Chapter 44: She Was Mine
Chapter 44 She Was Mine
(Roman’s POV)
The weight of the night pressed against the mansion like an uninvited guest, silent and suffocating
Scarlett had finally dozed off after finishing the tea Hunter prepared for her. She resisted at first, her typical stubbornness on full display, but I wasn’t letting her go to bed without it.
It was only when her breathing evened out, soft and steady, that I allowed myself to leave her room.
Hunter entered my study with his usual quiet efficiency, but there was tension in the air around him. He waited until I acknowledged him, his
respectful silence speaking louder than words. I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers idly against the polished wood of the armrest.
“What is it?” I asked, my voice calm but edged with curiosity. I already had a suspicion.
Hunter glood straighter, as if preparing for a storm. “Alexander won’t relent, he started, his tone cautious. “His Beta’s been waiting outside for hours,
demanding a formal meeting.”
Traised an eyebrow but remained otherwise still. “Hours, you say? Still no Alexander himself, though?”
Hunter shook his head. “No. He sent his Beta instead–probably a strategic move to save face.”
A low chuckle escaped me. “And what do they want this time? Let me guess, this is about that mansion again.” My voice was laced with cold
amusement.
Hunter gave a small nod. “It is Grace’s condition is worse. Their resources are stretched thin, and she’s not responding well to their efforts. They
believe moving her here–to the seaside property–is their only hope”
I steepled my fingers in front of me and tilted my head slightly. “So now they come crawling,” I said softly, more to myself than to Hunter. “After
everything they allowed to happen to Scarlett, they dare to approach us, expecting charity?”
“They’re desperate,” Hunter admitted. “The Winter Pack donations are drying up too. Grace’s condition isn’t just bad for her–it’s dragging the pack
down. She’s bleeding them dry emotionally and financially
I leaned forward, my ice–blue eyes fixed on Hunter. “Tell me something, Hunter. How did this engagement of theirs ever come to be? Why was
Scarlett even tied to Alexander in the first place?
Hunter hesitated. For once, he looked unsure. “It’s… a long, complicated situation, he started carefully.
“Make it simple,” I said, my voice cold. 1 don’t have patience for complications.
Hunter sighed and straightened his shoulders. “The engagement was arranged before the Winter Pack knew Scarlett was their real daughter. Originally, the match was for Grace–Alexander and Grace were supposed to secure a political alliance. Only when the truth came out and Scarlett was acknowledged as their bloodline daughter… the engagement conveniently shifted to her
His words hung heavy in the room, and for a moment, I said nothing. My jaw clenched tightly, and my fingers curled into fists as the weight of his
statement settled in.
My woll, Logan, growled ferociously beneath the surface. To think they arranged to hand Scarlett over as though she were some bargaining tool–as
if she had no say in her own future–it disgusted me to my core.
“And she had no choice in this,” I said quietly, more a statement than a question.
“No choice,” Hunter confirmed, his own tone simmering with frustration. “They used her, Roman Just as they’ve always done. She didn’t even know
about it until much later.”
I slammed my fist onto the desk, the wood groaning under the force. Logan surged closer to the surface, and I could feel his rage swirling inside me
“They stripped her of agency” I said, my voice low and crackling with fury. “First, they abandoned her. Then, they had the nerve to treat her like a pawn to their schemes. And now… now Alexander sends his Beta here, begging for favors? For Grace, of all people?”
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Hunter didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The anger radiating from me was thick enough to smother any words he might have offered
Through our bond, I could feel Scarlett upstairs, finally resting, her presence a quiet reassurance against the storm brewing in my chest. That was al
Chapter 44 She Was Mine
that mattered. She was safe now, under my roof, away from the leeches who had used her for political gain.
“They’ll get nothing from me,” I said coldly. Let them wait. If they ask again, stall. Let them suffer for what they’ve done.”
Hunter nodded once, understanding my unspoken command. “Understood. I’ll see to it.”
He hesitated before leaving but quickly thought better of voicing whatever concern was on his mind. Smart choice. The room dropped into silence as he exited, leaving me with only my thoughts and the faint crackle of Logan’s simmering rage.
Satisfied the matter was handled, I left the study and made my way up the stairs. The vast halls of the mansion felt both empty and full at the same timea strange sensation now that Scarlett was here.
Pushing open the door to her room, I was met with the familiar scent of her citrusy fragrance. It was a calming presence in the quiet night. She lay fast asleep, curled into the covers, her auburn hair spread across the pillow like a halo.
My chest tightened at the sight of her. She looked so peaceful now, so different from the guarded, fierce woman who had faced Daniel and Alexander so boldly earlier. This was the Scarlett few saw–the Scarlett I knew. The girl I had grown up protecting, the one who always sought to hide her pain behind that iron–clad exterior.
I stepped closer, pausing beside the bed. Her breathing was soft and steady, her chest rising and falling rhythmically, Logan settled slightly at the sight of her, murmuring his approval deep within me.
dn’t been in
Sinking down onto the edge of the bed, I let my gaze linger on her for a moment longer. Her expression was calm, relaxed in a way it hadn’t years. Even in sleep, she seemed to instinctively sense my presence, shifting closer to me without waking.
I couldn’t help it–my fingers brushed a stray strand of hair off her face as I gazed at her youthful features. So much time had passed since we last shared a moment this peaceful. So much had changed.
When she left three years ago, it had felt like losing a limb. I had searched tirelessly, every instinct in my body screaming at me to find her, to bring her back into the life she was stolen from Nights without her had been agony, the silence unbearable. All I could think about was how I had failed to protect her. How I had driven her to leave the safety of my pack for the uncertain dangers of the world beyond.
And now that I had her here, back where she belonged, I knew one thing for certain: I would never lose her again. Not to Alexander. Not to the Winters. Not even to her own fears.
With a deep breath, I lowered myself onto the bed beside her. Logan rumbled approvingly as the warmth of her presence washed over us. My arms instinctively slid around her waist, pulling her closer to me.
She stirred slightly, a soft murmur leaving her lips, but she didn’t wake. Instead, she curled further into my embrace, her body fitting perfectly against mine, just as it had when we were younger,
The overwhelming waves of anger from earlier began to fade, replaced by a quiet resolve. She was safe here with me. No one would ever hurt her again, not while I could still breathe.
As the night stretched on, I allowed myself to sink into the comforting rhythm of her breathing. For the first time in years, the weight pressing against my chest seemed to lighten. I wouldn’t let her slip away again. I couldn’t.
Scarlett was mine–my sister, my partner, my mate–and I would destroy anyone who dared try to take her from me
Let Alexander send more of his betas. Let the Winter Pack convene in their desperate attempts to acquire what was never theirs. They could throw resources, pleas, even threats it didn’t matter.
Scarlett wasn’t part of their world anymore. She was mine to protect now.
With that final thought, I tightened my hold on her and drifted into a rare, peaceful sleep. For once, the nightmares didn’t follow. Scarlett was safe in my arms, and for tonight, that was enough,
