Chapter 13 ATASHA'S POV " Oh ? " Cassian smirked , voice dripping with mockery as he lounged in the chair like he had all the time in the world . " I didn't know the Alpha cared so deeply for his daughter . Enough to come knocking while his warriors are being shredded by Demon Fangs just beyond the ridge ." " My lord- " Alpha Collin started . " My consort is safe , " Cassian cut in , tone clipped , his gaze flat . " But then again , shouldn't your priority be the enemy at your doorstep , Alpha ? Or has your attention shifted to more personal matters ? " I stood quietly behind him , head bowed , cloak pulled tight around me . From the outside , I must've looked like one of his servants - silent , obedient , forgettable . But inside , my heart slammed against my ribs . I shouldn't have been here . I wasn't meant to hear this , let alone be part of it . Every word they exchanged made the space feel tighter , the heat between them sharper . Still , Cassian had told me earlier , " You'll be fine . Just stand behind me . Don't speak unless I tell you to . Let me handle them . " I repeated those words like a prayer . Alpha Collin didn't acknowledge me . Not even a glance . His eyes were locked on Cassian , his jaw clenched . " My wife has been refused access to our daughter , " he said . " She only wants to see Atasha . That is not an unreasonable request ." Cassian leaned forward , resting his elbows on his knees . " No. " Silence dropped like a blade . " No ? " Collin's voice edged with disbelief . " You heard me , " Cassian said . " She's resting . She doesn't need chaos at her bedside , or questions disguised as concern ." Collin's nostrils flared . " Are you hiding something , Lord Valemont ? " Cassian's smile returned . " I'm not hiding anything . I came here under the King's direct orders to eliminate the Demon Fang threat . " He paused , then tilted his head . " But if you no longer need my assistance , I'm more than willing to ride out with my men and let Nightfall handle it alone . " The temperature in the tent dropped . Collin took a step forward . " Don't twist this into something it isn't . Don't be unreasonable . Atasha is my daughter ! Of course I'm concerned . " 11:04 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 13 : 81 55 vouchers Cassian chuckled . Not loudly , but the sound was sharp enough to grate . Cassian's arrogance made my blood boil . But no one challenged him . No one ever did . That was the worst part . He was untouchable . And even when he was being insufferable ... he was always right . " Let's not fool each other , Alpha ," he said . " If you were truly concerned about your daughter , you would've married her off years ago , not shoved her at me like a broken trinket . If this union was meant to secure an alliance , then perhaps you should've given me Celeste instead . Or is that still your intention ? Let me marry a second wife ? " Collin's eyes flared with rage . " Preposterous ! How dare you suggest something so vulgar while my daughter is bleeding , possibly dying , as we speak ! " Seeing my father this emotional stirred something unfamiliar in me . I found myself looking at him differently , almost warily . Alpha Collin never showed his emotions , least of all in the presence of other Alphas . He was always composed , calculating , cold to the point of cruelty . And yet here he was ... seething with fury , his composure cracking , not because of me , but because of Celeste . His anger wasn't quiet or strategic . It was raw . It was the anger of a father who wanted to protect his daughter . Despite this , I just stood there , silent as a shadow behind Cassian . " If I didn't know any better , " Cassian said . " This performance would've almost convinced me , a father so desperate to protect his daughter , he abandons the battlefield to plead for her life ." He let out a sharp sneer , the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement . For a moment , I couldn't understand what was wrong with that . My father had come to check on me , wasn't that normal ? But Cassian wasn't finished . And I'd learned by now that when he spoke like that , something was coming . Without a word , Cassian lifted his hand in a subtle motion , and Physician Mendez immediately stepped forward . He crossed the space and handed my father a folded parchment . Alpha Collin frowned . " What's this ? " " A comprehensive list of the poisons used in tonight's attack , " Cassian said . " And it's still growing ." My father unfolded the parchment , eyes scanning the contents line by line . The deeper he read , the darker his expression became . " This ... " he muttered , anger flickering in his tone . " Exactly ," Cassian cut in smoothly . " Demon Fangs are savages . Crude and unpredictable . They don't use tactics or strategy , let alone calculated methods of poisoning . And yet " -he gestured 11:04 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 13 81 55 vouchers toward the list- " Here they are , striking my men with toxins engineered to kill wolves with Alpha blood . " My breath caught . He was right . I'd seen the wounds with my own eyes , felt the depth of the poison that coursed through their veins . Those weren't makeshift concoctions mixed in the woods . No , they were precise , effective , and powerful enough to bring down warriors like Rio , wolves whose strength rivaled my father's . Something about that didn't add up . " You're suggesting ... " Collin's voice slowed as he looked up from the page . supplying the Demon Fangs with poison ? " " That's for you to find out ." " Someone's " My Lord ... this information ... " Alpha Collin frowned . " Someone wanted to destroy my Nightfall Pack ! " His face darkened at the realization . " Perhaps ... " Cassian casually answered . " I believe you will be very busy from now on ... I won't see you out ." " Then my daughter- " " I've answered your question , Alpha , " Cassian said , his tone sharpening like a blade . " Don't make me think this little performance is just your way of distracting me from the real threat we're facing . " " I- " Alpha Collin faltered , his eyes dropping back to the list in his hands . His jaw tightened . After a tense pause , he gave Cassian a stiff , shallow bow . " I'll take my leave ." He didn't wait for a reply . Without another word , he turned , and I watched him strode out of the tent . " Say ... " I heard Cassian say . Immediately turning my attention towards him , I found him grinning evilly towards where my father left . " When will he notice that the list was fake ? " Cassian's grin lingered as the tent flap swayed from my father's exit , the flames in the lanterns casting flickering shadows along his sharp jaw . I stood frozen behind him , unsure if I'd misheard him or if that last line was just a joke said under his breath . But then he turned to me . And smirked . My stomach turned . " You ... you lied to him ? " " Not exactly , no . " Cassian leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head , 11:04 Wed , Sep 10 Chapter 13 looking far too pleased with himself . " I told him exactly what he needed to hear ." 81 55 vouchers I wanted to ask him why , but I hesitated . As if reading my thoughts , he chuckled . " Your father's not here out of love , Atasha , " he said . " He came to make sure you're dead ." Dead ? I blinked and watched as he stood . " If he truly cared about you , his daughter , his blood , he wouldn't have left this tent without insisting on seeing you with his own eyes . Not once did he ask for proof of life . Not even when I hinted that you were resting . Funny , don't you think ? " The space between us disappeared in three steps . He stopped just short of touching me , his presence enough to fill the air with tension . " They already think you're dead ," he said , voice low . My heart pounded . I wanted to argue . To deny it . But I recalled what I heard the other night . Celeste and Mother wanted me to marry the Tyrant Lord . It had been their plan all along . My lips trembled . " Are you telling me that ... it was them who sent that assassin ? " I asked . Cassian's smile twisted . " You already know the answer , don't you ? " he murmured , reaching up to brush a damp strand of hair from my cheek with a touch far too intimate for the weight of his words . His fingers lingered , like he owned even that small piece of me . " So ... how about this ? " His voice dropped lower . " Since they're all expecting you to die , since , in their minds , you're already dead ... why not make it real ? " AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!