CHAPTER 228: _ THINGS FALL APART

Heidi’s a walking prophecy now, even if she doesn’t know it yet.

"So... you’re saying Sierra Castell no longer has a wolf?" Darien finally manages to ask after sheepishly clearing his throat.

Rowan nods. "Basically, yes."

Much to the surprise of them all, Morgan blurts out a laughter he’s obviously trying to stiffen because of the cracked tempo at which it comes. " "An Omega? She’s now an Omega?"

Amias and Darien simultaneously shoot him a glare that shouts: ’Don’t make it worse!’

Morgan clears his throat and pushes to his feet. "It was self-defense. You should release her right now."

Rowan shakes his head quickly. "Mrs. Castell is personally filing for this case. She demanded the girl be kept detained while the investigation is ongoing. The pack court is already preparing for charges."

Heidi flinches at the word charges. Amias feels his heart twist and bury itself under his ribs. She doesn’t deserve this. He knows for a fact that Heidi must have endured worse in that house for that silly brat to even attempt to take her life.

His heart goes out to her, but that’s right about it. That’s how far and how much he’s allowed—to just feel but never act on them.

Grayson rubs her back, trying to calm the shaking. "You didn’t do anything wrong. You defended yourself against someone with murderous intent."

"Doesn’t matter," she whispers. "They think I did."

Amias steps forward, voice colder than ice. "Well, we are pressing for her release. Interrogate her if you want, but she is not staying in a cell until court. She’ll be released until trial."

Rowan’s eyes widen. "I—I don’t have the authority..."

"You do now," Darien cuts in sharply. "Amias and Grayson will stay with her. Morgan and I will go handle her bail."

Morgan nods instantly and storms toward the doorway. Darien follows Rowan out, tossing one last look at Heidi—one that promises violence on her behalf.

When the footsteps fade, uncomfortable silence settles in the room. Only Heidi’s slow breathing breaks the tension. Grayson sits on the bench beside her and pulls her into his chest. She sinks into him like she’s exhausted, like she doesn’t have the strength to pretend she isn’t falling apart.

Amias freezes.

"We do not like this. He is touching what is ours." Vark snarls quietly.

"Not ours. She will never be ours." Amias tightens his fists, nails biting skin. "We promised mother. We promised Lira. We sealed our future. We don’t get to want this."

Grayson strokes her back, murmuring something too soft for Amias to hear. Her fingers grip his shirt, shuddering. She looks so small in someone else’s arms.

Jealousy, anger, longing, guilt, pain pulls hard in Amias’s chest. It’s a mess of feelings shredding him from the inside.

He turns away sharply, jaw grinding. He stares at the wall instead, because if he has to keep watching Grayson hold her like that, he’ll lose control. And losing control is not an option. Not with Vark pacing like an enraged shadow inside his skin.

Just then, the phone in his pocket vibrates. Perfect timing or the universe mocking him, he doesn’t know. He pulls it out and glances at the caller ID. His stomach drops.

Lira.

Amias stares at the phone, the name ’Lira’ is blazing across the screen like a warning he doesn’t want to heed. His fingers hover above it. He knows he should answer. He has to answer. But every instinct screams, not now. Not while Heidi’s here, curled into Grayson like a frightened sparrow. Not while his wolf is growling and snapping inside, reminding him that desire and duty are two knives stabbing the same gut.

He swallows. He presses the red button instead, ending the call. The phone vibrates briefly, and then silence. He tucks it into his pocket, pretending he’s okay, pretending that ignoring it will make the world easier to breathe in. But Vark isn’t fooled.

"

You’re insane for even feeling bad about not answering the call." the wolf growls, teeth grinding in the depths of Amias’s mind. "Heidi’s the one you promised to stay with. Lira is trouble. You know this. You’re walking into a trap."

Amias closes his eyes, chanting: I promised Mother. I’m responsible for Lira. I sealed my future. I cannot... I will not betray that.

Emboldened by that, he digs the phone from his pocket, dialing Lira. His thumb hovers over the call button. Do it. No. Stop. Why?

He hits send.

"Amias," Lira’s voice greets him, composed, like she’s always in control. But there’s a faint irritation underneath, sounding like an impatience he can feel even through the line. "I’ve gotten to the Alpha’s mansion. They said you left with your brothers."

"Yes. I—wait there for a little while. I’ll be there soon."

"Amias. No, I want to see you right now." she insists:

He swallows hard, trying to steady himself. "I thought you were coming to see Daphne first. Why are you requesting me?"

"Daphne told me what happened. The news... I saw it online. You and your brothers rushed out because of... some Moon Blessed."

The words make him flinch, and then she adds in a colder way, forming a jab that twists inside him: "I don’t want you near any woman. Why would you even give a damn about a Moon Blessed?"

The way she regards Heidi like she’s nothing makes Amias want to reach into the phone and pull out that tongue of hers. However, he can’t. He’s a responsible Alpha-to-be, about to become a family man/

Hence, he presses the phone to his chest. I promised Mother. I’m responsible for Lira. I will not fail either.

He swallows again. "I will explain everything. When I’m back. Please... give me one hour. Just one hour to get there, to explain everything clearly."

There’s a pause, a silence that feels like a rope round his chest ensues. Then Lira exhales, long and slow. "One hour," she says finally. "Not a second more."

He nearly swallows the phone. "Thank you," he murmurs, and before she can argue, the call ends.

The line goes dead, leaving a buzzing weight in his pocket.

Vark hisses in annoyance. "This is madness. You’re about to get yourself trapped in a lifetime of chains, all for promises that aren’t even yours to keep. Stay away from her. She’s poison."