Chapter 6
He paused for just a second before shaking his head.
“If I become Alpha, the entire Varyn family rises with me. Wealth and power, they’ll have it all. They won’t blame me.”
“What about me?”
“We were married for five years. I gave up everything—my fame and fortune–to go fight at your side. I handed over gold and silver to your family. I always had your back. Even when you brought another woman home, I never caused a scene. And now you want to kill me, kill my father, and steal his throne?”
I was in tears by then. My voice cracked as I broke down, sobbing.
Every word came out as raw accusations laced with grief.
But Dominic just stood there, silent, letting me finish. Then he laughed. Cold. Dismissive.
“Rowena, I never loved you.
“Here’s the truth I planned to tell you in a few years. But then you and your family ganged up to accuse Elise of being a spy. That forced my hand. I had to move up the timeline.”
I cried harder, while Dad sighed quietly behind me.
The whole scene seemed to kill Dominic’s thirst for blood. Instead of striking, he ordered his men to keep us restrained. Then he reached for the Alpha’s signet ring on the table, symbolizing leadership.
T
部
But just as his fingers brushed the surface, another hand snatched it away.
His eyes widened in shock. Magnus now held the ring.
“You! You weren’t here to help me take the throne?”
Magnus let out a sharp laugh, amused. Then he stepped back slowly as a dozen soldiers marched forward.
By the time Dominic was wrestled to the ground, the realization finally hit.
“You tricked me?”
“Dominic, how naive can you be? Did we come all this way to help you take the throne? And then what, watch you lead an army against my pack? No. I’m going to be Red Moon’s Alpha. You? You were just a pawn.”
Dominic looked over at Elise, totally stunned. Panic flooded his voice. “She has nothing to do with this! Elise’s just a regular citizen. Let her go. I swear, she…”
He cut off mid–sentence.
Because he saw it with his own eyes, Elise lit up joyfully, threw her arms wide, and ran straight into Magnus’s embrace.
Daisy looked up at the man, her big eyes sparkling, and tugged on his sleeve. “Daddy, I did everything you asked. When we go home, can I have those candied apples?”
Elise smiled warmly. “Daisy really pulled it off. She practiced every word until it sounded perfect.”
Magnus picked her up, nodding. “When we get back, you can have whatever you want.”
247
Only now did Dominic realize. My father had been telling the truth the
entire time.
Elise glanced at him with contempt, then nuzzled into Magnus‘ chest like he was her true mate.
“You’re just that easy to fool. I said jump, and you asked how high. Still, your stupidity worked in our favor. Thanks to you, we escaped the prison alive. And because you moved early, we could take over the Royal Guard ahead of schedule. Dominic, Frost Fang Pack is thanking you.”
Magnus ran his fingers gently through her hair. Then he turned to her. “Did you get the strategy map?”
Elise immediately looked down, searching frantically. But it was gone.
Then, for the first time, I spoke.
“Are you looking for the battle plans Dominic hid in my home, Elise?
“With that map, you’d be able to reinforce your defenses. No one could ever breach Frost Fang Pack again.”
Elise’s face froze. “How did you know?“.
“Because I had someone steal it from the guest room long before. On my way here, I tore it to shreds and threw it into a slop bucket. You’ll never see it again.”
