Chapter 8

• VALTOR’S POV
• “You managed to scare her away,” I muttered, more to myself than anyone else, my voice tinged with annoyance. “You know very well I was not going to harm her in any way.”
• Lyriq scoffed, his back still to me. “You say that.”
• “You know that,” I countered sharply, glaring at him from the corner of my eye. His stance betrayed his inner turmoil—hands on his waist, his head tilted slightly as if lost in thought.
• “You’re thinking the same thing, aren’t you, Lyriq?” I pressed, my tone dripping with amusement.
• “Shut it. I’m trying to think,” he growled low, the sound reverberating in the tense air. I allowed myself a small smile, oddly satisfied with his frustration.
• “It’s hard, isn’t it?” I continued, taunting. “Hard to accept that we’re both her mates. Harder still to admit that we’re both undeniably drawn to her.”
• Lyriq whirled around, his glare sharp enough to pierce steel. “I already have a hard time accepting that I have a mate to begin with,” he snapped, his voice venomous. “Now add sharing one into the mix? Spare me.”
• I never phantomed two naked men having a heart to heart.
• I chuckled darkly, shaking my head. “It’s a cruel joke, isn’t it? I’ll admit, though, I’m not above it. My wolf doesn’t care about reason or restraint—it wants her. All of her. And, frankly, I do too.”
• His expression tightened, his fists clenched at his sides. The acidic tang of malice filled the room, and I couldn’t help but grin.
• “You’d better not let those outstanding feelings of yours interfere with our mission, Valtor,” Lyriq spat, his voice low and threatening. “We’re still loyal to the Sanctum.”
• “Of course,” I replied smoothly, though his words grated against me. Lyriq’s self-righteousness was suffocating, a constant reminder of his belief in his own superiority.
• “You're nothing but a coward. Friendly warning; if you can’t back up your bark, Lyriq,” I said, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, “don’t bother starting a fight you can’t finish.”
• “Tch…” He hissed between his teeth, the sound a satisfying concession as he stormed out of the room.
• Left alone in the chaos, I let out a sigh, surveying the wreckage around me. It was a fitting reflection of the storm raging inside my chest.
• I closed my eyes, summoning the steady, familiar presence of my Delta. “Riven.”
• “Yes, Alpha Valtor?” came his calm, submissive reply through the interlink.
• “Indigo Larkspur. Have everything in her dorm replaced. There was...an incident. Send a team. Oh, and look into Winter for me.”
• “Alpha, I believe Winter wasn’t the one responsible for spreading rumors about her,” Riven said, his tone unwavering.
• “Oh?” My brow arched. “Then who was it?”
• “Lady Brooke’s lackeys,” he revealed, his voice devoid of emotion. “I managed to catch wind of it.”
• My jaw tightened, a growl building in my chest. Lady Brooke? The Sanctum’s most self-righteous member? What business did she have interfering with Indigo?
• “Does anyone else know of this?”
• “No, Alpha,” Riven confirmed.
• “Good. Keep it that way,” I ordered, severing the connection. Now that it was mentioned, it had been a minute since I showed up at the sanctum. Teaching could get busy.
• I headed back to my pack, to pay Lady Brooke a ‘little visit’ though my thoughts remained entangled with Indigo.
• The mate bond was maddening. I could feel her—every flicker of her emotions, every echo of her heartbeat. She was seared into my senses, and it was becoming impossible to ignore the fire she ignited within me.
• —-
• Alpha…” Riven greeted as he came to welcome me back. “We weren't expecting you tonight Alpha. You should have informed me.”
• Considering the distance between the Academy and the pack regions; West, East and North. An accomodation was made for the Alphas, a lone studio, much on the fancy side.
• We could go and come as we pleased.
• “My apologies, Riven. I just wanted to pay Lady Brooke a visit.”
• “You intend to meet her Alpha?”
• I nodded slowly…thinking to myself.
• “I want to get to the bottom of why she sent her lackeys coming for Indigo.”
• “You care for the girl?” Riven asked with a straight face and a tilted head. He must have been astonished, the only person I could entirely go out of my way for was my own mother.
• And she was dead.
• “She's my mate, if my wolf wants her so do I. And I will ensure her protection.”
• “But everything the Sanctum wants is against her protection, Alpha Valtor.” He so easily stated the words I was running away from for my very life since I realized my strong connection to Indigo.
• “I'll deal with that when the time comes, Riven.”
• “You're playing with a deadly fire Alpha.”
• With no more words, I blended into the shadows reappearing into my quarters. Shadow walking did have its perks
• I released a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.
• Riven was a Delta but his straight forwardness and lack of emotion sent chills even down my spine.
• The Sanctum’s location was kept top secret and only known between its members. To make that easier a path was made underneath each Alpha's quarters leading right to the heart of the sanctum.
• Pretty convenient I'd say.
• It didn't take me long to reach the depths of the dungeon and make my way to the sanctuary.
• A large iron gate protected its entrance and I had the key to unlock it. With my hands shoved deep in my pants, I quietly walked along the pathway then– just the devil I was looking for came out to play.
• “Well, isn't it Valtor? What finally brings you here? There's not even a meeting.” Her presence was as commanding as ever, her sharp eyes watching me closely.
• I assumed in her younger years, beauty might have been an understatement, if she managed to roll up a number of men with her now soft features and crows feet here and there.
• “I came to see you, Lady Brooke.”
• “Oh?” She raised a brow, intrigued. “And what, pray tell, would you like to discuss?”
• “What exactly do you have against Indigo Larkspur?” I asked, my voice low and menacing.
• Her expression didn’t falter, but I caught the subtle shift in her aura. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
• “Don’t play coy with me,” I growled, stepping closer. “You sent your lackeys after her. Why?”
• She laughed, a sound that grated against my ears. “Oh, Valtor. You always were one to jump to conclusions.”
• “This isn’t a conclusion,” I said coldly. “It’s a fact. And I suggest you start talking before I lose my patience.”
• Her smile faltered, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of unease in her eyes.
• “You’re playing a dangerous game, Valtor,” she warned, her voice dropping to a whisper.