Gemma Draconica

Chapter 11

Bale's brows draw together, his face twisted in a storm of anger, barely restrained. The night air seems colder and sharper as his voice slices through it. "Veronica."

Not Sunflower. Not Vivi. The sting of hearing my full name from his lips, so distant, so cold, hits harder than any shout.

My chest tightens, regret blooming like ice inside me. Bale only ever uses my full name when he's beyond angry. And this—this is a different kind of anger.

Bale tosses my car's key fob to one of his warriors with a sharp flick of his wrist. "Drive it home. She's coming with me." The finality in his tone leaves no room for argument.

Without waiting, he reaches for me, his grip firm as he hauls me toward the cliffside stairs. My feet scramble to find purchase on the uneven ground, but he moves too fast, too strong.

I open my mouth to protest, to tell him I can walk on my own, but the fury radiating off him like heat keeps the words locked in my throat.

The air between us vibrates with tension, a tension that makes the magic under my skin stir as if it's feeding off his anger.

The SUV's dim interior greets me with the sharp scent of antiseptic and the faint rustle of bandages tucked into a box on the floor.

My stomach knots. He was prepared for the worst. The image of my parents waiting for me, fear etched into their faces, claws at my insides.

I bite my lip. "Bale, I'm sorry for causing such a fuss. My phone died. I didn't plan to stay this long. I must have dozed off."

He glances at me in the rear-view mirror, his lips pressed tight. His Beta, Garrett, throws a quick glance over his shoulder and offers a sympathetic shake but doesn't dare say anything. Not when my brother is this angry.

Bale doesn't take me home. We go straight to the pack house, where my terrified parents are waiting for me.

Every light in the house is blazing. Guilt washes over me, thinking about the panic my disappearance must have caused.

As soon as we're out of the car, Bale's grip tightens on my arm, and his fingers are like iron as he drags me toward the packhouse steps.

The gravel crunches beneath our feet, the sound too loud in the still night.

"Enough, Bale!" I yank my arm free, digging my heels into the gravel, sending small stones scattering.

We both halt the tension, snapping like a live wire. Magic hums beneath my skin, and an odd warmth spreads through my limbs. I turn to face him, meeting his gaze head-on. Fire against fire.

"I can walk by myself. I'm not a child."

His face contorts with rage, eyes narrowing to slits. He steps forward, reaching for my arm again, but this time, I'm ready. The heat in my veins surges something raw and powerful, awakening just beneath the surface. My magic—it stirs.

Without thinking, I twist, my foot shooting out, catching him in the ribs with a force that shocks me.

Bale stumbles, clutching his side, eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, neither of us moves.

The rush of power buzzing through me feels almost electric, like a spark running through my veins.

The magic hums louder, echoing the beat of my pulse, and I feel... strong. Too strong.

What did I just do?

Bale recovers quickly, but not before I see the flash of shock in his eyes. My alpha brother hadn't expected that—not from me.