Page 42 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

"That's why we need to keep things quiet. Bane knows what he's doing."

"Does he? Because bringing a human mate here, especially her, feels like painting a target on all of us. Vittorio's not the kind of man who lets things go."

My blood runs cold. They are talking about my father. About me.

"I get it," the first voice says, lowering to almost a whisper. "But Bane's the Alpha. If he thinks she's worth the risk, it's not our call to question it."

"It'll be all our heads if he's wrong."

"Yeah, but it's not like Bane hasn't dealt with him before," the first voice says, lowering to almost a whisper. "You know how long this feud's been going on. If Vittorio tries to pull anything, Bane won't sit back and watch."

The second voice huffs. "I don't doubt that. But every time they clash, it's carnage. Do you remember what happened last time? Half the forest was burned to the ground, and the survivors were too scared to speak Bane's name for weeks."

"Exactly," the first one says, his voice tinged with grim satisfaction. "And that's why Vittorio doesn't come here. He knows better. Bane's scarier than he is."

"Barely," the second one mutters. "Vittorio's no saint either. The guy's ruthless. If he finds out about her, he'll see it as an excuse to come after us. And this time, it won't just be some skirmish in the woods."

"You think Bane doesn't know that?" The first voice snaps, growing agitated. "Look, I'm not saying it's not risky, but you've seen what Bane's capable of when he's protecting his pack. And now, he's got even more reason to fight."

"What reason?" the second voice asks, his tone sharp.

"She's his mate," the first voice says, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You know what that means. You've seen what happens when someone threatens a mate."

A silence hangs between them, heavy with unspoken tension. Finally, the second voice breaks it. "I just hope he's right about her. Because if he's not, we're all screwed."

The sound of footsteps moving in my direction makes my stomach lurch, but they stop short as the first voice mutters, "If Vittorio wants a fight, he'll get one. And I'm betting on Bane to finish it."

They walk off after that, their voices fading into the distance.

Vittorio. My father. The pack. Bane. It feels like I am standing on the edge of a cliff, one wrong step away from sending everyone I've come to care about into a freefall.

I stay frozen in place, my breath caught in my throat. They are right. My father isn't the kind of man to let things go.

And if he ever finds out where I am, I'm not the only one who'll pay the price.

I have tried so hard to escape him, to keep Elias safe. But now, I can't help but feel like I've led danger right to our door.

And Bane?

If he has a plan to deal with my father, I'm not sure it will be enough.

I start to turn away when faint voices drift from behind the door to Bane's study.

“And if we don’t act fast? He’ll find her first.”

My breath catches in my throat as the conversation continues, low and urgent.

“We’ll make the first move. Vittorio won’t see it coming.”

Chapter Thirteen

Bane

"Idon't want to!" Elias's voice echoes through the pack house, sharp and stubborn.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, counting to three before looking down at my son, who is glaring up at me with the same fire in his eyes that I see in the mirror every morning.

"Elias," I say, my tone firm but calm, "this isn't up for debate. You need to start learning how to control your wolf."

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