Tempted By my Evil Lycan Stepbrother novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46: We Are Done

Riley’s POV

I threw myself at them and knocked Mateo to the ground.

Ezra had just fired his gun a second ago, and the bullet grazed my shoulder, leaving a searing pain behind

“Riley!!!” Ezra snarled.

I hit the ground, gasping for air. Before I could pull myself up, a pair of strong hands grabbed me and yanked me into a firm embrace.

“Riley! Are you alright?” He cupped my face, staring intently at me. Shock, anger, worry, and pain flasired through his eyes quickly as his hand pressed against my wound. His hand was shaking.

“Yeah, I’m alright,” I said weakly.

Then his anger flared.

“What the fuck were you thinking?!” he roared, his furious voice echoing through the hospital courtyard. “That bullet could have gone through your fucking head! I could have gotten you killed!!!”

I couldn’t care about that right now. I grabbed his forearm, my voice weak and trembling. “Don’t… don’t hurt Mateo.”

He froze. “What?”

“I saw your men got Mateo. What could he possibly have done? He’s just a civilian. And he is my friend!”

“Your civilian friend colluded with the rogues. He’s a fucking traitor! And you still want to plead for him?!”

“No, that’s impossible. He’s not a traitor,” I whispered in protest/

Ezra cursed loudly, then turned and gestured to his soldiers. Two more soldiers dragged another person over. I recognized him as one of the hospital’s healers.

“Look at him,” Ezra said, grabbing my chin and roughly turning my face toward the healer. “He already identified Mateo. Your friend is the one who brought the rogues into the city and met with them. Your so–called friend belongs on a fucking gallows!”

My heart clenched. I struggled to argue, “He’s lying. Maybe it’s all just a huge misunderstanding. Mateo would never-”

Panicked, the healer shouted over me, “I’m not lying! It’s this man! He’s the one who contacted me asking for the cure containing the Lycan blood. Prince Ezra, please believe me, I would never lie to you!”

I felt like I’d forgotten how to breathe.

This was all my fault.

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If I hadn’t met with the rogues, if I hadn’t gotten myself hurt, if I hadn’t been stupid enough to ask Mateo to contact the healer here for a cure and expose us all, Mateo wouldn’t be in this situation.

Mateo was the only person who knew my secret and the only person I trusted enough to call a friend. I couldn’t let him bear this alone.

I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. The pain gave me courage. I whipped my head around to Ezra and said:

“It’s me-”

But Mateo suddenly shouted over me, drowning out my confession. “That’s right. I’m the one who met with the rogues!”

I stared at him in shock. He locked eyes with me and gave a tiny shake of his head, so subtle that only I could see.

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A chill ran down my spine.

What was he doing?

Taking the blame for me?

+20 Bonus

“So you admit it? You brought the rogues into the city?” Ezra asked darkly. “What exactly are you planning with them?”

Mateo lifted his chin high, a cold, contemptuous smile on his face. “Yeah, it’s me. People have been sick of your father’s tyranny for too long. You see the luxury, the corruption, the pleasure in this city, but you don’t see the others suffering from disease and poverty. If you ask me, maybe it’s better to let the rogues run this city than-”

BANG!

Ezra fired his gun.

The bullet hit the ground right in front of Mateo.

Ezra said icily, “Shut the fuck up. Or the next bullet goes into your fucking skull.”

Mateo flinched, his face growing even paler, but the defiant smile on his face widened. “You scared? Because even you know the rogues are a better option than you?”

“Scared? What the fuck are you talking about?” one of Ezra’s soldiers shouted. “Our prince isn’t scared of those filthy savages. Under his lead, our army is undefeated!”

Mateo let out a cold laugh. “A tyrant’s son is also a tyrant. You definitely inherited your father’s cold–blooded, brutal genes. Let’s see how long this country lasts in your hands…”

“Enough. Shut up, Mateo!” I cried out urgently. Why was he saying all this? Was he trying to provoke Ezra?

“It’s OK, Riley,” Mateo looked deeply at me, his expression resolute. “I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. I’m not afraid. There are things more important than me.”

I frowned back at him.

Now I was honestly confused. Was he saying this just to cover for me? Or was he actually venting something real? I didn’t even know Mateo had been holding onto these cynical thoughts.

“Very well.”

Ezra looked down at Mateo, a storm brewing in his green eyes.

“Then it’s OK for me to execute you right here.”

He raised his gun at Mateo again, ready to shoot.

“NO!” I grabbed Ezra’s arm with both hands, screaming. “Don’t do it. Please, I’m begging you.”

He spun around and seized my throat, his expression terrifying. “He’s a fucking traitor, Riley. And you still want to protect him? How much do you care about him?”

“If… if you shoot him…” I swallowed hard, tears forming in my eyes. “I’ll never forgive you.”

Ezra’s body went rigid. His eyes stared at me, fierce and terrible.

Then suddenly, he let out a roar, grabbed me by the throat, and dragged me away to the side.

“Don’t fucking hurt her!” Mateo yelled furiously behind me.

“Shut him up!” Ezra snapped.

We Are Done

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“Yes, sir.” His soldiers answered.

He dragged me to a corner and slammed the against the wall.

“All these men. Odin, Silas, and now this Mateo.” He leaned down, staring intently at me. “In your heart, are they all more important than me?”

His fingers locked around me like iron chains. I struggled to speak. “They. they’re my friends.”

“Friends more important than your mate? You’d rather defy me for that bastard?!” he demanded furiously.

I didn’t know how to explain. Yeah, Mateo was important. But the most important thing was that he was taking my blame. But I couldn’t tell Ezra that though.

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