Chapter 99. The Perfect Candidate

ARDEN

The moment Cade pressed play on his phone, the entire clearing fell under a heavy silence.

At first, the recording sounded grainy, typical for a recording of this nature, but then Mr. Winters’ voice emerged with clarity.

“This is the start of your downfall. Of everything. You should be grateful you have your parents… because quite frankly, you’d be six feet under if you didn’t.”

Gasps fluttered through the crowd. I could see the disbelief on their faces.

Someone whispered, “Is that real?”

“It sounds just like him…”

Our heightened hearing, a gift of our werewolf blood, captured every word with piercing clarity. There was no mistaking the cadence of Winters’ voice, the subtle arrogance laced within every phrase.

Cade lifted his phone higher, determined to drive the words deeper into the hearts of everyone gathered.

“You triggered something in me… That woman. Arden Stone. Her family doesn’t want her. And now I’ll ensure you do