Denderick’s POV
It had been days since we freed Aria and the others from Logan’s hellish dungeon, and yet the weight of it all was still heavy. Logan was still out there. Erinne too. It was painful to know that they were still alive, that they could be planning something while I was here, holding what was left of Marcus and Logan’s pack together.
I glanced out the window with the mug of black coffee in my hands, the steam mingling with the fresh air, watching the darkening sky. The Council of Alphas had called for an impromptu meeting tomorrow. A rare occurrence, especially on such short notice. It could only mean one thing, that they were on edge about Logan’s disappearance, as they should be. He wouldn’t stay quiet for long.
Knowing Logan’s penchant for violence, he could be planning an attack on me or any of the other Alphas.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Enter,” I called.
The door creaked open, and a maid stepped in, holding an envelope in her hands. “Alpha Denderick, this arrived for you,” she said softly, walking over and handing it to me.
“Thank you.” I took the letter, my eyes immediately scanning the seal. My stomach twisted in a knot when I recognized the name scribbled on the front part of the envelope.
Erinne.
I tore it open and unfolded the paper, my heart pounding. The handwriting was neat, almost elegant. I read it aloud, needing to hear the venom in her words as I spoke them.
“To Alpha Denderick,” I began.
“I hope this letter finds you in good health, though I doubt it will. I’m sure by now you’re aware of the gift I’ve taken from your pack, the one thing you hold dear. I have him, Alpha. Your precious Edward. The boy is safe… for now.”
I paused as I took some time to process her words. My heart hammered in my chest. Edward. My son. My hands gripped the edges of the letter tightly, my heartbeat roaring in my ears. Aria’s worst nightmare had come true.
I continued reading, barely keeping my fury in check.
“If you want him back unharmed, you’ll listen to me carefully. You will step down from the seat of Logan’s pack and give it back to us. You will tell the Council of Alphas that Logan is innocent of any wrongdoing, and that you were mistaken.
I trust you understand the stakes here. Obey me, and all will be well with your precious Edward. Refuse me, and your son will never return to you. I will make sure he suffers before I finally end his life.”
My hands trembled as I finished the last line.
“Think carefully, Denderick. You’ve already lost your mate once. Will you risk losing your child, too? You know where to find me.
Sincerely, Erinne.”
I slammed the letter down on the desk, rage boiling over. “That witch!” I cursed, pushing back from the desk so hard that the chair scraped loudly across the floor.
The maid jumped at the sound, her eyes wide, unsure whether to leave or offer help. I didn’t blame her for her fear; my temper was barely under control.
“Leave me,” I ordered.
She nodded quickly and fled the room, shutting the door behind her.
I stood there for a long moment, my hands clenching into fists, breathing hard. They had my son. My son. And they wanted me to surrender everything to save him.
I wouldn’t let them win. Not this time.
I had to find another way.
Another knock came from the door. Aria stepped into the study, gently closing the door behind her. She looked better than she had in days, her face brighter, her eyes less clouded with pain. It was a welcome sight, but it only made the letter sitting on my desk burn more in my thoughts.
“You look troubled,” she noted. “What’s wrong, Denderick?”
I hesitated. How could I tell her about the letter? About our son? Aria had been through enough already-more than anyone should ever have to endure. I wasn’t sure she could handle hearing this just yet.
“I… It’s nothing,” I said, forcing a small smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “How are Sara and Naomi? Are they settling in well?”
Her brows furrowed slightly. I’m sure she knew I was deflecting, but she played along. “They’re doing fine,” she replied. “Grateful for everything we’ve done. But that’s not what I asked, Denderick. What’s really going on?”
I sighed, knowing there was no dodging her. Aria had always been strong-willed, and it was part of what I loved about her. She deserved the truth.
Reluctantly, I reached for the letter, my hands feeling heavier than before. I handed it to her without a word, watching as she unfolded it and began reading. The silence in the room felt suffocating as I studied her face for any sign of how she was taking the news.
Her eyes scanned the words, her expression shifting slightly as she read on. I braced myself for her reaction, expecting anger, devastation, maybe even fear.
But when she finally looked up at me, there was something else on her face. A smile. And not just any smile-it was a smile of relief.
“Aria?” I asked in confusion. “Why are you… smiling?”
She gently placed the letter on the desk and took a deep breath. “Because,” she said, her voice calm, “Edward is alive. My son… our son is alive, Denderick. Erinne lied about killing him.”
Her words made some sense. Of course. I had been so consumed with anger at the threat, with fear of losing him, that I hadn’t even realized what this letter truly meant. Edward was alive. Erinne hadn’t killed him, and despite everything, there was still hope.
“You’re… relieved?” I asked, still trying to wrap my head around it.
“Of course I am,” she said softly. “I’ve been mourning him for so long. But knowing that he’s alive, even if he’s with our enemies, is better than believing he’s gone forever.”
Her strength amazed me, as it always did. Even in the face of all this trouble, Aria found a way to focus on the light in the darkness.
I nodded, feeling the tension in my chest loosen just slightly. “You’re right,” I admitted. “It is good news. But we still have to figure out how to get him back.”
She leaned forward, closer to me. “And how do we do that, Denderick? What’s the plan?”
“I’ll have to meet with Erinne,” I said, though the thought of sitting across from that snake made my skin crawl. “I’ll arrange a meeting to discuss the terms further. We need to move carefully. This is a delicate situation.”
Aria nodded, seeming to understand the gravity of it all. “Whatever it takes,” she said firmly. “I just want him home.”