Page 77 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

Another growls lowly.

I shove Vittorio harder into the wall, his laughter sputtering as he coughs. “You’re lying,” I snarl, though doubt begins seeping into my voice.

“Am I?” Vittorio says hoarsely, still grinning despite the blood trickling from his lips. “You don’t trust me, Bane, but think about it. Think about all the times he disappeared conveniently. The information I got—who else could’ve given it to me?”

“Lies,” I spit, though my grip falters slightly.

A slow clap echoes through the room, and I turn to see Nathaniel step into the room, a twisted smile on his face.

“Well, I suppose the game’s up, isn’t it?” Nathaniel says smoothly, his voice dripping with mockery. “Bravo, Vittorio. Your theatrics are always entertaining.”

Shock and anger ripple through the room. My men growl, stepping back instinctively as Nathaniel moves forward, his posture calm yet menacing.

“Nathaniel,” I say, my voice a low warning. “Tell me this isn’t true.”

“Oh, it’s true,” he says, tilting his head with a deranged glint in his eyes. “Why so surprised, Alpha? You’ve always underestimated me, haven’t you? Always thought you were better, stronger. But the truth is, you’re weak. Pathetic.”

I drop Vittorio unceremoniously to the floor, his body slumping as he coughs and gasps for breath. My full focus is now on Nathaniel.

“You betrayed your pack,” I say, my voice deadly calm. “You betrayed me.”

“I didn’t betray my pack,” Nathaniel says sharply. “I saved it—from you. You think you’re some great leader, but you’re blinded by sentimentality. You’ve let your temper rule you, and worse, you’ve let her,” he points at Aria, “a human, weaken you. She’s not fit to be Luna, Bane. She’s a disgrace to everything we stand for.”

“You’ve lost your mind,” I say.

“No, Bane,” he snarls. “I’ve gained clarity. You’re unworthy of this pack, unworthy of the power you wield. And now, I’m here to take what’s rightfully mine.”

My claws extend instinctively as I step forward. “Aria is my mate, Nathaniel. That’s none of your concern.”

“She concerns me because she’s a liability!” Nathaniel roars, his calm demeanor cracking as his eyes flash with unhinged fury. “You think the pack will respect a Luna who isn’t even one of us? You think they’ll follow a leader who lets emotions cloud his judgment? No, Bane. They deserve better. They deserve me.”

The derision in his voice, the sheer audacity, makes my blood boil. “You don’t get to decide what the pack deserves,” I say. “And you sure as hell don’t get to take what’s mine.”

Nathaniel laughs darkly, his hands flexing as his claws emerge. “Then stop me.”

The challenge is clear, and I don’t hesitate. With a snarl, I lunge at him, our bodies colliding with the force of a thunderstorm. My claws rake across his chest, drawing blood as he howls and slashes back, catching my arm.

Around us, chaos erupts. My men engage Vittorio’s guards, the sound of clashing bodies and growls filling the air.

“You’ve always been predictable,” Nathaniel taunts, dodging my next strike with infuriating ease. “All brute strength, no strategy.”

I freeze for a split second, his words hitting a nerve. He uses the moment to land a blow to my ribs, knocking the wind out of me.

My claws graze his cheek, leaving deep gashes that ooze blood.

I grab him by the throat, lifting him off the ground. “You don’t get to speak about them. Not now, not ever.”

Nathaniel claws at my hand, his strength waning as I tighten my grip. “Go ahead,” he chokes. “Kill me. Prove to everyone how unfit you are to lead.”

I snarl, my claws piercing his skin.

I slam him into the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath him. His body goes limp, and his eyes dim as the life drains from him.

I stand over his lifeless form, my chest heaving, blood dripping from my wounds. Around me, the fighting ceases as Vittorio’s men, seeing their leader subdued and their supposed savior dead, begin to retreat or surrender.

But it’s not over yet.

“Long live the Alpha,” Vittorio croaks, coughing violently as he picks himself up from where I’ve thrown him.

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