Page 40

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Naomi

T he door closes behind us, and even that tiny sound makes me jump. It feels like the slamming of a jail cell door.

Dean's office is warm, neat, and way too quiet. Shelves are lined with books and ledgers. Small tokens and relics from past alphas. The window behind his desk lets in soft light, filtered through the pines. There are no pictures. No familiar smells. Even his own seems to have faded. He clearly doesn’t spend much time here.

Maddie stands beside me, her slight frame rigid with tension. Her hands twist together nervously in front of her, and I can feel her wolf close to the surface, ready to bolt at the slightest provocation. I reach for her, squeezing her fingers gently, and she gives me a tremulous smile that doesn't reach her eyes.

Staring at the back of the closed door, I can still feel Wyatt through our bond. Steady and strong. Ready. I drag my eyes back to the two big alphas standing before us and suck in a deep breath. We can do this.

Blake stands to one side, arms crossed. His imposing height and broad shoulders make the spacious office feel suddenly cramped. His expression gives nothing away, but his eyes, sharp, assessing, miss nothing as they move between me and Maddie.

Dean moves to sit behind the desk, resting his hands loosely in front of him like he has all the time in the world. He doesn't start with questions. Just nods once, inviting us to speak. He’s giving us the chance to tell him everything, tell him the truth, before he grills us for information.

Maddie's beside me, stiff and small in her chair. Her hands are clenched in her lap, knuckles white. Her jaw works silently. Her wolf is close, tighter than I've ever felt it in her. Maddie’s fight-or-flight mode is riding her hard. I half-expect her to bolt for the door already.

I reach over to rest a hand over hers. She squeezes back once.

And then she begins to talk, quietly, barely more than a whisper, but we can all hear her. Nobody so much as breathes lest she stop.

"I didn't mean to kill him," she says, voice thin but calm. "But I'm not sorry that I did."

Way to set the scene, Maddie.

Dean's expression doesn't change. He just nods for her to continue.

"Rowan wasn't what anyone thought he was." Maddie's voice gets a little louder now. "He was cruel. Not just cold or distant, he enjoyed hurting people. Especially me."

She swallows hard.

"And he knew Naomi was going to be a problem. He was terrified of her and pissed off the moment she said she was moving to the pack. Not just because she was stronger, but because he knew she loved me, and that once she saw what he was doing, she wouldn't let it go on."

My chest tightens at her words. She never told me that. I grip her hand harder and swallow back the lump in my throat. I hope my coming didn’t make things worse for her.

"He told me once that if I ever tried to leave him, he'd kill me slowly. Said he'd use wolfsbane, poison me in small, agonising doses so I'd never see it coming, and even after I figured it out, it’d be too late to fight back." She stares directly at Dean. "And I believed him. Because he wasn't just threatening me for the sake of it, he meant it. He told me not to let Naomi put ideas in my head, or he’d get rid of her, too."

Dean shifts slightly, his brow tightening. Blake doesn't move, but his eyes darken.

“I stopped eating and was afraid to drink the water in the house.” Maddie looks down at her thin frame, practically skin and bone after fear made her afraid to touch the food in her own home.

"He'd watch me at meals," she continues, her voice dropping lower. "Every bite I took, he'd stare at me, this little smile on his face, like he was waiting for something to happen. And sometimes, I'd get so sick afterward. Maybe he was poisoning me, or maybe it was just the fear…"

She shakes her head and dips her chin, hiding her tear-filled eyes to gather herself.

Blake's jaw tightens, a muscle jumping along his temple. I've never seen such controlled rage in an alpha's eyes before.

"The day it happened, I was packing. Naomi had finally convinced me to leave. She wasn't home, it was just me, alone in the den. I thought he'd be gone until nightfall. Brad came by saying he needed Rowan to travel with him to another pack, so I thought I had time…"

Her voice cracks, but she doesn't stop.

"He walked in and saw the bag. Didn't even speak, just grabbed me. Dragged me away from the door by my hair."

My wolf stirs, angry at the memory I never witnessed.

"I fought back. I don't even remember thinking, just instincts. My claws sliced his arm, but he was so much stronger. And then..." She looks up, and her voice flattens into something distant. "My wolf came forward. I’ve always been a slow shifter. I think he was banking on that. But this was something else. She flew out of me and went straight for his throat. There was so much blood…"

The words hang in the air like smoke.

"I didn't mean to kill him," she repeats. "But he couldn't heal fast enough. His windpipe collapsed. He choked on his own blood."

I take over, my voice steadier than I feel. "A girl in the packhouse mentioned Brad had left alone. I knew Rowan was still around, and Maddie was in danger if he found her getting ready to leave. I rushed over and got there just after it happened. He was on the floor when I walked in. Still gasping. Barely alive."

I can still see it. The way his eyes bulged. The desperate sounds.

"Maybe if I'd called for help, someone could have saved him.” My gaze falls to the floor.

Maddie reaches out and grabs my hand. “If she had, if he’d survived, we’d both be dead now.”

I look at Dean, meeting his eyes. "Because I knew if he lived, he'd kill her. He'd kill me. She was my priority."

The truth feels raw in my throat. I chose to protect her. And I don’t regret it, even if I do still struggle with not saving another shifter’s life.

"No one would believe us. He was the Alpha's brother. Maddie was already isolated. If Rowan pointed a finger, that's all it would've taken."

Dean's expression gives nothing away. Blake's jaw tightens, but his eyes remain unreadable.

"Brad knew something was wrong," I continue. "He didn't say it outright, but when he came back from the other pack, even though we passed it off as an unfortunate accident while running in the woods. That’s when he started watching us. Testing us."

My skin crawls at the memory.

"Little things at first. Asking where we were. Checking in on Maddie's story about what happened. And then he stopped being subtle."

