Page 76 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

Vittorio barely glances at her, keeping his eyes locked on mine. “Believe what you want, Bane. But she’s here, isn’t she? And she’s wearing the dress I chose for her. Getting ready to marry the man I approved of.”

I look at Aria, her tear-streaked face filled with defiance despite the iron grip of her so-called fiancé. She shakes her head slightly, her silent plea cutting through the noise in my head.

“You’re nothing but a coward,” I snarl at Vittorio. “You’ve spent your entire life hiding behind manipulation and lies, tearing down anyone who challenges you. But this ends now.”

“Does it?” he croaks, though his smug grin never falters. “Because from where I’m standing—or hanging—it seems I’m still in control. Look around, Alpha. Your mate is in another man’s arms, your son is at my mercy, and you’re stuck trying to play hero.”

I squeeze his neck harder, watching as his face reddens slightly. “Vittorio. You’re not walking out of this alive.”

“Maybe,” he chokes out. “But neither are they if you don’t start listening.”

Behind me, one of my men growls. “Alpha, we need a plan. They’re heavily armed, and the kid—”

“Shut up!” I bark, my voice like a whip.

Vittorio laughs, a hoarse and broken sound. “Still barking orders, I see. Just like a mutt. That’s all you are, Bane—a feral dog pretending to lead.”

I ignore his words, focusing on Aria. “I’m getting you out of here,” I promise her. “I’m getting both of you out.”

She nods, tears streaming down her face. “Just don’t let them hurt Elias.”

Vittorio clicks his tongue. “Touching. But you forgot, Aria. I own you. I own both of you. And there’s nothing your precious Alpha can do about it.”

“Enough!” I roar, slamming him against the wall again. This time, he coughs violently, his smug demeanor cracking for just a moment.

But then his grin returns. “Go ahead, kill me. But you’ll never find out who in your pack betrayed you.”

My grip falters slightly.

“That’s right,” he says, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. “Someone you trust, someone close to you, has been feeding me information for months. And you never suspected a thing.”

I want to crush him right then and there, to silence his poison forever. But I can’t risk Elias. Not yet.

“You’re going to die for this,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “But not before I burn your entire world to the ground.”

Vittorio smiles, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “I’d like to see you try.”

"Who is the traitor, Vittorio?" I demand, tightening my grip on his neck until his face reddens further.

Vittorio gives a sickening chuckle, even as he gasps for air. "What’s the fun in just telling you, Bane? You’d enjoy it too much if I made it easy."

“You’re out of games,” I growl. “Tell me now, or I swear—”

“Swear all you want,” he rasps. “But you don’t want the answer, do you? Not really. It’ll destroy what little faith you have left in those pathetic wolves of yours.”

His words make my stomach churn. I glance at my men briefly, their tense expressions reflecting the same doubt clawing at my mind. I see Aria’s fiancé gripping her even tighter, smirking as he watches the scene unfold. Elias whimpers, and the guards holding him seem to revel in the boy’s fear.

“Speak, Vittorio,” I hiss, my claws digging into his neck. Blood trickles where I pierce his skin. “Who. Is. The. Traitor?”

Vittorio wheezes a laugh, his eyes glinting with malice. “Oh, you’re going to love this one. The esteemed, loyal, regal Nathaniel. Your trusted Elder. Your Council head.”

The room falls silent, except for Elias’s muffled cries.

Nathaniel?

I freeze, momentarily stunned. Around me, my men exchange glances, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and reluctant realization.

“Impossible,” one of them mutters.

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