Page 89 of Cursed Beasts

“It was a mistake, now let’s go get your stuff.” He tried to move forward, but Aeon and Zev didn’t move.

“Caston, go home, I can’t leave,” she said, dismissing him.

“I will not leave!” he shouted.

All three of us growled at him and alarm bells went off in my mind.

“You should, if you know what’s good for you,” Katarina said, looking even more wary.

“You are my wife! I will not leave without you!” he yelled, and I almost thought I heard him wrong.

“Wife?” Aeon said, looking back at Katarina.

I felt her uneasiness and worry. She looked back at me quickly.

“Come on, we are getting your things.” Caston grabbed Katarina’s upper arm, pulling her away from us.

I snarled at him, but Zev stepped in front of me to keep me back.

“Don’t, Lucien.”

“He’s lying,” I growled, watching Katarina walking away from me. She glanced back at him with tears in her eyes. Her emotions were all over the place, making me even more worried when I felt her fear.

“He’s not. I saw the ring in her room,” he said, and I snapped my attention to him.

“Did you go spying in her room?” Aeon asked, looking at both of us.

“Of course, you can’t see it, but I knew she was keeping something from us, and I had to find out,” Zev sneered. “Both of you have lost your way. You are so wrapped up in her you can’t see what she is doing.”

Aeon and Zev argued while my heart started to beat so loudly in my ears I thought I was going to pass out.

She wasn’t mine.

The need to shift and murder her husband was too strong. I needed to leave, to get some air to erase everything I had just heard and seen.

“It would be better if we just got rid of her.”

I snarled at Zev with my teeth bared.

“Get rid of her?” My voice had taken my wolf’s dark voice. “Are you suggesting we kill her?”

“Zev, you can’t be serious?” Aeon looked taken back.

“She is ruining everything!” he yelled.

“What is she ruining? All she has done is research this damn fucking curse you, fuckhead,” I yelled back, but thought, was fuckhead even a word? “Who is ruining everything? You’ve been against everything she’s been doing. You’re so stuck in your hate that you can’t—”

“I’m trying to keep us alive!” He pushed me.

“We wouldn’t be in this damn situation if you had just been honest with Vivienne.” I pushed him back. “You knew she loved you, and you still treated her like shit.”

“I was willing to claim that child! I put the treaty on the line to save her. What else do you think she wanted from me!?” he roared. “Both of you ignored her, so she thought I was her only hope.”

“I didn’t ignore her. I was fucking shy and young,” I snapped. “She was so wrapped up with you, she didn’t give any of us a chance.”

“And what’s your excuse?!” Zev looked at Aeon.

“You knew I was just doing my duty. I had no intention of loving her, and you knew that.” Aeon stared down at Zev. “She wasn’t my mate. I wasn’t happy about the deal, but I still went along with what our parents decided for the good of the pack.”

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