“ARI”


    Her shriek cut through the standoff.


    Her followers were frantic with fear.


    “Release her! If you hurt her, our n leader, Veronica Harrison, won’t let you off!”


    I sneered, “Veronica Harrison? Who cares?”


    I tightened my grip, unrelenting.


    “Let’s have somemon sense, Shirley Harrison.


    Talk now or it’s on you.


    Your status as the n leader’s daughter won’t sway me.


    ”


    Fear eclipsed her arrogance, herplexion ashen.


    Stammering, she pleaded, “Please, no haste.


    I’ll speak.


    I’Il tell you all.


    ”


    “Would have saved us all some time.


    ”


    I released her with contempt.


    She crumpled, coughing and crumbled, a stark contrast to her earlier poise.


    As she gasped for air, I pressed, “Out with it, and quickly.


    No more games.


    ”


    Caleb’s POV:


    Without hesitating, Shirley quickly replied, “The man who took Debra away is our deputy n leader, named Andrew Pierce.


    He dered at a banquet a few days ago that Debra was his fiancee.


    ”


    “Fiancee?”


    The word caused my brows to knit together, and a wave of difort washed over me.


    I noticed jealousy flickering in Shirley’s eyes.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Clearly, she had feelings for Andrew and felt envious and resentful towards Debra.


    That exined why she and so many other witches were against Debra.


    I gave Shirley a stern warning.


    “Stay away from Debra.


    If I find out she’s been harmed because of you, you’ll regret it.


    ”


    After warning Shirley, I gathered Carlos and the guards and we left.


    I was tempted to punish Shirley for Debra’s sake, but given our current circumstances, I knew Shirley’s connections were not to be taken lightly.


    It would be easy to end her, yet doing so might stir trouble with her kind-something I was keen to avoid.


    Although I harbored some feelings for Debra, they weren’t strong enough to cloud my judgment.


    As the Alpha, the safety of our pack was my top priority, above any personal feelings.


    On our way back, Carlos remarked, “Caleb, you’ve changed a lot.


    I expected you to be rattled at the sight of Debra, but instead, you were surprisingly calm, almost like you were a different person.


    And the fact that Debra doesn’t even recognize us now, it’s just…”


    He paused, shaking his head in disbelief.


    I stayed quiet.


    To be honest, my emotions were all over the ce, like knotted threads that couldn’t be untangled or sorted out.