Chapter111
I turned to him, fury burning in my chest.
“You took something from me, Michael. And now I’m taking it back.”
He exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. “You always see things in black and white, don’t you? You act like I did this for no reason.”‘
“There is no reason that justifies this.”
His expression darkened.
“You don’t get it,” he growled. “He took everything from me”
“So this is revenge?” I snapped.
He scoffed. “Call it whatever you want. But you think I’m the
bad guy here? Look at him, Violet. Look at what his family has
done. You think he’s innocent?”
My hands clenched into fists. “I don’t care what he’s done. He’s
mine.”
He eyed me, then pulled a gun from the table nearby and aimed
Chapter111
it at me. My pulse spiked, but I stood my ground.
A gun.
He lifted it slowly, leveling it at me.
I didn’t flinch.
“You really think you can shoot me before I tear your throat
out?” I asked, voice steady.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
A flicker of hesitation. A shadow of doubt.
I took a step forward, closing the distance between us.
“Put it down, Michael.”
He didn’t.
“I did this for you!” he snapped. “And you still refuse to see it!
You let Asher do whatever he wanted. He’s the reason Kylie
suffered, the reason our family broke apart. It’s all his fault, and
yet you all worship him like a hero. We are better off without
him!”
My hands clenched into fists.
Chapter111
“You don’t get to spin this as some kind of favor,” I spat.
“I did what I had to!” he shouted. “You don’t understand what
it’s like–what he took from me!”
“And that justifies kidnapping my mate?” My voice rose,
echoing off the cabin walls.
Michael’s eyes darkened. “He ruined everything. And Tuba-
Tuba would still be alive if it weren’t for him.”
Tuba.
So that was what this was really about.
“No, Michael,” I said, my voice as cold as ice. “You’re the one who
caused this. And I will never forgive you.”
The air crackled with tension, his grip on the gun tightening.
His rage was practically radiating off of him.
I took another step closer, until the gun was pressing against
my chest.
“I’m taking Asher with me,” I said evenly. “If you want to stop
me, this is your chance.”
Violet’s POV
Max’s hands trembled slightly as he aimed the gun at me, but his eyes were steady, filled with a storm of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. Pain. Hatred. A twisted sense of justice.
“Don’t force my hand, Violet.” His voice was strained, barely masking the internal war raging inside him. “You know I never wanted this. But my mate is gone, and Asher. he still gets to live. That isn’t fair.”
My chest tightened.
How had it come to this? How had we, people who once shared laughs and battles side by side, ended up here–on opposite ends of a loaded gun?
“You think punishing Asher will bring her back?” My voice was
low, cold. I refused to let him see the flicker of sympathy in my
eyes. “Look at yourself, Michael. You’re shaking. You don’t
want to do this.”
Max swallowed hard, his jaw tightening. “He has everything I
lost. I can’t let that go.”
“Then you’re no better than the people who destroyed your
mate’s pack. How many times do I have to say it? The mistakes
of the Royal Council and the old King aren’t Asher’s fault. Why
should he bear the punishment for what they did?”
A flash of uncertainty crossed his face, but he shoved it down,
gripping the gun tighter. “So what? Someone has to pay for the
sin. Asher is only the first. Those bastards at the Royal Council
is next! All my life, I’ve watched the royals act like they’re
untouchable. Well, guess what? Their era is over, and I’m going
to prove it.”
“So what’s your plan?” I asked coldly. “You think you’ll kill
Asher, take his place, and magically become the new Alpha
King? Is that it?”
Michael scoffed, but I saw a hint of uncertainty in his eyes.
“Why not? At least I’d make sure the rest of us aren’t stomped
on by some high–and–mighty bloodline. I’d tear down
everything Asher’s family built and show them what it feels
like to lose everything.”
Shaking my head, I stepped closer. “You’re being used,” I said,
my voice stern. “I know who’s helping you–Alpha Xavier. Don’t
try to deny it. I’ve already seen the proof. He wants our family’s
blood, Michael. That’s the real reason he’s playing along with
you. Once he’s got what he wants, he won’t lift a finger to
protect you. You’ll be thrown aside.”
Chapter 12
Chapter112
