Page 97 of The Alpha's Crimson Vow

“Frank,” I say carefully, keeping my voice steady. “Why are you here?”

His green eyes burn as he stares at me, the last remnants of his smile fading.

“I came here today to make a confession.” He rises from his seat. “A confession about your parents.”

A chill runs through me, but I don’t have time to react—because the moment I start to stand, his hand moves. And suddenly, there’s a gun. A small, black pistol, pulled from the back of his waistband, aimed directly at me.

My stomach drops.

“Not a fucking step,” he murmurs, voice low, dangerous. “Unless you want to go say hi to your old folks tonight.”

My breath catches, my eyes flickering between him and the weapon. There’s a heavy weight pressing against my chest—fear, anger, disbelief, all tangled together in a suffocating knot.

“You…” My voice is barely above a whisper. “You killed them.”

Frank tilts his head, watching me like a cat watches a mouse. “I did what I had to do to get what I deserved,” he says, matter of fact. “And still, you took it from me. But not anymore.”

He starts rounding the desk, slow and steady, like he knows I have nowhere to run. His free hand dips into his pocket, pulling out a small folded cloth.

Realization slams into me like a freight train. My pulse skyrockets.

Chloroform.

My chair scrapes against the floor as I jerk back, but it’s too late. He lunges, faster than I expect, shoving the cloth against my nose and mouth.

I thrash, nails clawing at his wrist, but the chemical scent is overwhelming. My head spins. My limbs weaken.

I try to fight. Try to scream. But my body isn’t listening. The world around me blurs, darkens, starts to slip away.

And just before everything goes black, I see the door open. Three men step inside. Clad in black. Faces covered.

“Take her,” Frank’s voice orders through the haze.

And then—darkness takes over me.

Chapter Twenty Four

Alex

It’s been two days since I returned. And every minute since I got back has led to this moment. The air is thick with anticipation as I stride down the grand corridor, Jack walking in step beside me. The doors to the war council chamber loom ahead, tall and imposing, gilded with centuries of power. The guards stationed outside straighten the moment they see me approach. Then, with perfect synchronization, they push the doors open.

Inside, the grand hall is already filled. Military chiefs. Council members. The highest ranking officials in my kingdom, all gathered around the massive central table. As I enter, a wave of motion ripples through the room—every single person rises, heads bowing in respect. A chorus of voices greets me.

“Your Majesty.”

I barely acknowledge them. My eyes sweep the room, taking in every face. I walk to the center, where a sprawling digital map of my kingdom glows across the table. The room stills again, waiting. Watching. I let the silence hang for a moment, then, my voice cuts through the air.

“Give me an update.”

The head of my military, General Vaughn, steps forward.

“Our scouts have picked up movement on the outskirts,” he begins. “A growing force. The numbers are rising, and we’ve confirmed sightings of certain… individuals.”

I don’t need to ask. I already know what he’s about to say.

“The corrupt council members,” I murmur.

Vaughn nods. “The same ones who took bribes and stood against your claim to the throne. We’ve seen them with the enemy forces.”

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