Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Theodore's POV As soon as I heard Cliff's voice , Derrick and I immediately turned around . We headed downstairs quickly . Derrick asked , " What about Jasper ? " I replied coldly , " Leave him here . " Derrick shook his head , " Well . " At that moment , my wolf suddenly issued a warning in my mind . I didn't understand its meaning but ran in the direction it guided . And there , I found Vanya collapsed in the corridor . She just left there . She was injured ! Why didn't she ask for help ? " Hold on tight , " I reminded her . Vanya didn't speak but hugged me tighter . " Hurry ! The bomb is about to detonate ! " Derrick shouted . I clutched Vanya and sprinted out of the unfinished building just in time . An explosion rocked the building , flames filling the sky . Vanya watched the fiery blast , her face pale with fear . Indeed , had I not brought her along , she might have been in danger . " Get in the car ! " I told Derrick . not far away . With that , I placed Vanya in the back seat and prepared to join her when I noticed Cliff's car not He had just emerged , seemingly startled by the blast . Then he saw me and Vanya in the back seat . His panicked expression turned gloomy . V 10 H તે રસ્તા સાથે તેમ " Alpha Cliff , let's go … I'm so scared . " Melinda's anxious voice urged , and Cliff got in the car . * Vanya watched them sit together in the back , her face expressionless as if she'd grown accustomed to it . ' What a foolish man . ' I thought with disdain . He didn't deserve Vanya , treating that incompetent rogue as his true love . Sometimes , I marveled at the Moon Goddess's arrangements . If that rogue became the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack , their decline was foreseeable . I was actually looking forward to that day . Shaking off these thoughts , I got in the car , and Derrick started the engine . 1/3 Chapter 23 " We should leave . Humans will be here soon to investigate ," Derrick muttered . On the way back , the atmosphere in the car was as oppressive as the calm before the storm . Vanya sat there like a statue , not uttering a word . Her gaze fixed on some distant point . Her eyes reflected an indescribable weariness and contemplation . Derrick couldn't stand the silence and broke it first . He turned slightly , looking at Vanya through the rearview mirror , " Aren't you curious who kidnapped you ? " Vanya seemed to awaken from a deep reverie , a flicker of light in her eyes . Then she blurted out a name , " It was Jasper ." Her tone was as calm as if stating a trivial fact . " How did you know ? " Derrick's face was full of surprise . " Guessed , Vanya responded indifferently , shrugging her shoulders slightly . Vanya's POV I just smirked at Derrick's astonishment , my heart untroubled . In fact , I had only become certain that Jasper was behind all this recently . I knew my social circle in the Los Angeles packs was limited , living like a lone wolf . I seldom got involved in disputes . The only recent event that caused ripples about me was spending five million on that obsidian rough . If my memory served , Jasper was the one who acquired the obsidian rough in my past life . Clearly , my purchase , this time , interrupted his plans . 114 Although he might not have realized the immense value the obsidian rough would hold in the future , his insistence on obtaining it must have hidden other ulterior motives . And Jasper , as Theodore's subordinate , also explained why Theodore could appear so swiftly in such a critical moment . With a turn of thought , I took the opportunity to raise the issue with Theodore , " Theodore , your man dared to kidnap me . How should we settle this account ? " 22 " Put it on hold ," Theodore's tone was undisturbed , his face as calm as a still lake , with no emotional fluctuations , making it hard to discern his true thoughts . Derrick glanced at Theodore through the rearview mirror , his confusion evident . X I could almost guess his doubts - Jasper's actions had no direct connection to Theodore , yet he risked his safety to rescue me . The situation seemed as if he owed me something . This was unexpected . I thought Theodore would directly disavow any involvement The car sped along and reached the boundary of the Silver Moon Pack soon . Derrick slammed on the brakes , the tires screeching against the ground . Through the window , I saw Cliff carrying Melinda out of the car and walking straight towards the grand entrance of the Packhouse without pause . There was no hint of waiting for me . My heart felt a brief pang , like being pricked by a sharp thorn . 2/3 Chapter 23 But I quickly composed myself and calmed my emotions . " I'm off , thank you both , " I said , stepping out of the car and walking towards the Packhouse with dignity . I heard Derrick say to Theodore faintly , " I thought you would step up for her . " " She's not that fragile ," Theodore closed his eyes slowly , then after a moment , he whispered , " Let's go . " 3/3 田