Page 68 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

He didn’t hesitate, sliding into me with one deep, powerful thrust that made us both moan.

“Look at me,” he commanded, his hand tilting my chin up so our eyes met. “You’re mine, Aria. Only mine.”

“Yes,” I breathed, my hands clutching his shoulders as he began to move.

“God, you feel so good,” he groaned, his forehead resting against mine.

“Bane…” I gasped, my nails raking down his back as the pleasure built once again.

“I’ve got you,” he murmured, his lips brushing against mine. “Let go, sweetheart.”

I came undone, my body shuddering as the pleasure consumed me. He followed moments later, his roar echoing through the woods as he spilled into me, his arms holding me tightly.

For a moment, everything was perfect.

But then the world shifted.

I woke with a start, my body still trembling, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. My thighs clenched as the lingering sensation of release coursed through me, and I realized with a sinking heart that it had all been a dream.

The knock on the door jolted me fully awake, and I scrambled to cover myself, my cheeks burning.

“Miss Aria,” a guard’s voice called. “It’s time. Your father is waiting.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Bane

“Let’s get one thing clear,” I say, my voice steady but brimming with authority as I look around the room. “There’s a traitor in this pack, and I want them found. Now.”

The men seated around the table nod in unison. These are the best and most trusted members of my inner circle: the head guards, the strongest warriors, and, of course, Rook.

I glance at him as he leans against the far wall, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the group.

Rook tilts his head. “Aria’s message didn’t exactly leave us with a list of suspects, did it?” he says, his tone light but cutting. “Just the word ‘traitor’ scrawled out like she didn’t have time to finish. Makes you wonder how close danger was when she sent it.”

I bristle at the thought, but he’s right. The message had been rushed, almost incoherent. I clench my fists, the words still burning in my mind.

“She had to be desperate to risk sending that,” I mutter, pacing the length of the room. “And now she’s out there, vulnerable, with that bastard.”

One of the guards, Markus, clears his throat. “Alpha, if Vittorio has a spy in our ranks, we need to proceed carefully. Any sudden moves, and we tip them off. They could warn him.”

“I’m aware,” I snap, then take a deep breath. “That’s why we’re here—to figure out how to expose them and bring Aria and Elias home without giving away our hand.”

Rook pushes off the wall and steps closer to the table. “We can start by tightening the net. Double patrols, restrict movement, and limit access to sensitive information. Only this room—” he gestures to the group “—gets updates on the plan.”

Markus nods. “Agreed. But what about the pack? People are going to notice something’s wrong if we start locking things down.”

“Let them notice,” I growl. “Let them whisper. If the traitor gets nervous, they’ll slip up. And when they do…” I trail off, the promise of retribution clear in my tone.

Another guard, Tobias, shifts uncomfortably. “Do we have any leads on who it might be?”

Silence falls over the room, heavy.

Rook breaks it with a pointed comment. “It wouldn’t be the first time Vittorio’s meddling cost someone their life.”

My jaw tightens, and I glare at him. He doesn’t say her name—Alessia—but he doesn’t have to.

“Careful, Rook,” I warn, my voice low.

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