Chapter 374: Common Enemy.
Anabel.
Vanessa’s words echoed inside my head long after she had finished speaking.
I instinctively clenched my fists.
The muscles in my jaw tightened as I fought to keep my expression under control.
No matter how provoking her words were, I refused to give her the reaction she was obviously hoping for.
Regardless of whether what she had said was true or not...I knew exactly what this witch was trying to do.
She wanted to instigate me, she wanted me to lose my temper and she wanted me to act recklessly so she could sit back and reap the benefits of my foolishness.
How convenient.
She had always been manipulative, always calculating, I was just too blind to see it back then.
What a vile creature!
Therefore, there was no way I would allow myself to become another pawn in whatever game she was playing.
I already knew the kind of person Vanessa was, far better than she probably imagined.
Still, as much as I hated to admit it...she wasn’t entirely wrong, not about everything.
Because long before she spoke those words, I had already thought of a way to reclaim what rightfully belonged to me.
And that plan began with getting rid of her.
The moment my brothers finally married their destined mates...everything would change.
Poor Noah—He would be devastated, and heartbroken beyond repair.
And when everyone else turned their backs on him, I would be there—I would comfort him, I would stay beside him and I would become the only shoulder he could lean on.
Eventually, he would have no choice but to accept me and to remain with me.
The thought brought a quiet satisfaction to my heart.
Wasn’t it the perfect plan?
The more I thought about it, the more flawless it seemed.
Coming to the Lycan Territory had initially felt like an inconvenience.
Now, It almost felt like fate itself had handed me the greatest opportunity I could ever ask for.
Everything I needed was already beginning to fall into place, and there was only one thing left—I had to regain my brothers’ trust.
Once that happens, everything else would become much easier.
And as for Vanessa, I would personally deal with her. I would make sure she regretted every single thing she had done and I would make her suffer until she wished death would come and claim her.
Only then would my anger be satisfied.
Taking a slow breath, I straightened my posture, as I calmly rose from the floor until I was standing directly before her once again.
Without breaking eye contact, I reached forward, as my fingers gently cupped her face.
The gesture looked almost affectionate, but there wasn’t the slightest trace of warmth behind it.
"You should be the one who’s careful, Vanessa," I said quietl, as I paused as a slow smile gradually spread across my lips, one that never reached my eyes. "I can easily reclaim what’s mine..." I added, and my voice remained calm yet steady. "With absolutely nothing to lose."
I allowed the words to linger before continuing.
"But you..." I muttered, as the smile on my face deepened. "It won’t be nearly as easy for you." I leaned slightly closer."Especially with me as your enemy."
I held her gaze firmly with disgust and irritation.
"And don’t forget one very important thing..." I added, suddenly, and another brief pause followed. "They’re still my brothers." I said, as every word carried quiet confidence, as I didn’t need to raise my voice.
The certainty behind my words alone was enough for her to understand.
"Don’t you dare do anything funny, Anabel!" Vanessa warned, fixing me with an intense, unwavering stare.
Her eyes remained locked on mine, burning with equal measures of anger and caution, as though she was trying to intimidate me through sheer force of will.
For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.
The silence stretched between us, heavy with hostility.
Then, despite the seriousness of the situation, I couldn’t help myself.
A quiet chuckle escaped my lips.
It started as a soft sound before growing slightly louder, the amusement impossible for me to suppress.
The sound alone seemed to irritate her even more.
I could practically see the frustration flickering across her face.
"Weren’t you acting so arrogant just a moment ago?" I asked, unable to hide the amusement lacing my voice.
As I spoke, I slowly tilted my head to one side, never once breaking eye contact with her.
My gaze remained fixed on hers, calmly studying every tiny change in her expression.
"Where did all that confidence suddenly disappear to?"
The teasing question lingered in the air between us.
Vanessa’s expression immediately darkened.
The muscles around her jaw tightened, while her brows drew together into a deep frown.
It was obvious my words had struck a nerve.
"You—"
She barely managed to utter a single word before stopping, her lips trembling slightly with barely restrained anger, as she glared at me with eyes that looked ready to burst into flames, and angrily stretched a hand toward me, as though she intended to grab me once again.
I didn’t even flinch, not even for a second.
Instead of reacting to her outburst, I merely frowned at her, my expression calm and completely unfazed.
"What?" I asked quietly.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of fear or hesitation in my voice.
Rather, it was calm and almost provoking.
The corner of my lips slowly lifted into a faint, mocking smile as I continued holding her gaze without the slightest intention of looking away.
"You can’t do anything to me, Vanessa."
I deliberately spoke each word slowly, giving every syllable enough time to sink into her mind.
My voice remained steady and filled with quiet confidence.
"At this moment, I’m the Lycan Prince’s esteemed guest." I added, as I paused intentionally after making that declaration.
The silence that followed only made the words feel heavier, and then I delivered the final blow.
"You wouldn’t dare." I added firmly.
The effect was immediate, as Vanessa froze where she stood.
It was as though someone had poured ice over her.
Every trace of arrogance and confidence disappeared from her face almost instantly.
The anger in her eyes was replaced by unmistakable shock, as she simply stared at me wordlessly and motionlessly.
It was obvious from the look on her face that she had never expected me to have the Lycan Prince’s protection.
Not even in her wildest imagination.
For several long moments, she remained rooted to the spot, unable to say a single word.
Only after slowly regaining her composure did her lips finally part.
"How is that possible?" she asked, as her voice was no longer as firm as before.
Confusion and disbelief were written all over her face.
She searched my eyes as though hoping to find even the slightest sign that I was bluffing.
"You’re lying," she added firmly, though the uncertainty hidden beneath her words was impossible to miss.
Another chuckle escaped my lips.
Instead of answering immediately, I slowly turned my body slightly to the side, and the movement was deliberate.
Just enough for the elegant hairpin resting in my hair to catch the light.
More importantly...It exposed the unmistakable Lycan crest engraved upon it.
I watched her eyes instantly fall on it, and the color slowly drained from her face.
"I guess that’s enough proof for you to believe me," I said, unable to hide the victorious smile spreading across my lips.
My satisfaction only grew as I watched her struggle to process what she had just seen.
"So..." I said, the smile on my face widening even further until it became impossible to mistake the satisfaction behind it. "Prepare to live in hell, Vanessa."
I let the words hang heavily between us, deliberately giving them time to sink in.
Without waiting for a response or bothering to see the expression on her face, I calmly turned around and started walking toward the door.
My steps were slow and unhurried, my posture relaxed, as though our conversation had already come to an end.
I had barely taken a few steps when her voice suddenly rang out behind me.
"Anabel... wait!"
My footsteps came to an immediate halt.
For a brief second, I remained where I was, saying nothing.
A look of pure disgust crossed my face before I slowly turned around to face her once more.
My brows knitted together slightly as I silently wondered what else she could possibly have left to say.
Vanessa took a slow, cautious step toward me. She held my gaze without wavering, her eyes carefully studying my expression.
Then, much to my surprise, a smile gradually appeared on her face.
"Let’s put our past grudges aside," she sai, and her tone was unexpectedly calm, lacking the hostility that had filled her voice only moments earlier.
She paused briefly, maintaining that same smile as though waiting to see my reaction.
"Let’s work together, Anabel." She added.
And this time, her voice carried much more confidence and determination.
The proposal was so unexpected that it almost made me laugh.
"And why should I?" I asked, unable to hide the amusement in my voice.
Slowly, I folded my arms across my chest and waited patiently for her answer.
Vanessa didn’t hesitate. "Because..." She said briefly, as her confident smile returned almost immediately. "We have a common enemy."
Comments