Chapter 26
Even though he was still young, Alaric had already developed the aura of someone
born to lead. He was an alpha in every sense of the word–tall, imposing, and
radiating an undeniable power that made people fall silent in his presence.
His features were sharp, his jaw clenched, and his eyes held the kind of dangerous
intensity that made most people avert their gaze. There was something almost
wolfish about him, a sense of dominance that lingered in the air around him.
He looked down at Dwight, who lay on the ground in a heap, his chest heaving with labored breaths. Dwight’s face was a mess–his lip split, his cheek swollen, and one eye nearly swollen shut. He barely had the strength to lift his head as
Alaric loomed over him.
“Pathetic,” Alaric sneered, his voice dripping with contempt.
I couldn’t help but agree. There was a time when I had seen Dwight as strong–when he had been the one who protected me. But those days were long gone. Now, looking at him crumpled on the floor, I felt nothing but disgust.
I crossed my arms, my voice icy as I added, “This wouldn’t have happened if your precious lover hadn’t shown up at my door acting like a complete sleaze.
”
I glanced at Alaric, and that was when I noticed the bruise forming on his cheek, the dark purple and blue stark against his pale skin. It was a harsh reminder of the fight he’d just been in. The bruise marred his otherwise perfect face, but he didn’t seem to care. In fact, it only seemed to add to his allure, making him look all the more dangerous.
“Does it hurt?” I asked softly, reaching out to gently touch his face.
Alaric’s eyes immediately lit up when I touched his face, his fingers curling around my wrist as he held my hand against his bruise. “Sis,” he said, his voice barely
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The Rix Urank
Chapter 26
above a whisper, “if you touch it, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
There was something almost childlike in the way he looked at me, despite the blood and violence that hung in the air. For a moment, the tension between us
softened, and I felt a strange pang in my chest–an ache that I hadn’t felt in years.
Alaric’s loyalty was fierce, and in that moment, I realized how much he was willing to endure for me.
“Let’s go,” I said quietly, turning to leave, but before I could take a step, Dwight’s voice cut through the room like a knife.
“No!” Dwight suddenly seemed to find some hidden reserve of strength. He pushed himself up onto his knees, his hand reaching out toward me, his face twisted in desperation. “Sylvia, you can’t leave! Not like this!”
Belinda, still kneeling beside him, looked shocked as Dwight shoved her away, his arm flailing wildly as he tried to push her off. She stumbled back, hitting the floor with a startled cry, her eyes wide with hurt and confusion. “Dwight, stop!” She pleaded, but he barely seemed to hear her.
“Sylvia, I know I messed up,” Dwight gasped, his voice raw with emotion. “I know I hurt you, but we can fix this. Please. We just need to go home, and we can talk about it. I’ll make it right–I swear, I’ll fix everything!”
His eyes were filled with a sorrow I hadn’t seen in years. For a brief moment, I remembered the way he had looked at me all those years ago, when he held my hand and promised to love me forever.
Back then, I believed him. I believed every lie that fell from his lips, because I was so young and so hopelessly in love.
But now, all I felt was a sickening sense of betrayal.
“Don’t you dare talk to me about fixing things,” I said, my voice cold and final. “Five years ago, you promised me the world, and all you gave me was heartache.
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I’m done, Dwight. I’m not coming back.”
He stared at me, his expression crumbling as the reality of my words hit him. His hand fell limply to his side, his body shaking with the weight of his failure.
I didn’t look back as I left the room, my heart as cold as the silence behind me.
Alaric came out with me, the heavy wooden door creaking shut behind us. The chilly evening air was a welcome relief from the stuffy atmosphere inside the grand pack house.
I inhaled deeply, letting the cool breeze fill my lungs and calm my nerves. For a brief moment, everything felt simpler. The stars above twinkled faintly through the darkening sky, a distant reminder of a world much larger than my tangled
emotions.
“Hey, sis,” Alaric said casually, his voice warm
