Free Web NovelChapter 232: Chapter 232
Caden’s POV
The silence after Gunnar’s question felt heavy.
Every single person in the room was staring at me now.
Especially Cane.
His eyes narrowed slowly as he turned fully toward me, disbelief written all over his face.
"You slept with Carian too?" he asked.
His voice was low. Dangerously low.
I swallowed hard immediately. "It wasn’t like that," I said quickly.
Cane scoffed angrily. "Then explain what exactly it was like, Caden."
I rubbed my hand down my face roughly, already regretting everything.
"I didn’t even understand what was happening that day," I admitted honestly.
Cane kept staring at me. Gunnar stayed quiet.
Even Leslie looked tense now.
I let out a frustrated breath before speaking again.
"It happened a day before the spell she used on Gunnar," I explained. "I came back from patrol late that night. I remember being exhausted."
My jaw tightened. "I went to the royal kitchen because I wanted a drink and I wanted to get it myself but... She was there."
Carian looked away immediately.
"She started talking to me normally at first," I continued. "Nothing strange. Then suddenly everything started feeling... wrong."
Cane frowned."What do you mean wrong?"
"I mean I couldn’t think properly," I snapped back. "I knew something was off but I couldn’t stop myself."
The memory alone irritated me badly.
"I remember trying to leave," I admitted. "But every time I looked at her it felt like my head stopped working."
Carian stayed silent.
"I couldn’t resist her," I said finally. "That’s the truth."
Cane’s expression darkened immediately.
"She used magic on you too," Gunnar said quietly.
I looked toward him and nodded once."I guess yes."
Cane laughed bitterly and turned toward Carian. "You really are insane."
"No," Carian snapped immediately. "I loved you all!"
"That is not love," Cane barked back angrily.
"It is!"
"You manipulated us!"
"I only wanted affection!"
"You drugged me!" Cane shouted.
"You used a spell on Gunnar!" I added immediately. "And whatever you did to me wasn’t normal either!"
Carian looked overwhelmed now.
Tears gathered in her eyes but honestly none of us cared anymore.
Gunnar finally stepped forward again..His expression looked cold now.
And honestly, that calmness still unsettled me badly.
He looked directly at Carian.
"As you can see," he said quietly, "you’ve been a terrible partner."
Carian flinched immediately.
"A terrible mother."
Her lips trembled slightly.
"And a terrible sister."
That one hit her hardest.
I saw it immediately in her face.
Gunnar continued speaking calmly.
"I appreciate that you healed me," he said. "But this ends now."
Carian shook her head instantly.
"Release Riley," Gunnar finished. "And go back."
"No."
The answer came immediately from her. Sharp. Firm.
The room became tense again instantly.
Cane took a threatening step forward.
"You don’t get to say no anymore," he growled.
"I said no!" Carian shouted back loudly.
Leslie looked nervous now, clearly sensing how dangerous the atmosphere was becoming.
Gunnar remained calm.
"You’re not staying here," Cane snapped at her. "You’ve already done enough damage."
"I gave up half my powers for him!" Carian yelled while pointing at Gunnar. "I almost destroyed myself saving him!"
"Nobody asked you to!" I fired back immediately.
Her breathing became rough now. "You all act like I’m some monster!"
"You are," Cane replied instantly.
That made her snap.
"No!" she screamed. "I loved all of you!"
"You obsessed over everyone," Gunnar corrected coldly.
"And I can love whoever I want"
"Not by destroying people"
"You all act innocent!" she shouted suddenly. "But every single one of you touched me too!"
The room went quiet briefly. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Then Cane spoke again."You manipulated us into that."
"No," she argued immediately. "You wanted me too!"
"I would rather die than willingly touch you," Cane spat.
That hit her hard.
Her face crumpled briefly before anger replaced it completely.
"Fine then," she snapped bitterly. "If Gunnar doesn’t want to love me anymore..."
She looked at all three of us slowly."Then all of you will."
My brows furrowed instantly."What?"
Carian straightened slightly now despite the tears on her face.
"All three of you," she repeated. "You, Gunnar and Cane."
Cane looked disgusted immediately."You’re fucking sick."
"For seven days," she continued like he hadn’t spoken. "All of you are going to stay with me."
"No," Gunnar replied flatly.
"Yes."
"You’ve lost your mind," I muttered.
Carian laughed bitterly.
"No," she replied. "I’m done begging."
She looked directly at Gunnar again."You rejected me," she said. "Fine."
Then she looked toward Cane."You hate me."
Then finally toward me."And you regret me."
Nobody answered her.
"So this is what’s going to happen," she continued firmly. "For seven days, all three of you will stay with me and give me what I want."
Cane looked ready to explode.
"And if we refuse?" he asked dangerously.
Carian’s expression changed instantly.
Before any of us realized what she was doing, she grabbed a sharp medical tool from Leslie’s table and pressed it directly against her neck.
Leslie gasped loudly.
"Carian!" I shouted immediately.
"Don’t move!" she screamed.
Cane froze instantly. The sharp edge dug slightly into her skin now.
"You come any closer," she warned Cane directly, "and I’ll stab myself."
"Do it," Cane growled immediately.
"Alpha Cane!" Leslie shouted in horror.
Carian laughed shakily.
"You know better than that," she said while tightening her grip on the blade. "The moment I die, Riley dies too."
That made Cane go still immediately.
"You think I’m bluffing?" Carian continued. "I’m the one holding her life force. I’m the one who has to release her."
The room became silent again. Tense and Dangerous.
Cane’s claws had already extended slightly but he forced himself not to move.
I could literally see how badly he wanted to kill her.
Gunnar slowly stepped forward then.
"Cane," he said quietly.
Cane didn’t move.
"Stay back."
After a few seconds, Cane finally stepped backward reluctantly.
Carian kept the blade against her neck the entire time.
Gunnar walked closer slowly until he stood directly in front of her.
His face remained calm.
Again, too calm.
He looked at the blade against her throat briefly before meeting her eyes again.
"Let’s say we agree," Gunnar said quietly.
Carian’s grip tightened slightly.
"By the end of the seven days..." He paused. "And you still refuse to release Riley."
The room went silent again.
Gunnar stared directly into her eyes."Then what happens?"
