Logan’s POV
The satisfaction I felt at the sight of Denderick’s wild eyes couldn’t be denied. The fool was on the edge, teetering close to the abyss, and I was more than willing to give him a little push.
But before I could relish the moment, he was on me. His body collided with mine, and we both went crashing to the ground. The wind was knocked out of me, but I didn’t let that stop me. My hands grappled with his, and I could feel his fury radiating off him in waves.
“Is this how you welcome an old friend?” I taunted as I twisted, trying to gain the upper hand. The bastard was strong, his movements filled with raw and unfiltered rage. But I had years of deceit and strength on my side, things Denderick couldn’t even begin to understand.
“Men!” I heard one of the Alphas yell behind me.
“Stop this madness at once!” Another Alpha from the Council roared. That was Alpha Callum.
“You think you’re better than me?” Denderick spat as he threw a punch at me. His knuckles cracked against my jaw, and I winced in pain. “Aria didn’t run to you because you’re some great savior. She ran because she had no choice. She’s been trying to get away from you for months after you took her in. The baby isn’t even yours.”
That hit the mark on me, and I felt my anger burning like an inferno in my chest. Denderick’s grip on me faltered for just a second, and I used that moment to my advantage, twisting out from under him.
I shoved him back, using the full force of my weight. The sound of his back hitting the floor was almost as satisfying as the look of shock dawning on his face.
“Face it, Denderick,” I continued, rising to my feet and brushing the dust from my clothes as if the fight had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “She chose me, not you.”
His eyes were wild, but I could see the doubt flickering there. Good. Let him stew in that. Let him choke on the knowledge that Aria had been mine because she ran from him first. I didn’t need to say anything more. The truth was already sinking in, wrapping around him like a noose.
And what was more- now that he’d attacked me unprovoked, the Council of Alphas had enough proof that Alpha Denderick was truly a madman.
My plan was falling into place.
I turned and walked out of the pack house without a backward glance.
********
I sauntered into my pack house an hour later with a grin tugging at the corners of my lips. The confrontation with Denderick had gone exactly as I’d wanted, and the memory of his furious face still satisfied me. He was unraveling, just like I knew he would.
As I made my way through the grand foyer, I spotted Erinne descending the staircase. Her pale face was something I needed to see, and right now, she was the perfect end to an already perfect day. I hurried towards her, my grin widening.
“Well,” I said slyly, closing the distance between us, “I can see you’ve handled things as promised. Liam’s death, I take it? You were behind it, right?”
Erinne gave me one of her icy smiles, the kind that never quite reached her eyes. “You know I always fulfill my promises, Alpha,” she replied smoothly.
I pulled her close, pressing a firm kiss to her lips. There was nothing like the taste of victory mixed with the satisfaction of a job well done. When I pulled back, her eyes were fixed on mine, but there was something else there-a calculation. Worry.
“There’s something we need to discuss,” she started.
Of course, there was.
“Oh?” I arched a brow, intrigued. The tone of Erinne’s voice meant that this was serious. She led me to my study, her steps quiet and measured, and I followed her inside.
Once we were in the study, she handed me a piece of parchment. “This arrived earlier today,” she murmured.
I took the parchment from her, unrolling it with mild interest that quickly morphed into something darker as I began to read. It was a letter from Aria.
~
Dear Erinne,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. Thank you again for helping me escape the clutches of that mad Alpha Logan, and thank you for keeping my secret, as I know you have.
I have been thinking about you often, especially given the circumstances. Be careful-there are whispers that the killing of women has started again. I don’t want you to fall victim to whatever madness is spreading. I promise to keep in touch and to check on you as often as I can. Please take care.
Yours,
Aria
~
My jaw tightened as I read the words, and I gripped the parchment harder. Aria. Even after all this time, she still managed to worm her way into my thoughts, to dig into those places I tried so hard to bury. Her words, her concern, it was all a reminder of what I’d lost. No, what had been stolen from me?
Without a second thought, I crumpled the letter and threw it into the fireplace. The flames eagerly licked at the parchment, consuming it until there was nothing left but ash.
I turned to Erinne, my voice low and edged with anger. “You’re never to reply to any of her letters, do you hear me?”
Erinne raised an eyebrow, a flash of something-was it jealousy?-crossing her features. “Why are you still so hung up on her, Alpha? Aria’s son isn’t even yours, and she only ever saw you as a means to an end. You know that, don’t you?”
I didn’t reply immediately. My mind was a bed of conflicting emotions. Of course, I knew Aria’s child wasn’t mine, but that didn’t erase what she’d taken from me. She’d taken my chance at securing the throne as the Alpha.
Erinne moved closer and guided me toward my desk chair.
“Alpha,” she murmured, almost seductively, “you need to let her go. She’s nothing but a ghost from your past, a distraction.”
She eased me into the chair, her hands lingering on my shoulders as she leaned in. Her breath was warm and arousing against my ear. “You have me now. I’m here, and I’ve always been here.”
She pulled away just enough to pour me a glass of wine, her movements smooth and practiced.
“Here,” she said, offering me the glass. “Drink this.”
Something in her eyes tugged at the worry in my heart. But nodding slightly, I took the cup to my lips.