Chapter 69 – I slept with the enemy

(Quinn's perspective)

I've been through hell and I've felt pain so deep it hollowed me out from the inside.

But this…this was different. It wasn't pain. It was rage.

And it burned hotter than anything I've ever felt.

Luca's father just stood there, cool and composed, like he hadn't just dropped the most soul-crushing, world-shattering proposal in the history of terrible proposals.

Casey. Fucking Casey.

I stared at the woman who stood beside Cale her head high, sharp eyes flicking between Luca and me, like she already won.

I don't cry and I don't break. Not anymore but right now? I was dangerously close. What's worse was that Luca was watching me. His eyes locked onto mine, searching. For what? A sign? A reaction? He wouldn't get one. Not from me.

But my eyes—they betrayed me and I could feel it. The sting.The way they glistened. I blinked. No tears. Not here but shit, of course Casey noticed.

Her lips curved into a smile, slow and deliberate, like she could taste my discomfort. She turned to Cale, leaning in just enough for me to hear her soft, venomous whisper.

"This is perfect," she murmured. "A way to unite the clans… and finally deal with Luca. If he was a problem before, this will end it for good."

Cale's eyes lit up like a predator who just found its prey. He glanced at me briefly, a smirk pulling at his lips before he turned to Luca's father.

"I couldn't agree more," Cale said, voice smooth as silk. "This will strengthen both our clans. Set up the contracts, the meetings… and we can discuss the marriage and marking ceremony."

I felt sick. I wanted to scream. To claw my way out of this twisted nightmare. But then his arm—Cale's arm—tightened around my waist with a silent command to say 'Stay quiet. Stay in line.'

I knew what would happen if I spoke. If I defied him.

And yet…

Every fiber of my being was screaming. Do something. Say something. Stop this. I swallowed hard, the words trapped in my throat. No one was going to save me. It's up to me.

Cale's hand gripped my waist a little tighter, pulling me closer and his lips brushed my ear.

"Behave," he whispered, low and dangerous.

I was drowning. The walls were closing in. And then—

I snapped. No plan, no second-guessing, just raw instinct.

I reached for the knife strapped to Cale's belt—the one he always kept hidden under his jacket. My fingers closed around the hilt before he even noticed.

Without a word, I turned on my heel and walked out the big ballroom, each step measured, controlled—though my insides were a storm. My gillettos echoed against the polished floor as I made my way down the hall, each click a reminder to stay calm, stay composed, stay in control.

I found an empty office at the end of the corridor, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. It smelled of leather and old wood, the windows barely letting in enough light to chase away the shadows. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment, letting out a shaky breath.

My hands were trembling.

I hated that.

Taking another breath, I pushed off the door and walked toward the desk. My fingers gripped the edge as I leaned forward, staring at the empty chair across from me, as if the answers to my chaos might magically appear.

They didn't.

My hand gripped the knife and fingers brushing against cold steel and I saw the blade catching the dim light, reflecting a distorted version of my face.

I could end this. Right here. Right now.

No more alliances. No more clans. No more Cale.

A single slice, and I would be free.

I stared at the blade, the weight of it familiar, comforting in a twisted way. My thumb ran over the sharp edge, feeling the sting as it bit into my skin.

Do it.

The thought was a whisper, seductive and cruel. I raised the knife, my hand steady now, ready to press it against my skin—

The door creaked open behind me.

I didn't turn. I didn't need to. I knew who it was.

In one swift motion, I yanked the blade against my own throat pressing down on it tightly.

The room froze.

Everything stopped.

Cale's eyes widened as he registered what I'd done.

The metal was cold against my skin, biting just enough to make a point just as Luca walked in followed by that irritating bitch, Casey.

"Quinn," Luca's voice broke through the silence, low and laced with panic.

I didn't look at him.

Couldn't.

My eyes were locked on Cale.

"You think you own me?" I hissed, voice shaking but steady enough to carry through the room. "You think you can just… treat me like I'm some property?"

Cale's expression hardened. "Put the knife down, Quinn."

"Or what?" I challenged, pressing the blade just a little deeper. "You'll lose your precious Luna? You'll lose everything you worked so hard to manipulate?"

His jaw clenched, but he didn't move.

Casey, the smug bitch, stood rooted in place, eyes wide with surprise.

And Luca…

Luca took a step forward, hand outstretched like he could somehow stop me from doing something stupid.

"Quinn… don't," he said softly.

I ignored him.

This wasn't about him.

This was about me.

I shifted my gaze back to Cale.

"You don't control me," I said, each word dripping with defiance. "Not anymore."

His eyes darkened, the smug confidence slipping just a fraction.

Good.

I could feel the tension in the room shift, the balance of power tilting ever so slightly.

"I'd rather die on my terms," I continued, voice steady, "than live another second being your pawn."

For the first time, Cale looked… unsure.

And then, like the psychopath he is, his lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile.

"You wouldn't," he whispered. "You don't have it in you."

I smiled back. Small. Defiant. "Try me."

The blade trembled in my hand, adrenaline surging through my veins. I didn't care if I was bluffing or not. At that moment, I meant every damn word.

I saw Luca take another step forward, but before he could reach me—

Cale moved. Fast.

Too fast.

He grabbed my wrist, twisting it just enough to make the knife drop. It clattered to the floor, echoing through the tense silence.

But I didn't back down.

Even as he loomed over me, eyes burning with rage, I held my ground.

"You think this changes anything?" he growled, voice low and dangerous. "You think this little stunt will save you?"

I smirked. "No," I said quietly. "But it sure as hell made you sweat and besides I am tired of being your prisoner."

His grip tightened painfully, but I didn't flinch. "Prisoner?" Cale's smile widened. "You misunderstand, Quinn. You're not my prisoner. You're my creation. Just like I helped you become what you are, you helped me become who I am...all these years…in my bed."

Of course, he had to bring that up, now, in front of Luca. I knew this was the end of whatever Luca and I had left.

Luca froze beside me, his face pale as the realization set in. "Cale," he whispered, his voice shaking. "What did you just say?"

Cale's eyes flicked to him, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "You didn't know, did you?" he said, almost gleefully. "Your precious Quinn… she's bonded by mating. That's why she's mine."

"No," Luca growled, fists clenched at his sides. "You're lying."

"Am I?" Cale taunted, stepping closer. "Ask her. Ask your little Luna who she's been with sleeping with all this time."

Luca's eyes snapped to mine, searching for answers. For the truth. "What is he talking about, Quinn?"

"It wasn't like that," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I didn't have a choice."

"You let him touch you?" Luca's voice was low, dangerous. "You let him mate with you? Yes or No!"

Tears threatened to fall, but I blinked them back. "Yes but I didn't—"

"All this time… I searched for you. I fought for you. And you were mating with him? You betrayed me," he said, stepping back, his eyes filled with a mix of fury and heartbreak.

"You don't understand—"

"I understand enough." Luca's words were final. Cold.

He turned on his heel and walked toward the door.

"Luca, wait!" I cried, stepping forward. "Please, don't—"

But he didn't stop.

He didn't look back.

And then— A voice from the doorway.

"Is there a problem here?"

We all turned.

Luca's father stood there, calm and composed, like he hadn't just witnessed the drama unfold.

"No problem," Cale said smoothly. "Just a… misunderstanding."

"Good," his father said. "Then let's continue the discussion."

Cale straightened, his smirk returning as he faced Luca's father. "Of course. We have much to discuss."

And as they turned to leave, Cale shot me one last look. A promise. A threat that this isn't over. I had much to look forward to when we leave here.