.

"Magnus Blackridge?"

My brows knitted together.

"Who the f**k is that?"

Father sounded even more panicked.

"Check the f*****g internet!"

He shouted.

"Where the hell are you? Get back here immediately and explain yourself."

His breathing grew heavier.

"Don't ruin the Ashford name."

The line went dead.

Right.

No one ever let me explain anything.

I turned toward Alaric.

He silently watched me, waiting for an answer.

Before I could speak, Elena called.

"My Lady! Have you seen what's trending? Lady Aveline has completely lost her mind."

"Aveline again?"

I clenched my fist.

"I underestimated her."

Alaric's eyes carefully followed every expression on my face, as if trying to read my thoughts.

"Elena."

I took a slow breath.

"Tell me who Magnus Blackridge is."

"He's the Ivory Alpha."

She answered immediately.

"A sacred white wolf... and a notorious playboy. Everyone in Silverpine knows him."

My eyes instinctively searched for Alaric.

He was gone.

"Thank you, Elena."

I steadied my breathing.

"Keep me updated."

"Yes, My Lady."

The call ended.

I looked around.

Alaric had disappeared as though he'd never been there.

Just as I reached for the door leading into the main hall...

A voice as cold as hell drifted through the hallway.

Alaric.

I froze.

"Bring me Magnus Blackridge."

His voice was calm.

Deadly.

"The Ivory Alpha."

A brief silence followed.

"Now."

Another pause.

"And make sure those rumors never reach the Moon Palace."

He started walking again.

"Mother still wants Aveline."

His voice turned colder.

"See that it's done."

My blood ran cold.