?Chapter 264:


    Dominic remained unfazed, his tone cool.


    “I didn’t do anything. You were the one who won against Kabir.”


    His words felt like a p. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.


    I won… No… That was impossible! How could I have won against Kabir? I barely even knew how to gamble!


    Frantic, I snatched up the dice cup, my instincts screaming that something was off. When I inspected it closely, I discovered the trick—a hidden mechanism that rigged the game in my favor.


    It all made sense now. Dominic’s confidence, his willingness to sign the contract, the way he always seemed to touch my hand before opening the cup. He had nned everything, using me as a pawn in his twisted game.


    “Losing those goods… What would it cost Prince yton?” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.


    Dominic’s lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Every prince needs an army. Without those goods, yton’s army remains underfunded and weak. But mine? Mine grows stronger.”


    The realization hit me like a blow. Those goods were vital for yton’s army, for his ability topete in the brutal power struggle that defined their world. And I had unwittingly helped take them away from him.


    Blinded by rage, I threw whatever I could find at Dominic, but he effortlessly dodged. “You bastard! You used me to hurt Prince yton!”


    “So what?” Dominic’s voice was icy, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “In war, victory justifies the means. And yton? He’s not as innocent as you think.”


    I refused to listen to any more of Dominic’s twisted justifications. Fury coursed through me as I tried to pull away from his grip, but he only tightened his hold. There was a strange gleam in his eyes, a mixture of frustration and something else, as he asked, “What’s wrong? Are you worried about yton?”


    Without a second thought, I snapped back, “Yes! I am worried about him! He’s not like the rest of you!”


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    yton was one of the few who had treated me with kindness, with genuine respect. And now, because of me, I had caused him unimaginable pain. The guilt gnawed at me, and with it, my disgust for Dominic only deepened.


    Dominic’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Do you know why I didn’t just ask you for the token? Why I brought you here instead? I wanted to watch as yton misunderstood you, as he grew to hate you. What’s the point of worrying about him now? He’s probably despising you as we speak.”


    His words were like poison, seeping into my thoughts, driving me to the edge of sanity. I wanted to curse him again, but he grabbed my chin and kissed me instead.


    Makenna’s POV:


    I struggled wildly, my rage drowning out any trace of fear. I didn’t care that this man was a Lycan prince who held my life in his hands. All I could think about was hurting him, killing him if I could—the man who had used me so maliciously, who threatened me at every turn.


    So what if he knew my secrets? He could kill me if he wanted. I refused to be his pawn any longer.


    As I fought against him, I managed to step back and deliver a hard p across Dominic’s face.


    “Fuck off!”


    The p rang out sharply in the stillness of the night, the sound cutting through the air like a de. Dominic, clearly not expecting such defiance, touched his cheek and stared at me, momentarily stunned into silence.


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