Chapter 264: Stop lying

’ Don’t tell me you’re actually mad, Killian? You were the brilliant tactician who handpicked the Velmore heir specifically for his political lineage and defensive assets. This is just the tip of the iceberg, brother. They are an engaged couple now. Of course they’re going to kiss... and eventually do way more than that.’

CRACK

The heavy crystal glass in Killian’s hand shattered completely, sharp shards exploding between his fingers as water and blood dripped down the smooth stone.

Down on the driveway, Xavier’s shoulders stiffened for a fraction of a second, his head subtly shifting toward the upper balconies. Xavier was a highly trained military operative—he had known from the very second they pulled into the driveway that they were being watched from above.

The entire physical display had been a calculated performance to mark his territory.

Annoying little prick, Killian thought.

’If you don’t shut your mouth this instant... I will swallow a vial of pure wolfsbane,’ Killian growled internally to his beast.

His wolf sneered back, utterly unbothered by the threat. ’You want to silence me so badly because I refuse to play along with your pathetic denial! You are a piece of shit, Killian. Of course they’re going to get close. Did you honestly believe that just because it’s a temporary political arrangement, they wouldn’t develop a genuine spark? People don’t need romantic feelings to touch each other or even fuck. Just admit the raw truth—you actually give a fuck about your former mate.’

Killian clenched his right fist tightly, ignoring the burning agony as the jagged glass shards buried deeper into his palm, dark crimson blood welling between his knuckles and dripping onto the stone floorboards.

’Can you stop rambling?’ Killian barked mentally, his breathing growing ragged. ’I don’t care about her personal life. It’s simply annoying to watch.’

’Oh, really?’ His wolf scoffed with cold disdain. ’You get furiously annoyed when the girl you meticulously arranged a high-court engagement for actually gets along with her fiancé? Logically speaking, isn’t this the exact outcome you wanted? Yuki taking the Velmore name ties a major pack alliance to the Ravencourt bloodline. It’s brilliant for the family.’

The voice in his head grew sharper, cutting straight to the bone. ’But you can’t see the logic anymore because your judgment is completely clouded.’

’My judgment is not clouded,’ Killian argued defensively, his chest heaving as he found the internal debate entirely maddening.

Down below, Yuki had already turned her back and stepped through the grand double doors of the residence. Xavier stood beside his sports car, watching the doors close behind her.

Once she was completely out of sight, he didn’t immediately leave. Instead, he turned his body around, raising his honey-brown eyes directly toward the darkened second-floor balcony where Killian stood shrouded in shadow.

Their eyes locked across the vast, moonlit distance.

A smooth, mocking voice slid directly into Killian’s mind through a short-range mental thread. ’No need to worry, brother-in-law. I brought your little sister back completely unharmed.’

Killian’s bleeding fist tightened so hard his arm trembled, his cold blue eyes locking onto the annoying wolf with lethal intent. Xavier merely offered a nonchalant shrug, turned around, and slid back into his cherry-red sports car before burning rubber out through the front gates.

’Your judgment is clouded by pure, unadulterated jealousy, Killian,’ his wolf chimed in again, letting out a low, dark laugh.

’Where is jealousy coming into this?!’ Killian snapped back, his mind racing. ’Every single decision I have made since her arrival has been strictly logical!’

’You’re smart enough to make it look that way to everyone else,’ his beast argued relentlessly. ’You used the excuse of an external pack threat to keep her trapped inside the Ravencourt perimeter because the thought of her leaving your sight tore you apart. If she had chosen Declan Silverthorne, you would have lost every ounce of control you possess—and now you can’t stand Xavier touching her.’

The wolf’s voice softened into a chilling, absolute truth. ’For someone who claims he never had feelings for her, you sure go to extreme measures to protect her under the weak blanket of the "family name." If you refuse to admit it to yourself, then I’ll say it for you. You love her, Killian.’

Killian said nothing. His jaw locked, a sharp click of his tongue echoing through the quiet balcony as he turned on his heel and strode back into the interior corridor, leaving the pool of blood and shattered glass behind.

’The mate bond is permanently severed, Killian,’ his wolf whispered, his tone filled with a haunting finality. ’There is no magical thread pulling at your soul anymore. Nothing is influencing your mind. Everything you feel right now... is simply you.’

Killian let out a low groan of sheer frustration, his brow furrowing as the deep cuts across his palm began the slow, painful process of knitting together.

’You sure talk a lot of shit for my wolf,’ Killian hissed silently.

’Because I am forced to say everything your stubborn, prideful mouth refuses to utter!’ the beast roared back. ’You never loved Eloise! Whatever twisted affection you felt for her was nothing more than childhood familiarity and obligation because your brothers adored her! You have never once looked her in the eyes and said you fucking loved her, because you didn’t! The one you actually love is that stubborn blonde girl down the hall—the one you can’t fucking touch, while you sit here eating your heart out because Xavier can freely hold her without being judged by the entire pack!’

’You should stop rambling now,’ Killian snapped, his tone dangerously icy. ’I do not love her. You are making my headache ten times worse.’

’Whatever you say, Alpha,’ his wolf huffed, his presence slowly receding into the deep recesses of his mind. ’I can’t wait to watch how long you can play the tragic hero who sacrifices his own happiness for everyone else.’

Footsteps echoed softly from the far end of the corridor.

Killian lifted his eyes from his blood-soaked right hand just in time to see Yuki turn the corner.

Both of them froze instantly in their tracks, the space between them falling dead silent. Yuki’s emerald eyes flicked downward, locking directly onto his right hand—the dark, wet crimson covering his fingers and the jagged shards of glass still embedded deep within his palm.

An immediate wave of intense irritation flushed across her delicate face. Without a second of hesitation, she marched straight down the hallway toward him, crossing the distance in a matter of seconds.

She reached out, her small, warm fingers clamping tightly around his wrist. Killian’s entire muscular frame went rigid at the unexpected contact as Yuki forcefully yanked his arm up and pried his fingers open. Her face darkened significantly as she took in the horrific sight of raw flesh and glass shards.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Yuki barked, her eyes snapping up to glare at him with raw fury. "Are you seriously hurting yourself just because Eloise is lying injured in a hospital bed?! Do you love her that bloody much?!"

Killian’s heart did a strange, violent flip inside his chest. Damn it... I love that she’s snapping at me, he thought, a dark thrill running through his veins. No one in the entire pack dared to speak to him with such raw disrespect—not even Alexander touched the eldest heir with such fiery defiance.

Furthermore, beneath her flaming anger, Killian caught the distinct, unmistakable trace of something deeply bitter—a tone that sounded terrifyingly close to jealousy.

Or maybe I’m just imagining things, he corrected himself bitterly. There was no universe in which Yuki Donovan was jealous over him.