Chapter 0340
Alexander POV
I reached the lobby and was nearly out the door when a familiar voice called my name.
I froze, turning in confusion to find Michael rushing toward me.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as my younger brother practically barreled into me.
+25 BONUS
I grabbed him by the elbows, scanning his face. His frantic eyes, wide and wild, sent a jolt of alarm through me.
“I have to talk to you. Right now,” he said breathlessly. “I’m sorry–I didn’t call ahead.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Take a breath. Let’s go to my office.”
As we reentered the building and passed the reception desk, I called out to Andrea, “Send August to my office as soon as possible.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, her gaze flicking curiously to Michael.
I threw an arm around his shoulders, guiding him inside and into the safety of my office.
The moment the door clicked shut, Michael spun toward me, gripping my sleeves as if I were the only thing keeping him upright.
“We have to talk,” he said, his voice trembling. “I–I don’t know why I waited so long. I just couldn’t believe it was true, and-”
“Take a breath,” I urged, my concern deepening. Michael could be excitable, but this… this was something else. Tears brimmed in his eyes, his entire body trembling. He looked at me as though begging me to understand, but he wasn’t making any sense.
“I need you to calm down,” I said, steady but firm. “Whatever it is, you can trust me.”
A sudden sob broke free, and the tears he had been fighting spilled over. Without hesitation, I pulled him into my arms, holding him tightly.
“It’s Mom,” he choked out against me, his voice breaking. I wasn’t supposed to hear, but I did, and now… now I don’t know what’s real anymore.”
“Diana?” I said in surprise. “What about her? Is she hurt?”
Michael shook his head. “No. But if she gets her way, you will be.”
A shard of ice pierced through me at his words.
“Michael,” I said sharply. “You need to tell me exactly what you’re trying to say. What is going on with Diana?”
He took a few deep breaths, pulling away from my embrace. His hands trembled as he met my gaze.
“I overheard her on the phone the other night,” he said shakily. “She was in the dining room. I was going in to speak with her, but I stopped when I realized she was talking to someone. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but-”
“Keep going,” I urged, dread curling in my stomach.
Michael swallowed hard. “She was talking about having Ella killed.”
The entire world seemed to tilt and freeze at the same time I stared into Michael’s wide, earnest eyes, struggling to comprehend his words.
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Chapter 0340
No. That couldn’t be right.
He must have misunderstood.
I shook my head, clinging to reason. “What exactly did she say?” I asked, hoping–praying–there was some way he was wrong.
“She…” He hesitated, his gaze dropping. Then, after a steadying breath, he met my eyes again.
“She said, ‘I’ll make sure Ella Rowan’s last breath is a painful one.“” His voice wavered, but there was no doubt in his words.
I shook my head, trying to deny the truth of his words.
“I tried to convince myself I misheard. That I was being paranoid. But then I heard about the accident–that Ella almost got hit—and I couldn’t stay silent.”
It felt like the ground had been ripped out from beneath me I reached out blindly, pressing a hand against the wall to steady myself. My heart pounded as if I had just run a marathon, and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath.
Diana.
Diana was the one trying to kill Ella.
Was she working with Amanda? Why? Why would she do this?
It didn’t make sense. I knew she didn’t like me, but this–this was treasonous. To target the Luna of her own pack … She had to know that if she was caught, she’d be executed.
