My Ex Husband The Alpha His Brother The Rogue novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

-Kael

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For a short while after Cameron left, I’m buried in the paperwork to finalise our investment in the partnership.

But I can’t shake off the frustration. Laila… I can’t get her off my mind. The feel of her skin warming beneath my palm… the trace of her lace underwear beneath that perfectly fitted skirt, and that look in her eyes as she pretends like she doesn’t feel my touch, tearing down Cameron’s executives without flinching…

Damn! I didn’t realize I could shift so quickly from anger to absolutely intrigued and painfully aroused.

Laila… she’s the bane of my existence.

After what feels like forever, I’m finally done with the paperwork. I grab my coat and head down to the parking lot where Blake is already waiting with the car.

“Where to?” Blake asks.

“Home.” I murmur without thinking.

Blake glances at me through the rearview mirror, a knowing smirk lingering on his lips. “You have an appointment scheduled for 4pm.” He reminds. “I’ll go ahead and cancel it.”

I hum in agreement, glancing down at my wristwatch. It’s a little past 3pm. “What’s my schedule for the rest of the day like?”

“You have a dinner meeting with independent investors scheduled for 7pm. And you’re to meet some elders of the Blackwood Pack for drinks by 8.” Blake relays to me.

I frown. Those damned old men are constantly sucking up to me. They were just as eager to banish me when I was cast out of the pack.

“Where’s my wife?” I ask, my brows furrowing slightly.

I dropped her off at home earlier.” Blake confirms.

“Home it is”

Blake grins. He doesn’t argue any further. The drive goes by in silence until finally, he says, “Marie texted. Laila’s not home

I frown slightly, “Call Marie”

Blake places the call immediately and then he reports back, “She’s not home. Liam’s not at the kindergarten either. Marie called in… Laila already picked him up.”

My brows furrow slightly. Laila doesn’t drive. How did she get to Liam’s kindergarten and back without calling Blake?

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Chapter 19

I pull out my phone, dialing Laila. It rings out. No answer. I call again, but still nothing.

Did she… leave?

I shake my head, suppressing the unease creeping up within me.

“Find her.” I order, my voice cold and biting.

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Blake makes the call. It takes him less than ten minutes before his voice breaks the silence again. “She was last seen entering the Bluewater Department Store.”

Bluewater department store…owned by Alpha Marcus of Blue Howl Pack. The same Marcus I’d sent to the emergency room with a bullet to his thigh.

“That’s Marcus’s territory.” My tone is tight, the unease I tried to suppress growing stronger.

“Get me there. Now.”

Blake reverses the car, speeding down the road. I dial Laila’s number again, my fingers tapping a steady, impatient rhythm on my thigh.

No answer.

What’s Laila doing in Marcus’s territory? Why go halfway across town to the last place a Blackwood should be? Everyone knows Blackwood and Blue Howl have been at odds for decades.

Marcus might be stupid enough to waltz into Cascade, but that’s only because Cascade has no pack affiliations or territory restrictions.

My hands curl into fists on my lap. Fists clenched so tightly, my knuckles turn white.

I can let what happened with Cameron earlier slide. But if she’s meeting Marcus, or anyone tied to him behind my back, she’s doing more than playing with fire.

Not long after, we pull up to the department store. I don’t wait for Blake to open the door before I’m already heading out.

I scan the bustling store, my eyes narrowed. It takes a few moments, but I finally spot her. She’s up in the VIP section, by the fitting rooms.

I don’t bother with the elevator, taking the stairs up to the VIP floor. I storm over to her. Blake moves close behind me, his eyes wary as he watches for Blue Howl wolves.

“No. It’s a very particular request…” Laila was saying to a sales representative.

She doesn’t see me until I’m in front of her, blocking her way. Her eyes widen for just a second before her brows furrow in confusion.

“What are you doing here?” she asks in bafflement, like she’s not the one standing in enemy territory and putting herself in danger, and me in a precarious situation.

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Chapter 19

My voice is quiet, but there’s nothing soft about it. “I could ask you the same thing.” I hiss lowly.

Her head tilts to the side, she’s clearly unimpressed. “Isn’t that obvious? I’m shopping

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“For who? Marcus?” I half whisper, half snarl, moving close enough that she has to look up at me. “Or are you looking to provide the media with another scandal?”

Laila’s jaw tightens. Her eyes turning cold. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you’re out of your mind.”

I lean down, so my voice is audible to her alone. “Out of hundreds of department stores, you choose this place? What happened to Blackwood malls? Do you have any idea who owns this place?”

Laila frowns, shaking her head slightly. She tries to move past me, but I grab her wrist, pulling her into the empty fitting room nearest to us.

I shut the door behind us.

“Kael…” She begins to say but her words fall off as my hand closes around her throat faster than she could

react.

“Save it.”

My grip isn’t tight enough to cut off air, but just enough to be a warning and keep her still.

Rage burns through my veins, and for a moment, the only sound I can hear is the rapid thumping of her heart.

“If you’re working with Marcus against me… I swear, Laila, I will…”

“I’m not. I don’t even know who that is.” Laila’s voice is calm and collected.

She’s scared, I can see it in her eyes, terrified even. But there’s something stronger than fear in those eyes, something that aggravates me to no end…defiance.

Before I can say anything more, something clatters to the ground between us. My gaze drops to the small, neatly wrapped package.

“Let go of me, Kael.” She says, despite her calm facade, her eyes shine with unshed tears,

I purse my lips. Slowly loosening my grip.

Free from my hold, Laila bends down to pick up the small package. She hesitates, before tearing the wrapper to reveal two identical leather bracelets, with a single dangling charm shaped as a helmet.

One is slightly larger, the other is child sized. The bracelets are simple, but extremely familiar.

It hits me even before she speaks.

“Liam wanted matching ones for his first day of school. I had it made in Ridgeway. I was going to give it to you both earlier today but it was wrongly delivered to Bluewater.” Laila’s voice is barely above a whisper. A

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Chapter 19

startling difference from the bold, outspoken woman in the boardroom earlier today.

She exhales slowly, her lips trembling visibly.

“I came to pick it up.” She finishes.

My hand drops to my side and as the rage subsides, it’s replaced by a strange feeling of guilt.

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“Liam…will get worried. I’ll leave first.” She brushes past me, walking away. She doesn’t look back…not once.