Chapter 164 What She Never Understood

    bLeslie’s /bPOV

    “Let her in.”

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    Finished

    Lyana stepped into my office with that signature elegance of hers–cool,manding, and unmistakably sharp–edged.

    I smiled lightly. “A rare guest. Smoke Pack Alpha herself?”

    She didn’t waste time with pleasantries. She took the seat across from me like she owned the

    room.

    Honestly, her presence felt more queenly than mine.

    “Coffee or tea?”

    “No need.”

    I raised a brow and gave Liam a look. He nodded and silently closed the door behind him.

    Lyana got straight to the point. “I’m not one for games, so I’ll ask directly–was it you who told Kirby to cut me out of the territory deal? And you’re also the reason Melina hasn’t answered a single one of my messages since that day, aren’t you?”

    Her eyes were sharp, simmering with anger. She leaned forward, both hands braced on the edge of my desk. The air around us grew heavy with tension.

    Truly, she was a seasoned warrior–someone who’d wed her way through the brutal south. Most people would’ve been intimidated.

    Too bad I’m Leslie.

    Not the type to back down.

    I met her intensity with azy smile,pletely unfazed,

    “The first part? Guilty.” I smiled wider, almost smug. “As for Melina ignoring your messages— well, that’s not on me. But if it is, what a tragedy.”

    She must’ve found out about the painting. And now she won’t even take Lyana’s calls?

    How utterly delightful.

    Lyana’s gaze darkened. Her tone pressed in. “On what grounds did you tell Kirby to push me

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    Chapter 164 What She Never Understood

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    Finished

    out? Do you have any idea how much effort I put in to get a foothold in the capital–how long it took me to earn Crimson Moon Pack’s trustb?/bb” /b

    bLyana’s /bPOV

    I’d never wasted time chasing weak alliances. I went straight for Crimson Moon.

    It took real work to earn Kirby’s respect, to make him believe I was worth dealing with.

    And now she undid all of it–with a word?

    Leslie gave a soft, mockingugh.

    “Effort? You mean when you told Kirby that if he worked with you, you’d make sure Eric bgave /bup on me for good?”

    My blood ran cold.

    How… how did she know?

    Leslie’s smirk deepened. “Your so–called ‘efforts‘ are really something, Alpha. But what I find more interesting is your confidence. You really thought you could win over a guy like Eric?”

    “You did your research. You memorized everyone’s weaknesses. I’ll give you that. But you were still arrogant enough to think that just because Eric rejected you before doesn’t mean he’d do it again?”

    “I wasn’t going to get involved—until you dragged yourself in.”

    “How do you know any of this?”

    Kirby would inever /ireveal that conversation. That wasn’t who he was.

    Leslie casually lifted her phone and waved it slightly.

    “Just so happens, I have a friend who was sitting at the bar near your booth that night. Overheard every word.”

    Amara.

    She’d only remembered the details a few days ago, and the moment she called Leslie, everything fell into ce.

    I fell silent. My expression turned cold.

    Even exposed, I refused to show weakness. “I underestimated you, Leslie.”

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    Chapter 164 What She Never Understood

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    Finished

    I had always assumed she was just a sheltered noble princess–protected by her father and brothers. Even if she had power, I figured shecked the cruelty and cunning to use it.

    Clearly, I was wrong.

    “Smoke Pack Alpha,” Leslie said with a lift of her brow and augh in her voice, “I think the one doing the overestimating is you.”

    “You thought that feeding Melina some trash talk would cut me out of the race? That you’d be the only one left?”

    Her bluntness hit like a p. My face flushed with a mix of anger and shame. And the dam inside me cracked.

    “Leslie, you know what it’s like to love someone who doesn’t love you back. You know how painful that is. Why can’t you understand me?”

    “I’ve loved Eric for ten years. I’ve watched him go through girl after girl, and I never said a word. I never cared.”

    “But you-” My voice trembled. “It’s different with you.”

    “The

    way

    he looks at you—it’s not the same. And you don’t even like him, so why lead him on? Why give him hope? Why keep him from moving on?”

    bLeslie’s /bPOV

    I looked at her.

    For the first time, I saw not the cunning Alpha–but the fragile woman beneath the armor. The bitterness. The hunger.

    But sympathy? That I no longer had.

    Send Gifts

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