Page 37 of The Alpha's Pretend Mate

He slammed the trunk shut, wiping his hands on his jeans as though the filth of the vampire could be washed away with just that.

Cassius took a deep breath, trying to calm the fury coursing through his veins. But all he could see was Alysa's terrified face, Aurora cradled protectively in her arms.

I should have been there. He would not have dared.

The drive to the vampire faction's territory was a blur of dark roads and seething anger. Cassius's knuckles were white on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tight it ached.

Let’s see if your leader can make sense of this mess.

The landscape changed as he crossed into vampire territory. The trees grew denser, their branches twisting together to block out the moonlight. An eerie silence settled over the car, broken only by the occasional muffled groan from the trunk.

The roads were empty, and his thoughts echoed the same emptiness. The only thing filling his mind was the image of that vampire pinning Alysa to the ground, her terrified gasp still echoing in his ears. His child, Aurora, had been in danger.

The vampire shifted in the trunk, groaning as the car hit a pothole. Cassius grinned darkly, pressing the gas harder. He wasn’t in the mood for pity or mercy—just answers. The vampire leader would provide those answers, or Cassius would take them by force.

Cassius pulled up to a sprawling mansion, its gothic architecture a stark contrast to the modern world outside. Gargoyles leered down from the roof, their stone eyes seeming to follow his every move.

Vampires always made their homes in places that reeked of death—this one was no different. The scent of blood was thicker here, and it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside him.

He didn't bother knocking. With a powerful kick, he sent the ornate front door flying off its hinges.

Vampires materialized from the shadows, hissing and baring their fangs. But Cassius paid them no mind. His eyes were fixed on the figure descending the grand staircase.

The vampire leader, Nikolai, was tall and imposing, his pale skin almost translucent in the dim light. His black eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him.

"Cassius White," he drawled, his voice like silk over steel. "To what do we owe the pleasure of this… unexpected visit?"

Cassius didn't waste time with pleasantries. He strode back to his car, yanking open the trunk. He grabbed the vampirefrom the trunk, dragging him through the compound and dropping him unceremoniously in front of Nikolai's feet.

“One of yours?” His voice was calm, but the threat behind it was unmistakable, his wolf clawing just beneath the surface of his skin.

Nikolai's eyebrows rose as he took in the battered form before him before looking back at Cassius with mild interest. "I don't believe I've had the pleasure."

"Cut the bullshit," Cassius snapped. "He attacked my family. In my territory. The only reason he's still breathing is because I respect our alliance."

The other vampires in the room shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between Cassius and their leader. The tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to choke on.

Nikolai crouched down, examining the chained vampire more closely. His expression remained impassive, but Cassius caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Confusion? Concern?

"What is your name?" Nikolai asked the prisoner.

The vampire spat blood onto the polished marble floor. "I don't answer to you, traitor."

Nikolai's eyes flashed dangerously. He grabbed the vampire by the hair, yanking his head back. "I asked you a question. What faction do you belong to?"

"Faction?" The vampire's laugh was a harsh, grating sound. "We don't play your little games where I'm from. We take what we want when we want it."

Cassius felt a chill run down his spine. He'd assumed the attacker was from one of the local factions, but this… this was something else entirely.

Nikolai released the vampire's hair, rising to his full height. His face was a mask of cold fury. "He's not one of ours," he said, turning to Cassius. "I give you my word on that."

Under normal circumstances, Cassius might have doubted him. But the disgust in Nikolai's voice was unmistakable. Whatever this vampire was, he wasn't welcome here.

"Then where the hell did he come from?" Cassius demanded.

Nikolai's gaze flickered to the chained vampire, then back to Cassius. "If I had to guess? The Light Side of the mountain."

The words hit Cassius like a physical blow. The Light Side? It wasn’t unheard of. Unlike wolves, the darker creatures from the Light Side often moved without jurisdiction not unlike those who had kidnapped Wren and attempted to sell her.

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