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“I don’t like involving my Coven because that requires me to call upon my pureblood roots. The more vampire in me, the colder and more emotionless I get. It’s not something I intentionally do to disregard other shifters, but it’s a rooted quality in purebloods to think of themselves as superior beings. Klaus is obedient, and I don’t necessarily need to tap into my vampire side to order him to do stuff, but it’s a protocol no different from when I use my Alpha command on you guys when I need to. I have to solidify my position when speaking to my Coven members, which doesn’t seem like a big deal in comparison to losing my pack entirely.”
“When you requested the Coven’s aid in that moment, what happened? Clearly, whatever was targeting each of us didn’t end up going through,” Jayce acknowledged.
“I summoned help and they got rid of every sniper that had a lock on all of you,” Dimitris revealed.
Shit. They had a sniper on everyone? Neo. Onyx. Loki. Viktor? Viktor would have noticed, wouldn’t he?
“If you’re wondering about Viktor, he noticed but didn’t react,” Dimitris answered my thoughts.
“Why not?” Milo inquired. “Wouldn’t he have been able to warn the rest of us?”
“If Viktor pointed out there was a sniper, he’d only reveal the one that was targeting him. Viktor is experienced enough to know when one sniper is around, there has to be more hidden as backup, which means if he said a single thing, someone would perish regardless,” Dimitris answered.
“So why acknowledge it when it risks more than one person getting hurt?” I muttered and bit my bottom lip. I didn’t like this wake-up call at all. Maybe it was because I wasn’t in the center of death row. I wasn’t the only one being sacrificed in this case. Those I loved were targeted and threatened and I had no fucking idea until now. That bothered me so fucking much.
My chin was lifted, and I watched as Dimitris’s thumb ran along my bottom lip until he pushed it down lightly to free the almost broken surface from my teeth’s wrath.
“You’re still learning. Don’t be harsh on yourself for not reacting like an Alpha would. That’s why I’m still in this position. So you can observe what I do so if any fucker tries to pull off the same or something similar, so you know how to react,” he reasoned as his eyes softened a bit. “What occurred at the club that led to your kidnapping is proof of how desperate the queen is to claim you. It proves how much money, time, and resources she’s willing to put into retrieving one wolf. This shows how valuable you are, Willow. Not simply to the Vile Queen, but anyone on the power block.”
That made sense, and yet I simply couldn’t grasp what was truly so special or important about me that our enemy would go to such great lengths to retrieve me at the expense of my entire pack.
“I just…don’t get it. Why me? What’s so special about me that they’ll destroy everything I love to obtain me?” My question was so soft-spoken—so vulnerable and weak—but I couldn’t stop this bubbling feeling of helplessness.
Dimitris watched me carefully before his demeanor further softened as he pulled me into his arms.
“She clearly needs you for something. You’re the missing piece to whatever puzzle she’s trying to solve, and it's becoming apparent time is ticking. You being sworn in as royalty is going to be one prime moment she either wants to stop or interfere with, but I feel like there’s something more we’re missing. There has to be for her to involve snipers. From Viktor’s comments, they’re Russian. To hire one sole Russian sniper is debt-inducing. I can’t imagine hiring multiple snipers to take us out on Christmas Eve.”
“Sorry for being troublesome,” I muttered into his chest.
His hands went through my hair before he lightly kissed the crown of my head.
“Stop sulking,” he whispered. “It makes me want to do dangerous things to a whole lot of people when you’re all down like that.”
It was easier said than done, but I tried my best to not look so defeated as I pulled back to nod my head in understanding.
Arms wrapped from behind me, pulling me into a comforting hug.
“Princess,” Milo began, his hot breath tickling my left ear. “I know you dislike us getting pulled into things like these. You care for each of us dearly, but remember that we care about you just as significantly. You may be used to being some sort of sacrificial lamb to everyone else, but we don’t wish that on you. We don’t want you to feel okay with putting yourself in danger but not okay if any of us are in the line of fire.”
Jayce’s hand slipped into my right one and he squeezed it comfortably.
“Milo’s right. Also, this is probably what the Vile Queen wants as well. For you to feel the pressure of her desperate actions that would either lead to you sacrificing yourself or letting your guard down. She doesn’t deserve to have such power over you.”
I understood their words, I really did, but it didn’t make me feel any better about the situation.
Dimitris lifted my head up once more, the grip of his hand along my chin a lot softer as he lightly laid his lips upon mine.
“You’re strong, Willow. Persistent. Powerful. A big threat to a lot of people. Not just the Vile Queen. It’s why they’ve done so much to try to ruin you. Torture you. Humiliate you. Outcast you from the rest of the world. Your life journey has led to this point for a reason. Don’t allow the same people who fear you make you crumble when you’re at the finish line.”
He was right. I was inching toward the finish line, which was why the pressure was getting intense, but I couldn’t give up now. We’d really come too far.
“Once you walk the runway and claim your birthright, the Vile Queen will have no choice but to bow to your tune. That’s only a few days away. Then all of this bullshit will be over.”
“Actually, change of plans.”
All of us swiftly looked to the door to see Ruby standing there with Arthur.
“Ruby?” I gasped. “And Arthur? You’re awake?”
