Fated To Three, Betrayed By All… Until She Rose novel Chapter 10

**TITLE: Healing Slowly But Surely By R. Joseph**

**Chapter 10: Knight in Beautiful Tattoos**

Leilani.

Initially, Kael, Caelum, and Gavin stood frozen, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief. Caelum, however, was the first to break the spell, striding forward with a fierce intensity that made his eyes narrow into slits of pure disdain. His voice dripped with venom as he confronted the intruder. “And who exactly are you to dictate terms within my pack?”

From behind Caelum, my father’s voice sliced through the tension like a knife. “Who the hell is this loser?” he snarled, his teeth bared in a primal display of aggression. Despite the hostility, the young man before us remained remarkably unfazed, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he surveyed the scene.

“I wouldn’t ask you again,” the stranger growled, his tone low and threatening, “let go of Leilani. Or else…”

“Or else what?” Kael shot back, his disdain palpable. He was about to unleash another round of insults when suddenly, Zevran stepped forward, a flicker of recognition lighting up his features.

“You’re the one who saved Leilani yesterday,” he drawled, his voice tinged with accusation. At that moment, my heart raced as I lifted my gaze to the handsome stranger who had come to my aid.

He didn’t look familiar, yet there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity about him that sent my mind reeling.

A heavy silence enveloped the crowd as all eyes turned to him, but I couldn’t ignore the way Chalice’s expression darkened as she glared at him, her lips pressed tightly together. It was clear she was not pleased with his presence, and I could sense the tension radiating from her.

If I weren’t in so much pain, I might have smiled at the irony of the situation. This was precisely the moment I would have expressed my gratitude to this striking stranger, but the agony coursing through me left me grimacing instead.

With purpose, the mysterious stranger pushed through my family, standing protectively beside me. His presence commanded respect, and Agnes and her companions had no choice but to release their hold on me as he moved in.

A cry of pain escaped my lips as he lifted me into his arms, cradling me like a bride. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I felt more skin tear from the pressure of his grip. “I’m so sorry, Leilani,” he murmured, his voice laced with genuine concern.

Once again, his voice struck a chord of recognition deep within me. I turned my attention back to him, desperate to understand.

“You can’t take her away!” Zevran growled, his anger palpable. “I won’t let you.”

“Then I’d like to see you try to stop me,” the stranger retorted, his voice sharp and unwavering.

“Didn’t Chalice say he’s Leilani’s accomplice? The one who helped her during yesterday’s attack?” Gavin interjected, his tone accusatory as the crowd shifted their focus to the stranger, hostility brewing in their eyes.

A smirk played on the stranger’s lips as he approached Gavin, who instinctively took a step back. “And what proof do you have to support your claim?” he asked, his confidence unwavering.

“There’s a chat on Leilani’s phone!” my mother exclaimed, her voice rising in urgency. “That could have been your number! That’s why you’re here to help her, isn’t it? The same way you did yesterday!”

For a long time, I had held my mother in the highest regard, believing her to be the wisest and most loving person in the world. Perhaps it was the bond we once shared that made it so difficult for me to let go. Yet, witnessing her so effortlessly accuse me of a crime I would never even dream of committing shattered any lingering respect I had for her.

Before I could interject, the stranger scoffed, “Then ensure you prove that it’s indeed my number.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “And once you’ve confirmed it, you’ll know where to find me.” With that, he pushed through the crowd with such ease that they might as well have been made of paper.

Or perhaps they were just too stunned to resist.

As he carried me away, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted in and out of consciousness. I jolted awake when I felt him gently placing me into the passenger seat of his car. “Sleep, Leilani… I’ll take you to the hospital,” he whispered, his tone soothing yet foreign.

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