Chapter 152:
Bryan’s POV:
I stormed up to Clayton’s villa, my fury barely contained. Glaring at the guards at the gate with fire in my eyes, I commanded, “Tell Clayton to come out, now!”
A guard, trembling, hurried inside to deliver the message. It wasn’t long before Clayton appeared, striding out with an air of casual arrogance.
“Bryan,” he said, surveying my soldiers with a dismissive glance, “do you think it’s okay to get your men marching all over the palace? Aren’t you worried our father will come down hard on you for this?”
His brazen attitude only fueled my rage. I didn’t have the patience for his games anymore. “Just give me Makenna,” I demanded bluntly.
Clayton smirked, his tone dripping with condescension. “I’m afraid I don’t follow. Makenna doesn’t belong to you alone. She’s been hurt recently. What’s the issue with her recuperating here?”
His words were like a slap to my face.
I had used the same excuse to keep her confined, but now Clayton was wielding it against me. But I wasn’t in the mood for reasoned debate.
My anger was a beast clawing at its cage.
If Clayton wouldn’t hand Makenna over willingly, I was more than ready to seize her by force.
My hands itched to tear him apart and take that woman back.
“Clayton,” I growled, my voice heavy with menace. “This is your final chance. Hand over Makenna, or I will make you regret it.”
Unfazed, Clayton’s smile remained as infuriatingly smug as ever. “She’s recovering well here. There’s no need for you to fret over her.”
Was there a bond between them I hadn’t seen before? The idea stung like acid.
My long-suppressed rage erupted. I roared to my soldiers, “All of you! Get inside and bring her out! I’ll take full responsibility for whatever happens!”
“Understood!” my soldiers shouted in unison. Clayton’s guards readied themselves for a fight, tension crackling in the air.
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣? 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝖌ⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀．𝖼𝗈𝗺
I watched Clayton closely, poised to shift into my wolf form at a moment’s notice.
Just as the clash seemed imminent, a clear, resolute voice cut through the chaos.
“I won’t go with you!”
Clayton and I froze. Out from behind him stepped Makenna.
My heart clenched. I wanted to rush forward and pull her to me.
“Makenna, why did you come out?” Clayton asked, his voice laced with concern as he grasped her hand. “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
“I’m worried about you, Your Highness,” she said, holding Clayton’s hand tightly but casting me a look full of open disdain.
“Bryan,” she said, each word sharp and deliberate, “I will never leave with you. Even if you defeat Prince Clayton today, I won’t go with you. If you want me, you can only take me in death.”
The pain hit me like a physical blow as I saw her eyes full of admiration and gratitude when she looked at Clayton, yet filled with disgust and fear when they met mine. I was momentarily stunned, caught in a vise of hurt and disbelief.
