Chapter 185
The man knelt in the center of the room, his face battered and streaked with blood. His shirt was torn, stained with sweat and fear. Behind him stood two of Alaric’s men, their grips firm, unyielding. And then there was Alaric.
He stood before them, every inch the cold, untouchable king. His suit was immaculate, his presence suffocating. In his hands, he toyed with a sleek dagger, twirling it between his fingers like an afterthought. He didn’t speak immediately, letting the silence stretch unbearably thick.
“so you think you can steal from me? ” Alaric’s voice was a death sentence, quiet but unwavering.
The man trembled, his breathing ragged. “I-I swear, I didn’t take the money! I was framed, I-”
The crack of Alaric’s palm against the man’s face echoed through the room. I flinched. The force of the slap sent the man’s head snapping to the side, blood trailing from his split lip.
“I didn’t ask for excuses,” Alaric said, his tone calm, terrifying. “I asked if you knew why you were here.”
The man coughed, spitting blood onto the marble floor. “Please, Alpha, I swear to you-”
Alaric crouched down, gripping the man’s chin roughly, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Lies bore me. And when I’m bored, I get… creative.”
A chill ran down my spine. I had seen glimpses of his ruthlessness before, but this… this was something else entirely.
He straightened, rolling his shoulders back. With a flick of his wrist, he handed the dagger to one of his men. “Perhaps you’ll be more inclined to talk when you have fewer fingers to count with.”
My breath caught. I knew he wasn’t bluffing. The raw power, the absolute control he wielded over the room—it was intoxicating and terrifying all at once.
I couldn’t stay silent any longer. “Alaric,” I said, my voice slicing through the tension.
Every head turned toward me. Alaric’s men stiffened, their unease clear. Alaric, however, merely raised a brow, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.
I swallowed hard, stepping forward despite my trembling legs. “You don’t need to do this,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “You already know the truth, don’t you?”
Alaric tilted his head, considering me. “And what, exactly, do you think the truth is?”
I took a deep breath. “That he’s not worth the mess his blood will leave on your floor.”
A long silence stretched between us before Alaric let out a quiet chuckle. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “Killing him won’t bring back what was stolen. It won’t make things right. If you’re as powerful as you claim, you don’t need to do this.”
Alaric studied me, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, without looking away, he gestured to his men. “Take him away. Make sure he regrets every second of his betrayal.”
The guards hauled the man to his feet and dragged him from the room. The door shut behind them with a resounding thud, leaving me alone with Alaric.
The air between us was thick with unspoken words. He took slow, measured steps toward me, his presence overwhelming. When he stopped just inches away, I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze.
“You think you can dictate how I run my business?” he asked, his voice low, dangerous.
I swallowed but didn’t back down. “No. But I think you wanted me to see this side of you. And I think you’re curious about how I’d react.”
His lips quirked in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “And how are you reacting, Vanessa?”
I hesitated. “I don’t know yet.”
Alaric reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was unexpectedly gentle, a contrast to the brutal man I had just witnessed. “You will.”
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing in the middle of the room with my heart pounding and my mind reeling.
I had seen Alaric in battle, seen him command with absolute authority. But tonight, I had seen the king beneath the man—the cold, ruthless beast that ruled without mercy. And for the first time since I had met him, I realized just how dangerous it was to be his mate.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
