Noah moves out of his way, taking a seat beside Johan and throwing his arm along the back of the couch. It’s an action I only catch out of my peripheral vision. I can’t tell if he’s glaring at me the way Lazarus currently is or if he’s just watching everything unfold.
“I didn’t,” I force out, my voice choked. “Why would Gio…?” I can’t get out any more words, my chest too tight.
“Inhale,” Lazarus tells me, his demand forcing my lungs to expand.
It’s like he’s taken control of my spirit and my will, commanding every aspect of my being.
“I’m angry,” he murmurs, the admission unnecessary, as I can clearly see the anger written into his features. “But I’m not angry with you, princess.” He leans down to place the softest of kisses against my lips. “Even if you had something to do with this, I would forgive you. Because you’reours.”
I tremble, his words undoing something inside me.
Something furious.
Something passionate.
Somethingforeign.
“Keep breathing,” he tells me, his fingers gently stroking my cheek. “My threats were for your brother, not for you. We would never hurt you, Aurora. Not even if you betrayed us.” He kisses me again, this time with a little more pressure.
I’m so confused.
I feel lost.
Yet his touch anchors me in the present, dominating me in a way I can’t define.
He’s like the primary source of my life. His words are grounding, redefining everything I thought I knew about this man. About this pack.
If this is his version of punishment, he’s going to shatter me to pieces.
Because he’s making me feel safe. And if he betrays that, I’ll never be able to recover.
“Please don’t hurt me,” I whisper, aware that he just said he wouldn’t, but I need him to hear my plea. “I promise I didn’t have anything to do with this. I don’t even know why Gio would try to hurt Johan. Starting a war between the families doesn’t make any sense.”
“He likely feels we started the war first by taking you,” Lazarus murmurs, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine. “We’llfind out more this weekend when we meet with him.” His nose brushes mine, then he pulls back to look at Noah and Johan. “She needs another shower. Take care of her. The three of us will regroup after.”
With that, he leaves without a backward glance.
I watch him go, my heart in my throat.
He never said he believed me. Just stated that he would never hurt me.
Except he just did—by walking away. By nottrustingme.
Maybe I haven’t earned his faith yet.
But I will.
Then he’ll know that I never betrayed him or our pack.
Because that’s not who I am, or who I’ll ever be.
I’ll show him he’s wrong,I decide.I’ll prove my trustworthiness, force him to realize his mistake, and make him wish he never questioned my loyalty.
And I think I know just where to start…
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
JOHAN
