CHAPTER 42: DELIA IS TRULY MY ENEMY

Caleb arrived at the mansion. He had come to deliver Simon’s message, but froze in surprise the moment he saw Simon already present.

His eyes narrowed as he took in Simon’s blood-streaked clothes and the claw marks on his neck. "Were you attacked?" Caleb asked with concern.

"Malrik," Lucien answered, stubbing out the cigarette in the ashtray beside him. "Simon returned injured. Apparently, his brother didn’t take betrayal lightly."

Caleb’s gaze flicked between the two men, his distrust thinly veiled.

"We’re moving tonight," Lucien continued, straightening. "We’ll launch an ambush on Malrik’s territory. Simon knows the secret passageways, we’ll use them to get inside the pack without alerting the patrols."

However, Caleb didn’t trust Simon and was skeptical about it.

’What if it’s a trap?’ Caleb mindlinked Lucien, keeping his expression neutral.

’I wouldn’t have agreed to Simon if I had doubts,’ Lucien replied.

’But Alpha, we can’t trust the enemy’s brother,’ Caleb urged.

’I know. Malrik has joined hands with Delia. That witch shouldn’t be taken lightly. My plan is to catch her at all costs,’ Lucien said.

Caleb turned quiet, breaking the mindlink.

However, one final doubt lingered in Lucien’s mind.

"Since you left your pack, if Malrik starts looking for you, his first suspicion will fall on us," Lucien said. "Don’t you think he might already have the secret passages blocked? If so, we’ll be walking straight into a trap."

Simon’s brows furrowed in alarm. His fingers fidgeted nervously.

"You didn’t think of that, did you?" Lucien asked, a low chuckle escaping his mouth.

"I didn’t," Simon admitted, worry clouding his gaze as he shifted his weight from foot to foot.

"Then using the secret passage is a risk we can’t afford," Lucien concluded. "Malrik will notice your absence soon, if he hasn’t already, and he’ll assume you came to me. That ruins the element of surprise. We’ll have to stick to our original plan."

Caleb, still watching Simon closely, added, "You should find out how your brother discovered your contact with Alpha Lucien."

Simon hesitated, then said, "I think it was Delia. I was careful, no one else could have known."

"If you go back now, you’ll be killed," Lucien stated.

"I know. And I’m not going back," Simon said with conviction. "I have no intention of returning to that house. But I can still be of use to you. I know Malrik’s weaknesses, his blind spots, his temper, even where his most loyal guards rotate."

Lucien nodded slowly, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

’I can handle Malrik,’ he mused silently, ’but Delia... she’s the real threat. She is cunning and won’t hesitate to use the darkest means to win.’

Snapping out of his thoughts, Lucien turned to Caleb. "Take Simon to the pack’s hospital. Get his wounds treated."

He turned away. "I’ll be retiring for the night."

Caleb bowed slightly. "Yes, Alpha."

"Come with me," Caleb said to Simon.

"Thank you, Lucien. I will never forget this favor," Simon said with gratitude. He then followed Caleb silently, leaving Lucien alone.

Leia, who had been silently eavesdropping from the landing above, flinched when Lucien’s voice suddenly cut through the air.

"Leia," he called out, "show yourself."

Startled, the glass jar in her hands nearly slipped, but she caught it just in time.

Reluctantly, she stepped out from behind the pillar, her bare feet padding softly against the floor as she descended the staircase.

Lucien watched her with a skeptical gaze. "Why aren’t you asleep?"

"I came to get some water," she replied, holding up the jar as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Then, after a hesitant pause, she added, "Do you need help? I can offer myself as bait... to lure Delia in. You could capture her."

Lucien’s brows lifted slightly, clearly intrigued by her offer. "Is that so?" he said, amusement flickering faintly in his tone. "And you’re certain about that?"

Leia nodded firmly. "Yes. Delia wants something from me. I don’t know what exactly, but I can feel it. Before she causes more damage, use that to your advantage."

Lucien rose from his seat. He clasped his hands behind his back and strolled toward her with an intensifying gaze.

"I thought you had a soft spot for Delia," he remarked with a mockery."You were bawling your eyes out over her, weren’t you?"

Leia’s gaze flickered, but she held her ground.

"I never did that," she said, her voice low but steady. "It’s just... hard to accept that Delia is truly my enemy."

"Then be ready to fight her when I catch her," Lucien said.

Leia’s eyes widened slightly. "So... you’re accepting my offer?" she asked, arching a brow in surprise.

Lucien shook his head. "No. I’m not going to risk your life."

"You’ll save me before anything happens," Leia murmured, keeping her trust in him.

Lucien gave a dry chuckle. "And what if I fail? You’ll end up haunting me in my dreams."

"I won’t blame you," she whispered. "I’m the one who told Delia about myself. So I need to take responsibility for that. Whatever she’s planning, it’s wrong. I have to help you stop her."

Lucien’s expression softened, just briefly, as he looked at her.

"I will do it myself. But thank you for thinking about helping me. Delia hasn’t seen a werewolf like me before. I’m sure she’ll be planning how to fight against me," Lucien stated, exuding confidence in his abilities.

"Still, if you feel you need my help, you’re free to ask me," Leia stated.

"Sure, Leia." Lucien still kept his amusing gaze on her. "You surprise me sometimes. And right now, you just like a Luna."

"I didn’t. Stop calling me your Luna. Even in the pack house, that kid and the others kept calling me Luna," Leia complained.

"I didn’t call you my Luna. I said ’a luna’," Lucien corrected her.

She pursed her lips together, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

"But you did spread rumors about us among them. Tell them you’re not taking me as your Luna," Leia stated and turned to leave.