Chapter 108 - The Wedding Part 2

(Luca's perspective)

Alexander strode in like he owned the place, his Ironclaw pack fanning out behind him, their movements precise, calculated.

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly. Tension hummed through the air, a low, ominous frequency that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. My father shot to his feet, bristling with rage. Even Cale, the ever-cocky bastard, stood, his jaw tightening as he watched Alexander descend the aisle with that slow, infuriating swagger.

"What is the meaning of this, Alexander?" my father demanded, his voice sharp enough to cut through the murmurs of the gathered packs.

Alexander didn't answer immediately. He reached the middle of the room, turning slightly to let his gaze sweep over the assembly before fixing his eyes on my father. "I think our invitation must've gotten lost in the mail," he said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of mockery.

"You weren't invited," my father growled, his fists clenched at his sides.

Alexander chuckled, a low, grating sound that made my stomach churn. "Oh? How unfortunate. This makes things terribly awkward, doesn't it?"

"Leave," my father demanded, his tone brooking no argument.

Alexander's smirk only grew. "Well, I do love a good party," he said, looking directly at me now, "so I think I'll be staying. If it's all the same to you, of course. What do you think, Luca?"

I knew he was baiting me, but I forced a smile. "Absolutely, Alpha Alexander. You're more than welcome."

The look my father shot me, could have burnt holes in steel. But I held my ground, refusing to react. This was part of the plan, or at least it had been. Now? Now everything felt like it was slipping out of my control.

Cale, however, wasn't having it. "No, I don't think so," he said, stepping forward. His tone was icy, and his movements deliberate. "If you didn't receive an invitation, then you're not welcome here."

The room seemed to hold its breath as the two alphas squared off. Cale and Alexander were both tall, both powerful, and the energy radiating off them was suffocating. Cale's words were a direct challenge, and Alexander's smirk only deepened.

"No, I don't think so," Alexander repeated, his voice a near-purr. "In fact, maybe you should leave, Alpha Cale. You're not welcome at this wedding, in this town, or even this country. Maybe you should leave altogether."

The tension snapped like a taut wire. The alphas of the other packs who had aligned with me stood, their betas following suit. They flanked Alexander, their body language making their allegiance clear. My chest tightened with satisfaction—for once, it felt like I had the upper hand. Cale was outnumbered, and he knew it. He couldn't take all of us, not even on his best day.

But then Cale smiled. Not a normal smile. This was something vicious, something unhinged. He chuckled, a low, unsettling sound that grew into a full-blown laugh. The room shifted uneasily, the confidence of the allied alphas wavering under the weight of Cale's madness.

And then he stopped, standing straight again, his face calm, almost serene. "Take them," he said, his voice cold and final.

The Ironclaw pack moved first, pouncing on the allied alphas and betas with brutal efficiency. Chaos erupted as tables overturned and chairs clattered to the ground. The wedding hall became a battleground in seconds, and I stood frozen, watching in horror as everything unraveled.

Alexander's betrayal hit me like a punch to the gut. He stepped to Cale's side, both of them wearing identical smug expressions. My chest burned with anger and confusion. How? How had I missed this? How had I let this happen?

Cale turned to me, his gaze locking onto mine with unsettling confidence. "Did you think I was stupid, Luca?" he asked, his tone mocking. "Did you really think I didn't know what you were planning?"

He took a step closer, his smile twisting into something cruel. "News flash," he continued, "I fucked your mate for over five years. Did you really think I wouldn't have her followed? Do you really think your discussions were not heard? Just then a small blonde girl came out from behind him with a smile like the devil. Crissy!

"I am smarter then you give me credit for, Luca. You should have chosen me but instead it was all her, her, her!" She spat out while pointing at Quinn like she was accusing her of being a hindrance. "I was invisible to you and every one of your mutts. It was too easy to hear every silent conversation and once Cale met me and offered me the world to be his eyes and ears…well the rest is history."

I felt the blood drain from my face. My insides turned to ice as her words sunk in. He'd known. He'd known everything.

"And the alliances?" Cale gestured to Alexander with a casual wave. "Thanks to him, I knew about those too. Made him an offer he couldn't refuse either. Chose the lesser evil, so to speak."

Before I could react, Casey appeared, dragging Kimmy by the neck. My heart stopped. She marched Kimmy to Cale, who grabbed her roughly, holding her arm with one hand and her neck with the other. I fought to keep my expression neutral, to not give anything away, but I knew it was pointless. The damage was already done.

Kimmy struggled against his grip, but Cale held her effortlessly. "You know," he mused, "I really liked this one. Feisty, just like Quinn. Imagine my disappointment when I found out who her brothers were."

He looked at Nick and Ash, who were seated near the front, their faces pale with suppressed rage. Cale continued, his tone almost conversational. "When Crissy told me, I didn't want to believe it but then her kinfolk gave her away. When I was at your house the other day and I saw her brothers in the entrance hall, their smell was identical to Kimmy's so it wasn't hard to connect the dots."

He grinned, his eyes cold. "And now here we are."

Nick and Ash shot to their feet, but Cale's pack members were on them instantly, holding them back. Kimmy's wide, tear-filled eyes met mine, and she mouthed two words: "I'm sorry."

"Cale, please," Quinn's voice broke through the chaos. She stood, her face pale but determined. "Don't hurt her. I'm begging you."

Cale looked at her, his smile softening in a way that made my stomach turn. "Oh, my dear Quinn," he said, almost tenderly. "It's too late for that."

Time seemed to slow. I watched in horror as Cale tightened his grip on Kimmy's neck. Nick and Ash thrashed against their captors, desperate to reach their sister. Kimmy turned her head slightly, giving her brothers a look that could only be described as a silent goodbye.

"No!" I shouted, my voice raw and desperate. With a sharp, deliberate motion, Cale snapped her neck.