CHAPTER 132: SENDING A MESSAGE

The following morning, Leia made her way directly toward the servants’ quarters, hoping to speak with Greta. Sleep had barely touched her the previous night, her mind had been restless ever since the conversation with Lucien.

Just as she approached the mansion’s threshold, a familiar voice called out from behind.

"Leia," Caleb said firmly, his tone laced with urgency. "Alpha Lucien has requested your presence. Greta is already inside the mansion."

Leia turned to face him, surprised by the sudden change in plans. Her thoughts about Greta would have to wait. Something told her Lucien’s summons wasn’t casual.

"Is he going to punish Greta?" Leia murmured, a knot forming in her chest.

"Yes," Caleb answered, his expression tense as he glanced ahead. "She’ll be held accountable."

As they walked through the corridor toward the mansion’s main wing, Caleb added with a touch of frustration, "You shouldn’t have let her near you. What if she had harmed you? She lied about her family’s situation, Leia. Lied without hesitation, thinking no one would ever verify it."

Leia’s shoulders slumped. "I don’t understand why she had to lie to me. I truly believed she was a good person. I was just... worried about her."

Caleb sighed, slowing his steps. "She has a crush on Lucien. Why do you think she constantly tried to turn him against you?"

Leia stopped in her tracks, her eyes turning wide. "She spoke against me? I knew Lucien once said Greta seemed to crave his attention, but... I didn’t know it was a crush."

"You’re too trusting," Caleb muttered, shaking his head. "Too naive for a place like this."

Leia pouted her lips and quietly followed Caleb to the mansion. Once inside, she saw that Greta was on her knees while the three Alpha Brothers were seated on the couch.

"I strictly instructed you not to come near my estate. Yet, you dared to defy me," Lucien began, his eyes darting at Leia while addressing Greta.

"Please forgive me. I-I wanted to see you once," Greta finally admitted. "I’m sorry, Alpha, for lying to you. I’ve been serving you for such a long time that I thought one day you would look at me. That’s why I–I lied to Leia."

’I truly considered Greta a friend... a well-wisher. But in her eyes, I was nothing,’ Leia thought, the sting of betrayal settling deep in her chest.

Ronan, sensing her quiet anguish, turned to Lucien. "Let Leia decide Greta’s punishment," he suggested gently.

Leia’s voice was barely above a whisper. "I’m going to my room."

The three brothers watched her retreat in silence, their expressions painted with concern.

Then Lucien rose abruptly from his chair, his voice sharp and resolute. "You are no longer a part of this pack," he said coldly to Greta. "Caleb, throw her out."

Greta’s eyes widened in horror. "Please, Alpha, just one chance. I swear, I meant no harm!" Her gaze darted around desperately before landing on Leia’s fading figure. "Leia! Leia, please!"

But Leia was already gone.

Upstairs, Kieran and Ronan reached her room first, with Lucien following closely behind as he ignored Greta’s pleading cries.

"She’s locked the door from inside," Ronan said, turning toward Lucien with a tense expression.

Lucien stepped forward, but Kieran raised a hand and spoke gently through the door. "Leia, what’s wrong? Please talk to us. Whatever it is, we’re here. Just open the door."

There was a short pause before her soft voice came through, muffled but clear. "I just... need to be alone for a while."

The three brothers exchanged glances. It felt that she wasn’t just upset. She was wounded.

Lucien let out a slow breath and took a step back. "Let her be," he said. "She needs time. We should respect that."

Kieran and Ronan nodded silently.

Lucien glanced once more at the closed door before turning away. "Ronan, you’re coming with me. We have to investigate today as well."

Ronan looked at Leia’s room door before turning around.

