Three Wolfens Betrayed Me. One Siren Didn’t Chapter 09

Three Wolfens Betrayed Me. One Siren Didn’t Chapter 09

At the airport, I’d barely sat down when Bartholomew called.

His voice was wrecked. “Come back. Marry me.”

*Marry me.* No love. No hope. Just a contract. An obligation.

I laughed.

Not a polite laugh. A real one. From the gut.

I laughed until tears came to my eyes.

An hour ago, he’d announced to the world that Selina was his true love. Now he wanted me. A backup. A second choice.

I laughed harder.

“What’s so funny?” He was angry.

I slowed down. “You’re not good enough for me.”

Then I blocked him.

I leaned back in my airport chair, watching planes line up on the runway. Sunlight glinting off orange-and-white wings.

A shadow fell over me.

I smiled. “You made it.”

I looked up.

Kane.

I blinked.

He stood there, backlit, a halo of sun around him. Black leather jacket over a white T-shirt. Black jeans. Boots.

The outfit I’d given him for Christmas. He’d picked the jacket himself. I’d had the T-shirt custom-made. He’d chosen the boots.

He was wearing my clothes to come find me.

He smirked. “What’s that look? Disappointed? Who were you expecting?”

Honestly? “Lorian.”

Kane’s expression shifted. Not anger. Not jealousy. Something more complicated. Bitter.

“Bad choice,” he said. “He’s not coming.”

*Bad choice.* That’s what he called Lorian. *Not coming.*

I nodded. My face didn’t change.

I’d learned that skill young. Blank face in front of everyone. Fall apart later.

Kane sat beside me. “Didn’t know you had it in you- running away like that. Thought you were actually going to ”

“Don’t.”

I didn’t want to hear the rest of that sentence. *Actually going to marry that guy.* He’d been

worried. He hadn’t wanted that.

But what did he want? For me to marry *him*?

Kane’s jaw tightened. I heard his teeth grind. He did that when he was anxious.

“Where are you going?” His voice was softer now. Unusual.

“None of your business.”

“You

He reached for my wrist. But his hand stopped a few inches away. Fingers curled. Like a kid afraid to

touch.

I stood up. “Where are Drake and Cole?”

Something flickered in Kane’s eyes. Subtle. But I saw it.

“Did they stop Lorian?” I pressed.

Kane laughed bitterly. “You really care about them.”

Not an answer.

*Did they stop Lorian?*

#f Kane.”

He didn’t respond.

But I knew.

Then I saw Lorian.

Walking through the terminal. Long strides. The crowd parted around him – not because anyone recognized him, but because he radiated *do not approach.* His temple was crusted with dried blood. His neck had three long scratches, still red around the edges.

He looked furious.

Until he reached me.

I smelled blood. Not just his.

“You are you okay?” I reached for his face.

He didn’t pull away.

He just looked at me. Dark eyes. Reflecting mine.

Kane was practically snarling. “What did you do to them?!”

Lorian put his chin on my shoulder. His arm circled my waist. A cold embrace. I felt him shiver – not from cold. Adrenaline.

“What happened?”

Lorian smiled. “Why are you upset? They’re your brothers.”

Kane froze.

So did 1.

*Brothers.* Why would Kane be upset if his brothers were hurt? Unless –

No.

Kane swallowed. “Where are they?”

Lorian’s voice was light. “I don’t know. Almost dead, probably.”

My stomach dropped.

*Almost dead?*

Kane didn’t rush off. He didn’t scream. He just stared at Lorian, then at me.

“You’re leaving together?” he asked.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Yes. We were leaving together. Whatever he’d done to Drake and Cole – that wasn’t my war. I was choosing him. Not because he was right. Because he was *mine*.

Kane’s veins stood out on his forehead. “Why him?!”

I paused. “Selina gave him to me. I’m his master.”

“Then I’m still

11

“You belong to Selina now,” I said. “Remember?”

The air stopped.

*You belong to Selina now.* Not a question. A fact.

“You gave me away,” Kane said. There was something dark in his eyes.

*Gave away.* Not *abandoned.* Not *left.* *Gave.* Like I’d wrapped him up and handed him over.

I laughed. “I heard you in the living room that day. How much you liked her. I was just giving you what you wanted. Don’t blame me now.”

*Heard you.* My voice was steady. But my chest was burning. Those words were carved into me.

Kane’s voice wavered. “You heard?”

He was scared. Not that I’d heard. Of what I’d *thought* when I heard.

“I heard enough.”

I turned away, pulling Lorian with me.

Kane tried to follow. The security guards I’d called earlier stepped in. Four of them. They moved

between us.

“Go, Miss Winfeld,” one said.

I nodded.

Kane’s voice followed me. “Evelyn – don’t – Evelyn – ”

I didn’t look back.

But I knew I’d see him again someday.