Page 39 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

“It’s nice to see you too, mate,” I deadpanned, sending my senses across the room to check for threats or possible disturbances.

This handover had to be seamless. Nothing could go wrong.

“You didn’t have to send Seraphina away,” she continued, a hint of her anger coloring her words.

I thought of my little sister, who had no business being here with the restrictions Alpha Maximus had put on her after she’d tried eloping with her bodyguard.

Seraphina had never been the type to easily befriend anyone, so seeing her with Eleanor had been…surprising, even without considering what she’d been about to tell her.

What she had thankfullyfailedto tell her.

I met the gaze of my rather aggravating mate. “You keep forgetting that I do whatever I want, Eleanor.”

Eleanor’s expression shifted, her jaw clenching and unclenching at my words.

“Of course you do,” she grated out, before turning on her heel to leave.

I caught her arm and easily pulled her to a stop, ignoring the primal stirrings of the monster within me when her scent hit us.

Eleanor glared at me, but before she could protest, the entire hall fell silent for the entry of Alpha Maximus.

As he moved, his aura of dominance enveloped the room in his wake. He paused just long enough to nod at Dylan, who made his way toward him with his mate, Micah, at his side.

It was time.

For years, I’d facilitated this day.

The day when my brother would take over the Nightshade Pack.

But as I watched Alpha Maximus take his place at the podium, all I felt was a distinct sense of foreboding.

Eleanor tried to yank her arm out of my grasp once more, but my hold on her was firm.

Tipping her head back slightly, she bared her canines at me, her voice dipping into a strained whisper.

“Let. Me. Go.”

“You will stay with me until the announcement is over,” I informed her.

Eleanor trembled, but I knew it wasn’t from cold. She was incandescent with anger.

“You can’t tell me what to do, Alexander.” The pitch of her voice climbed with each word, until the wolves close by stole glances at us.

I knew this woman was going to be the death of me.

“I—” I began, but my words were cut off by a high-pitched scream behind me.

“Alpha Maximus!”

“The alpha has collapsed!”

I turned, a chill settling in my chest.

There were no attackers and no sign of injury. Just Alpha Maximus, my father, crumpled on the staircase leading up the podium, his body jerking from what appeared to be a seizure.

I didn’t realize I’d let go of Eleanor’s arm. Didn’t realize I’d begun to race toward the podium.

At that moment, nothing mattered—not even the past or the hatred that had blossomed between us due to the curse.

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