bChapter /bb113 /b

    bra’s /bPOV

    I stood frozen at the threshold of the suite, my hand still gripping the doorframe. My guze locked onto the group of maids and servants gathered in hushed conversation, their beyes /bwide with fear. The tension in the air felt heavy, thick with secrets they weren’t meant to share.

    One of the maids gasped, her voice trembling with disbelief, “Are you serious? The King actually invited Alpha Thorne to our training field what in the world is he thinking?

    The guard beside her sighed, his face etched with concern. “Tin telling you, it’s true. And who knows what the King is thinking anymore? A few of our best warriors tried challenging Alpha Thorne today. All of them were beaten- one of them’s still in aa from the fight.”

    The others drew in sharp breaths, their eyes wide with shock. “But i thought he couldn’t shift here,” one of the maids whispered, barely able to believe it. “Even without his woll, he’s still terrifyingly strong. What is going on?”

    The tension crackled in the air ke an electric charge. “Remember what happened at the banquet?” another maid added, her voice barely audible. “Thome snapped an iron lock with his bare hands and showed a candlestick into the King’s chest. I don’t think anyone in this city is strong enough to deal bwith /bhim.”

    “Exactly,” the guard muttered darkly. “Keeping him here is like housing a beast in our own home.”

    One of the women shifted nervously, her hands wringing. “But what do we dob? /bWe can’t just let him stay here… he’s dangerous if the King’s not going to do anything, maybe we should… handle it ourselves. Quick, before things get worse.”

    Her words hung in the air like a dark cloud.

    “Are you suggesting we kill him?” the guard scoffed, incredulous. “And who exactly has the guts to take on Alpha Thorne?”

    The maid hesitated, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Maybe… wolfsbane in his food? Or a pillow? We have ess to him. We could”

    “You can’t kill an Alpha with wolfsbane, you idiot,” the bguard /bsnapped, his tone sharp

    I’d heard enough. Stepping out from behind the corner, I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. They all froze, panic shing across their faces

    b“/bGamma ra… one of the bguards /bstammered, his face bdrained /bbof /bcolor.

    Without saying a word, I walked toward them. My eyes locked on the maid who had suggested using wolfsbane. bHer /bbody shook bunder /bmy gaze, her eyes

    on the floor in fear.

    b“/bYour friend was right,” I said, my voice cold as ice, lips curling into a small, mocking smile, “You Can’t kill an Alpha with wolfsbane.”

    The maid’s eyes widened, her voice quivering. “…I didn’t mean. bPlease/b… bforgive /bme…”

    I leaned in close, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “If you make any move against him, we’ll find out. And you will regret it.”

    The room bwas /bbdead /bsilent as I turned and pushed the door open, stepping inside. I closed it with a firm click, cutting off the whispers behind me.

    Inside, Thorne was lounging on the couch, a ss of wine in hand. He raised an eyebrow, taking in my appearance–the wet clothes clinging to my skin.

    “What happened?” His voice wasced with concern as he set the ss down and rose to his feet, pulling me close

    “You went swimming today?” he asked softly, his bhands /bwarm against my

    back.

    “Sort of,” I murmured, resting my head against his chest.

    He chuckled, his deep voice rumbling in his chest. “bTheard /byou kicked some ass btoday/bb./bb” /b

    Igrinned, tightening my arms around him, “What about you? I heard you showed those warriors who’s boss. Did you enjoy!

    Thorne’s lips curled into a wicked grin, “Oh, Thad a st, Lance thought I’d be at a disadvantage without my woll. bHe /bprobably thought humiliate me in front of everyone.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “He was wrong”

    Iughed, the sound light and teasing. “That’s my mant

    His expression darkened at my words, a flicker of something deeper in his gaze. His lips brushed mine before he pulled back slightly, his eyes locking onto mine with ban /bintensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

    “Any reward for the man who just won a few rounds?” he murmured, his voice low and husky,

    I smirked, standing on tiptoe to kiss him. “Of course. Anything you want.”

    Before I could say anything more, he picked me up, his strength surprising as he carried me toward the couch. He didn’t break the kiss, and I found myself leaning into him, the heat between us building.

