Lethal Temptation (by Michelle Ray) novel Chapter 194

194 A Deal With The Devil-1

Martha

I stayed locked in my room for three days.

No one came. Not Vander.

That’s when it hit me-this wasn’t temporary. This wasn’t anger cooling off. He was done. For real this

time.

I kept hoping he’d check on me. Just once. Open the door. Say something. But the silence was louder than any fight we’d ever had. It roared inside my chest until I hated myself for needing him so badly.

I should’ve just stayed in Natasha’s shadow. Lived quietly in the background. However painful that would’ve been, Vander wasn’t beating me. He wasn’t pimping me out like Alaric. He gave me a name, a home, respect. I should’ve loved Lucian like my own and kept the peace.

But I didn’t. And I blamed my mother for that. For every awful piece of advice that led me here. The woman poisoned me with her survival tactics-use your looks, hide your heart, win by manipulation.

I thought I was winning.

I refused to eat. Refused to leave. I wanted Vander to worry, to feel something. But he didn’t come. Lacy knocked, but I stayed silent. I even shut her out. I was punishing everyone-including myself.

And then Mara sent food.

Mara.

The one woman I expected to hate me most… sent food.

That broke something inside me. Something deep and silent. I didn’t cry. I couldn’t.

The handover was in two days. After that, I was sure Lucian would kick me out. Publicly. Officially.

I started to think about dying.

There was no going back to Goldenpeak. Not now. Not after what I did to Alaric. I was supposed to marry

Vander and killhim. Kill Lucian. That was the plan. Alaric’s plan.

I was the weapon.

He called me to Neev for that very reason. Told me to seduce Vander. Get close. Be patient. Marry him. Then end him-and his heir. Everything I inherited would go to Alaric. A neat little betrayal with a fat

payout.

But I couldn’t do it.

Because I fell in love.

With Vander. With Lucian. With the life I wasn’t meant to have.

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194 A Deal With The Devil-1

I broke the rules. I chose my own heart. And that meant betrayal-just not the kind Alaric had planned.

So I disappeared from Goldenpeak. Moved all the money I earned into this home, this family. I gave everything to make it work. I tried to be a wife, a mother, a woman Vander could be proud of.

Clam

But now? All of that was crashing down. My marriage is void. A lie. Because no one can ever know the truth.

No one can know that Alaric is my mate. That Lacy is our daughter.

If the truth comes out, Darian will be disgraced. His entire future would be destroyed. He will be an illegitimate son to Vander because I was still mated and bonded to Alaric. I won’t let that happen. Not to him. Not to Lacy.

I’ll take it to my grave.

Because before Vander, we were starving. Alaric only looked out for himself. My parents were sick. My daughter was hungry. I worked myself to the bone in Kentville trying to keep everyone alive.

Vander changed all of that. He was kind. Gentle. Sweet in a way I’d never known. I fell fast. I gave him

everything.

But I also destroyed everything.

If he chooses to cast me out, it won’t just be the end of my marriage, it will be the end of me.

He’ll have to bury me. Because I am not going back. I will not return to Alaric. I would rather die than live

that life again.

And if this is how it ends-then let it end.

I was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, drifting between numbness and regret when my phone began

to ring.

The number was unknown.

But I didn’t need to see the name. I knew.

My heart stilled in my chest.

I answered anyway.

“Hello,” I said, barely above a whisper.

That voice-sharp, arrogant, cruel-sliced through me like glass.

“Martha.”

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194 A Deal With The Devil 2

194 A Deal With The Devil-2

Just my name, but it made my entire body tense.

“Alpha Alaric…” I breathed, voice shaky, spirit crumbling.

“Luna Martha,” he mocked, calm and cold. “I’m still waiting for my money.”

I shut my eyes, swallowing a sob.

“Please, Alaric… I have nothing left. You’ve taken everything. Vander and I are separated-he’s done with me. I’ve lost everything. Just let it go,” I begged, voice cracking, tears spilling freely now.

He laughed a low, ugly sound that scraped at my soul.

“So the fool finally saw you for what you are. About time,” he said, with venom laced in amusement. “You were never meant to belong there. You’re a survivor, Martha. Resourceful. So survive-and get me my fucking money.”

“Please…” I whispered. “I don’t have it. I swear, Alaric, I have nothing.”

The laughter stopped.

His voice dropped into that tone I knew too well-flat, emotionless, and lethal.

“And whose fault is that?” he snapped.

“You had one job. One. But no… you got soft. You fell in love. You thought you could rewrite the plan.”

I said nothing. There was nothing left to say.

“Now listen to me,” he continued, his voice so calm it made my blood run cold.

“I want that money. And if I don’t get it-soon-I’m coming after your son, his mate, and your granddaught

er.”

I stopped breathing.

“Don’t test me, Martha. You know I always keep my promises.”

“Please, Alaric,” I begged, my voice hoarse with fear. “Let me come back to you. I’ll work for you-I’ll earn every penny. Just leave my family out of this.”

There was a pause. Then came his scoff, low and dismissive.

“Have you looked in the mirror lately?” he said, dripping with mockery.

“Your value’s dropped, Martha. Besides, I don’t pimp women anymore-least of all my wife. Thanks to

you and your rich fool, I’m in the big leagues now.”

His words stabbed, but I swallowed the pain. I had to get through to him.

“Tell me what I need to do. I’ll do anything.”

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