Chapter twenty four
771 Words
When Savanna stepped out of the room, she spotted Elijah, Riley, and Alfie standing in the corner of the hospital hall. They were speaking in low voices, tension sparking between her sons. And yet—because of Casey—they stood like allies.
Elijah caught Savanna’s eyes. With one sharp shake of his head, he silenced the conversation.
Savanna asked Casey’s parents for a moment, pressed her lips at the sight of Payton’s pale face, and walked straight to her family.
“How is she?” Alfie’s voice trembled with worry.
“Better. She woke up,” Savanna sighed. “I don’t know why she fainted, but I’m certain it’s connected to the trauma of her kidnapping. Who was with you during that meeting?”
“Neil Layton,” Riley replied, planting his hands on his waist as anxiety crept in. “He looked shocked when it happened. I think… he expected a different reaction from her.”
“What do you mean by that?” Alfie frowned.
“He had a bottle with some kind of herb.” Riley shook his head, struggling to recall. “The scent was faint, almost unnoticeable. I can’t even name it.”
“I’ll ask Alpha Keaton to give me ten minutes alone with him,” Elijah growled.
“You shouldn’t,” Savanna cut in firmly. “If Neil is just a pawn in Alpha Rein’s game, then by hurting him, you’ll be doing exactly what Rein wants.”
Elijah clenched his jaw, then nodded slowly. “You’re right.”
“Until the engagement, Eric will assign guards to Casey. She won’t be left alone,” Savanna continued, turning her eyes to Riley. “And I think you should break the contract with Neil. That way, we can keep Casey under house arrest until everything is settled.”
“That would be foolish, Mother.” Alfie’s calm tone surprised Elijah and Riley. “If this was Alpha Rein’s doing, then we must act as if nothing happened. Otherwise, he’ll sense weakness and strike again.”
Riley’s fists curled. His fiancée had fainted in terror, and the only possible culprit was a member of the rival pack. And Alfie—his own brother—was willing to let her suffer, to use her as bait. No, not bait. A symbol. Proof to the world that the Full Moon pack was still in control.
Savanna caught the shift in Riley’s expression, the tightening of his jaw, the anger rising in his chest. Elijah felt it too. But as Alpha, he also knew Alfie was not entirely wrong.
“We will act as if nothing happened,” Elijah declared at last. “Alfie is right. But we’ll add guards, and I’ll appoint someone to double-check everything.”
“I think we—” Riley began, but his words died when Payton appeared in front of them. The entire group fell silent.
“Before I go inside with her, can you tell me… did she say anything before she collapsed?” His voice trembled as he looked directly at Riley. “I need to know how to comfort her, if she needs it.”
“She was mumbling,” Riley admitted reluctantly. Speaking of it in front of everyone was uncomfortable, but if it could help her brother, he wouldn’t hold back. “She asked… to make them stop.”
“I see.” Payton exhaled heavily. “Thank you, Riley.” Without another word, he slipped back into the room.
Alfie’s eyes lingered on his brother. Riley had spoken carefully, deliberately. There was something more he hadn’t said—but Alfie couldn’t be sure what.
Savanna touched her husband’s hand. “Alfie, maybe you should visit her too,” she said softly.
“I… can’t.” Alfie looked torn. He had promised Casey space, promised to let her process their engagement. Now he finally saw how fragile she truly was. “We agreed she would have time.”
“It’s thoughtful of you,” Savanna smiled warmly.
But Riley’s lips curved into a smile of his own. That kiss Alfie bragged about? It wasn’t love. It was a bargain. Casey’s desperate way of buying freedom from him until the engagement.
And when Alfie saw the spark in Riley’s eyes, he knew instantly—his brother was in the game.
What Alfie didn’t know was that Riley had already made his choice.
This time, no matter the cost, he would win.
And if his brother dared to stand in his way—Riley would burn the whole pack to ashes before letting Casey fall into his hands again.
- Writer
