Chapter 21
The day before the Mating Ceremony, in Noctelle Pack’s private estate, Clarisse sat before the vanity, her fingertips gently brushing over the tiny crystals sewn into her wedding dress.
Sunlight streamed through the window. Outside, servants were busy preparing the grounds for tomorrow’s Mating Ceremony. Everything looked picture–perfect.
A soft knock broke the stillness.
“Clarisse?”
Adrian stepped inside, carrying a cup of black tea in one hand and an exquisitevelvet gift box in the other.
He was dressed in an immaculate white suit, his golden eyes soft and gentle.
“You barely touched your breakfast,” he said, setting the tea beside her with a trace of helplessness in his voice. “The kitchen told me you only had half a glass of milk.”
Clarisse looked up, a slight smile on her lips. “Adrian, are you scolding me now?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” He leaned in and handed her the gift box. “I’m just worried you’ll go hungry.”
She opened the lid to find delicate pieces of chocolate inside.
“I heard you used to love the chocolates from this place,” he said softly. “So I had some brought in.”
Clarisse froze, surprised he would bother with such a detail.
Just as she was about to reply, the estate’s alarm system suddenly blared sharply.
“What’s going on?” Adrian frowned, immediately pressing a finger to his earpiece. “Security, report.‘
A voice crackled back with urgency, “Adrian, the system’s been breached! All surveillance and entry points are down!”
Adrian’s face darkened. He turned to Clarisse. “Stay here, Clarisse. Don’t move.”
He strode out, and Clarisse heard his voice barking orders down the hall. “Seal off every exit!”
But before she could even react, the door to her suite swung open silently.
A tall figure stood at the threshold, the chill of the night wind clinging to his black coat.
It was Leopold.
Clarisse shot to her feet, the hem of her gown brushing the vanity and knocking over a perfume bottle. The glass shattered on the floor with a sharp crack.
“Leopold?” She stared in disbelief. “How did you get in here?”
Leopold didn’t answer. He just stared at her, something unreadable and ferocious burning in his eyes.
“Come with me,” he rasped.
Clarisse stepped back. “Are you insane? The Mating Ceremony is tomorrow!”
“So?” he sneered. “Are you really going to bond with him?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“It is.” He moved closer with each word. “Your business is always my business.”
Clarisse’s heart began to race. She glanced instinctively toward the hallway, but it was eerily empty.
Where was Adrian? Where was security?
Chapter 21
R
eRomance–Romance 4.7 FREE Your daily dose of fast, free drama
Google Play
INSTALL
10 10%
Chapter 21
Leopold seemed to read her mind. “Don’t bother. He’s temporarily occupied.”
“What did you do to him?!”
“Relax. I didn’t hurt him,” he said coldly. “I just had him delayed.”
Clarisse’s grip tightened on her gown. “What do you want from me?”
Leopold looked at her for a long moment, then suddenly asked, “Do you really love him?”
Clarisse was stunned.
“Not yet,” she said at last. “But I’m trying.”
“Trying?” The word struck him like a slap. His jaw tensed. “Clary, when did you ever need to ‘try‘ to love someone?”
“Because he’s worth it,” she replied, locking eyes with him. “And even if I never love him, that doesn’t mean I’ll ever love you again.”
Leopold’s breath hitched, his eyes turning bloodshot.
In the next instant, he stepped forward and seized her wrist.
J“Let go!” she struggled, but he easily overpowered her.
“Save your strength,” he muttered, pulling off his tie to bind her wrists. “You’ll need it later.”
Without another word, he hoisted her into his arms and strode toward the floor–to–ceiling window of the suite.
Outside, a helicopter hovered, its rotors deafening.
Clarisse’s pupils shrank in shock. “Leopold! This is kidnapping!”
“So what?” He smirked, holding her in his arms and leaping onto the windowsill. “I should’ve done this the moment I saw you.”
The night wind howled as her wedding dress whipped violently in the air.
She twisted in his arms, desperate to look back one last time, only to see Adrian in the distance, being held back by a group of Betas.
He was seemingly shouting her name, but the roar of the helicopter drowned everything out. She couldn’t hear a thing.
R
