CHAPTER 269: WHAT TOOK ME LONG

Draven.

I waited for a beat before revealing, "Wanda has been feeding information to her father—information about my affairs. She betrayed this house."

Instantly, silence fell heavy in the room. Wanda’s breath hitched, but she didn’t dare speak.

Dennis and Jeffery’s eyes widened, a flash of shock they couldn’t fully hide. But beyond that brief lapse, they betrayed nothing more—no outrage, no pity. They only listened.

"Tomorrow morning," I continued, my tone flat, final, "she will be leaving for Stormveil. For good."

The weight of my words settled in the air like a blade driven into the earth.

I caught the briefest glance exchanged between Dennis and Jeffery, the barest flicker of surprise again—but, as expected of them, they schooled their features into calm professionalism almost instantly.

I let the silence stretch, heavy as stone. Wanda stood rigid, eyes wet, hope clinging to her like a dying ember. I didn’t indulge her. Instead, my voice cut through the stillness.

"Wanda," I said evenly, "submit every credit and access card of mine in your possession. And your Duskmoor ID. Now."

Her lips parted, disbelief flashing across her face, but she didn’t dare protest.

Then I shifted my gaze to Dennis. "Follow her. Collect them from her personally. And instruct someone to keep eyes on her until she leaves tomorrow morning."

I felt her stare on me—pleading, desperate. I turned, meeting her pitiful gaze head-on, and finished, "I no longer trust her."

The words stripped her bare, and she flinched as though struck.

Turning next to Jeffery, I gave my next command. "Arrange a car and chauffeur. She departs for Stormveil at first light."

"No!" The word broke out of her before she could stop it. Wanda took a small step forward, trembling.

"Draven, please—listen to me. I’ve been faithful to you. I’ve worked tirelessly at your side, supported you when no one else would. Don’t cast me out like this."

I regarded her without warmth. "Then you should have continued to be faithful," I said, voice flat as steel. "Do you even understand the extent of what you’ve done?"

She shook her head faintly, as if unable to form the words.

"Betrayal," I continued, "isn’t a mistake. It’s the breaking of trust. And once trust is broken, the relationship is over."

Her shoulders trembled, her eyes brimming again. Finally, she whispered, "I’m sorry."

I fixed her with a gaze sharp enough to flay. "If you can stab me in the back," I said quietly, "you can kill me."

Her eyes widened—truly widened—as if only now grasping the magnitude of her actions.

But for me, there was nothing left to say. I turned away, dismissing her entirely, and addressed Jeffery once more. "Escort her out."

Jeffery inclined his head. "Yes, Alpha."

Wanda stood frozen for a beat, her face pale, her mouth parted in disbelief. But she didn’t fight when Jeffery moved to guide her out.

She only cast one last, hollow look in my direction—searching for some sign of softness, some hint of reprieve.

I made sure she found none.

And just like that, the door closed behind Jeffery and Wanda, leaving silence in their wake. Only Dennis remained with me.

He leaned back in the chair opposite mine, a slow exhale escaping him before his lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

"At last," Dennis muttered, satisfaction clear in his tone. "Finally, you’ve given Wanda the punishment she deserves."

I lifted my gaze to him, studying his expression. His words carried weight, but I didn’t rush to agree.

Dennis tilted his head, eyes narrowing. "What took you so long, brother?"

I held his stare for a long moment before answering. "I didn’t have a valid reason to send her away until now."

Dennis shook his head, almost in disbelief. "You are too kind and patient"

"No," I said flatly, my voice steady, "I don’t think so."

Patient was understandable, but kind? I wasn’t. That word was too soft for a man like me.

For a moment, we sat in silence, the tension in the study pressing against the walls. Then Dennis leaned forward, his voice lower now.

"Tell me, brother—how did you find out she’s been feeding her father information about Duskmoor?"

My jaw clenched as I recalled the council chamber back in Stormveil, the questions that pierced too close to home.

"During the meetings," I said. "It was in the way Reginald and a few others pressed me with their questions. Questions they couldn’t have asked unless someone here had been whispering in their ears."

Dennis’s brow furrowed. "And that was Wanda."

I gave a single nod. "What made me furious wasn’t just that. Reginald suddenly exposed my past plan to use Meredith as a pawn."

Dennis’s head snapped up, his eyes wide. "What?"

I let out a humorless laugh. "Yes. After one of the elders called for me to divorce Meredith, Reginald decided it was the perfect time to bring it up. In front of everyone."

Dennis swore under his breath, disbelief painting his features. "But... how on earth did Wanda even find out about that? You never told her."

I fixed my gaze on him, my tone sharp. "I asked her that very question."

Dennis leaned forward, anticipation in his eyes.

"She admitted she eavesdropped," I said, each word weighted with contempt. "On us. Right here in this study. Months ago. She overheard everything I told you."

Shock flickered across Dennis’s face, followed quickly by disgust. His hands curled into fists on the armrest of his chair.

"That snake," he spat. "All this time, she’s been waiting—holding on to that knowledge, just so she could sink the blade when it would hurt you most."

I didn’t answer. My silence was enough.

But inside, my fury deepened. The betrayal burned anew—Wanda had listened in silence, waited in silence, and then chosen her moment to betray me.

And she thought tears would move me?

Never.

She would have to rethink the kind of man I was since it was now obvious that being close to me, had blinded her thought process.