19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Bane

“ W hat?” I bark, my voice echoing off the walls of my office as I slam my fist on the desk. The heavy wood creaks under the force, but I barely notice.

The guard standing before me shifts uncomfortably, his gaze flicking between me and the floor. “Luna Aria, Alpha. She… she returned to her father.”

The words hit me like a blow to the chest, knocking the air out of my lungs. My jaw tightens, my vision narrowing as the meaning sinks in.

“Say that again,” I growl, rising to my feet.

“She left at dawn. We tracked her vehicle, and it… it stopped at a location owned by Vittorio. She hasn’t come back,” the guard stammers.

I feel the heat rise in my chest, boiling over until it explodes. With a roar, I swipe the papers off my desk, sending them scattering across the floor. “You’re telling me she walked into his hands willingly? After everything?”

The guard shrinks back, clearly terrified. “Alpha, we don’t know the details yet—”

“Get out!” I snarl, and he bolts out of the room without another word.

I pace back and forth, my hands clenching into fists as I try to reign in the storm of emotions tearing through me. Betrayal. Fury. Disgust.

“I never should’ve trusted her!” I yell, slamming my fist down on the desk again.

Rook, leaning casually against the doorframe, finally speaks up. “Technically, you went to her, Bane. She was minding her own business when you got involved.”

I snap my head toward him, my glare like a dagger. “Rook,” I growl, my voice low and dangerous.

His smirk fades, and he holds his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. Shutting up now.”

I turn away from him, breathing heavily.

“I should’ve known,” I mutter, shaking my head. “She’s his daughter. Of course she’d run back to him.”

“Maybe,” Rook says cautiously, “but we don’t have all the facts yet. Aria’s not exactly predictable, you know.”

I slam my palm on the desk, making him flinch. “Enough, Rook. Don’t defend her.”

“I’m not defending her,” he says evenly. “I’m just saying, there’s a chance this isn’t what it looks like.”

I scoff, my lips curling into a sneer. “She left. That’s all I need to know.”

The door creaks open, and a different guard steps in, looking hesitant. “Alpha, Elder Nathaniel is here.”

I pause, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Nathaniel?”

“Yes, Alpha. He says it’s urgent.”

I narrow my eyes, my jaw clenching. “Fine. Send him in.”

The guard nods and steps out. I turn to Rook, who’s already watching me with a raised eyebrow.

“This better not be another waste of my time,” I mutter, dragging a hand through my hair.

The door creaks open, and Nathaniel walks in, his presence immediately filling the room. His eyes lock onto mine, and I feel the familiar irritation rise in my chest. I never liked Nathaniel, and I never will.

"Alpha Bane," he greets me. He doesn’t wait for an invitation to sit; instead, he remains standing, clasping his hands behind his back in that infuriatingly superior way.

“Nathaniel,” I reply curtly, crossing my arms over my chest. “What brings you here? I don’t recall summoning you.”

Nathaniel raises an eyebrow, his thin lips curling into a faint smile. “The chaos in your pack travels faster than even your command, it seems.”

Rook leans against the far wall, arms crossed, clearly amused. “Gotta love how news spreads.”

“Rook, shut it,” I snap, not breaking eye contact with Nathaniel. “Speak plainly, Elder. I don’t have the patience for games today.”

“Ah, yes. Patience,” Nathaniel muses, as though tasting the word. “Perhaps that’s the problem. You’ve shown too much of it… with her.”

I bristle immediately, knowing where this is going. “If you’ve come to insult Aria, I suggest you rethink your words.”

His smirk deepens. “Insult her? No, Alpha, I’m merely observing the facts. She has acted precisely as one might expect from a human—impulsive, disloyal, and entirely self-serving.”

I slam my fist on the desk, the sound echoing like a thunderclap. “Careful, Nathaniel,” I warn, my voice a low growl.

But Nathaniel doesn’t flinch. He never does. Instead, he steps closer, his calculating eyes boring into mine. “You think I speak out of turn? Tell me, Alpha, where is she now? With her father. The very man who’s threatened your pack time and time again. And you call that loyalty?”

My jaw clenches so hard I can feel the strain on my teeth. “You don’t know what’s going on here.”

“Don’t I?” Nathaniel challenges. “She left of her own accord, didn’t she? Didn’t even say goodbye. You welcomed her into your pack, gave her the protection of your name, and how does she repay you? By running back to Vittorio.”

Rook shifts uncomfortably in the corner but wisely stays silent.

“She didn’t run,” I snap. “She wouldn’t do that.”

Nathaniel tilts his head, his expression smug. “Wouldn’t she? Or are you blinded by whatever spell she’s cast over you? You’ve allowed her human emotions—her human weakness—to cloud your judgment.”

I lunge forward, closing the space between us in an instant. “Watch your tongue, Elder,” I growl, my claws itching to extend.

For a moment, Nathaniel’s steely gaze holds mine, unyielding. Then, with an infuriating calm, he steps back. “I only speak the truth, Alpha. As much as it may sting.”

Silence hangs between us like a taut wire, and for a moment, I consider throwing him out of the room. But then his words hit me again, burrowing under my skin like poison. She left of her own accord.

“Why are you really here, Nathaniel?” I demand, my voice cold.

“To save this pack from further disgrace,” he says bluntly. “You’ve allowed her to bring weakness into our midst, and now she’s abandoned us. Worse, she’s abandoned your heir.”

My blood runs cold. “What did you say?”

“Your son,” Nathaniel says smoothly, as though he’s delivering a sermon. “Do you think Vittorio will allow him to remain with you? He’ll claim the boy, twist him into a weapon, and use him against you. Against us all.”

I feel the room tilt slightly as his words sink in. “He wouldn’t dare,” I hiss.

“Wouldn’t he?” Nathaniel counters. “The man’s already taken Aria. Do you think he’ll stop there? You’re a fool if you do.”

“Enough!” I roar, my voice reverberating through the room.

But Nathaniel presses on, his tone as calm and cutting as ever. “You’ve made a mistake, Bane. A critical one. But it’s not too late to fix it. Take back what’s yours. Your son belongs to this pack, not to Vittorio. And certainly not to her.”

I slam my fist into the desk again, the wood splintering under the force. “She’s still part of this pack,” I growl. “I don’t care what you think.”

Nathaniel chuckles darkly. “Still defending her, even now? How noble of you, Alpha. But tell me, how many more betrayals will it take before you see her for what she truly is?”

I don’t respond. I can’t. The anger coursing through me is too strong, too consuming.

Nathaniel takes my silence as victory. “You’re a strong leader, Bane. But strength isn’t enough. Wisdom is required, too. And wisdom dictates that you cut your losses before they destroy you.”

“I’ll decide what’s best for this pack,” I snap, my voice low and dangerous.

“Of course,” Nathaniel says with a mock bow. “But remember this: Vittorio is playing the long game. If you don’t act now, you may not get another chance.”

He turns to leave, his words lingering in the air like smoke. But before he reaches the door, he pauses and glances back over his shoulder.

“Alpha,” he says but then shakes his head and leaves.

Rook leans against the wall, watching me carefully. “You okay?”

“No,” I admit, my voice rough. “Not even close.”

I let out a low growl, my frustration boiling over. The nerve of that man to walk in here, insult my mate, and act as if he has the moral high ground. My hands ball into fists, and I’m about to lash out at the closest object when the door creaks open again.

“Alpha,” Lila’s voice trembles as she steps inside. Her usual composure is replaced with unease, and something about the look on her face sets my teeth on edge.

“What is it?” I snap, my patience hanging by a thread.

She clutches her phone tightly. “It’s... it’s Aria.”