I'm Your Brother's Wife Dear Ace

Chapter 12

Ace

After walking away from Selena, who was still screaming in agony on the floor, I made my way back to my private chambers.

This is just the beginning, I thought, a dark, satisfaction-filled smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.

‘That cut was far too shallow!’ Lane, my wolf, snarled inside my mind, his mental claws scraping for more blood.

Relax, Lane, This is just a warning nothing more.

A sharp, rhythmic knock cut through my silent thoughts.

Knock, knock.

Ronan stepped into the room, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.

“Did you find it?” I demanded, not wasting any time.

“No, Alpha,” Ronan replied, his posture tense. “His office is completely crawling with guards. I couldn't get close enough to uncover the documents, but I did overhear something.”

I gave him a sharp nod, giving him the unspoken permission to continue.

“Your mate... that is, Lady Lyra’s father, I caught him speaking in whispers with Alpha Draven,” Ronan reported, a look of utter disbelief settling onto his face.

“They were discussing a secret deal made in exchange for the marriage, though they didn't explicitly say what the terms were. Her father only warned Draven fiercely not to do anything that might destroy her beauty.”

“Thank you. You can go now,” I said, a slow, calculated smile spreading across my face. “I need to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day.”

As Ronan exited the room and the door clicked shut, I let out a heavy sigh. So, my instincts had been right all along. This so-called high-profile marriage was nothing but a transactional show.

“Oh, Draven,” I whispered into the empty, dark room. “I am going to take back everything you took from me, Everything.”

___________

The moment I caught sight of the dark outline of her silhouette in the courtyard, a magnetic pull dragged me toward her.

“Lady Lyra,” I called out.

She turned sharply to look at me and I could tell by the guarded confusion in her gorgeous eyes that she didn't fully comprehend the riddles I spoke, but as I reached out and let my fingers brush against her skin, I felt her entire body react to my touch. The spark of the bond was undeniable.

You are mine, Lyra…. and with time, you will realize it, I promised silently, watching her stiffen.

“My Lady!”

The loud voice broke the tension. The petty little maid who was always hovering around her ran toward us, a wide, breathless grin stretching across her face.

“My Lady, the Alpha has granted you permission to go outside into the town! But he insists we must travel with a guard detail.”

For the first time since I had returned, a genuine, dazzling smile broke across Lyra’s face. It was beautiful…… so beautiful that she completely forgot I was even standing there.

“Ahem.” I cleared my throat sharply to snap her attention back to me. “I will excuse myself,” I muttered.

As I turned to walk away, I paused just long enough to throw the petty maid a lethal, warning glare that made her smile instantly vanish.

“Alpha!” Ronan came sprinting toward me from the main wing, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily.

Shit, this guy can be a real pain in the neck. But there was no denying he was the best tracker I had, and my most trusted ally.

“Alpha Draven is holding an emergency council meeting right now,” Ronan panted, wiping sweat from his brow. “In your absence.”

A council meeting without me? A mocking smirk played on my lips as I turned my stride directly toward the grand council hall.

I didn't knock, I shoved the heavy double doors open with a resounding thud, and every single head around the long table snapped toward me in stunned silence.

“A council meeting without me?” I asked loudly, my boots echoing against the stone as I strolled toward the table and carelessly pulled out an empty seat. “Isn't that a violation of protocol?”

“You are not a member of this council, Ace,” Draven spat angrily, his knuckles turning white as his hands clenched into tight fists on the table. “Just because I permitted you to return to the pack lands does not mean your past sins are forgiven.”

I stood up slowly, flattening my palms flat against the polished wood of the table as I leaned forward, bending down until I was staring him dead in the eyes.

“You're wrong, brother,” I said, my voice dropping to a low, lethal baritone that threatened the entire room. “You didn't bring me back. I came back to my home on my own, to the place where I belong, and to claim what is rightfully mine.”

I let a cold smile slip onto my face before drawing back and taking my seat again.

“But don't take it to heart. You did technically summon me here, after all. So, I will excuse myself... but only for today, since I have far more important things to attend to. Next time you hold a meeting behind my back, I will consider it a direct threat to my authority.”

Dropping the smile, I stood up, turned my back on his furious expression, and walked right out of the hall.

I would have stayed to cause more chaos, but a stronger instinct was pulling at me: I wanted to watch my mate. I was still deeply curious about the supernatural explosion that had killed the maid yesterday, and I knew her father wasn't capable of it.

“Ronan, where is my mate?” I asked as Ronan caught up to me in the stables.

“Alpha Draven allowed her to leave the castle grounds. I believe they are heading into the town marketplace,” Ronan said, shaking his head in deep thought. “But after the assassination attempt yesterday, I don't think it's safe for her to be out in the open like this...”

I didn't waste any more time listening to his nervous rants. I swung myself up onto my horse, dug my boots into its flanks, and rode furiously out of the pack gates.

When I reached the bustling town square, I quickly spotted her royal carriage parked near the cobblestones, but Lyra was nowhere near it. I searched store by store, pushing through the crowds of townspeople and before I could go much further, I saw her walking out of a small bakery. A soft, serene smile played on her lips, making her totally oblivious to the heavy amount of eyes staring at her breathtaking face.

As she walked forward, she suddenly froze. Her eyes locked onto a ragged little child sitting alone in a dirty corner of the alleyway.

She exchanged a quick, whispered gesture with her maid, and then stepped away from her guards, walking directly over to the child. So, she likes children, I mused, a sudden warmth blooming in my chest.

If she wants them, I certainly wouldn't mind giving her mine….

Suddenly, my eyes widened in utter shock and my heart skipped a heavy beat. I could swear, from my vantage point across the street, I saw her lips move. The child even nodded in response.

Could she speak? Was she not a mute?

I closed my eyes tightly and snapped them open again, but she was already turning around and walking back to her maid, her face turning back into its usual silent mask.

I swear I saw her lips move.

A fierce, burning curiosity took over my senses. I had to find out the truth.