I swallow. "He refused to let us leave. Said we had a duty to the pack, and that we owed it to Rowan's memory to stay and contribute. That he needed to keep us close because Rowan would have wanted him to make sure Maddie was really okay. But really? He was punishing us."

"He kept me isolated," Maddie adds, her voice suddenly stronger. "Told everyone I was unstable, that my grief was making me dangerous. When wolves from my birth pack tried to visit, he turned them away. Said I wasn't well enough for visitors."

Her thin hands clench on her lap. "That's when I knew he suspected the truth. He was creating a story, making sure no one would believe me if I ever spoke up."

Maddie lets out a soft, humourless laugh. "He said Naomi was overprotective. That she’d get violent if anyone dared suggest we needed help. But all the time, he was growing more and more obsessed with her and her wolf."

I still remember the fearful glances from the other pack members, too afraid to even speak to us.

"Brad said we were grieving and needed space," I add. "What he really meant was to stay away from them or else. That we were dangerous."

"He liked it," Maddie says, voice flat. "He enjoyed controlling us. Reminding us what we'd done. He never said the words, but he knew. He knows."

I straighten, feeling heat rise in my chest. "That's why I entered the Games. It was the only thing I could think of. If I won, Maddie and I could finally leave. If I was Alpha, there’s no way Brad could block my request for Maddie to join me. We could start over. Be free."

I take a breath.

"But Brad followed," Maddie mutters. "Said he wanted Naomi to mate with him and hand over control of the new pack to him. Or he’d tell everyone what we did. What I did."

"He said if I didn't cooperate, he'd make sure every alpha in the region knew what Maddie had done," I add, meeting Blake's gaze directly. "That he'd ensure she was brought before the council and charged with premeditated murder."

"And you believed him?" Dean asks, speaking for the first time.

"After everything we'd seen him do? Yes," I admit. "I believed he'd destroy her without a second thought."

The silence stretches between us all.

Blake remains stone faced beside Dean, who leans back in his chair.

"Why didn't you come forward sooner?" Dean looks between Maddie and me.

"Because we didn't think anyone would believe us," I whisper. "Because I wasn't going to put Maddie on trial just to prove what he was."

Maddie straightens beside me, her voice shaking. "Because we were scared."

"I didn't just enter the Games on impulse," I explain. "For weeks, I trained in secret, pushed myself beyond exhaustion every night. I knew I'd face alphas with more raw strength, so I developed my other skills, like speed and endurance. Everything I did was calculated for this one chance at freedom, and even then, he tried to steal it from me once he saw my wolf and knew I might actually have a chance."

Dean exchanges a look with Blake that I can't decipher.

My heart pounds in my chest, waiting.

Blake finally speaks, his voice measured. "You understand we can’t base a decision as serious as this on your word alone. We’ll need to speak with Brad and his pack."

It's not a question.

Dean nods slowly. "We'll need to consider the implications. For all parties."

My stomach knots. "What does that mean for us?"

"It means," Dean says carefully, "that you don't have to return to Brad's pack. Beyond that, I need time to determine the appropriate course of action."

Not a pardon, but not an accusation, either. Just uncertainty.

I suddenly feel colder. "And Maddie?"

"Your sister stays with you," Dean says. "That much, I can promise."

It's something. Not everything, but something.

He stands, signaling the end of our conversation.

"We'll speak more after I've had time to consult with the council."

"This type of situation," Blake adds, "falls under specific protocols. Mate abuse is not taken lightly. Neither is what happened afterward."

"We're not passing judgment yet," Dean continues, his tone gentler now. "But we’ve heard about what happened during the hunt, and we’ve had someone come forward and confess that Brad put them up to harassing Wyatt... so it aligns with what you've told us."

Maddie's hand finds mine again. Her fingers are ice cold. I stand, legs a little shaky, and Maddie rises beside me. As we reach the door, Dean speaks once more.

"For now, go back to your cabin. Stay close by."

I hesitate, my hand on the doorknob, back to Dean. Turning slowly, even though I’m scared to know the answer, I ask. "Do you believe us?"

Dean's expression remains neutral. "We can't decide until we've spoken to everyone involved. But Brad will answer for his actions, especially if he was trying to coerce you into mating him to extend his territory. There are protocols to follow for a reason."

It's not the answer I wanted.

“Did Wyatt know? Did he go after Brad because of this?”

Horrified, I shake my head. “No. I only told him last night. He knew Brad wanted me to mate with him, and Wyatt suspected he’d take advantage of the hunt to do it, but that’s all.”

Blake and Dean both exchange another loaded glance. “Thank you for your time.”

We’re dismissed.

I nod stiffly and pull the door open, expecting to see Wyatt's broad shoulders, and his reassuring presence.

But he's not here. The hallway is empty.

"Wyatt?" I call out, my voice echoing against the walls.

No answer.

My stomach drops as I scan the foyer and the waiting area, finding only Jamie by the entrance, her expression tight with concern.

She meets my eyes. "I think he went after Brad. Did he say anything?"

Fuck.

“He was way too calm this morning. I should have known something was up.”

Trust me, he said. Because he already had this all planned out, knowing Dean and Blake would be with me, distracted with the interviews and sorting this mess out.

"The wolfsbane isn't completely out of his system," I say, panic rising. "If he confronts Brad now…"

"He knows what he's doing," Jamie interrupts, her expression torn between worry and fierce pride. "My brother's spent years thinking five steps ahead of everyone else. It's how we survived."

Her words offer little comfort. Brad has already tried to kill Wyatt once.

I reach out through the bond and feel it stretched thin with distance, feel the hot pulse of his anger through it like a wild storm.

I need to find my mate before he does something we can't undo.