Rise of the Warrior Queen (Kaia and Silver) novel Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

KAIA’S POV

Gareth’s jaw worked furiously as he turned from Jordan and glared at Silver like he was something foul under his boot. “Noe listen to me, asshole. You’re not going anywhere,” he snapped. “I don’t know what your real plan is, but I won’t let you risk the lives of everyone in this room for one boy just because you’re desperate to play hero.”

Silver’s brows twitched, but his voice remained calm. “He’s a child. A scared, wounded child hiding under a car while monsters close in on him. If we leave him there for a few more minutes, he’s dead–either torn to

shreds by those things or he bleeds out.”

Gareth sneered. “And if we open those doors, what do you think happens when they rush in? We lose

everything. The pack house falls. Children–families–all of them in danger. You want to trade one child for thousands? Because I will not let that happen.”

At this point, I’d had about enough of Gareth’s foolishness and stupidity, and I wanted so badly to step in and

tell him where to shove it.

But I didn’t even know where to begin. I was so angry at his sense of reasoning and leadership that I

practically forgot how to form words.

Silver took a step forward, his voice growing angrier as he spoke. “Do you even hear yourself speak? What if

that child out there was yours, Alpha Gareth? What then? Would you still say the same?”

That hit like a blade, and the whole room froze.

Gareth’s face turned red, and a dangerous light lit up in his eyes. “Don’t you dare-”

“Answer the question,” Silver pressed, his tone unwavering as he took a step forward. “That child is equally a

part of your pack, isn’t he? What kind of alpha abandons his own? What kind of man can look at a bleeding

child and say he’s not worth the risk? Because from where I’m standing, you’re not acting like a leader–you’re

acting like a coward.”

Gareth roared and swung before anyone could react.

My eyes widened, but Silver moved effortlessly, leaning back just enough for Gareth’s fist to cut through the air with nothing but a whisper.

“Don’t,” Silver said coolly, locking eyes with Gareth. “I let you walk free the first time. I won’t take another hit

from you.”

The entire room held its breath as everyone watched the drama unfold between the Alpha and the unknown stranger who wasn’t even an official/member of the pack.

No one moved. No one even blinked.

Gareth stared at him, his chest heaving, and anyone watching could clearly tell that his pride was

alive inside his skin.

“You bastard-“Gareth spat, then lunged again, fury boiling over.

But before Gareth could land a blow, Doctor Grayson appeared out of nowhere, stepping between them.

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CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

“Enough!” the older man barked, raising his hand to stop Gareth. “I think you both are forgetting the real problem on the ground–and that it isn’t each other. We have a kid out there who might not survive the next minute if something isn’t done about it. And all the two of you can think about is exchanging words and

throwing punches?”

Gareth’s eyes widened as if the betrayal had just pierced deeper than any weapon could.

“You,” he hissed. “You of all people are defending him?”

“I’m not defending anyone, my Alpha,” Doctor Grayson explained. “I’m trying to put a stop to unnecessary

conflict while we’re in the middle of this chaos–not take sides. You weren’t here when things fell apart, Alpha

Gareth. You didn’t see the panic. What he’s trying to do is save a life. I’m sure he doesn’t mean any harm by it.

Please, just… let him go.”

Gareth’s fists clenched and unclenched as he glared between them. “Of course you’d defend him. You always

do, starting from the very moment he showed up in this pack. I made it very clear that I didn’t want him here, and what did you do? You teamed up with Kaia to play attorney on his behalf. I said he wasn’t allowed in my

pack house and you offered him a room under your roof. And what, this morning there was nothing you didn’t

do or say to get me to agree to let him join my warriors–even though I repeatedly refused. You think I don’t

see what’s going on here, Doctor?”

Dr. Grayson frowned. “I beg your pardon, my Alpha?”

Gareth shook his head, letting out a bitter laugh. “You know, defending and protecting him won’t change a

damn thing, Dr. Grayson. It won’t change what’s already happened. It won’t bring back what’s already lost,

neither would it_”

Dr. Grayson’s brows furrowed. “Alpha Gareth-”

“Don’t you dare interrupt me!” Gareth barked, his voice sharp with venom. “You can coddle him all you want,

Dr. Grayson! You and your mate can play family with him, bring him into your home, patch his wounds, tuck

him in bed and sing him lullaby if you want to. Hell, you can yeven shrink him in size and dress him in

Dominic’s clothes–but he’ll NEVER be your son!”

A few gasps echoed around the hall, and Silver’s brow furrowed as he turned to Dr. Grayson in confusion.

But Gareth wasn’t done.

“You heard me right. He is not Dominic. He will never be Dominic. No matter how much you wish he could be.

Your son is gone, Grayson. Gone. Forever. And whatever you’re doing won’t bring him back. You sure as hell

can’t replace him with a damn stranger who stumbled into this pack from Goddess knows where.”

Dr. Grayson looked like he’d been physically slapped. Pain flickered across his features, but he said nothing.

Neither did anyone else.

The entire room had gone completely silent as everyone watched Gareth in shock.

He had gone too far. He’d crossed a line that wasn’t meant to be crossed. He’d opened up Dr. Grayson’s past wounds–wounds that probably never even actually healed. And for what? All because he was angry? All because he was trying to get back at him for supposedly defending Silver?

He acted like a child, and there was no excuse for that.

Gareth stood there, breathing hard, as if waiting for someone to challenge him–but no one did. No one said

CHAPTER THIRTY TOUR

anything. Not even me.

Somehow, everyone was too shocked by his behavior to say a word.

He shot Silver one last glare, then turned and stormed off, his shoes thudding heavily across the hall until he vanished around the corner, leaving a gaping silence in his wake.

For a moment, no one moved.

Silver stood motionless, his expression unreadable. Dr. Grayson looked like a man who had just aged ten years in a minute.

His eyes slowly moved toward a certain corner of the room, and when I followed them, I saw Dawn standing there beside my parents, all with sad and pained looks in their eyes.

Dawn sent her mate a forced, teary smile before turning to my mom and whispering something in her ear.

Then she turned around and walked away, heading for the hallway that led to the upper floor.

I felt the ache in my chest and the tightness in my throat.

We were already in the middle of chaos–and now this?

This was the last thing we needed right now. I swear someone should strangle Gareth for this. And that person was probably going to be me..

But as my eyes drifted back to the window, where the small, trembling body of the boy still lay under the car, surrounded by death in different forms, I knew we couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Not more than we

already had.

As if he could read my thoughts, Silver quietly turned to Dax. “Are we ready?”

Dax’s jaw tightened, but he gave a small nod. “Yeah, man. We’re ready. Whatever you need–just get that kid

the hell out of there.”

Silver nodded, taking off his suit jacket. His tie went next, followed by his cufflinks as he rolled his button–up

shirt to his elbows. “Let’s move.”

And just like that, without another word, the plan was back in motion–despite everything that had just been

said.

Because there was still a child out there.

And time was running out.

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