Chapter 22

ANSEL POV

Cherry opened her mouth to speak, but the fury on Ansel’s face kept her quiet. “Back away from her and call off your men or I swear to you, none of them will make it out of here alive.”

Entering in droves, Ansel’s gammas square off with the others. They are bigger, stronger, and like their leader would attack without restraint. Maggie and the doctor are released. “S-stand down,” Cherry says to her gammas as she backs away.

“Ansel I—”

“Enough.”

He didn’t want to see the full extent of Karin’s injuries. The blood that stained the gamma’s fists and boots left him with a sinking feeling. Reaching her, Ansel bent down and exhaled sharply at the sight. It was worse than he imagined; there was so much blood that covered her body, he could hardly make out her clothes. Her face was beginning to swell, and her fingers were bent back in an awkward position. He covered his mouth, and his bottom lip trembled in both anger and fear.

“Why wouldn’t she fight back?!” he said to Jeff. “What the hell is the matter with her?! Why didn’t Ada help her at least?!”

“I can feel Ada’s anger. They are out of sync. She wouldn’t let her, Maggie, or the doctor help her. This was Karin’s decision.”

“Why?! How could she be so irresponsible and let someone do this to her?!” Cautiously, he scooped Karin in his arms.

Through a hazy fog, she called out to him. “A-Ansel?”

“Don’t talk. You need to maintain your strength.”

Tears fell from her eyes. “I didn’t hit your fiancée. I promise I didn’t hit her back. Please don’t be angry. I promise I didn’t mess up. I wouldn’t do that to you, and I can still be what you need me to be.” The words she whispered broke his heart. “I’m not broken…please don’t send me away.”

She did this for me.

Now it all made sense, and the revelation made him feel even worse. Even on the brink of death, she was still concerned about his needs. He hadn’t protected her; if anything, he caused it all. He knew Cherry was visiting and had heard of his intentions with Karin from his father, but he hadn’t expected her to be attacked. Still, the first rule he’d taught his men was to underestimate no one, and Karin clinging to life in his arms was proof he didn’t follow his own teachings.

“You’re the most important thing to me right now,” he said, and her tears started again. Eyes locked on Cherry; he kissed Karin deeply. She went limp in his arms, and he held her close. “Maggie, Doc, come with me.” He turned to his gammas. “Lock the doors. If one person tries to leave, slaughter everyone in this room.” He looked at Cherry again with fire in his eyes. “Everyone,” he said and left the room.

Kicking the door of Karin's bedroom open, the three rushed inside and closed the door behind them. “Place on the bed as gently as you can,” the doctor warned. Ansel did as he was instructed and backed away. Watching her writhe in pain in her sleep, he closed his eyes but opened them when he felt Maggie’s hand on his arm.

“She’s strong. She will make it through this.”

He nodded. “She is. I need to understand something, however, why didn’t you two help her?”

“She wouldn’t let us.”

“You should have anyway.”

She bit the side of her lip. “We couldn’t. She looked at us and told us to stand down and our wolves refused to disobey her. It was as if they were waiting for her next order.” Ansel’s face paled. “Sir Ansel, I care deeply about Lady Karin and you. I don’t wish to overstep, but there is something about her I can’t place, but that I know affects us all.”

Ansel’s jaw tightened as he thought about Cherry again. “I will explain everything, but right now, I need you to help me take care of something.”

“Anything.”

They walked out to the living room and Ansel grabbed Cherry’s arm. Escorting her to another room, he shut the door behind them. “Give me a good reason I shouldn’t allow Maggie to rip you to shreds,” Ansel said as Maggie stood beside him.

Cherry twisted her lips to the side. “You would really let that maid harm me?”

“Absolutely. If you hadn’t noticed she’s grown very close to Karin.” Maggie’s eyes tinged and she extended her claws. Growling, she kept her eyes on her prey.

“How dare you threaten me?!” Cherry shouted as she slowly backed away.

“It wasn’t a threat,” Ansel retorted deadly. “You came looking for a fight, well you’ve found one. I doubt without those poor excuses for gammas by your side, you will stand a chance. There is not one person who works for me that hasn’t been taught how to defend themselves, while I know for a fact you aren’t trained in combat.” Ansel could feel Maggie’s anger mixed with his own. His bloodlust pulling him into the darkness, he wanted nothing more than to let her kill her.

“Karin did this for us. Don’t let it be in vain,” Jeff said.

Ansel exhaled sharply. “Maggie, please go check on Karin, and assist the doctor with whatever you need…and thank you.”

“Of course, sir,” she replied, though he could tell it was taking everything in her to obey him.

Watching her exit, he turned his attention back to Cherry. “I want you to know I only spared you because there are more important matters to attend to.” He worked overtime to control his anger. “What you did today was repulsive and cowardly. It is one of the many reasons I ended things.”

She scowled at him. “I have a right to fight for what’s mine.”

“I don’t belong to you!” he roared.

“Oh so what?! You belong to her?!”

“Yes!” The word left his mouth so fast it shocked them both.

“What the hell did you just say?”

Ansel ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Karin is my fated mate.”

She chuckled. “Well now that makes sense. I thought it was just a desire to soil your royal oats, but now I see how she got you under her spell.” She caressed his face, and a little of Karin’s blood smeared on his cheek. “Don’t worry, we will work this out. You just need a little time apart, and you will see that all of this will only bring us closer and that you made a mistake.”

Ansel pulled away, and his eyes widened slightly. “You’re insane,” he said. “Like truly insane. What part of this do you not seem to comprehend? We are OVER. Whatever happens between Karin and I won’t change that fact. I don’t care what delusions my father is feeding you; they are not my words or feelings. I have no intentions of marrying you, having a child with you, or making you Luna. I brought Karin here. ME. Hurting her for a decision I made proves you aren’t fit for none of the roles.” He leaned in close to her. “Hear it, absorb it, turn it into a mantra if you must. I do not belong to you, and I never will.”

“But you will. I’ve invested too much in you to see it go down the drain. If you think you’re getting rid of me that easily, you’re not as smart as they claim you to be.”

“Are you—” A bloodcurdling scream came from the direction of Karin’s room. Brushing past Cherry, Ansel frantically raced out the door.