Chapter 249 A Predator Hiding Behind A Mask

Chapter 249: Chapter 249 A Predator Hiding Behind A Mask

_Brielle’s POV_

I found it so hard to sleep, no matter how hard I tried. Everything happening felt too much to handle.

Sure, it was going how I ever wanted, but it was scarily too good to be true. ℴ

I just quietly sat in the armchair in the room, staring blankly at the wall.

One thing I couldn’t wrap my head around was what had happened in the council hall earlier today.

My mind was spinning, repeating the scene over and over again. I swear I had been fully prepared for the worst insult and embarrassment of my life, for Alaric to explode into a violent rage. I expected him to scream at me, reject my claim in front of all those reporters, and disgrace my name in public. I had even planned to play the victim and cry for the cameras when he did it.

Instead, Alaric had sat on his chair, totally calm and unbothered, and accepted the betrothal.

I couldn’t help wondering why everything was suddenly going in my favor. It felt unnatural and very terrifying. First, my fake pregnancy test miraculously came back positive with official markers, saving my family from ruin. And now, the Alpha King himself had casually agreed to make me his wife in front of the entire territory.

It was too easy. It felt like walking through a dark forest without realizing a trap was set right under my feet.

I stood up, wrapping my coat tightly around myself. I needed answers, and I needed them right now. I grabbed my phone, pulled up Kyle’s contact, and dialed his number. He picked up on the third ring.

"Lady Brielle," Kyle’s composed voice came through the speaker. "Is something wrong?"

"We need to talk," I said, my voice harsh and demanding. "Right now. Somewhere quiet where no one can hear us."

There was a brief pause on the line. "I have five minutes before my next shift. Meet me in the basement garage, section D. It’s empty this time of day."

"I’m coming down," I said, hanging up before he could answer.

I had gotten his contact from one of the hospital doctors. That guy had something up his sleeves, and I was going to find out what it was.

I took the service elevator straight down to the basement. The garage was cold and filled with ventilation pipes.

I walked past rows of parked cars until I saw a tall figure standing near a pillar in section D.

Kyle was leaning against the wall, wearing his white doctor coat over his button down shirt, looking as calm and collected as ever.

I stopped a few feet away from him, crossing my arms over my coat. I looked him up and down, keeping my posture straight and my expression completely cold.

"Alright, Kyle," I said, skipping the small talk completely. "Who are you really?"

Kyle looked at me, a polite, amused smile touching his lips. "I am Dr. Kyle, the head physician of this hospital, Brielle. You know this."

"Stop playing games with me!" I snapped, my voice ringing against the walls. "I am not an idiot, Kyle! I took two negative tests in my room. I am not pregnant. Yet you forged a royal DNA panel, handed it to the elders, and basically forced Alaric into a betrothal with me. Why? What do you gain from helping me become the Luna Queen?"

Kyle didn’t flinch. He slowly uncrossed his arms, leaning back against the pillar with an easy grace. No matter how much I pushed him, no matter how hard I tried to grill him, his face remained a blank, unbreakable wall.

"You should be thanking me, Brielle," Kyle said, his tone completely flat. "Your family estate is unfrozen, your social standing is restored, and in a few weeks, you will be the most powerful woman in this territory."

"I don’t like being used in a game I don’t understand!" I spat out, taking a step closer to him. "Tell me the truth, Kyle! Who are you working for?!"

Kyle stared at me for a long moment. The polite smile slowly faded from his face, leaving behind eyes that looked strangely empty. He let out a small sigh, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve.

"Honestly, Brielle?" Kyle said, his voice dropping into a calm one. "It’s simple. Alaric doesn’t deserve Rowena."

I froze, blinking in complete shock. "What?"

"Alaric is a tyrant," Kyle continued, sounding like he was discussing the weather. "He is arrogant, and constantly puts her in danger with his wars. Rowena is brilliant, beautiful, and far too special for a man like him. I am in love with Rowena. And I want Alaric married to you so he stays far away from her forever."

I stared at him, my mouth opening slightly.

The excuse sounded completely absurd. A respected, high ranking head doctor risking his entire life, his career, and committing high treason against the Alpha King just because he had a pathetic crush on an ordinary wolfless woman? It sounded like a line out of a cheap drama novel.

I knew deep down in my gut that this wasn’t the entire truth. There was something far darker, far bigger hidden behind his eyes.

But I was too exhausted to keep digging. I needed the result, even if the motive was crazy.

I let out a long sigh, shaking my head.

"Fine," I said, pulling my coat tighter around my shoulders. "Whatever your crazy reason is, I don’t care anymore. I’m getting what I want, and that’s all that matters. I will be marrying Alaric in a few days. Once the crown is on my head, you can go right ahead and pursue Rowena all you want. Good luck dealing with her."

Kyle chuckled, a light, pleasant sound that didn’t reach his eyes at all.

"How did you even fall in love with her so fast anyway?" I couldn’t help asking, tilting my head as I looked at him. "You barely know her. You’ve only been her doctor for a few weeks."

Kyle slowly took a step away from the pillar. He stepped into the light of the overhead garage bulb, his eyes locking onto mine with an unreadable intensity. A chilling grin spread across his face—a grin that contained zero warmth.

"For your own safety, Lady Brielle," Kyle whispered, "you really shouldn’t ask so many questions."

An instant chill ran straight down my spine.

The temperature in the garage felt like it dropped thirty degrees in a split second. My entire body went completely rigid, my hands trembling inside my coat pockets.

Deep inside my chest, my wolf suddenly whimpered, shrinking down in pure terror.

It was a feeling I had never felt before in my life.

The man standing in front of me wasn’t just a doctor with a crush. He was a dangerous predator hiding behind a mask.

Before I could say another word, Kyle turned on his heel and walked calmly toward the garage stairs.

Before he disappeared, he paused and cleared his throat. The next words that left his mouth had me trembling and almost collapsing.

“Also, never try to hurt Rowena again. I knew you were the reason for her accident, you wanted to kill her. I won’t be nice next time.”