    When wended on the couch, Thome rolled on top of me, his body warm and heavy. His hands moved quickly, peeling off my wet clothes with a kind of urgency that mirrored the desire in his eyes.

    1 gasped, my breath shallow as his lips traveled down my neck, his touch igniting a fire within me. “Thome,” whispered, bmy /bvoice a breathless bplea /b“Let’s move to the bedroomb…/b”

    He paused for a moment, his eyes dark with hunger. “Here is fine.” His lips found my skin once again, and his hands moved eagerly

    “I can’t wait any longer,” he growled, bhis /bvoice full bof /blust.

    I closed my eyes, unable to stop the moan that escaped my lips. My mind spun with desire, everything around bus /bfading except for the heat between us

    But just as things were about to escte further, I bheard /bthe window behind us creak. A shadowy figure appeared outside, and my blood ran cold.

    “Who’s there?” Thorne’s voice was sharp, bhis /beyes narrowing in bsuspicion/b.

    I sat up quickly, my heart skipping a beat. There, standing outside the window, was Jory. The reality of the situation hit me like a wave. I had forgotten. bI /bhad asked him to meet me here tonight.

    “What’s he doing here?” Thorne hissed, his voice low with barely contained anger.

    “Lasked him toe,” I said, rushing to the window to open it, Jory climbed inside, his eyes immediately blocking /bonto bme/bb, /bthen dropping to my loosened cor, His jaw tightened, and his voice was filled with tension.

    “Did you forget about our meeting?” Jory asked, his tone sharp. “Were you… distracted?”

    I swallowed hard, guilt rising in my chest. “I didn’t forget,” I said, struggling to find the right words. “I was just… caught up

    Before I could say anything more, Thome stepped forward, his voice cutting through the bair/b. “Watch your tone,” he warned Jory, his re freezing. “‘s none bof /byour business.”

    Jory clenched his fists, fury radiating from him, but he didn’t dare challenge an Alpha. “I just think… we need to focus on the bigger picture,” he said slowly, his frustration evident. “We’re all in this together.”

    Thorne snorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. is that so? Or are you just jealous?”

    bJory’s /bhands balled into fists, but he didn’t respond.

    I jumped in quickly, hoping to smooth things over. “Don’t listen to him, Thorne–Jory isn’t jealous” I turned to Jory with a reassuring smile. “You found your bmate /btoday, right?

    Thome raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Well, congrattions then. Go deal with your own problemsb, /bband /bstop snooping around here.”

    Jory didn’t say anything, frustration written across his face, He turned his gaze toward the floor, defasted,

    b“/bEnough,” I said, trying to refocus the conversation. “Tell us what you found”

    Jory sighed heavily, nodding, “I followed up on your lead, I asked around about the former Rogue King…but no one knows how he died, hepta secret. Lance is protecting that information closely

    My disappointment was evident, but Jory quickly added. “But I found something… Interesting

    Hleaned forward eagerly. “What did you find?”

    “The former King’s son is still alive, Jory said, his voice heavy with the

    in weight of the revtion.

    I gasped, my heart racing. “That’s incrediblet if we can find him, we can learn how to defeat Lance. Where can we find him?”

    Jory hesitated, his expression darkening “I didn’t get a name, but apparently, only high ranking officials know.Like… the King’s Cab Minister:

    “Kimberly?” I asked, my voice rising in surprise

    Thorne’s eyes narrowed. “Then bwhat /bare you waiting bfor/b? Go talk to your mate.”

    Jory shifted ufortably. “I just met her today. I barely know her, 1 doubt bshe’ll /bshare anything”

    Thorne chuckled darkly. “Go on, Jory. Ask her. We’ll help you.”

    Jory exhaled deeply, clearly frustratedb. /b“I already called her. She’s at a club downtown. Butb… /bI don’t want to go alone.”

    I smiled, my mood lifting. “Then we’ll go with you. I could use a drink tonight.”

    Thorne gave me a look bthat /bwas part exasperation, part amusement. “I don’t think anyone’s stopping you, Jory.”

    The tension in the room lingered for a moment before I pushed the window open wider, ushering us all toward the next step of this dangerous game.

    ?