22. Kaylani
Chapter 22
Kaylani
H e's alive? Dane Ledger is really alive?
" What the hell is going on?" I whisper, my nerves fried to a crisp.
Creed steps closer, positioning himself between me and Dane, who's almost on top of us. My pulse skyrockets in anticipation of the inevitable confrontation. It's hard to process the fact that this alpha is alive. Hux had thought he'd killed him while defending Vaughn and Creed at The Omega Den. Hux was arrested and locked away for his murder—but here he stands before us. In the flesh.
I expect this alpha to be hostile, but instead, I see remorse in his chocolate brown eyes. His gaze shifts from Creed to Vaughn before landing on me, and I have the urge to step back. I don’t know exactly what it is, but there's something about this alpha that raises red flags for me. His gaze travels over my face before settling on my healing black eyes.
"You better have a damn good reason for being here," Creed warns, his voice low and dangerous.
Dane's jaw clenches, but he holds Creed's gaze without flinching. "I'm here to make things right," he mutters, his voice tinged with regret.
"Explain," Vaughn demands.
"I wanted to apologize for what happened at The Den," he starts. "Stacy Bramwell offered me a job for a quick buck, and I couldn't pass it up. She said all I had to do was instigate a fight with Vaughn."
The mention of Stacy makes my blood boil. Stacy Bramwell—part of the third and final founding family in Sterling City, and just another one of Michelle's minions doing her bidding. Anger surges through me.
"You stabbed Vaughn and faked your death just for money?" I retort, my arms folding across my chest in defiance.
Dane's eyes narrow, a glint of hostility flickering in their depths. "You have no idea what you're talking about, little girl," he growls.
The condescension in his tone fuels my frustration. "You caused a lot of trouble with your 'quick buck' scheme," I shoot back, refusing to back down.
Dane's response is sharp. "Is that why you have those black eyes?" His question hits like a punch to the gut, stirring up thoughts of my vulnerability and weakness. It strikes a nerve, triggering memories of the painful aftermath of my confrontation with Adam Sterling. My jaw tightens, but I refuse to let him see how deeply his words affect me.
"My black eyes are none of your business," I retort, my voice edged with defiance. "You're just a pawn in someone else's game, Dane. Do you even know what you're fighting for?"
Dane's gaze hardens, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features before being masked by a veneer of bravado. "I know exactly what I'm fighting for," he replies cryptically, his tone laced with bitterness.
Vaughn's words cut through the tension like a blade, his voice laden with bitterness and unresolved history. "We'll settle this in the streets. Like old times, friend ," he spits, his words thick with venom.
Dane finally tears his eyes from me, and my body visibly deflates as the reality of the situation sinks in. "Agreed," Dane replies, his voice steady, but betraying the weight of his anticipation.
My mind races, trying to comprehend the gravity of what's unfolding. A fight? Here and now? The realization hits me like a brick. I scan the gathering crowd of onlookers, realizing for the first time that we've unwittingly gained an audience. The air is thick with anticipation, murmurs rippling through the spectators as they sense the impending confrontation.
Creed's expression remains unreadable, but I can feel his focused intensity. He glances at me briefly, a silent reassurance that I'm safe with him and Vaughn. But I can't shake the knot of unease tightening in my stomach.
Vaughn's grip tightens on my hand, grounding me. "Stay close to Creed, doll," he murmurs, before placing a kiss on my forehead. He takes off his jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. "Keep it safe for me while I take care of this?" he asks, and I nod my head, any words I might want to say lodged in my throat.
I don't want him to fight this guy. What if he gets stabbed again? What if something bad happens? What if I can't help? My mind starts to swarm with all these questions and I don’t know how to make it stop.
Creed steps up and pulls me under his arm, tight against his body. "Vaughn can take care of himself, tiny. Don't worry, he's beaten him every time they’ve fought."
Yeah, except the time Dane cheated. I think to myself, but I clench my jaw tight and say nothing.
I don't look up at Creed as he speaks, my eyes glued to Vaughn's broad back. His muscles are tight and tense, coiled and ready for action. I keep watching him until he disappears among the crowd. I stand on my tiptoes, trying to keep sight of him, but amongst all the people, I can't. The anticipation hangs heavy in the air, the murmurs of the crowd blending into a low hum. I feel Creed's reassuring presence beside me, his steady breaths a stark contrast to the racing of my own heart.
The crowd seems to swell and shift, the tension building with each passing moment. I clutch Vaughn's jacket tighter around my shoulders, a feeble attempt to keep my nerves in check. Creed leads me through the crowd and stops just on the edge of the circle, giving me a clear view of the makeshift ring. My eyes dart around at the onlookers all cheering.
Come on Vaughn. Make him pay for what he's done to our pack.