Page 77 of Claimed By Fur and Fangs

Chapter Nineteen

Amelia

Aidan’s hand clenched around the phone, his knuckles turning white. He hit the speaker button, and the voice filled the room, cold and calculating.

“Vera, my dear sister,” Aidan growled, his voice low and dangerous. I felt a chill run down my spine at the sound of her name. This was the sister Orson had accused of killing Alma, Aidan’s wife. The same sister, Aidan, had sworn to hunt down.

Finn and I exchanged a glance, sensing Aidan's shift from intimacy to tense anger, with something deeper beneath.

“Oh, Aidan,” Vera’s voice was almost singsong, but there was no warmth in it. Only malice. “Did you really think you could hide from me? Did you think I wouldn’t find out about your little… safe house?”

How did she know?I thought as Aidan’s eyes flicked to me, worry replaced by fury.

“What do you want, Vera?” Aidan snapped, his voice like ice. “If you’ve come to gloat, save it. I’m not in the mood for your games.”

Vera laughed, a cold, hollow sound that sent shivers down my spine.

“My dear brother, always so serious. But you should know by now, I love playing games because I always win them. Remember our childhood?”

Aidan’s jaw tightened, and I could see the muscles in his neck straining as he fought to keep his composure.

“You killed Alma,” he said, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. “Orson told me everything. You’re a murderer, Vera. And I swear, I will hunt you down and make you pay for what you’ve done.

“Well…” she said, and I could hear the smirk in her voice. “You always were so quick to blame me for everything. But tell me, brother, have you ever stopped to ask yourself why? Why I did it? Why I hate you so much?”

Aidan’s eyes narrowed, and I could see the confusion flicker across his face, but it was quickly replaced by anger.

“I don’t care why, Vera. You killed the woman I loved. That’s all that matters.”

Vera laughed again, but this time it was darker, more menacing.

“You’re so blind. But don’t worry, you’ll find out soon enough. And when you do, I hope it destroys you.”

My heart raced as Finn gripped my hand, sensing the storm brewing in Aidan's eyes.

“But let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Vera continued, her voice light now, almost playful. “I called to give you a little warning. You see, Aidan, I know all about your little human pet. Amelia, isn’t it?”

Hearing my name made my blood run cold. Aidan’s eyes locked on mine, full of fear and protectiveness, but Vera interrupted before he could speak.

“She’s quite the prize, isn’t she? So fragile, so… breakable. I wonder how long she’ll last once I get my hands on her. I wonder if she’s a fighter. Alma… Oh Alma… she was so strong, she really fought for her life but so sad she got weak, and I ripped her heart out just like what you did with Orson.”

“If you so much as touch her, Vera, I will tear you apart,” Aidan’s voice was a low growl now, filled with barely restrained fury.

Vera laughed again, and the sound was like nails on a chalkboard.

“You always were so dramatic. But don’t worry, I’ll make it quick. Well, maybe not too quick. I do so enjoy watching things burn.”

I felt Finn’s grip on my hand tighten even more.

“You burned down my refinery, didn’t you?” Aidan said, his voice trembling with anger.

“Bravo! You finally figured it out, I can’t believe it took you this long to find out.”

“You think you can intimidate me? You think I’m afraid of you?”

“You should be brother. Because I’m not done yet. And when I’m finished, you’ll wish you’d never crossed me,” Vera’s voice turned cold again, and I could hear the venom in her words.

“When did you become so vile? Father didn’t raise us to be like this…” Aidan said with a softened voice.

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