Chapter 731:

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“We are family, Azalea,” I replied softly, my voice thick with what sounded like perfectly genuine hope and worry. “I would do anything for him.”

Azalea gave me a grateful nod before turning back to coordinate the perimeter with Vance.

I stepped away, walking over to the folding table where a porcelain mug of hot coffee sat abandoned. I picked it up, letting the steam warm my freezing face.

She had no idea that her fabricated Paris itinerary had just handed me the ultimate, flawless distraction. It was the exact lie I needed to feed Dallas, convincing him that Gideon was chasing ghosts in Paris, making him feel secure enough to let his guard down and get out of that bed and into the surgical chair upstairs.

I brought the rim of the mug to my lips, taking a slow sip as a cold, calculating smirk touched my mouth, completely hidden behind the porcelain. I faded quietly into the shadows of the garage, ready to spring my trap.

𝗨𝗉𝗱𝘢𝘁еs 𝖾𝗏e𝗋y 𝘸𝘦e𝘬 𝘰𝗇 gа𝗹ոоv𝖾𝗹s.𝖼𝗼𝗆

Adella’s POV

I left the freezing shadows of the underground garage, trading my empty coffee mug for a glass of warm water from the makeshift kitchen. When I pushed open the heavy door to the inner sanctuary, the air was thick with the bitter tang of silver toxin and the heavy scent of violent storms and cedar.

Dallas was awake. He sat propped against the headboard, his broad shoulders tense. His storm-gray eyes were exhausted, yet they tracked my every movement with the hyper-vigilant intensity of an Alpha King expecting an ambush.

“Azalea’s decoy worked,” I said, keeping my voice light as I handed him the glass. “Her digital footprint in Paris has the Syndicate chasing ghosts. Dr. Henri Laurent has the routine detox equipment prepped in the secure facility upstairs. Tonight is our best window to flush the silver from your system.”

Dallas didn’t take the glass. His jaw clenched, and a low, vibrating growl rumbled in his chest, Ragnar, his inner wolf, bristling with absolute suspicion.

“The Syndicate are bloodthirsty mad dogs,” Dallas rasped, his gaze piercing right through my carefully constructed calm. “They won’t abandon a Geneva hunt for a political stunt in Paris. Adella, this feels like a trap.”

Ice water flooded my veins. It was a trap, my trap, designed to force the stolen Level 9 Neural Regeneration Override Drive into his failing spine.

I swallowed my panic. Stepping between his parted knees, I rested my hands on his chest. I leaned in close, letting my natural scent of moonflowers and rain envelop him. “You’re being paranoid, my King,” I teased softly, brushing a stray lock of dark hair from his forehead. “Let Henri do his job so we can go home.”

Dallas stared into my eyes, searching for deceit. But as his gaze dropped to the slight curve of my lower abdomen, the lethal Alpha melted. The absolute, desperate love for his fated mate overrode his tactical instincts. He let out a heavy sigh, his massive hands resting over mine.

“If this is what you want, little moon, I will follow,” he murmured.

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