Kidnapped

Chase POV:

Leila's brows furrowed. "And you think he's responsible for your father's death?"

"I know he is," I said firmly, though the conviction in my voice carried a heavy undercurrent of bitterness. "He's made it clear he wants to hurt me, to destroy everything I care about."

Leila's expression darkened, her wolf instincts clearly bristling at the thought of a threat to her family. "Why? What does he want with you?"

I hesitated, my eyes flickering away for just a moment before I forced myself to meet her gaze. "It's personal. Ace... he blames me for things that went wrong in his life. He thinks I betrayed him, abandoned him. And now he's on a vendetta."

Her sharp intake of breath told me she was piecing things together faster than I'd anticipated. "And I'm part of that vendetta, aren't I?" she asked quietly, her voice like a blade cutting through the air.

I froze, unsure how to answer without confirming her fears. "Leila—"