Chapter 0461

"You'll find a way." Brianna gives me a reassuring smile. "You've always managed to handle impossible situations." She gently rocks Luca in her arms as he makes soft cooing sounds. Motherhood had become her natural state, as if she was born for it. Still, I felt anxious about sharing my pregnancy news with her. How do you tell a woman who can never experience carrying her own child that you're pregnant again?

Staying here had given me time to calm my nerves and think clearly. I felt incredibly foolish now. For a moment, I understood why Liam had called everyone stupid.

"Nobody's perfect." Brianna murmurs softly. "Stop punishing yourself over this. If Alexander had any suspicions, he never would have let you leave with Liam. No one could have predicted a child would do something like that. You reacted like any rational person would. Even if you had demanded the watch immediately, he still could have activated it."

"It shouldn't have happened regardless."

"Sebastian said the house would have been targeted regardless."

I nod, watching my boys playing in the corner. Part of me wonders how they'll react to another sibling. Another part worries this pregnancy might make me overlook important details again. Last time, carrying twins had exhausted me so much I missed crucial signs.

"I'm certain they'll find evidence." She offers me an encouraging smile.

"Even if they do, what difference does it make? The house is gone. The only place I've ever truly considered home is destroyed." "Alexander will rebuild it."

I nod. Knowing Alexander, he's already planning the reconstruction.

"What will you do with Liam?" Brianna asks curiously, settling beside me.

"Honestly, I want to end him. But I know that's not right. Ultimately, he's just a manipulated child. Killing him for that would be unjust." I shake my head. "But he still deserves appropriate punishment for his actions."

"Levi manipulated him the same way Victoria manipulated me." She whispers.

I nod in agreement. "I know they'll find him. There are only so many places he can run, even with Levi's help."

"And Levi? That bastard seems prepared for everything."

I run my thumb over my fingertips, feeling my claws resting just beneath the surface. "If he wants to play games, then we'll play his game."

She raises an eyebrow at me.

"I need to work out the details before sharing." I kneel beside my boys, kissing their heads. "Could you watch them a bit longer? There's something I need to do."

"Of course. I'll prepare the spare room for you and Alexander."

Leaving their house, I hurry toward the dungeons, avoiding looking at the ruins of my home. The guard nods respectfully and mentions that Evelyn seems more agitated than usual.

"Agitated?"

"She's been pacing constantly. Muttering to herself." He shrugs and rolls his eyes. "Lycans."

'She's communicating with her Lycan.' Nyx comments.

'Perhaps, but he doesn't know that.'

The guard opens the door for me. Immediately, I hear Evelyn arguing with empty air. She stops when she sees me. "What was that noise?"

"The packhouse."

"Levi?" She asks quietly.

"It appears he was involved, yes."

A frown forms on her face, then slowly softens. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"Dakota wants me to tell you this is all my fault. That if I hadn't been foolish, we could have handled this differently."

Her words surprise me. "Why would she want me to know that?"

"She says we're supposed to be your Beta."

"What?" I scoff, trying to suppress the laughter threatening to escape. "You think you, of all people, are supposed to be my Beta?"

"Dakota believes so." she mutters, lowering her gaze. "I've been telling her she's wrong. But she's completely certain and won't change her mind. I told her you'd probably kill us."

Nyx snorts. 'I've never heard such nonsense.'

Evelyn runs her hands through her hair and collapses onto the floor. "I don't expect you to believe her or anything I say."