They hade tonight with the clear intent of currying favor with Kade ckridge.
+8 Pearls
Now, it <b>was </b>no longer a matter of building ties–at this point, avoiding his open contempt would be the greatest mercy they could hope for.
A fine sheen of sweat broke across Caelum’s brow. Kade was younger than him, but the sheer dominance in the Alpha’s eyes carried the weight of a seasoned warlord. The pressure coiled in Caelum’s spine like a hunter’s fangs poised over prey.
“Dead wolves can’t bepared to the living,” Ryker drawled suddenly. “Fetching an urn doesn’t take two. But Aurora’s headache, and that could be serious or not. Caelum was simply being considerate.”
A sh of cial fury lit Kade’s gaze. He rose from his seat in a single, fluid movement and stalked toward Ryker, every step emanating the predatory prowl of an apex Alpha.
“What,” Kade’s voice cracked like a whip, “did you just say?”
Ryker, oblivious to the danger, pressed on. “I said the dead can’t bepared to the living. Freya Thorne’s parents have been dead for three years. Was Caelum supposed to abandon an injured woman just to escort her to collect ashes?<b>” </b>
CRACK.
The sound of Kade’s palm striking flesh split the air like lightning over the mountains. Ryker stumbled back, nearly toppling into the low table beside him.
“Kade, that’s going too far,” Caelum interjected, his voice tight. Ryker was, after all, his beta and friend.
“Too far?” Kade’s snarl rumbled deep in his chest, every syble bristling with the feral edge of a wolf ready to tear flesh. “I’ve not even begun.”
In a <b>blur</b><b>, </b>his boot mmed into Ryker’s midsection<b>, </b>sending him sprawling to the floor. Before Ryker could <b>rise</b><b>, </b><b>Kade’s </b>heel came down hard, pinning him by the chest.
“Doing what?” Kade’s tone was deathly cold. “Putting down a beast. One who dares speak words only a beast would utter. Freya Thorne’s parents<b>–</b><b>are </b>they yours to disgrace??
Ryker <b>wheezed </b>under the pressure but still managed, “And why not? Freya’s parents can’t be beyond reproach. Three years <b>married </b>to Caelum, and all she’s done <b>is </b>idle away her days. Everyone knows Aurora is the better choice! Surely even you, Kade <b>ckridge</b><b>, </b><b>aren’t </b>so blinded by <b>gossip </b>that you’d pity Freya. That woman doesn’t deserve pity!”
<b>Part </b><b>loyalty </b>to Caelum<b>, </b>part <b>self</b>–interest–Ryker’s <b>words </b>were as much a performance <b>as </b>a <b>defense</b><b>. </b>His smallpany survived only on the <b>scraps </b>of contracts Silver Tech Forgeworks tossed his <b>way</b>.
Kadeughed then<b>–</b><b>a </b>sound sharp enough to cut bone. To him, Freya was a name carved high as the mountain peaks<b>, </b><b>a </b>presence <b>he </b>revered. And <b>here </b>she <b>was</b>, reduced to filth in the mouth of this cur.
Worse still, her own mate stood silent.
“You think your mate unworthypared to Aurora<b>?</b><b>” </b>Kade’s eyes bored into <b>Caelum </b>like a de.
Caelum hesitated before answering. “In temperament and skill, Freya <b>falls </b>short <b>of </b>Aurora. <b>But </b>she’s still my mate. Even if shecks ability<b>, </b>I don’t hold it <b>against </b>her.”
Kade withdrew his boot from Ryker’s chest, his expression still like <b>a </b>winter storm. <b>“</b><b>Her </b>ability? How much do you even know? Without her, do you think your fledglingpany could have <b>reached </b><b>the </b>point of going public in three years<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“That’s because Caelum’s vision is sharp, his judgment precise, his abilities exceptional,” Aurora interjected <b>smoothly</b><b>. </b>
Caelum met Kade’s <b>gaze </b>in silence<b>, </b>clearly agreeing with her. In his mind, his rise had been entirely his own doing.
Kade’s mouth twisted into a cold sneer. “Caelum Grafton, without Freya Thorne’s hand guiding you, you are nothing. The vision <b>you </b>boast of, the ability you prize–it was her, always her<b>.</b>”
“What?” Caelum blinked, momentarily thrown.
+8 Pearls
Aurora’s voice sharpened. “Kade, even if you want to defend Freya, you can’t demean Caelum like this.”
“Exactly.” Ryker muttered from the floor, though with far less bravado after the blows. “What skill could Freya possibly have to help Caelum?”
“What skill?” Kade’s contempt deepened, his tone brimming with Alpha authority. “Back in the Iron Fang Recon Unit, her research overhauled the pack’s entire defense grid. In aerial drone applications, she was unmatched–one of the top military specialists in the field. If she hadn’t resigned hermission, she’d have more des in drone warfare than you could
count.”
The room fell silent.
Ryker’s eyes widened. “Impossible. How could she-?”
“Do I look like I’d waste my breath on lies?” Kade’s voice was pure frost.
No one dared speak further. The ckridge heir would never tarnish his name with falsehoods, least of all for a woman he defended with such open ferocity.
Caelum’s face burned. Kade’s words were a dagger driven deep–telling everyone present that the Silverfang Alpha’s renown <b>as </b>a tech prodigy was built on Freya’s foundation.
He wanted to deny it, tosh back. But the moment he tried, his mind betrayed him–shing with memories of Freya standing beside him atte–night strategy tables, pointing out paths he hadn’t seen, sealing deals he couldn’t have won alone.
Send Gifts
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