MATED TO THE BEAST ALPHA BROTHERS
Chapter 33: Familiar betrayal.

Chapter 33: Familiar betrayal.

"She’s weak. Just one quick strike, and it’ll all be over."

Lyra stood in the dim hospital room, the cold gleam of her dagger reflecting in her widened, unblinking eyes.

Haelyn lay on the bed, her breathing shallow, her face unnaturally pale, the scent of antiseptics thick in the air.

Lyra tightened her grip on the weapon, her pulse erratic.

Why is my heart racing? This is just another job.

Her fingers trembled as she raised the dagger over Haelyn’s chest.

Then....

A whisper.

Weak. Fragile. But sharp as a blade.

"You think I don’t feel you?"

Lyra froze.

Haelyn’s glowing blue eyes snapped open.

Lyra’s breath caught in her throat.

Before she could react, Haelyn moved.

Fast.

Despite her fragile state, she grabbed Lyra’s wrist with alarming speed.

"You," Haelyn rasped, her fingers tightening painfully around Lyra’s wrist.

Lyra snarled, wrenching her arm free and stumbling backward.

Her wolf urged her to run, escape, but pride refused to let her flee like a coward.

"You should have stayed unconscious," Lyra spat.

She lunged, aiming to shove Haelyn back onto the bed....

But Haelyn was already moving, her weak body acting on instinct, fighting back.

The IV stand crashed to the floor. The heart monitor flatlined for a brief second before beeping erratically.

Lyra hissed, ducking as Haelyn swung a weak but determined punch at her face.

"You should be dead," Lyra snarled, grabbing Haelyn’s shoulders.

"So should you," Haelyn countered breathlessly.

With one last push, Lyra shoved Haelyn away, the force making the weak girl collapse back onto the bed.

She knew she had to get out....now.

A sudden click from the door made her whirl around.

Archer.

Lyra didn’t think. She dived into the shadows, slipping through the side door just as Archer, Artemis, and Rowena burst into the room.

The moment she was gone, Haelyn collapsed back into the pillows, gasping for air.

Archer was immediately by her side, grabbing her shoulders.

"What the hell happened?!"

Haelyn’s chest heaved, her hands shaking violently.

"Lyra," she rasped. "She....she was here! She tried to...."

She pointed at the floor, at the silver dagger glinting under the bed.

Artemis’s eyes widened. He crouched, retrieving the weapon.

"That’s...."

"Lyra’s," Haelyn confirmed, still gasping.

Archer’s jaw clenched. He turned to Rowena, who had just entered the room.

"Check the cameras."

Rowena nodded and disappeared into the hallway.

The room fell into tense silence.

Minutes later, Rowena returned, her expression grim.

"There’s nothing," she said.

Haelyn froze.

"What do you mean there’s nothing?" she whispered.

Rowena shook her head. "I checked the security footage. No one came in. No one left."

"But I saw her!" Haelyn shouted.

Artemis and Cerius exchanged looks.

"She’s hallucinating," Cerius murmured under his breath.

"I’m NOT," Haelyn growled.

Archer studied her carefully. He knew Haelyn. He knew when she was lying.

And she wasn’t lying.

Still, without proof, there was nothing they could do.

For now.

The city lights flickered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tiago Frost’s luxury penthouse, casting a soft glow over the king-sized bed where Layla lay sprawled, her silk robe barely clinging to her curves.

Tiago stood at the foot of the bed, his shirt unbuttoned, his sharp gaze raking over her like a predator studying its prey.

Layla smirked, trailing a delicate finger along her exposed thigh.

"You’re staring," she teased, her voice a husky whisper.

Tiago’s lips curved, slow and dangerous. "You like it."

Layla shifted, her legs lazily crossing as she tilted her head, exposing her neck.

"Are you going to keep admiring me from a distance, or are you going to do something about it?"

Tiago chuckled, low and deep, stepping forward.

His hands gripped the bedposts on either side of her, caging her in without touching her.

Layla’s breath hitched.

