Ditched Cheating Alpha, I Led My Daughter to Life's Peak novel Chapter 294

The alpha and beta start circling each other. It's not dramatic. It's not over the top. It's too controlled, too calculated. They take a few steps halfway before stalking in the opposite direction, neither one of them wanting to give the other access to what's behind them.

Aiden stops in the center, floorboards creaking. "I would've never expected this from you."

Ethel looks down, but he doesn't back away.

"I value our friendship," Aiden's voice flows through the cottage. Smooth. Deadly. "So here's what I can do for you, beta." He takes a step forward.

Ethel almost takes a step back. Almost.

"You can bring her to the prison yourself," Aiden says.

My eyes fly open.

Axel pales. "Aiden."

"What?" he snaps.

Axel looks at him incredulously. "The child."

"Oh yeah. Leave it at the border before its pack smells it."

I can't believe my ears. This is not the kumbaya moment I forced myself to hope for. What the hell is going on?

I look to see where Shen is in all of this. She's no longer sitting on the couch. She's standing behind Ethel, holding Fei in her arms. She backs away, slowly. The poor thing's terrified because of my crazy boyfriend-

Wait.

The back door's behind her. Dammit. This girl. She wouldn't.

... She would.

I rub my forehead. Shen. I can't believe her. This supposedly injured girl is considering trying to run away? Even if she's been lying the whole time, I've seen how far Axel can run. How fast Carson can chase someone-specifically me. How deadly Aiden's attacks can be, and even worse, how Onai can literally kill someone. If she wants to chance it, be my guest, but the only reason I've been so laid back with dealing with her is because I know if push comes to shove, my people can handle it.

Try again, Shen.

Onai seems to feel the same way. "Are you going somewhere?" he asks, eyeing the door.

Shen jumps out of her skin. She shakes her head at all the heads that turn to her. "I was just."

"Uh huh." Onai looks at Ethel, but Ethel's not looking at him.

He's gawking at his imprint. "Are you serious?"

"What?" she asks.

"You were just going to ditch me?" He gestures towards the door. "How far did you think you'd get? We're bonded."

She looks away, haughtily. Honeymoon's over. "I wasn't going to leave you. I was going to grab you before that alpha ate us both!" Her eyes land on Aiden.