Chapter 75: NO

Chapter 75 Cameron It happens in slow motion. One second, Lenora is thrashing in my hold, the next, she slips through my grip like smoke, all wild rage and sharpened edges. Austin reacts fast—shielding his sister with a flash of blonde hair and broad shoulders. For a heartbeat, I think maybe he’s got her—maybe he’s stronger than he looks. But he underestimates her. Lenora tosses him aside like a ragdoll. His body hits the floor with a sickening thud that echoes in my chest. By the time I blink, her hand is already around Allison’s throat, lifting her clean off the ground with a single arm. Her voice is raw fury. "How dare you!" Allison only makes choking sounds, her legs kicking weakly in the air. Adrian surges forward, his face twisted with rage, his wolf just beneath the surface. He doesn’t get far. My hand snaps out, catching his arm mid-swing. Over my fucking dead body. "Stay," I snarl, my voice sharp enough to make the air vibrate. His wolf flares, but mine answers back, heavy and commanding, the kind of dominance that shakes the room. But even with Adrian pinned in place, even with Austin coughing and dragging himself upright—my focus is on Lenora. Her fury is pouring into me through the bond, a tidal wave I can’t block. It sears my blood, burns behind my ribs until I’m shaking with borrowed rage. I grit my teeth, fighting to hold onto myself because if I lose it now, this room will drown in blood. Her claws press deeper into Allison’s pale throat. The blonde girl’s eyes bulge, her hands clawing desperately at Lenora’s wrist. And gods help me—part of me wants to let Lenora finish what she started. "Snowball, let her down." Ronan’s voice cuts across the chaos, low and steady, trying to diffuse her anger. But it only makes her snarl, her grip tightening. Allison’s eyes bulge wider, and blood begins to drip down her pale throat where Lenora’s claws bite in. Austin lunges forward like he’s about to be a hero. I step into his path, palm slamming against his chest. My voice drops into a growl, sharp and dangerous. "Lay a hand on my mate, and I will forget every year of friendship. I will fight you." He freezes, muscles coiled, his blue eyes burning into mine. "Then tell your mate to let my sister go." He grits the words out, his jaw flexing. I don’t answer. Not with words. Instead, I move past him—closer to Lenora. Her shoulders are trembling, wolf-close, her fury spilling down the bond and setting my blood on fire. The power radiating off her is staggering, and for a moment even I hesitate. But she’s mine. I place my hand gently over hers, where her fingers lock cruelly around Allison’s throat. I press, not to overpower but to guide, to remind her I’m here. "My beloved," I say, voice soft but carrying, "stop. You’ll kill her." Her gray eyes, wild and glowing, cut to mine. "I won’t kill her," she snarls, voice breaking into something feral. "It’ll just be a broken neck." Dammit, she’s so hot. The wrong time to think that way, but—can I say she is? The power rolling off her, the feral gleam in her eyes... It stirs something deep in me, something possessive and primal that doesn’t care this is dangerous. "That’s the thing, Len—broken necks kill people." Ronan’s voice cuts in, firm but measured, trying to anchor her. Her grip tightens, and her voice drops to a growl. "Not for a wolf. If I wanted to kill her, I’d rip out her throat." The words hang in the air like a blade. Both brothers growl in unison, the sound guttural, warning. Adrian takes half a step forward, Austin tenses, ready to lunge. Okay—how sexy my mate is aside. This is about to explode. "Lenora." My voice hardens, dropping into the tone that leaves no room for argument. Alpha, mate, man. All three at once. "Letherdown." She hesitates, before tossing the sister toward her brothers. Allison collides with Adrian, coughing and clutching at her throat, while Austin braces himself in front of them like a shield. "We’re leaving," Adrian says, voice low, protective, clipped with fury. Good. Well, I’m not going to stop them. I cross my arms, watching as he half-guides, half-drags his sister toward the door, Austin flanking them. The tension doesn’t leave with them—it lingers, heavy in the air, like static before a storm. They take their sister, and once the penthouse door closes, the silence that follows is deafening. I exhale, running a hand down my face. "Fuck me, Len—did you just cause a bloody fucking war?" Ronan says, gripping her shoulder roughly, shaking her like he can rattle sense into her. Lenora jerks free, her eyes still burning silver, her voice clipped and steady. "I don’t regret it." "This is why I didn’t fucking tell you," Ronan snaps, jabbing his finger against her chest. "It’s like when you’re angry you lose your brain cells." Lenora’s chest rises and falls fast, her wolf still bristling just beneath her skin. "What—what was I supposed to do? Sit here and smile, act like everything’s fine, even after what I heard?!" she yells, voice breaking on the edges of fury and grief. Her fists tremble at her sides, and for a moment, the fire drains out of her. Her next words are soft, almost a whisper, but they hit harder than any scream. "You’re my brother... and my best friend." Ronan exhales, dragging his hands down his face, and when they fall away, he looks tired—like all the anger has burned off, leaving only raw exhaustion. "I know," he says finally, voice quieter now. "I love you." He pulls her into his arms, holding her tight. For a moment, it feels like the world pauses, like their bond is enough to mend every fracture. When he steps back, his jaw is set again, but his tone is steady. "Tomorrow, I’ll go with Cameron to apologize." "I’ll come too." Lenora blurts without thinking. "NO." The word echoes through the room, sharp and immediate—because it doesn’t come from just one voice. It’s in unison: Ronan’s, Simone’s, and mine. Lenora freezes, eyes flicking between us in shock, as though the three of us just rehearsed a chorus behind her back. "Absolutely not," Ronan says firmly. "Out of the question," Simone adds, arching a brow. And I simply tighten my arm around her waist. "Not happening, beloved."