Chapter 12
DREW’S POV
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My father’s smile disappeared in an instant. His eyes narrowed. “What the hell is this? What the fuck is the police doing in my house?” he fumed. His voice thundered across the dining room, sharp enough to cut glass. “Did you call them here, you little bitch?”
“Yes!” Becca smirked, stepping forward with her fists folded at her sides. Her confidence didn’t waver, not even under the weight of my father’s rage. “You deserve some jail time for what you did.”
The Alpha’s voice snapped, brittle and venomous. “And what did I do?”
“You hit my mother, you bastard.”
The officers stepped forward, their expressions unreadable but alert. One of them, a tall, dark–skinned man with a rigid stance, spoke calmly, “I’m Officer Lennox and Mr. Clawbelle, we received a call from Miss Rebecca Moore alleging physical assault on her mother, Hilary Clawbelle.”
Becca stood her ground, folding her arms and lifting her chin in that same defiant way that made my stomach twist. Her courage was insane. She had no idea how stupid and reckless she was. But damn it, it made something in me roar with pride.
“You seriously called the motherfucking police on me?” my father’s voice had dropped to a dangerous quiet. The kind of quiet that came before an earthquake. “You don’t know who you’re playing with, little girl.”
“Yes, I did,” Becca said, eyes blazing. “And I know exactly who you are. You’re the devil.”
My father chuckled. “You just made an enemy of me. Get out of my sight now,” he seethed. “Get out before I Jose what little patience I have. You deserve punishment for this.”
“Mr. Clawbelle, are you threatening the young lady in front of law enforcement?” the other officer, a short man with sandy blond hair and brown eyes asked. His hand drifted subtly toward his belt.
“Stand down Officer Brown,” Officer Lennox ordered.
“See? He’s an abuser, Becca raved, pointing at my father.
“I will punish you myself. You will learn to act like a woman and keep your mouth shut!” my father barked.
“Touch her, I said, standing up slowly. My chair scraped loudly against the floor, the noise slicing through the tension. My voice was low and controlled, but it cracked like thunder. “And I will tear your goddamn head off.”
Everyone froze.
Even the air seemed to hold its breath.
My Alpha aura surged, radiating off me in waves. It took over the atmosphere like an invisible storm. The chandelier above us trembled, and the floor beneath my boots thrummed with energy. I could feel Remus pushing through, blending into my bones, sharpening my rage as our powers intertwined.
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Chapter 12
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Hilary gasped. “Drew, don’t.”
Becca didn’t back down, even with the energy in the room dense enough to choke on. She just stared my father down like he was nothing more than a disgusting insect she’d love to stomp under her heel.
My father’s eyes met mine. And for the first time in my life, I saw something in them I never thought I’d witness. Uncertainty. He could tell I was no longer the little boy hiding behind doors. I was a goddamn Alpha.
“This is my house,” he growled. “I’m the ruler of this pack.”
“Yes, I know,” I said, my voice cool, steady, and dangerous. “But if you so much as breathe wrong in Becca’s direction, I’ll make sure the only thing you rule is the dirt six feet under.”
The officers exchanged glances. I could tell they didn’t know what to make of this standoff. Their instincts were probably telling them they had stepped into something way above their pay grade.
Hilary was crying now. Silent tears streamed down her face. Her mouth trembled, and she covered it with her trembling hand.
“Tell the truth, Mom,” Becca said softly. “Tell them what he did to you.”
Hilary looked between all of us, her mate, me, the police officers, and her daughter, who had risked everything by calling for help.
“Tell the truth, Hilary,‘ I said through the pack link. “Tell them what he did.’
‘I… I love him,‘ she replied in a whisper I felt echo in the center of my skull. ‘But I can’t turn him in. I’m too afraid. I’m scared he’ll kill me in my sleep when he gets out. Or worse… hurt my daughter‘
‘I won’t let that happen.‘
‘I can’t risk it, Drew, I just can’t.
“Mom?” Becca said again, her voice cracking.
“L… Hilary swallowed hard.
Becca’s green eyes darkened. “You don’t have to lie anymore,”
“Ma’am,” Officer Lennox said gently. “Did your husband give you those bruises?”
Hilary looked up at my father. She didn’t speak.
“Why are you looking at me?” my father hissed. “Tell the officers I never touched you so we can stop wasting each other’s time and they can get the hell off my lands.”
Officer Brown shook his head. “That’s enough. We’ll be separating you for questioning.”
My father bared his teeth in frustration, but the officers moved in. One of them gestured for him to step outside, while the other escorted Hilary to the sitting room.
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Chapter 12
As they passed, Becca reached for my arm. I turned to look at her.
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“Thank you,” she said. Her voice was soft but full of emotion. “For standing up for my mother… and me.”
“You’re welcome,” I said quietly. “But what the hell were you thinking bringing the police here?”
“What?” she yelped. “Didn’t you see my mother’s face? Your father hit her!”
“I know,” I sighed. “But there are things here you don’t understand.”
“Like what?” she asked. “Please tell me.”
Her eyes searched mine, hungry for answers, desperate for truth. But I couldn’t give her what she wanted. Telling her the truth about who and what we were would be punishable by death. For the both of us.
“I can’t,” I said, looking away.
Footsteps returned to the room. My father was escorted back inside by Officer Brown. His jaw was clenched and his eyes were burning with fury. A moment later, Hilary was led back in by the Officer Lennox. Hilary’s face was unreadable.
“Officer Lennox, should I cuff him?” Brown asked, hovering beside my father.
“No, Officer Brown. Mrs. Clawbelle said her husband has never laid a hand on her. She said she simply fell down the stairs.”
“No, Hilary,” I shook my head slowly.
“No, Mom. You have to tell the truth. You have to!” Becca cried.
“I did,” Hilary snapped, rushing into my father’s arms like a scared animal running back to its cage. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“Oh honey. I love you so much,” my father cooed as he grinned at us.
“Becca, I know you don’t like Devon,” Hilary said, “but you have to stop making all these accusations about him. He loves us. He takes good care of us.”
The officers visibly relaxed.
“I see, Officer Lennox said, his tone shifting. “This is a case of rebellion”
“Exactly, officer, my father said with a sly smirk. “She’s been grieving over the loss of her grandmother. She thinks I’m the cause of all her problems, even though cancer was what took her grandmother’s life.”
“You bastard!” Becca lunged. I had to hold her back.
“See, officers? She has a strong hatred towards me for no reason, the Alpha continued, playing the victim with Oscar–worthy conviction.
“I understand you completely,” Officer Brown added with a sigh. “My stepson is giving ine hell. He thinks I
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Chapter 12
took his mother from his father even though they’d broken up years before we met.”
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And just like that, the three men began bonding. Swapping stories. Laughing like old friends at a poker table.
“Well, I guess we should leave,” Officer Lennox said after a beat. “We don’t want to take up any more of your time, Mr. Clawbelle. Sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“That’s it? You won’t arrest him?” Becca cried.
“No, Miss Moore. We don’t see a reason why we should.”
Becca stepped forward, chin high. “Then I’ll give you one,” she said coldly. “There’s a body in the ravine, deep in the woods.”
My body went rigid.
Becca, you stupid girl, I thought to myself.
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
