Adele's POV
The men who had surrounded us faltered first—not by choice, but by mere instinct.
I felt it before I saw it, that sudden shift in the air, the way predators react when a stronger Alpha enters their territory.
Their bodies stiffened immediately, shoulders drawing back, feet retreating half a step as though some ancient command had rippled through their blood, whispering danger in a language older than reason itself.
But fear, when wrapped in arrogance, is quick to mask itself.
The largest of them—a towering brute with a thick scar splitting his brow and the stink of gun oil and aggression clinging to him like second skin—snarled loudly, forcing bravado into his voice.
"Which lunatic has a death wish big enough to walk into Lucian Valore's territory and make threats?"
They turned as one.
So did I.
For a heartbeat, I thought my mind had finally fractured under terror—that the night had conjured him out of memory and dread—but then I felt it, unmistakable and suffocating, the oppressive weight of an Alpha's presence pressing down on the street like gravity itself.
Caden Wayne stood there, tall and immovable beneath the streetlight, his coat stirring faintly in the night breeze, his eyes glowing with a cold, restrained fury that made my breath hitch painfully in my chest.
Why would he be here?
Why would the monster from my past come now—when I was already cornered by death?
The answer came with his next words, his voice low, edged with a dangerous growl that vibrated through my very bones.
"Who sent you to lay a hand on Fleur Swann?"
The scarred man scoffed, though his jaw tightened nervously. "That's none of your concern, Alpha Wayne."
So they knew him.
Of course they did.
Every wolf, every criminal, every shadow-dweller in Europe knew the name Caden Wayne—the Alpha who ruled not only territory but fear itself. But then... why weren't they scared of him?
"This is not your hunting ground," Lucian continued, though his voice wavered despite his effort to sound defiant. "You'd be wise to leave while you still can. You know the rules, Alpha Wayne––we do not cross each other's borders without permission."
My mind raced.
If they weren't his men… then who had ordered this?
And why—why was he standing between me and death?
Caden didn't answer right away. His face was carved from stone as he lifted his gun with deliberate calm, his movements precise, predatory, lethal. His bodyguard flanked him silently, another presence of trained violence.
"One chance," Caden said softly, the way Alphas speak before they tear throats out. "Tell me who sent you."
Lucian laughed—a hollow, desperate sound. "You don't scare me, Wayne. And what's with those toys, huh? Shifting is now too messy for you?"
But his pack didn't echo him in his arrogance.
They knew better than to bark at someone as strong as Caden Wayne.
"Leave," Caden continued, his voice never rising, yet somehow growing heavier, darker. "Walk away. Now."
That was when Lucian snapped.
In a blur of movement, he grabbed me, yanking me backward so hard my spine jolted against his chest, his arm locking around my neck as cold metal pressed against my temple.
"Take another step," he shouted, panic finally breaking through, "and I paint the street with her blood."
I met Caden's eyes.
For a moment, the world narrowed to just us—the noise, the guns, the fear all dissolving as something raw and dangerous flared in his gaze. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding, a low growl slipping past his control, and I saw it then—not the monster I remembered, but the Alpha fighting instinct itself.
I swallowed hard. I could shift, but shifting took longer than a bullet. And I knew all damn well that all his bullets were silver.
"Let her go," Caden commanded calmly, his eyes never leaving mine.
Every gun turned toward him.
My heart slammed violently against my ribs. What are you doing? I wanted to scream. Why would you risk yourself for me?
Lucian sneered again. "You're alone here. Even if you manage to send a bullet my way, five more will be planted in your chest right away."
Caden's lips curled, slow and lethal. "Sure. Try me."
Lucian shoved me away and raised his weapon—
And the world exploded.
Caden fired with impossible speed, the shot precise, tearing through Lucian's hand. The gun clattered to the ground as the man screamed, clutching his mangled fingers.
"Cover them!" Caden barked.
His bodyguard moved instantly, shielding Lea and me, ushering us backward as gunfire erupted, deafening and chaotic, the night shattered by shouting and panicked footsteps as Lucian's pack scattered.
"Run!" Caden ordered, his gaze locking onto mine with undeniable command.
I obeyed—but not before I turned back.
And saw him fall.
The sight punched the air from my lungs.
"No—" I choked.
"They shot the Alpha!" his bodyguard roared.
Hands dragged me toward a waiting car, Lea sobbing beside me, but my eyes stayed fixed on the street where Caden lay motionless beneath the harsh glow of headlights, blood darkening the pavement.
Inside the car, my body shook violently, my heart refusing to calm, every instinct screaming that something was wrong.
When the driver started the engine, panic tore from my chest.
"What about him?" I blurted. "Is— is your Alpha alive? The silver––"
The driver glanced back once. "He's already been taken to the hospital. He'll survive."
The words hit me harder than the gunshots had.
Relief flooded me—unwanted, confusing, unsettling.
As the car pulled away, I stared out into the night, my hands trembling, my heart aching with emotions I had sworn long ago I no longer possessed.
The Alpha who once destroyed my life had just bled to save it.
He could have walked away, like he always had. But he didn't. Why now?