Page 77 of Deadly Wolf Bite

The generals are quiet where they stand blocking the door. I have no idea if Lexi understands that’s what they’re doing. Nor if she realizes our lives are in their hands. I try to think of something to say, but I’m still reeling from Lexi’s betrayal.

I can’t think past it.

Past her.

Has she played me all along?

Pretended to care about me so she could destroy me in the end and keep her title for herself?

I don’t know what’s real anymore.

Or where to go from here.

Help would be nice, but I was too consumed with panic over Lexi to think about calling the others. Now, my phone lies useless at Rocco’s feet. He notices me glancing at it and bends down to retrieve it, swiping to light up the screen that’s full of notifications, undoubtedly from Dutch and the others asking where I went.

“Boss?” Rocco prompts. “You want me to call the kids in here?”

His gaze is still slightly unfocused thanks to the drugs we gave him, but he’s not completely under the effects. Charlie and Alvaro both seem a little less steady. My father, on the other hand, appears completely sober.

“No.” He looks up. Not at Rocco or even at me.

He’s looking at Lexi, and the twist of his mouth tells me he’s not going to let her just fade into the background on this one.

“What happened here?” he asks.

“Dom attacked—” I start.

“Not you,” my father booms at me.

The alpha note to his voice should’ve closed my mouth against my will. Instead, I go silent by choice. Good to know his power doesn’t affect me like it used to, but now’s not the time to celebrate it. Or let him know.

“You,” my father says, pointing to Lexi. “Explain this.”

“Dom approached me at the funeral this morning. He asked to meet us here tonight. Said he wanted to talk about coming to work for us after Grey and I are married.”

I stare at her, struck by how smoothly she just lied.

Has she always been that good at deception?

My father’s eyes narrow. “Is that so? And what could possibly make Franco’s second-in-command change his allegiances so easily after all his years of loyalty?”

“It was a trap,” she admits quietly as if she’s ashamed she didn’t see that before.

My father eats it up. Anything that makes him feel like the smartest guy in the room. I’m a little in awe of Lexi’s ability to manipulate him. Has she been doing the same to me? Wrapping me around her finger until I’m too lovestruck to notice?

“Of course it was a fucking trap,” he snaps, laughing harshly. He looks at me. “I raised you smarter than this.”

“Apparently not,” I mutter. How much longer can I stand to stay in this room?

With her.

“And did you?” he presses, almost taunting. “Did you get anything important from this piece of shit before you ripped his throat out like he was some common street rat whose death wouldn’t be noticed—or come without consequences? Please tell me you got something to make this stupid mistake worth it.”

I don’t let him see my reaction, but the fury that floods me is nearly as overwhelming as what I felt before my wolf ripped Dominic Albero to shreds. Because yes. I got something very fucking important. Beneath my skin, my beast surges—begging to be free.

For a wild second, I consider letting it loose.

The entire scene plays out in my mind. Just like with Dom, my father’s surprise would cost him, and that would be all the opening I need to sink my teeth into his flesh and rip it from his bones.

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