Chapter 656
The moment Xaden entered the room, the entire atmosphere shifted violently.
The temperature plummeted so quickly that the torch flames flickered out.
A cold wind cut through the hall, sliding down every spine, stealing every breath.
Xaden looked like a man who had run across kingdoms, across blood-stained earth, across nightmares.
His dark hair was wild.
His clothes were hanging loosely on his body.
His aura was feral and dangerous.
Completely unrestrained.
Belle blinked at him in shock. “Xaden… what are you doing here?”
He didn’t answer her.
He didn’t even look at her.
His eyes, pure onyx, glowing with murderous intent, were locked instantly on Cherry.
And he moved.
Not walked.
Not strode.
He marched straight toward her, like a weapon unleashed.
“You,” he hissed, voice a low, lethal growl. “You fucking bitch.”
Cherry’s breath caught.
Xaden’s claws burst from his fingertips. His jaw cracked with the threat of shifting.
His wolf pressed against his skin, trying to tear free.
Two omegas launched forward and grabbed him by the arms.
“Alpha Xaden, calm down! Alpha!”
He snarled at them a sound so vicious even the guards stepped back.
Cherry felt her heart slam against her ribs, but her pride flared hotter than her fear. She snapped
“Don’t you FUCKING dare touch me, you dog!”
She lifted her chin, glaring at him, even though her hands trembled behind her robe.
She didn’t understand what he was doing here.
Why was he charging at her like a possessed beast?
He looked ready to tear her throat out.
Xaden had left the royal pack a month ago.
What did he want?
Rose tore herself away from Roland and stepped forward.
“Xaden,” she whispered, voice unsteady. “What are you doing here?”
He turned to her, chest rising and falling as he had sprinted through hell itself.
Rose stared at him, her face and expression demanding answers.
Then his gaze snapped back to Cherry.
“Your sister,” he snarled. “She is the one.”
Cherry froze.
“What?” Rose breathed.
Xaden shook with rage, his claws digging into the floor as the omegas struggled to restrain him.
“She is the reason,” he growled, “why my parents are DEAD!”
The room inhaled sharply.
He stepped forward again, dragging the omegas with him like they weighed nothing.
“She sent Bale,” he roared, every word dripping with hatred. “She gave him the power and the command to kill them!”
Cherry’s heart hammered so loudly she was sure the whole kingdom could hear it.
Rose’s face crumpled. “Xaden, stop. Please. This isn’t the time nor the place to
He whipped his head toward her.
“NOT THE TIME?” he shouted, voice cracking with grief and fury. “She murdered my parents!”
Rose blinked, confused. “Xaden, listen to me. Cherry made a terrible mistake by failing to inform us about the planned attack. She was negligent. She didn’t warn-
“What the FUCK are you talking about?” Xaden bellowed, lunging against the omegas’ grip.
“She didn’t forget anything!”
His voice dropped lower.
Colder.
Deadlier.
“She told Bale to kill them.”
Cherry’s blood went cold.
The room spun.
Her knees weakened.
Because she knew what was coming next
and she had no way to stop it.
Xaden leaned forward, eyes burning black.
“It was all her.”
All eyes turned to look at her, and Cherry gave a weak scoff.
“You don’t necessarily believe this loser, do you? He is a barbarian remember? Grew up in the forest and was raised by a witch. He is practically unstable, and you think he can come here to use words against me?” She hissed as she chuckled.
“Eleanor.” He spat. “You killed my mother.”
Cherry’s eyes glistened at him.
He looked ferocious, ready to tear her into a million pieces.
Cherry rolled her eyes at him. “You’re insane. Must be the days of living in the wild that did something to your brain.”
At that very moment, it happened.
It happened so fast that no one could stop it.
Xaden sprang free from the grasp of the ten omegas holding him down.
He cut them with their arms, and he pounced on Cherry.
Cherry acted on her reflexes.
She uses her magic to send him spiraling back.
By the time his wolf had landed on the floor, he was on his steady feet in perfect balance.
Cherry was breathing hard now, her hand up in the air.
The very same hand that had wielded magic to send Xaden back.
All eyes were on her.
Even Xaden paused.
She could feel the look of shock.
The flame closed her eyes, then opened them again. “She was the one. I can smell it all over her now. It was her magic that created the boundaries all over the royal pack.”
Now Rose’s eyes were transfixed on her.
Cherry retracted her hand and looked at everyone, trying to figure out how to concoct something.
A lie at least.
The same way she had managed to get out of so much.
Her smile wavered.
“It’s the same magic that I can smell on Auburn.” The Flame said. “Every type of magic has its own signature. Just like you, wolves have their scents. It’s the same for magic. And this is her scent. She was the one who brought the imposter.”
Cherry’s heart was beating so fast as she knew there was no getting out of this one.
She wisely took a step back.
“You brought this imposter to my home?” Rose asked, her voice shaking. “I TRUSTED YOU!”
Realizing that the game was up and there was no going back, Cherry unleashed.
“Oh SHUT UP!” She hissed in rage.
Rose froze, appalled.
“You’re a fool, Sister. You’ve always been a fool.” Cherry spat the hate, finally revealing itself. “You’re Queen, but you’re so stupid that all you’ve done is let me use you.”
“Do you know Scarlett didn’t just drown?” Cherry smiled.
Corral’s face went red.
Her eyes pleaded with her not to say a word.
But Cherry was a bitch.
If she was going down.
EVERYONE WAS GOING DOWN WITH HER.
She was going to spill ALL the secrets.