CHAPTER 346: DESPERATION

ADAM

Daniel’s temper snapped before anyone could stop him.

The sharp clatter of porcelain against marble shattered the quiet like a gunshot. The teacup hit the floor and rolled, spilling amber liquid across the tiles.

"What does she mean by she’s busy?" Daniel barked, half-rising from his chair. The veins on his neck strained with fury, his fists trembling where they rested against the table.

We were in the royal dining room. Lunch had just ended, and the maids had barely cleared the plates. Sunlight filtered weakly through the stained-glass windows, scattering colors over the long table, but the air was thick with tension instead of warmth.

Daniel’s outburst didn’t surprise me. His admiration for Sage had turned to bitterness since the day she had insulted us all after we hosted her. His pride was bleeding, and he was the kind of man who’d rather burn than let it heal.

"She said she’s busy?" Noah repeated, voice colder than Daniel’s. His scowl deepened as he leaned back in his chair, arms folded. "Busy. Like she doesn’t owe this family a shred of respect. Someone needs to trim her wings before she flies above her station."

I didn’t answer immediately.

Because while my brothers saw defiance, I saw something else in Sage. I’d seen the look in her eyes more than once: sharp, calculating, almost amused. It wasn’t arrogance. It was control. The kind of control people like us feared.

"She won’t be tamed that easily," I said finally, my tone even.

Claire snorted from across the table, swirling the last of her tea in its cup. "That’s exactly the problem, Adam. She loves trouble. I told you she’d be nothing but a thorn in our side."

Of course, the brides— Claire and the others—sided with Noah and Daniel, their eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of long-awaited vindication. They had been waiting for Sage to cross a line, for her defiance to give them reason to scorn her openly.

But my father remained silent. So did my stepmother.

Both sat at the far end of the table, regal, still, watching the argument unfold as though waiting for my verdict. My father’s gaze was heavy, unreadable; my mother’s expression was gentler but no less expectant.

They were waiting for me.

I didn’t speak right away. Instead, I let my mind drift through the pack link, reaching for my beta.

"Get Sage," I ordered silently. "Tell her it’s an order from me."

His answer came quickly, crisp in my head.

"Understood, Alpha."

The link snapped closed, and I looked back up at my family.

"She’ll be here soon."

Daniel scoffed, still seething. "You’re going to summon her again, after that insult?"

"She’s part of the solution," I replied. "part of our plan. I can’t afford to let emotions decide how we deal with her."

My father’s brows furrowed slightly. "And what of respect?" he asked, voice deep and even. "Will you tolerate her disregard for your authority?"

I met his eyes. "There are more important things to worry about than my ego."

Claire’s snarl was soft but sharp. "You’re letting her walk all over you."

I turned to her, unfazed. "I think there’s more to Sage than any of you realize. She’s not careless—she’s careful. There’s intent behind everything she does."

I leaned back in my chair, letting my fingers tap lightly against the armrest. "She’s already proven herself more than capable. She told me that the men I sent to investigate her didn’t make it back."

My father’s head lifted at that. "You mean... she killed them?"

"She didn’t have to say it outright," I said, voice steady. "But I understood her meaning."

I took another slow sip of my tea. "I can’t send another batch after her. It would be pointless. So, we wait. She’ll come to us when she’s ready."

Noah’s lip curled. "And until then? We sit here doing nothing while she mocks us?"

"Yes," I said flatly, setting my cup down. "Not just for pride, but because we need her."

That silenced them.

Even my father’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"We need her," I repeated, leaning forward slightly. "We need her to cast a full spell around the entire region. The vampires are evolving. The attacks are growing bolder. The barriers are failing faster than we can repair them. If we don’t act, we’ll lose more than just pride—we’ll lose control."

The weight of my words settled heavily over the table.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

I let the silence stretch, choosing each breath carefully. I could almost hear their thoughts— the memory of what had happened the last time someone cast a full region spell.

My mind brushed dangerously close to the name I never said aloud. Dora.

The witch who had nearly killed herself trying to protect us. The one I had—

I stopped the thought before it could finish. The ache that name brought had no place here.

"The last time it was done," I said quietly, "the witch who cast it fell unconscious for three days. The strain was enough to tear her core apart. But it worked. Only that the other colonies are suffering..."

Noah’s voice was hesitant for once. "You think Sage can handle it?"

"She’ll have to," I answered. "But she won’t be alone. Between her and Darius, they can manage it."

Silence again.

This time, it wasn’t anger or disbelief. It was calculation—the slow, heavy turning of political minds realizing just how much was at stake.

I looked around the table, gauging reactions. My stepmother’s eyes had softened with worry. Claire looked unconvinced but quiet. Daniel’s fury had cooled into something darker—resentment.

They were all thinking the same thing I was: Sage wasn’t one of us. She wasn’t loyal to the pack, not truly. She was powerful, unpredictable—and dangerous.

Would she even agree to help us?

And if she did... what would she ask for in return?

The question lingered, unspoken but loud in the air.

Finally, my stepmother broke the silence. "Will the contest still hold?" she asked softly. "If we need both of them... should the games continue?"

I hesitated. The truth was, I didn’t know.

Ending it would mean rewriting too many promises.

"We’ll decide that after I speak with them," I said. "Both of them."

I reached through the mindlink again, brushing against my brother’s beta.

"Timothy," I commanded. "Find Darius. Bring him to the mansion."