Chapter 16: Indebted to Victor

"Didn’t I order you to kill that bitch?" Victor shouted at his beta and the group of warrior wolves he had sent to eliminate Caroline and her parents.

"Alpha, Caroline fell to the other side of the border. She was severely wounded, and we believed there was no way she could have survived," one of the warriors explained, keeping his head lowered.

Victor pushed himself out of the upholstered chair and stormed toward him. He grabbed the warrior by the collar and pulled him closer.

"Yet she’s alive and safe!" he roared. "Didn’t you see me being dragged out of her territory on Prince Andrew’s orders? She was alive because you failed to do what I ordered!"

He shoved the warrior away and turned toward his beta.

"Emmett, when I ordered you to kill Caroline, why did you delay?" Victor demanded. "Don’t you dare lie to me."

His eyes began to glow red as his wolf pushed closer to the surface, responding to his growing rage.

"Alpha, Caroline wasn’t home, and we kept searching that area for a while until she returned in the late evening. And you have seen her for a long time. She’s quite good at running," Emmett stated.

Victor’s fist cracked across his Beta’s face. The heavy signet ring on his finger sliced open Emmett’s lip, sending a thin trickle of blood down his chin.

"You are a disappointment as my Beta. You couldn’t catch an Omega, someone far weaker than you, and your excuse is that she’s good at running?" Victor shouted, his frantic rage making the surrounding warriors flinch.

Emmett clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, swallowing the humiliation. If his father hadn’t been heavily indebted to Victor, he would have abandoned his post as Beta long ago.

Yet, a question had been burning in his chest for far too long. Lifting his head to look Victor in the eye, he asked, "Why did you lead Caroline on when you never intended to stay with her?"

"What did you say?" Victor’s jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing in fury. He grabbed Emmett’s throat, choking him. "I’m the Alpha of this pack. I can do whatever I desire to." He pushed him away, causing Emmett to skid on the floor.

"You are no longer my Beta. I don’t need such an incapable wolf by my side," Victor commanded.

Emmett let out a chuckle. Without breaking eye contact, he reached for the platinum ring on his right thumb, the symbol of allegiance given to him the day Victor declared him Beta. He slid it off his finger.

Without uttering another word, Emmett placed the ring on the table between them and left.

~~~~~

"I think I was too desperate," Caroline murmured, nervously biting at her thumbnail. "How could I just say to his face that we should get married as soon as possible? He didn’t even reply. He just left."

Earlier, when the sudden demand had slipped out of her mouth, Andrew had remained completely silent. He had only stared deep into her eyes before turning and walking away, leaving a confusing silence in his wake.

"He must think I’m entirely selfish... while he’s only acting out of duty to the bond," Caroline whispered to the empty room. Sighing, she reached inward, reaching for her wolf in her mind. ’Lily, are you still not going to speak to me?’

As usual, only silence answered her.

Caroline leaned back against the pillows, turning her head as the double doors of her room swung open.

Two maids pushed a rolling garment rack inside, laden with dozens of breathtaking gowns. Caroline sat up straight, her eyes wide with bewilderment as Andrew stepped into the room behind them.

"Which one do you like?" he asked smoothly.

"Huh?" Her eyes tracked his movements as he crossed the room.

Sitting on the edge of the bed beside her, Andrew reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. "Among those gowns, which one grabs your attention, mate?"

Mate.

The word sent a cold shiver through her body, not out of excitement, but from the fear of being discarded all over again.

Andrew had already done far more for her than she had ever dared to ask for, yet after the agonizing heartbreak of her former mate’s betrayal, trusting that her second chance mate wouldn’t break her heart felt nearly impossible.

Yet, a quiet part of her heart whispered that Andrew was different. His actions were genuine and warm. He treated her with open respect, never hiding her away in the shadows as Victor had always done.

"Tell me," Andrew said softly, a subtle smile touching his lips. "I had the tailors select the finest gowns in the territory for you, but you can only wear one for our wedding."

His gaze drifted slowly across her face, setting on her eyes before sweeping down to the bridge of her nose and resting on her lips.

Caroline shifted her focus back toward the garment rack to break the tension. Among the array of elaborate dresses, a gown suspended in the center immediately caught her attention, featuring a high-collared neckline and intricate lace sleeves.

"That one," she said, pointing toward it. "The one in the middle."

The maids carefully stepped forward, lifting the gown from the rack to present it in full view. The fabric was heavy embroidery threaded throughout with genuine pearls and small, shimmering diamonds.

"Hmm. You’re going to look gorgeous in it," Andrew murmured, assessing the details. "We’ll schedule a fitting for you tomorrow."

Caroline turned to look at him, her voice dropping to a hesitant whisper. "Are we really getting married—"

Andrew cut her off before she could finish the thought.

"Yes, we are getting married tomorrow. You’re much better than before, so there’s no point in delaying. Besides, it’s better if we give my parents a big surprise that will shake them to the core," Andrew stated with a smirk.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the both servants, who left hurriedly after shutting the door behind them.

"Don’t you want to thank me for fulfilling your wish right away?" Andrew mused.

"Huh?" "Yes, I am thankful but your parents will be angry at us. What if they order to execute me?" Caroline looked up to meet his gaze.

"Not after you become my wife," Andrew replied. "Only you’ve to say yes, so that rest of the arrangements can be made."