TRADING MY CHEATING HUSBAND FOR THE LYCAN KING novel Chapter 103

CHAPTER 69: GOAT ISLAND–2

+25 Peints

“Maybe room service? Rayana said she just found it open,” I offer, keeping my voice neutral.

“Rayana has never been good at giving the whole truth when a convenient half–truth serves her better.” His voice hardens slightly. “She knows more than she’s saying. I can feel it. And when she’s recovered enough to answer questions properly, I’m going to get the full story.” –

He’s right. He’s so close to figuring it out, and I’m lying here holding the missing pieces. The license plate that ties cleanly to Logan. Whatever they were searching for in his office.

All of it sitting heavy on my tongue while I keep it from him because a man I barely trust asked me to.

I hate this. I hate having secrets from him when we just survived a trial that nearly destroyed us both.

“Were you scared?” I ask, changing the subject before my guilt can choke me. “During the trial. When they played that recording and everything started falling apart.”

Knox is quiet for a moment. His hand stills on my back.

“I was scared I’d lose you,” he says finally. “Not the case. Not my reputation. You.”

“That’s sweet.”

“Terrifying, actually.” His voice drops into something dry. “I had approximately fourteen backup plans running through my head. Escape routes. Border crossings. A very detailed mental list of which council members I’d have to incapacitate first.”

“Incapacitate.”

“I was being generous with the word choice.”

A laugh escapes me, surprised and real.

“You were planning to fight the entire council?”

“I was planning to do whatever it took.” He shifts, pulling me closer. “Nathaniel had a helicopter on standby. I’m not joking. He kept texting me coordinates.”

“Coordinates to where?”

“Classified.”

“Knox.”

“A private island. Somewhere without extradition treaties.” He pauses. “It has goats, apparently. Nathaniel was very specific about the goats.”

I’m laughing now, really laughing, the tension cracking apart in my chest.

“You were going to kidnap me to a goat island.”

VALERIA

was going to liberate you to a goat island Completely different energy.”

“It’s really not.”

+25 Points

“The goats are friendly That’s what Nathaniel said. Friendly goats, Ember. I was offering you friendly goats and a lifetime of freedom from pack law.”

“This is the most unhinged thing you’ve ever told me.”

“I have unhinged depths you haven’t even begun to explore.”

I’m shaking with laughter against his chest, and he’s holding me through it, a small smile gracing his face, and for a moment everything feels light and impossible and like maybe we actually survived something together.

Maybe we actually stand a chance for a future together.

“The look on Gale’s face though,” I manage between giggles. “When he realized what he’d admitted. I thought his lawyer was going to have a stroke.”

“She definitely had a stroke. I saw her eye twitch. That was a stroke.”

“And my mother. Did you see my mother’s face?”

“I saw her face. I also saw Elder James’s face when he realized his little puppet show had gone off script.” Knox’s voice carries dark satisfaction. “That man is going to choke on his own fury for years. Decades, possibly. I hope he has heartburn every single day.”

“Petty.”

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