Chapter 35: Not invited

For a long, tense minute, Dorian and Joffrey stood toe-to-toe, locked in a deadly staredown. The air around them became charged with the thick, oppressive aura of Alpha dominance and cold defiance.

The small crowd had grown larger by now as shoppers surged forward, eager to witness the showdown. Someone in the back raised their phone to record the moment, but several uniform security guards swiftly intervened, shutting them down with warning glances.

Joffrey desperately wanted to maintain his ground, even though it felt as if Dorian’s tight grip was a fraction away from snapping his wrist in two. He kept his gaze leveled and cold, enduring the excruciating pressure until the pain finally became too much to mask.

"Still as ruthless as ever, little cousin," he muttered, forcing his lips into a tight smirk. "Fine. I will back away from your little pet. Unhand me."

Dorian’s dark gaze bore into his face for several agonizing seconds before he finally released his hold. He turned smoothly, his large hand slipping around Alyssa’s waist and pulling her protectively against his side.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice dropping its terrifying edge as he looked down at her.

Still shaken from the adrenaline rush, Alyssa nodded and managed a reassuring smile. "Yes. I’m okay."

Dorian turned his head, his sharp eyes falling on his sister. Serena and Jenny had quickly released their hold on her the moment he appeared.

"Pandora?"

She gathered their abandoned shopping bags and quickly moved to stand beside. "Yeah, I’m okay. You came just in time."

After ensuring his sister and his woman were safe, Dorian turned and raised a hand, signaling André who had followed him and Jake into the building.

"Take them back to the car," he ordered flatly. "I will be out soon."

"Yes, Alpha," André bowed respectfully, gently ushering the two women through the parting crowd. The surrounding shoppers began to disperse as well, realizing the physical showdown they had anticipated was over.

Once Alyssa and Pandora were safely out of sight, Dorian finally turned his full, undivided attention back to his cousin.

"If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were acting like an overprotective husband, Dorian," Joffrey drawled, snapping his sprained wrist back into position. "Tell me, is she seriously that important?"

"We haven’t crossed paths for several years, Joffrey," Dorian muttered coldly, ignoring his question. "And I intend to keep it that way. Do not call my phone ever again, and keep to your side of the North."

"You don’t mean that," Joffrey chuckled, adjusting his jacket. "We will always be family, Dorian, no matter how much you try to rewrite the bloodline."

His gaze drifted over to Jake who stood a few paces away, his expression blank and professional.

"I heard whispers of your upcoming wedding," he continued smugly. "Are you finally going to seal the treaty with Samantha, or is it for the little pet you’re so hellbent on protecting?"

"You’re not invited," Dorian said flatly. "There’s a reason why the invitations were not sent to you."

"Oh, come on, Dorian. Don’t tell me you still haven’t forgotten what happened between us years ago."

Dorian’s expression darkened instantly. His jaw clenched with such force the muscle ticked, his features twisting into a furious scowl. Yet, he remained silent, refusing to give Joffrey the satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him.

Joffrey, however, had no intention of letting it go. "It’s been decades, little cousin," he drawled, stepping closer, his voice dripping with venomous amusement. "It’s high time you forgive me for what happened with Elvira..."

Dorian moved suddenly, far too quick for anyone to notice. In the span of a heartbeat, he grabbed a fistful of Joffrey’s collar, almost lifting him off the floor. His eyes had transformed into a burning, fiery gold, flickering dangerously.

"If you ever speak of Elvira," he growled in a deadly, hollow voice. "If you so much as breathe her name again, I will forget the fact that we are related and destroy you!"

For one quick second, Joffrey’s arrogant mask cracked. The fear he harbored for Dorian surfaced in his eyes, only to be violently shoved back down beneath a tight, confident smile.

"I see you haven’t forgotten, nor have you forgiven," he choked out, chuckling nervously. "Fine. I will respect your wishes."

Dorian released his grip and turned away, his expression slipping back into a cold, blank look.

"We’re through here," he muttered to Jake.

As he walked away, Joffrey’s voice echoed after him. "I will be attending your wedding, Dorian! Even you can’t stop me from visiting the mansion. It is my home too, after all!"

Dorian didn’t spare him another glance. He stormed out of the mall, the crisp afternoon wind ruffling his dark hair and whipping his unbuttoned jacket open.

Joffrey’s cocky smirk finally dropped. A look of pure hatred and simmering rage twisted his features as he slowly turned to face Serena and Jenny.

"Are you really going to do nothing after he humiliated you that way?" Serena asked sharply, her voice laced with indignation. "He literally broke your wrist, and all because of that worthless trash who had the audacity to hit you!"

"You cannot let that disrespect slide, Joffrey," Jenny chimed in, crossing her arms. "After the Hellborne lineage, the Lowell family is the most feared and respected in the entire Northern territory. We can’t have people thinking they can walk over us without consequences."

Joffrey listened to them without uttering a word, his mind busy calculating several thoughts. After a quiet moment, his arrogant smirk returned and he casually adjusted his jacket.

Serena and Jenny exchanged surprised glances, utterly perplexed by the sudden, wicked smile spreading across their brother’s face.

Serena narrowed her eyes and took a step forward. "I know that look, Joffrey. You’re planning something, aren’t you?"

Joffrey chuckled, turning on his heel to walk away. "You didn’t honestly think I would let Dorian’s disrespect pass without consequences, did you?"

Serena grinned maliciously, quickening her pace to keep up with his long strides.

"What do you plan to do?"

"Simple," Joffrey said. "We will be attending Dorian’s wedding. I am curious to see who his bride is."

"Isn’t the bride supposed to be Samantha?" Jenny asked, running to keep up.

"I don’t think Samantha is in the picture anymore, Jen," Joffrey replied, shaking his head as his eyes gleamed with malicious intent. "Did you see how defensive Dorian became around that girl? The only person he has ever protected with that level of madness was Elvira."

He paused beside a side entrance, pulling out his phone to dial a contact.

"I think it’s time I move back to Dorian’s side of the North, to keep a close eye on things, and that girl."

Serena’s grin widened. "You’re going to take her from him, aren’t you? Just like you did with Elvira."

"Oh, it’s much worse this time," Joffrey smiled cruelly as he lifted the phone to his ear. "I won’t just be taking Dorian’s precious little toy. I am going to take the Alpha crown, just like I should have done a hundred years ago."