Chapter 284: Handle it

Alexander’s gaze hardened. His gray eyes narrowed into two cold, hard lines as he stared down at his eldest son. The air between them turned frigid, thick with the weight of unyielding authority.

"Because they are my sons," Alexander said dryly. His tone carried a biting edge that left no room for debate. "That is the only reason they still have this liberty."

He stepped closer to Killian. His shadow stretched over the younger man as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"You are the eldest. I trust you to keep them in line." Alexander let out a low, scoffing breath. His lips curved into a sharp, dismissive angle. "Don’t play dumb with me, Killian. I know you know where those brats are hiding. Get the situation under control before it gets completely out of hand. Yuki’s engagement ceremony is barely two days away."

The last words dropped an octave into a harsh, non-negotiable command. Killian’s expression remained entirely impassive. Not a single muscle twitched on his angular face.

"And what if she doesn’t make it there?" he asked. His voice was smooth and unnervingly quiet. He tilted his head slightly, watching his father’s subtle reaction. "Kieran has a reason for his actions. I believe Yuki was affected during the attack."

He spoke carefully, recalling the classified medical report he had skimmed through earlier that night.

Alexander went dead silent for a moment. His eyes flickered as he mentally recalculated everything, weighing the variables like a seasoned chess player. He understood the mounting risks on the ground better than anyone. He might care for Yuki simply because she was Aevia’s sister, but if she transformed into an obstacle, he was not a man to hesitate. Cruel, calculated, and relentless. That was the type of man his father was.

Breaking the silence with a sharp click of his tongue, Alexander turned toward the heavy oak doors.

"Go observe the situation. Handle it before the military gets involved," he commanded over his shoulder.

"Understood," Killian agreed with a brief, terse nod.

Without another word, Alexander exited the room. The heavy doors snapped shut behind him.

Left completely alone, Killian turned to glance out the floor-to-ceiling window. The pale morning light caught the exhaustion etched into his features. He released a long, harsh breath that fogged under his nose.

He needed a fucking break.

*******

At the break of dawn, a sleek matte-black SUV rolled quietly through the iron gates of the beachside villa. Its tires crunched softly against the gravel drive. Killian bypassed the electronic security system, which seamlessly scanned and registered his credentials, and parked directly in front of the primary residence.

The moment the engine died, a strange, prickling sensation washed over his skin. He felt her presence immediately. So his instincts had been right all along.

Killian had left the Alpha’s residence first thing in the morning. Sleep had proven impossible anyway, and it was better to see firsthand what the rascals were up to before his father lost his patience.

Stepping out into the crisp sea air, Killian walked up the stone stairs to the entrance and pressed the doorbell. A low chime echoed inside, followed by total silence. He waited a few seconds, but there was no reply.

’They’re probably asleep,’ Killian’s wolf chimed in. His voice rang dryly inside his mind. ’After all, it’s 6:00 AM. Normal people are still asleep, Killian. Not everyone suffers from a severe sleeping disorder like you.’

Killian halted dead in his tracks on the porch. His jaw clenched as he genuinely wondered if the brat residing in his head was actually his spirit guide or his worst nemesis.

’Who the hell are you calling a brat?’ his wolf immediately hissed, baring metaphorical fangs

.

"Who else?" Killian grumbled beneath his breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You sound just like Kaden."

His wolf huffed in irritation. The sound echoed in his skull. ’Maybe if you didn’t walk around with so much pent-up rage all the time, I wouldn’t be so frustrated. Now, what are you going to do if he doesn’t open the door?’

Killian released a heavy sigh. His shoulders slumped slightly. He was dressed far more casually than usual. A dark gray hoodie pulled over a plain black T-shirt, paired with rugged denim jeans. It wasn’t his standard sharp attire, but rather the comfortable, flexible type of clothing one wore when preparing for an unexpected fight, just in case.

Scanning the perimeter, his sharp eyes darted up the side of the building until they locked onto a second-floor window. That was where Yuki’s presence felt strongest. A faint hum of raw energy floated in the air.

Dropping into a low crouch, Killian half-shifted. His ears turned into wolf ears with a fluffy tail appearing behind him. His claws extended with a subtle click. Utilizing the sudden burst of physical power from his hybrid state, he leaped toward the wall, digging his claws into the stone facade. He scaled the structure effortlessly until his fingers caught the wooden ledge. Hanging by one arm, he pushed the window frame upward and slipped inside.

The exact second his boots touched the floorboards, a cold, lethal blade pressed hard against his throat.

The move was executed with such terrifying speed that even Killian’s hyper-tuned wolf reflexes couldn’t react in time. Killian froze. His breath hitched in his chest. His eyes snapped sharply to the side, catching sight of Kaden, who was leaning back against the shadow of the window frame, holding the weapon with a strong grip.

That explained everything. Kaden was physically the strongest and fastest among them. An ironic reality, given that he was the youngest brother.

The room was shrouded in the dim, cool hues of early morning. The quiet rhythm of breathing had been disrupted by the sudden intruder. Kaden’s heart rate gradually slowed from a frantic spike back to a steady, rhythmic thrum, though his fingers maintained a vice-like grip on the hilt of the blade.

He had accidentally fallen asleep while keeping watch on the sill, only to be jolted awake by the faint echo of the doorbell ringing downstairs.

While his groggy mind was trying to discern who could possibly be visiting at dawn, fearing the worst and assuming the military had finally tracked them down, he had felt someone covertly creeping up the outer wall. Instinct took over. He assumed it was a covert operative attempting a silent breach.

Through his half-lidded, drowsy eyes, Kaden took in the figure standing at the point of his knife. Slowly, the realization clicked..

Killian slowly raised both hands in a clear sign of surrender. His voice dropped into a harsh, irritated whisper.

"It’s me, you idiot. Why did no one open the damn door?" He hissed out a breath, casting a furious side-eye at his younger brother. "Get this blade off my neck."