"Keep an eye on Leia," Lucien ordered Kieran and the two brothers left.

~~~~

Lucien and Ronan arrived at the heart of their pack territory, but not as themselves. Both were cloaked in inconspicuous attire, their auras suppressed to avoid recognition from the wolf, if he was still present in the pack.

They ventured into places where the respectable didn’t tread, underground gambling dens, smoke-filled taverns, and the shadowed alleys behind rundown pubs.

The brothers questioned anyone who seemed to know more than they claimed, watched faces in the crowd, listened for whispers. But despite hours of prying, not a single lead emerged.

No unknown outsider had slipped in the previous night.

As evening descended, they emerged into the cooling air, exhausted and unsatisfied.

Ronan leaned against the stone wall of an old smithy, brushing a hand through his tousled hair. "Lucien, do you really believe the attacker is still among us?" he asked, eyes narrowed. "We’ve searched every rat hole in the territory. Maybe he’s long gone. He broke our security with ease... it’s like he only came to test Kieran to gauge his strength."

Lucien stood quietly for a moment, his eyes scanning the darkening streets, still lost in thought.

"Or," he finally said, "he wanted us to think he’s gone."

Ronan frowned, pushing off the wall. "You think he’s hiding within the pack?"

Lucien’s jaw tightened. "A wolf doesn’t show his teeth unless he’s sending a message. That attack wasn’t meant to kill. It was a warning. And if he’s planning more..." Lucien’s eyes glinted with resolve, "he won’t run."

"Then how are we going to catch him?" Ronan asked, folding his arms as they walked through the dusky street.

Lucien’s gaze hardened. "He’ll come to us. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, but he’ll strike again. And when he does... that will be our chance."

Ronan exhaled sharply. "That’s a dangerous gamble. The probability is fifty-fifty. We should inform the Alpha King. A rogue slipping through our borders without being detected? That’s no small matter. He might be able to send help."

Lucien stopped walking and turned to face him.

"No," he said flatly. "We don’t have enough to go on. There is no real evidence. Reporting now would only make us look weak. It would question the strength of our borders and the loyalty of our warriors."

Ronan frowned. "So what? We sit and wait for the next attack?"

"We prepare," Lucien replied. "Silently. We will watch everyone. Even those closest to us."

~~~~~

Leia descended the stairs quietly as the evening sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the hall.

Her stomach growled faintly, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since morning. In the kitchen, she grabbed a few snacks and turned to head back upstairs, but stopped short when she found Kieran standing in her way.

"Leia," he said softly, "why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head, not quite meeting his gaze. "No. You didn’t. I just... wasn’t in the mood to talk."

Kieran waited patiently, sensing she needed space to speak on her own terms.

Leia finally sighed. "Greta could’ve just told me the truth. That’s what hurts the most. She chose to lie. After coming to this pack, I spent most of my time feeling like I didn’t belong here. Then Greta showed up. She was friendly and kind. I let my guard down and thought maybe... I’d found someone genuine."

Her voice faltered. "But she wasn’t. She was just another person pretending. And I started wondering... why do the women I trust keep betraying me? First it was... Delia. Now Greta. I still have Rhea, but even with her... I’m scared. What if one day she also—" She paused and lowered her head, the rest of her words swallowed by the silence.

Kieran stepped forward. "Leia, not everyone’s going to hurt you. I know it feels that way right now, but Rhea... she’s not like Greta. And you’re not alone anymore. You have us. I’m also your friend."

"You’re my boyfriend, not a ’girl’ friend," Leia said without thinking.

Kieran blinked, then broke into a grin. "What?"

Realizing what she had just blurted out, Leia’s eyes widened. "I-I mean... you’re my mate, so... it’s a different kind of relationship."

Kieran chuckled softly, clearly amused and pleased. "I liked the way you said it. ’Boyfriend.’"

Leia playfully narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms, trying to cover her embarrassment.

Changing the subject, Kieran said, "By the way, don’t forget we’re supposed to go to my friend’s birthday party tonight."

Leia gasped. "Oh my God! I completely forgot!" She glanced at the time. "Are we late?"

"We’ve still got time," Kieran replied, watching her as she panicked in her own adorable way.

"I’ll go get dressed right now. You should change too!" she said quickly, tossing her snacks into his arms.

Then she sprinted upstairs, leaving Kieran standing there with an amused expression, holding the snacks and shaking his head with a smile.