Chapter 71
She slapped me again and again, screaming,
“Filthy mutt! Worthless slut! Lowlife bitch!”
Blood frothed at the corner of my mouth; my face went numb from the pain.
But I gritted my teeth, my voice steady despite it all.
“Vanessa, kill me, and Alpha Adrian will never be yours. He already feels guilty. If I die because of him, that
guilt will eat him alive-he’ll mourn his dead mate forever. Is that what you want?”
Vanessa shrieked, “Shut up! You’re nothing! Alpha Adrian’s sick of you-he can’t get enough of me! We’ve
been together in hotels, pools, cars… everywhere. He’s passionate with me. Told me he loves me, said he can’t
stand coming home to you! We’re the ones who belong together!”
“If that’s true, then I’m stepping aside, aren’t I? At the airport-if I hadn’t hit you, would he have cradled you,
rushed you to the hospital? Or was that just guilt, too?”
Vanessa froze for a beat, then sneered, grinding her teeth.
“But he still ran back to you! I leaked that video, let the internet tear me apart, made myself look pathetic… and he still wanted to patch things up with you out of guilt!”
“If you’d played the victim longer, kept up the pity act instead of teaming up with Evelyn to destroy me, maybe he would’ve leaned your way. But you couldn’t wait. Now you want to burn me alive in his house? You want
him to remember me forever?”
Vanessa’s breathing turned ragged, her thoughts spiraling-Was that it?
Her eyes flashed to a memory: Alpha Adrian at her manor, his words cutting like claws, his gaze burning with fury when he looked at her…
but softening with guilt and tenderness when he spoke of me.
Regret for what he’d done with her. Loathing for himself.
“Argh!” she screamed, lunging forward.
“I’ll kill you! Tear you apart!”
“I’ll live in your house, take your mate. Dance on your ashes while I’m happy with Alpha Adrian-bonded, pups, everything. You’ll just be dust. I refuse to believe I can’t outshine a pile of dust!”
Her shrieks filled the room, wild and incoherent, her hands curling into claws like she might tear me apart with her bare fingers. She’d lost all reason.
I let out a cold laugh, feeding her rage.
“You sure I won’t come back as a ghost? Haunt you while you’re in his bed?”
Vanessa sneered.
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“If you do, I’ll hire a shaman to trap your soul. You’ll watch us every night-everything that was yours, stolen.”
My voice went dry. “That’s… pretty damn tacky.”
Vanessa’s gaze locked on my face-bloodied, swollen, but still defiant-and she unleashed another flurry of
blows, slapping me until my ears rang.
Outside, a cold voice cut through:
“She’s stalling. Hurry up if you’re gonna do it.”
Vanessa snapped to attention, straightening.
She loomed over me, flicking the lighter on again.
“Stalling for a rescue? Dream on. No one’s coming. By the time they find you, you’ll be dead-suicide, with a
note I wrote. Perfect.”
She tossed the lighter into the air, savoring the “despair” on my face.
The second the flame sparkled, the drug’s haze lifted-survival instinct kicking in.
I lunged, trying to roll away, but only managed to topple off the couch onto the floor.
As the lighter arced downward, I shut my eyes, bracing for the explosion.
But it never came.
No clatter, no fire. Just a new shadow materializing.
“Who the hell are you?” Vanessa shrieked, her face twisting.
Her plan crumbling, she grabbed a knife from the table and lunged at me, sprawled on the floor.
I braced for the pain as two shadows dove toward me-
But nothing.
The air filled with the metallic tang of blood, overpowering the gasoline.
A scream tore through the room, followed by a thud.
I stared, dazed.
A heavy figure pinned me down, my nose brushing their chest, a familiar scent hitting me-Alpha Gideon?
“Alpha Gideon?” I whispered.
He grunted through gritted teeth.
“Let go.”
I realized my fingers were white-knuckled in his shirt, my palm pressed against his abs through the fabric.
I released him, flustered, my cheeks burning-thankful the darkness and my swollen face hid it.
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Alpha Gideon pushed up, untying my bonds, then clutched his lower back, blood seeping through his shirt. He moved to Vanessa, restraining her, binding her wrists.
Moments later, Alpha Adrian burst in.
Enforcers and Cassie followed.
The room reeked of gasoline.
Me, battered on the couch.
Alpha Gideon, bleeding from a stab wound.
Vanessa, howling like a rabid beast. Stunned silence.
I told them what happened.
Alpha Gideon handed the lighter to enforcers-his fingerprints now smudged on it, useless as evidence-but
the knife on the floor would work.
Once Caleb caught the black-clad wolf who’d fled, Vanessa couldn’t weasel out.
“Vanessa, you tried to burn her alive? You’re a psychopath!” Cassie spat.
“Alpha Adrian, it’s not what it looks like! I’m the victim-set up!” Vanessa whimpered, switching back to the
pity act.
Alpha Adrian stood frozen, staring at my wounds, his heart tearing in two.
“Vivian,” he said, his voice heavy, legs like lead.
I met his gaze, my eyes a still, lifeless pool.
We stared, silent.
Alpha Gideon and I were rushed to the hospital.
Vanessa was hauled off by enforcers, screaming that he’d broken her ribs. The enforcers didn’t indulge her
Last time, she’d hired a thug. This time, it was attempted murder.
I, aside from being drugged, had only surface bruises.
Alpha Gideon, though, took a knife to the back.
It missed vital organs but left a deep gash, needing stitches and bandages.
He’d need rest and regular dressing changes.
It was late now.
We were in separate hospital rooms.
