Chapter 3 — This Mansion Got Lore
819 Words
“They die.”
Girl.
WHAT?
The entire hall went silent so fast even the chandeliers looked uncomfortable.
My eyes snapped toward Kael.
He didn’t deny it.
HE DIDN’T DENY IT.
“Oh hell nah.”
I shoved his arm away and backed up. “You got a kill streak or something?!”
Selena folded her arms with the satisfaction of someone dropping nuclear tea.
“I warned you.”
Kael’s jaw clenched so hard I thought marble might crack in sympathy.
“Go to your room, Selena.”
“Oh? Or what?” she mocked. “You’ll lock me away too?”
EXCUSE ME TOO??
This mansion was giving true-crime documentary energy.
Kael stepped forward slowly.
Dangerously slowly.
The air pressure literally changed.
Every servant lowered their head instantly.
Even Selena took half a step back.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
“I’m done tolerating your disrespect,” Kael said coldly.
Selena’s expression flickered.
Pain.
Anger.
Something uglier.
Then she looked at me one last time.
“When he destroys you,” she whispered, “remember that I tried to help.”
And then she walked away dramatically like the season finale villain.
Silence.
I stared at Kael.
He stared back.
Bro had the audacity to look calm.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “So apparently women are dying around you like it’s a side quest and nobody thought to mention that earlier?”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“She was trying to scare you.”
“CONGRATULATIONS IT WORKED.”
I turned toward the front door.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
I was leaving this cursed w*****d mansion immediately.
I took two steps before Kael grabbed my wrist.
Warm fingers.
Firm grip.
Dangerous man.
“You’re not leaving.”
I laughed nervously. “Funny story? I actually am.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
BRO THOUGHT THIS WAS A POLL.
I tried pulling free.
Nothing.
This man had the grip strength of unresolved childhood trauma.
“Kael,” I snapped, “if you think I’m staying in some haunted alpha billionaire murder castle, you’ve lost your mind.”
His gray eyes locked onto mine.
“You’re safer here.”
“THAT IS LITERALLY HARD TO BELIEVE.”
For a second, something flashed across his face.
Fear.
Actual fear.
It disappeared instantly, but I saw it.
Interesting.
Before I could process it, a loud howl echoed outside.
Every servant froze.
Kael’s entire posture changed.
Predatory.
Deadly.
The windows shook as another howl ripped through the night.
This one closer.
“What was that?” I whispered.
Kael looked toward the doors.
“Rogues.”
Okay.
Nope.
Absolutely not.
My survival instincts officially submitted resignation papers.
Suddenly alarms blared through the mansion.
Red lights flashed across the walls.
One of the guards rushed inside.
“Alpha! They breached the northern gate!”
Kael cursed under his breath.
The servants panicked instantly.
I just stood there mentally buffering.
Breached??
As in ATTACKING??
Kael turned toward me sharply.
“Stay inside this hall.”
“Oh sure because random murder wolves definitely respect indoor rules.”
“Ava.”
His voice hit different this time.
Sharp.
Commanding.
Alpha energy on max settings.
And weirdly enough…
my body reacted.
My knees weakened slightly.
My pulse skipped.
My wolf stirred again beneath my skin.
EXCUSE ME TRAITOR??
Kael noticed instantly.
Of course he did.
A dangerous smirk touched his lips.
“You feel it too.”
“I feel stress and confusion.”
“The bond.”
The what now?
Before I could ask, another howl exploded outside followed by SCREAMING.
Human screaming.
My stomach dropped.
Kael released my wrist reluctantly.
“Lock the doors,” he ordered the guards.
Then his eyes returned to me.
“Do not leave this room.”
“And if I do?”
His gaze darkened.
“Then I won’t be able to protect you.”
Protect me?
The words hit weirdly hard.
Before I could answer, Kael suddenly leaned down close enough for me to feel his breath against my skin.
“If anyone touches you,” he whispered, “I’ll rip them apart.”
OH.
OH THIS MAN IS ACTUALLY INSANE.
Then he turned and walked away.
The guards followed him immediately.
And girl—
The SECOND those doors closed—
explosions erupted outside.
Windows shattered.
People screamed.
Somewhere in the distance, wolves roared loud enough to shake the entire mansion.
I stood frozen in the middle of the hall.
Heart racing.
Breathing uneven.
Then—
A hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder from behind.
I screamed and spun around.
Selena stood there.
Covered in blood.
“Come with me,” she whispered urgently. “He lied to you.”
My soul left my body.
“What?”
Her eyes filled with panic.
“The rogues aren’t here for the pack.”
Silence.
Then she looked directly into my eyes.
“They came for YOU.”
- Writer
