<h4>Chapter 311: Chapter 311</h4>


    ~Samantha~


    "I’m saying I don’t know! I don’t know what I feel or what I want or how to fix any of this!" I was yelling now. "And you pressuring me for answers isn’t helping!"


    "I’m not pressuring you! I’m trying to save our marriage!"


    "Maybe our marriage can’t be saved!"


    Dominic’s face went nk. "You don’t mean that."


    "I don’t know if I mean it or not. That’s the problem. I don’t know anything anymore."


    A knock on the door cut off the tension.


    We both froze. Stared at each other. Neither moved.


    Another knock. "Sam? You in there?" Killian’s voice. Muffled through the door.


    Dominic’s jaw clenched. "You’ve got to be kidding me. Did you invite him over?"


    "I didn’t invite him." I moved toward the door.


    Dominic’s hand shot out. Grabbed my wrist. "Don’t."


    "He might have important information."


    "He always has ’important information’ that conveniently requires him to see you alone."


    "You’re doing the same thing you just apologized for. Now, you need to chill."


    "It’s hard for me! He’s in love with you, Sam. He’ll use any excuse to get close to you. And you keep letting him."


    "Because he’s helped us! Multiple times when you couldn’t!"


    "He’s helped himself to ess to my mate!"


    The knock came again. Louder. "Sam? Dominic? I can hear you arguing. Let me in."


    "Go away, Killian!" Dominic shouted at the door. "We’re busy!"


    "L found something. About the shadow array. You need to hear this."


    That got my attention. "What did she find?"


    "Open the door and I’ll tell you."


    "Tell us through the door!" Dominic wasn’t letting go of my wrist.


    "It’s hard to exin. I need to show you documents. Maps. Just open the door."


    I looked at Dominic. At the anger and fear and jealousy written across his face.


    Then at the door.


    "Let go of my wrist." I kept my voice level. "I’m opening the door."


    "Sam, you can’t disobey your Alpha."


    "This isn’t about you and Killian. This is about stopping ck Moon. Now let go."


    He held on for another two seconds. Then released me. Stepped back. His expression shuttered.


    I opened the door.


    Killian stood there looking marginally better than he had an hour ago. Someone had cleaned him up. Given him fresh clothes. But the ck veins were still visible on his neck. His eyes still had that faint purple tint.


    "Thank you." He stepped inside without waiting for invitation.


    Saw Dominic standing there with his arms crossed and face like thunder.


    "Oh good. You’re both here. That’ll make this easier." Killian pulled papers from his jacket. "L decoded some of the scrolls from the vault."


    "And this couldn’t wait until morning?" Dominic’s voice was cold.


    "It’s already morning. And no, it couldn’t wait. Because ording to these, the shadow array doesn’t just need the twins. It needs a thirdponent." Killian spread the papers on my desk. "Royal blood. Alpha power. And a Shadow vessel."


    "What’s a Shadow vessel?" I moved to look at the papers.


    "Someone who’s been corrupted by shadow magic but hasn’t died from it yet. Someone who can channel the corruption into the array without burning out." Killian pointed at a diagram. "Someone like me."


    "You." Dominic said it t. "ck Moon needs you."


    "Technically he needs anyone who meets the criteria. But yes, I’m the obvious choice. Corrupted. Connected to both of you. Easy to manipte."


    "This is another trick." Dominic moved to the desk. Stared at the papers like they’d personally offended him. "L nts false information to make us think Killian’s important. Makes us protective of him. Then he betrays us at the crucial moment."


    "These documents are authentic. Silver w records don’t lie." Killian immediately defended.


    "Silver w records were written by people who are conveniently all dead and can’t verify anything!"


    "Why are you so determined to believe the worst of everyone?!"


    "Because the worst keeps being true!"


    "Stop!" I mmed my hand on the desk. Papers jumped. Both men turned to look at me. "Both of you just stop. I can’t think with you two yelling at each other constantly."


    "He started it." Dominic said it like a child.


    "I don’t care who started it. I care about stopping ck Moon. Which requires me to actually read these documents instead of listening to you two fight when you are not kids." I grabbed the papers. Started scanning them.


    Then I came across a note at the bottom in different handwriting.


    The vessel must be willing. Force corrupts the array. Consent purifies it.


    "Willing." I read it out loud. "The Shadow vessel has to participate willingly."


    "Which means ck Moon will try to convince me to help him." Killian leaned against the wall. "Offer me something I want in exchange for cooperation."


    "What could he possibly offer you?" Dominic’s voice was sharp. "A cure? Because that’s obviously a lie."


    "Maybe. Or maybe he offers me something else." Killian’s eyes flicked to me. Just for a second. "Something I want but can’t have."


    Dominic saw it too. His whole body tensed. "If you think for a second that my mate will be used as bait, think again."


    Killian pushed off the wall. "ck Moon is good at finding weaknesses. And we all know what mine is."


    "Get out." Dominic lost his cool immediately. "Get out of this room right now before I throw you out."


    "I’m just being honest."


    "You’re being maniptive! You’re standing in my wife’s bedroom talking about how ck Moon might offer you my wife in exchange for betraying us! And you expect me to stay calm?!"


    "I expect you to think rationally instead of letting your jealousy cloud your judgment!"


    "My jealousy is perfectly justified when you keep makingments like that!"


    "I’m trying to warn you about what ck Moon might try!"


    "Or you already made arrangements with them to get my wife!"


    "I find it insulting that you would think I would use such means to make Samantha mine. I’m man enough to do that without their help!"


    “Man enough, huh? Then face me!”


    Dominic lunged forward and shoved him hard in the chest. “You are more interested in my wife than winning this fight against ck Moon.”


    “You want me to die so you’ll take over my family and buy my pack.”


    “When I can’t leave them to fend for themselves. You know I’m kind.” Killian grinned, obviously enjoying Dominic’s anger.


    “You, motherfucker!”


    “Your pain is my joy, didn’t I tell you that?”


    “Did you hear that, Sam?! This is the man you keep defending when he’s obviously the enemy.” Dominic crashed out, his eyes widening.


    “He’s intentionally saying those things to get to you. He doesn’t mean that.” Somehow, I found a way to still defend him.


    Killian wouldn’t behave like that. Men loved banters.


    “If his curse took over, I would believe but he’s in his right frame of mind so spare me that bullshit!” Dominic countered before taking onest nce at us with annoyance.


    Then he stormed out of the room.