Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

Chapter 9

Lucas stood frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the charred remains. Time seemed to stop around him.

He became a statue amid the chaos-paramedics rushing about, police radios crackling, his friends sobbing in the background-all of it faded to white noise.

The rescue wolves approached with measured steps, their faces grim beneath rain-soaked helmets as they carried the stretcher toward him. With solemn reverence, they placed her body at his feet.

"Alpha Thornwood," the guard said softly, "we're deeply sorry for your loss."

The rain intensified, fat droplets splattering against Lucas's face, mingling with tears he didn't realize he was shedding. His legs gave way as he collapsed to his knees beside her, his eyes burning red. Inside him, his wolf let out a heart- rending cry, thrashing wildly.

His outstretched hands trembled violently as he tried to reach for her. Once, twice, three times he attempted to gather her into his arms, but his muscles refused to cooperate. Finally, with gentle guidance from a paramedic, he cradled what remained of Aria against his chest.

Just hours ago-was it really only hours?-she had sat beside him in his car, her smile soft and knowing, eyes bright with something he now recognized as farewell as she'd confessed her love one final time.

Now she lay motionless in his embrace, the she-wolf who had once been so full of life reduced to this.

Her cold body temperature seeped through his rain-soaked clothes, sending ice straight to his core. The sensation was wrong-Aria had always been warm, always radiating heat like her own personal

sun.

“Aria,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “Stop playing games. Wake up, please? Just wake up."

He called her name over and over, the desperate pleas of a drowning man, but she remained silent, as if she were simply ignoring him after a petty argument.

Lucas pressed his face against hers just as he used to do when he wanted her attention, not caring as blood and soot transferred from her ruined features to his skin.

Memories crashed over him in relentless waves.

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Chapter 9

There were so many things he'd never told her. So many truths he'd hidden.

The first and most profound secret was that he'd knew she was his fated mate long before she knew

that.

Several years ago, during the Wolf Moon Festival at the pack borders, while everyone else had been half-drunk on moonlight and ceremonial wine, his attention had been completely captured by the graceful figure dancing around the bonfire-her fluid movements, flowing dress adorned with ancient pack symbols, and that radiant smile that seemed to challenge the flames themselves.

He remembered every detail with crystalline clarity-the way the firelight had caught in her hair, how her laughter had carried across the clearing when she'd playfully dodged an advancing male during the courtship dance.

Noticing his captivation, his beta had leaned over, whispering excitedly about the she-wolf.

"That's Aria Collins. From the Silver Crescent Pack. Supposedly rejected the Alpha's son in three packs. Every unmated male in the gathering is already tracking her scent."

His beta had continued, but Lucas had stopped listening after her name, his wolf stirring beneath his skin.

Aria Collins.

That's him mate's name.

it several times,

even whispered their names together once, testing how they sounded. Aría Collins,

Perfect harmony.

he'd quickly shaken the thought away, disgusted with

since childhood,

could imagine

himself to stay committed to the idea of Leila, his wolf

16:39

Hillionaire Aluba's 99 Do

Caines

Chapter 9

out Aria

forest winds, notice

mesmerized watching her dance beneath the sacred falls. Later, when Aria had begun pursuing him with that endearing determination, he'd found himself

yes, to let

each time, he'd ruthlessly suppressed the

help her get revenge on Aria, his first instinct

refusal..

kind of person," he'd argued. "There must be

he'd observed-who helped strangers carry groceries and volunteered at animal shelters-with someone capable

when Leila heard his defense of Aria, she'd thrown a terrifying tantrum, even

was accustomed to caring for her-and couldn't bear the responsibility of her

he agreed to

execute 99 acts of revenge,

then watching her search all night in a blizzard for something that didn't exist-the

still smiling when she

schemes continued, he'd conditioned himself to grow numb to her pain. He'd convinced himself she deserved

seemed worth the cost of his

16-20

Chapter 9

left her with

genuine protective fury had

with its intensity.

just pride-after all, she was

that his mate had been assaulted,

was more. The sight of those

begun to crack the walls he'd built around his feelings, though he'd still refused to acknowledge what

he'd left her in that cabin and she'd said she was

to his "gift" with

had felt a panic unlike anything

when Leila had

of hesitation before he closed the door, with her blind-folded and trusting, a thousand

expose their relationship as a sham,

knew.