Chapter 260 An attack

Chapter 260: Chapter 260 An attack

_Brielle’s POV_

I looked at myself in the full length mirror inside the bridal boutique, smoothing down the front of the white lace dress. The silk felt soft under my fingers, and the jewels along the neckline made me look like a real Luna Queen.

Everything was finally falling into place.

The council elders had pushed the wedding up to two days from now. Rowena was nowhere to be found, and Alaric was forced to stand right outside the fitting room waiting for me. I did not know what Kyle was up to behind closed doors, and frankly, I did not care. As long as his mysterious plans kept Rowena out of the way and secured my place beside Alaric, he could do whatever he wanted.

I stepped out from behind the curtain, letting out a sigh and putting on my sweetest, most helpless smile.

Alaric was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He was wearing his uniform, his jaw clenched tight, and his eyes staring blankly at the floor. He did not look like a man about to get married. He looked like someone trapped in a nightmare.

I walked over to him, wrapping my arms around his left arm and resting my head gently against his shoulder.

"Do you like this dress, Alaric?" I asked softly, batting my eyelashes up at him. "The designer said it is the finest gown in the entire city. I want to look perfect for you on our wedding day."

Alaric did not even glance at me, he pulled his arm out of my grip with a cold motion, stepping two feet away to create distance between us.

"Pick whatever dress you want, Brielle," Alaric said, his voice flat, dry, and completely devoid of any emotion. "I do not care about the lace."

I bit the inside of my cheek, feeling a surge of sudden anger. He was treating me like a complete nuisance while I was carrying what everyone believed was his heir.

I decided to play my best card. I let out a gasp, clutching my hands over my belly and bending forward slightly at the waist. I squeezed my eyes shut, letting out a small, painful whimper.

"Ah... Alaric..." I groaned out, making my voice sound weak and breathless. "My stomach... it hurts."

It worked instantly.

Alaric turned his head, his eyebrows pulling down as his natural protective instincts kicked in. Even if he hated the marriage, he still cared about the child inside me. He reached out, grabbing my elbows firmly to keep me steady.

"What is wrong?" Alaric asked, his deep voice carrying an edge of genuine concern. "Is it a cramp? Do you need a doctor?"

"It is just pain," I murmured, leaning slightly into his hands and acting like I could barely stand. "I think the stress of them rushing us is too much for the baby..."

Before Alaric could answer me or call for a seat, his phone buzzed violently in his pocket.

He pulled it out, looking at the screen. The moment he saw the name on the display, his whole posture shifted. The small bit of warmth in his eyes vanished completely, replaced by a deadly seriousness. He answered the call instantly, slapping the phone against his ear.

"Kasper," Alaric barked into the receiver. "What happened?"

He listened for three seconds, and my heart dropped when I saw the color drain straight out of his face. His eyes went wide with pure, shock.

"Where are you now?" Alaric growled out, his voice shaking with rage. "I am on my way."

He slammed the phone shut, completely letting go of my arms. I stumbled slightly, blinking in total shock as he turned on his heel and strode toward the boutique exit without looking back at me once.

"Alaric!" I called out, taking a step after him. "What about the dress?! What about my stomach?!"

"Guards!" Alaric commanded in a booming voice that made the shop assistants jump. "Take Lady Brielle back to her family’s house immediately.”

Before I could say another word, two guards stepped in front of me, blocking my path as Alaric pushed open the doors and disappeared into the afternoon.

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_Alaric’s POV_

My knuckles turned white as I drove over the speed limit.

Kasper’s words kept ringing inside my head like a nightmare. “Prince Ezekiel was in a terrible car crash. It was a truck. He is in the emergency room right now, and Pierre is losing his mind.”

I pulled up to the main entrance of the Ebon Moon pack hospital, slamming the car into park. I did not wait for my guards to open my door. I threw it open myself and walk straight through the sliding doors, ignoring the nurses and doctors who bowed to me as I rushed past.

I took the stairs three at a time, bursting through the doors of the second-floor intensive care unit.

Standing in the middle of the hallway were Kasper and Gideon. Right beside them, leaning his back against the wall, was Pierre.

I sighed deeply the moment I saw Pierre, his face was completely pale, his clothes were wrinkled, and his hands were trembling so badly he could barely keep them still. His eyes were red, completely hollow and broken, staring down at the floor as if his entire world had just ceased to exist.

"Kasper! Gideon!" I called out, walking over.s

Kasper turned around, looking deeply shaken, while Gideon stepped forward to meet me.

"Alaric," Gideon said, his voice low and full of sorrow.

"What happened?" I demanded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and growing rage. "How did Ezekiel get into an accident? Where was his security detail?!"

Gideon took a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was not a normal accident, Alpha. Ezekiel was driving back from the outer district highway when a truck ran a red light and T-boned his sedan at full speed. His car flipped three times before crashing into a guardrail. The truck driver fled the scene immediately."

"It was an attack," I growled, my aura flaring up with dark power. "Someone targeted him."

"We think so," Gideon nodded grimly. "The paramedics managed to pull him out of the wreckage, but he has severe internal bleeding, broken ribs, and a massive head injury. The doctors are operating on him right now, but they said his chances are slim."

I turned my head to look at Pierre. He hadn’t said a single word. He just stood there, staring at the floorboards, looking like a ghost. I stepped over, placing my large hand firmly on Pierre’s shoulder, giving it a supportive squeeze. Pierre didn’t even move; a single tear rolled down his pale cheek.

Before I could speak to Pierre, the quietness of the environmentwas shattered by the sound of rapid footsteps.

We all turned our heads toward the far entrance of the corridor.

Ezekiel’s father came bursting through the doors. He looked completely broken, far from the proud, stern Alpha King I knew him to be.

"Where is my son?!" Ezekiel’s father roared out, his voice cracking small as he stumbled toward us. "Where is my Ezekiel?!"