Trapped by Seven Mafia Wolves novel Chapter 36

**Stars Refuse To Blink by Asa River Knox**

**Chapter 36: Betrayed**

**Luka’s POV**

What. The. Hell.

I find myself leaning against the unforgiving, frigid wall of the hallway, my arms wrapped tightly around my chest as if trying to shield my heart from the jagged sting of betrayal that feels fresh and raw. My gaze, fierce and unyielding, is locked on the very spot where Leon had stood just moments ago, passionately defending her. Her.

And Leon—my twin, my other half—had the audacity to raise his voice against me.

For her.

A bitter scoff escapes my lips, sharp and laced with disbelief, as my jaw tightens in frustration.

My fingers dig into my biceps, pressing harder against the wall, grounding myself in a reality that feels increasingly surreal, like a nightmare I can’t wake from.

He actually chose her.

That quivering little bundle of nerves who stumbles through life, drowning in a sea of apologies that spill from her lips like a broken record.

I begin to pace the hallway, my movements frantic and restless, like a wild animal trapped in a cage, yearning for freedom. My heart pounds in my ears, a relentless drumbeat of confusion and fury.

Why? Why does he see something in her that I cannot?

She’s not strong. She’s not sharp, brave, or ruthless.

She’s nothing.

And yet, there’s my brother—my mirror image—buying into her helpless act as if she were a lost puppy in desperate need of love and protection.

Love.

I pause, letting the word linger on my tongue like a bitter poison, its taste acrid and unsettling.

That’s not how we were raised.

That’s not how this house operates.

You don’t protect those who can’t fight for themselves.

Because once you extend your hand, they’ll expect you to keep it there, forever.

You don’t put your neck on the line for someone who wouldn’t do the same for you.

You don’t forget who your blood is.

A harsh laugh escapes my lips, mocking and bitter.

I thought Leon was the one who truly understood.

Who grasped the harsh reality of our lives just as well as the rest of us did.

And yet, there he was—defending that girl with a fervor that left me reeling.

I turn away from the wall, frustration bubbling over like a pot left on the stove too long, and storm off, unable to contain the tempest of emotions swirling within me.

My fists clench tighter with every step, a physical manifestation of the rage that simmers just beneath the surface. No.

I storm down the hallway, my boots thudding heavily against the tile, each step echoing my fury. The heat of my anger boils beneath my skin, white-hot and sharp, urging me to confront the injustice of it all.

I can’t sit with this.

I won’t.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Leon turning the corner at the far end of the hall, striding away with purpose, hands shoved deep into his pockets.

He was definitely coming from the brat’s room.

“Leon!” I shout, my voice reverberating off the walls, demanding his attention.

He halts, but doesn’t turn around.

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