"I don’t think you understand," Tiago murmured, his lips hovering just inches from hers.

"I don’t play by your rules, Layla."

Her nails dug into his bare chest, a challenge flashing in her eyes.

"Then play by yours," she purred.

Tiago’s patience snapped.

He grabbed her by the waist, pulling her against him, their bodies melting into one another as he crushed his lips against hers.

Layla moaned, her arms wrapping around his neck as his hands roamed over her silk-covered skin, fingers curling into the fabric before yanking it aside.

Her robe fell open, exposing smooth, bare skin, and Tiago groaned in approval, his lips trailing down her collarbone, her shoulder, lower.

Layla arched beneath him, breathless, needy.

"You always talk so much," Tiago murmured against her skin. "But here, you’re silent."

Layla gasped as his teeth grazed the sensitive spot on her neck, her nails digging into his back.

"Shut up and touch me, Frost."

Tiago smirked, flipping her onto her stomach before pinning her wrists above her head.

"Such a demanding little thing," he murmured, his breath hot against her ear.

Layla whimpered as he took his time, his fingers tracing a slow, torturous path down her spine.

"You should be careful what you wish for," he whispered. "You might just get it."

Layla gasped sharply, feeling heat flood her body as Tiago’s hands....

Tiago pulled back, watching Layla with a mix of satisfaction and calculation.

She lay beneath him, breathless, her eyes heavy with lust, her lips slightly parted.

But he wasn’t done.

Not yet.

His fingers gripped her chin, tilting her face to meet his gaze.

"You think I want you because of this?" he murmured, his tone mocking.

Layla’s chest rose and fell, but she refused to look away.

"Why else?" she whispered, smirking. "Because you love me?"

Tiago laughed.

Cold. Sharp. Amused.

"Oh, sweetheart," he murmured, brushing his lips along hers but never quite kissing her.

"I don’t do love."

Layla’s nails dug into his back, her lips curling.

"Neither do I."

Tiago smirked.

"Good."

And then, with one swift movement, he pulled her beneath him, their bodies colliding once more.

The penthouse suite was dimly lit, the scent of expensive cigars and red wine filling the air.

Tiago Frost leaned against the edge of the luxurious black leather couch, watching as Layla slipped out of his bed, wrapped in nothing but silk sheets.

She was beautiful, seductive, but Tiago saw her for what she really was....

Desperate.

"Did you bring the papers?" Tiago asked, swirling his glass of whiskey.

Layla smirked. "Right to business, huh?"

She sauntered over, her hands trailing down his chest.

"I like a man who takes charge," she purred.

Tiago grabbed her wrist mid-touch, his grip firm.

"Layla."

She pouted, rolling her eyes as she pulled away.

"Yes, yes. I have them."

She grabbed a folder from the bedside table, tossing it onto the coffee table.

Tiago picked it up, flipping through legal documents detailing the transfer of certain Beckett properties into his name.

His lips curved into a smirk.

"And your father doesn’t know?"

Layla laughed. "Arthur doesn’t know shit. He’s too busy scheming about Archer and Haelyn."

Tiago leaned back, watching her with amusement.

"And what about you?" he asked.

Layla’s eyes darkened.

"What about me?"

"Do you still want Archer?"

Her jaw tightened.

"That stupid bitch Haelyn is ruining everything," she snapped.

Tiago chuckled.

"Oh, Layla," he murmured, sipping his drink. "You’re so easy to manipulate."

Layla frowned, not catching his words.

Tiago smirked, already planning his next move.

Layla leaned against Tiago, pressing her lips against his neck.

"I want Archer ruined," she whispered.

Tiago smirked. "And what about Haelyn?"

Layla’s eyes darkened.

"She’s in the way," she said simply.

Tiago traced a finger along her jawline, studying her.

"You’re ambitious," he murmured. "I like that."

Layla smirked but didn’t reply.

Instead, she whispered, "We should move soon. Before my father catches on."

Tiago nodded, his mind already working on the next phase of their plan.

And Layla....

Layla had no idea she was nothing but a pawn.