Chapter 111: Two Arrogant Bastards

I turned on my heel and made a beeline for the spiral staircase, eager to put as many feet of reinforced steel between myself and their inflated Alpha egos as omegaly as possible.

"Stop right there," Edgar’s voice cut through the vault, dropping into a gravelly, commanding frequency that vibrated straight through the metal in the hall. "Aren’t you going to explain this?"

I paused on the second step, tilting my head back to look down at him. My lips curled upside down into a flat, thoroughly unimpressed expression.

"What’s there to explain?" I called back.

Without waiting for his response, I took the stairs two at a time, practically sprinting up the metal steps toward the exit doors.

"You two are grown men!" I yelled over my shoulder, my voice echoing off the concrete walls as I slammed my hand against the door release. "Talk it out with your fists or your mouth—just don’t drag me into it!"

The heavy steel doors hissed shut behind me, instantly cutting off the suffocating wave of spectral wolf aura and pine-and-ozone scent.

I’m not sure it’s a good thing to leave my investor unsatisfied like that, but I had no choice. This small thing won’t make Edgar throw us out, will he? Heck, he’s not that petty. And if he turns out to be, then I’m definitely going to start haunting him.

When I stepped into the warm, brightly lit corridor of the main villa, the rich aroma of seared spices and roasted meat washed over my senses.

Down in the main kitchen, Valerie was singing softly under her breath as she wiped down the gleaming marble counters, while Bradford was carefully drying porcelain dinner plates and setting them into the wooden racks.

Jayden and Jordan were sitting at the island, laughing loudly as they competed over the last serving of market desserts.

It was warm, normal, and blissfully free of territorial Alpha nonsense.

I let out a long, heavy exhale, leaning against the kitchen archway as my shoulders finally relaxed.

Yeah, I thought, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I walked over to grab a clean dish towel. I’d much rather be down here than listening to those two arrogant bastards state nonsense in a basement.

"Brianna!" Valerie beamed, looking up with a glowing expression. "How was your first day of training with Alpha Edgar’s instructor? Did it go well?"

"It was very productive and informative," I said, pulling a damp glass from the drying tray and wiping it clean. "I learned that high-born Alphas have way too much free time and zero common sense."

Jayden snorted loudly into his juice box, while Bradford let out a soft, amused chuckle.

"Well, whatever they’re like," my father said gently, placing a warm hand on my shoulder, "we’re just glad you’re safe, sweetheart. You should rest early tonight after dinner since tomorrow, you’re going back to school."

My hands paused over the glass for a split second.

School.

My suspension officially ended tomorrow morning. Ravenhollow Academy was waiting—and with the official lineup for the Tournament of Power now public across every news board and group chat, every hungry wolf on campus was going to be staring at the ’weak Omega’ listed under the Grey Moon roster.

I set the polished glass down with a soft, decisive click, my eyes narrowing into a cold, lethal line.

"I guess I’ll be having a lot of live target practice dummies before the tournament," I murmured under my breath and Valerie turned to me.

"Did you say something, dear?" She asked but I smiled.

"Nothing at all,"

Just as my parents were finishing up the dishes and we were all heading toward the living room, both Edgar and Zero walked in, side by side.

My entire body went dead rigid on instinct.

I scanned them properly. No missing legs, arms or ear. Good, at least things didn’t get bloody and my parents don’t have to worry.

But the sheer, crackling tension radiating off the two Alphas was thick enough to choke on, making my senses scream that a massive, invisible trap had been sprung. I instantly flinched, my brain scrambling for an escape route.

"Um, I think I left something in my room," I lied smoothly, backing up half a step toward the staircase. "I’ll just go check on it—"

"Brianna," Valerie chided gently, taking my arm and cutting off my retreat. "It’s terribly rude to run off when we have guests in the living room."

I closed my mouth, entirely helpless. I couldn’t just say no to my innocent, sweet mother. But walking blindly into an active warzone between two Alphas was more dangerous than stepping into a trap I actually knew was set.

Valerie smiled warmly at Zero, completely oblivious to the silent battle going on over my head. "Instructor, won’t you stay for dinner? We’d love to thank you properly for all the effort you’re putting into helping our daughter."

Before Zero could even open his mouth to answer, Edgar stepped forward, his voice smoothly cutting through the air like a cold blade.

"Instructor Zero was just explaining how he has something exceedingly important to attend to," Edgar purred, his golden eyes fixed on Zero with a dark, dangerous edge. "He will be taking his leave right away."

Zero looked at Edgar, then turned his gaze toward my parents. Standing tall, he suddenly bowed his head deeply to Bradford and Valerie—a gesture of absolute, humble submission that an Alpha would never make toward an Omega and a human.

What happened next shocked even me.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wells," Zero spoke, his voice clear, resonant, and unwavering. "Brianna Wells is an exceptionally talented and extraordinary individual."

I thought he was just giving a formal performance report to wrap up his exit, but he didn’t stop there. I have no idea where this man got the sheer, unadulterated courage, but he stood straight, looked my parents dead in the eye, and boldly declared:

"Please allow me to court your daughter. I, too, am an exceptional Alpha, and I would like to win her over to be my mate."

PFFFFFT—!