Chapter 45: Defiant Bonds
Chapter 45 Defiant Bonds
(Sarah POV)
The cold morning air bit at my skin as I turned the comer to Scarlett’s treatment center. I spotted Claire just inside the gates, clipboard in hand, her wide, mocent eyes fixed on the rows of delivery trucks. My wolf growled low, sensing my irritation boil over.
This human. This pathetic excuse for a secretary
1 stormed forward, closing the distance in seconds. Her startled yelp barely escaped her lips before my claws wrapped around her neck. The clipboard clattered to the ground. Enough games, little human hissed, pressing my claws just enough to scrape her skin
Claire squirmed in my grip, her voice trembling despite her attempt at bravery. “Wh what do you want?”
ghtened my hold slightly, forcing her attention fully on me. “You’re going to call Scarlett. Now.”
ly into her pocket, she retrieved her
Her eyes darted nervously between my face and my claws, but to her credit, she managed to nod. Reaching shakily phone. When the call connected. Scarlett’s voice came through loud and clear, casual and seemingly unaffected.
“This early, Claire? What’s going on?”
Hearing that nonchalant tone from my own daughter made my fury spike. Claire’s lips trembled as I spoke loud enough for Scarlett to hear “It’s not Claire calling. It’s me. Your mother.”
The line went momentarily silent before Scarlett’s cold reply came through. “And what do you want now?”
I didn’t hold back. My voice dripped with venom. “It’s time you stopped playing childish games, Scarlett. Grace’s condition is deteriorating by the
You will contact Aiden Walsh and Hazel immediately. No more excuses”
let’s tone turned sharp and icy. “How predictable. Always coming to me when your precious Grace is suffering. You think I don’t see through
“You don’t understand I spat, my claws pressing just enough into Claire’s neck to make her whimper. “This isn’t about you anymore! She’s dying.
And then, cool as ice, she laughed. A sound that cut deeper than words. “Now playing the role of a caring mother, are we? That’s rich”
“You will do this!” I snarled. “Or shall I remind you that I have your assistant here in my hands? One wrong move, and-”
Scarlett interrupted, her voice a deadly calm. “Careful, Mother Claire isn’t just a regular human assistant. She’s registered with the Supernatural Human Management Center. You have no idea of the consequences if you harm her. Do you really want to test me on this?
Her words hung heavy over the line. My claws faltered slightly, the weight of her threat pressing against my pride. Before I could respond, the cold
disconnect sound reverberated in my ears. She hung up.
Damn her
Claire’s shaking pulled me from my thoughts. Trembling like a leaf, she managed to stammer, “P–please don’t..”
I shoved her roughly aside, letting out an angry curse. “You’re lucky this time, I hissed. Spinning on my heel I stalked away, each step pounding with rage that I hadn’t been able to corner Scarlett this time. But this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot
Back at the sanatorium, Daniel’s quiet anger was a suffocating weight in the room. He sat on the edge of his bed, his injured pride bleeding visibly into every sharp movement as he clenched and unclenched his fists.
1/2
I entered his room silently, but the moment his amber eyes found mine, his frustration boiled over
“What did she say?” he demanded, his voice a low growl.
I hesitated, unwilling to admit I had failed. His gaze hardened at my silence, and his wolf stirred beneath the surface. “She refused, didn’t she?
Lowering my head, I sighed, my tone uneven. “She’s turned d into something beyond reason, Daniel. And yes, she refused.”
His bitter laugh was sharp and cold, devoid of humor. “Of course she did.” He rose from his seat, pacing the room with restless energy. Every injury
Chapter 45 Defiant Bonds
Scarlett had inflicted on him at the council still weighed heavily on his shoulders. She’s untouchable now, isn’t she? That’s what she wants us to believe.”
this
I reached forward, placing a hand on his tense arm. “We’ll find another way, Daniel But don’t let her actions undermine your control. You’re better than
He pulled away staring at the wall as if seeing Scarlett’s defiant emerald gaze instead. “No, Mother, he said sharply. I’m not better than this. And I don’t think any of us are finding another way. She’s made sure of that.”
His voice broke slightly, and he ran a frustrated hand through his hair “Grace is suffering–and it’s Scarlett’s fault. She’s watching her die and doesn’t care. Shell let this happen. She’s gonna let her sister die, just to prove a point.”
Those words pierced me deeper than I expected. The weight of his accusation settled like lead in my stomach, and I had no reply to lessen his anger.
(Alexander’s POV)
The buzzing of my phone pulled me from the restless prowl of Mason, the black wolf inside me. Jason’s face appeared on the screen, impatience
written into every line of his expression.
“You better have news,” I started, my voice harsher than I meant it to be.
Jason sighed heavily, his frustration clear. “The same story as before,” he admitted. “No one’s willing to budge on the mansion. The owner’s
untraceable, and their orders are absolute. No amount of money sways them.”
My grip tightened on the phone as I ground my teeth together. I could feel Mason clawing at the edges of my mind, his anger rumbling like a storm
“Jason,” I growled, pacing my office. “This isn’t just another property negotiation. Figure it out. You know what’s at stake.”
He hesitated on the other end. “Alpha.. this might not just be about money. There’s more going on with this property than we know.”
“What are you saying?” My tone was sharp, demanding.
Jason’s answer came cautiously. Tim saying whoever owns this mansion has power–real power. Possibly tied to Scarlett or, the other one.”
The mention of Scarlett’s name snapped my focus to razor–sharp clarity. My blood burned, the memory of her standing beside that godforsaken
Alpha still fresh and raw.
“You think this is her doing?”
Jason hesitated. “It’s not impossible.”
A roar built in my chest, barely contained. Mason snarled so loudly in my mind it drowned out Jason’s voice for a second. Was this her revenge? Keeping Grace from the one thing that could heal her?
No. I wouldn’t let Scarlett dictate this.
“If anyone can pull strings to fix this,” Jason continued hesitantly, “it’s probably Emma. She’s loyal to Scarlett, sure, but there are limits. She might be
more reasonable.”
I scoffed bitterly. “Reasonable? With Scarlett? You don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing reasonable about her anymore.”
Jason fell silent on the line, clearly sensing my boiling point. Before he could excuse himself, another mindink intruded. Sarah’s voice, brittle and
sharp, demanded my attention,
“She refused,” she spat venomously, and her anger mirrored my own.
“Of course she did,” I bit out, pushing Mason’s restless prowl to the edges of my head.
“Alexander,” she continued hurriedly. “You need to stop this avoidable mess. Scarlett is immune to pressure. But that doesn’t make her invincible.”
I barely held back a growl. “Stay
by out of this, Sarah,” I warned, my patience rapidly thinning. “Youll only make things worse
Her scoff echoed through the connection. It’s already worse. What are you planning to do? Beg her??
Her words stung like a slap. Begging Scarlett? As if I hadn’t sunk low enough in front of her.
Mason surged forward again, snarling his discontent. “No,” I finally said, voice low and biting. “But I’ll handle it. My way. No more interference
I severed the connection abruptly, the weight of exhaustion, guilt, and anger pressing heavy on me.
Mason paced again, relentless in his frustration. Scarlett’s presence still lingered in my thoughts. Her defiance, her refusal.
