Adam’s words did not surprise .
Back when I drifted unseen through the Hale territory, I once overheard him advising Juilan on how to secure the pack’s business and protect the family na. He spoke like a strategist, calm and careful. But in the end, Juilan disappointed Jeffrey and willingly handed leadership back to Lewis.
From the outside, the Hales looked united during crisis. Inside, it was different. Lewis had beco Adam’s rival the mont he stepped back into the territory.
The only thing people used against Lewis was his birth status. An "illegitimate" son, they called him. Yet everyone knew the truth. If not for his injured leg years ago, Jeffrey would have marked him as heir long before.
That was the bitterness eating at Adam.
He wasn’t foolish. He knew Vicky’s fall was her own doing. Everyone in the room understood it. But he still tried to use it as a weapon against us. In his eyes, Lewis and I were the threat.
He had no idea the real danger stood much closer to him.
"Adam," Lewis said calmly, his eyes narrowing, "you don’t have the authority to drive us out of the Hale pack."
Then he shifted his gaze to Vicky.
"And as for her... she raised Camilla like her own. Camilla’s ties to Silas were deep. You should consider how involved she may truly be."
The air changed instantly.
"Don’t forget," Lewis continued, voice colder now, "why your biological son died. While you focus on competing with , soone else could be tightening a trap around you."
The mont Silas’s na was spoken, Adam’s face lost color.
Juilan was not his blood son. His real son was gone. Dead under strange circumstances. That wound never healed.
Vicky’s eyes filled with tears on cue. "Honey, do you really believe him? We’ve shared a bond for years. Have I ever treated you poorly?"
If this had happened in the past, Adam might have softened. But Silas’s death had carved suspicion into his heart. A deal had been made sowhere. His son died after that.
Now was not the ti to attack Lewis.
He pulled his hand away from Vicky’s grasp. "If we’ve truly been mates all these years, then be honest with ."
Vicky stiffened. "Honest? About what? Camilla is grown. Who she bonds with, who she trusts, how would I control that? You can’t place everything on ."
Lewis did not raise his voice. He didn’t need to.
"Whether it’s complicated or not, we’ll find out," he said. "Silas died by poison. There are only a few of us living in this territory. If you and Camilla forced him into sothing while we were distracted, that will co out. If you refuse to speak, I will call the authorities. Neither of you will walk away clean."
Vicky let out a sharp laugh. "Call them. Silas died in this house. Everyone here will be investigated. Let them arrest us all. Even Jeffrey."
"Enough."
The voice cut through the room like thunder.
Jeffrey entered with a cane, bodyguards at his side. His presence filled the space imdiately. Age had not weakened his authority. It had only sharpened it.
I stepped forward quickly. "Dad, why are you here in this cold weather?"
"If I hadn’t co," he replied, eyes burning, "I would not have seen the true face of this woman. Adam, look carefully. This is who you chose to sever your bond for."
He was furious.
I helped him sit while a bodyguard closed the door behind him. Sothing in Lewis’s expression told he had known Jeffrey would co. He had set this stage perfectly.
"I once thought you were simply greedy," Jeffrey continued, staring at Vicky. "I believed denying you a title would prevent trouble. I did not expect you to be so vicious that you would drag the entire Hale pack down with you."
"Dad, calm down," Adam said quickly. "Don’t let anger cloud your judgnt."
Jeffrey laughed harshly. "If we stay blind, we’ll end like the Morrigans. So dead. So mad. The pack broken. It is clear she and Camilla are working together."
He struck his cane against the floor.
"Vicky, I am not Adam. I do not tolerate gas. If you don’t speak now, you will not leave this room walking."
Technically, she already couldn’t walk properly.
I had never seen Jeffrey lose control like this. But he had once ruled this pack with iron strength. Old did not an weak.
Camilla had once been protected because she carried children tied to bloodlines. Now, after Silas’s death and her miscarriage, that shield was gone.
This private hospital floor belonged to the Hales. Jeffrey had arranged everything long ago. No one would interrupt.
Vicky finally understood she was cornered.
"Dad, you may not like ," she said carefully, "but I fulfilled my duty as daughter-in-law for years. There is no reason to treat this way."
Jeffrey’s patience snapped.
"Lock the door. Draw the curtains," he ordered. "I will handle this myself."
Then he looked at . "Riley, step aside. This may get bloody."
No chance.
I shook my head quickly. "Dad, I am part of this pack too. You don’t need to shield ."
I had already faced death. Blood did not frighten anymore.
Lewis pulled gently into his arms. "Don’t worry," he whispered. "I’ll hold you."
My face heated. Why was he being soft at a mont like this?
Jeffrey glanced at us with mild confusion. I cleared my throat. "Dad... don’t go easy on Vicky just because she looks weak."
"Riley!" Vicky glared at , pain flashing across her face as she shifted too fast.
Jeffrey ignored her outrage.
"You know how I am," he said coldly. "I do not repeat myself. Will you speak, or shall I make you?"
His aura pressed against everyone in the room. Even I felt a chill.
Vicky looked toward Adam for support, but he did not move. Her hands clenched the blanket tightly.
"I... I don’t know anything," she stamred.
"You act well," Jeffrey replied flatly.
His hand moved.
The slap echoed sharply through the room.
The sound was crisp, almost shocking in its clarity.
I wondered briefly if that strike carried more than anger—perhaps years of buried resentnt over Adam’s stubborn loyalty to this woman.
"Fine," Jeffrey said calmly after. "Remove her front teeth."
Vicky’s eyes widened in horror. "Dad, you can’t—"
"If you do not understand the rules of this pack," Jeffrey interrupted coldly, "then I will teach you."
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