CHAPTER 49: HIDING YOUR TRUE NATURE

Simon immediately sat up straight upon seeing Lucien enter. Caleb, who had been seated beside the bed, rose to his feet as well in silent respect.

Moments later, the pack’s doctor, Marie, stepped into the wardroom, a clipboard tucked under her arm and a few documents clipped to it.

"Good evening, Alpha," she greeted, maintaining a professional tone.

Lucien gave her a small nod in return as he waited for the report.

"The test results came back normal," Marie began. "However, the healing process might take two to three days. Some of the injuries were quite severe," she added, offering a reasonable explanation.

"So, there’s nothing more to worry about?" Lucien asked, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, Alpha. Everything looks perfect," Marie replied, lowering the clipboard with a slight nod.

Lucien gave a thoughtful hum. "You may go," he said, dismissing her with a wave of his hand as he took the seat Caleb had vacated moments earlier.

"Malrik has lost his mind since Delia’s disappearance," he began. "I figured it was the right moment to tell you everything about the secret passages. But I didn’t expect him to try and kill me for it."

"He already knew you came to meet me," Lucien said. "Delia’s been captured. That gives us the upper hand, it’ll be much easier to bring your brother down now."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "But I’m not using the secret passages. I’ll stick to my original plan. If Malrik anticipated your move, he’s likely already blocked or trapped those routes. I won’t walk into that risk."

"I’m sorry I couldn’t be of much help to you," Simon said. "But... thank you for everything. I truly appreciate your kind help."

Lucien scoffed softly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Save your gratitude for later, maybe after I’ve captured your brother. He’s long since stopped acting like an Alpha... or a brother."

He then straightened to his full height. "You’ll stay here until you’ve fully recovered. When I return, it’ll be as the new Alpha of your pack."

With that, Lucien turned sharply on his heel and strode toward the exit.

Caleb fell into step beside him, and they stopped near the elevator.

"Are we launching the attack tonight?" Caleb asked in a hushed tone.

Lucien didn’t hesitate. "Yes. There’s no reason to wait any longer. It should end tonight."

The elevator doors slid open, and the two stepped inside, ready for the war ahead.

~~~~~

"I brought this for you," Azalea said, revealing a bracelet adorned with a smooth white stone. "It’s a magical charm, and is meant to protect you from any danger."

She gently handed it to Kieran, who accepted it with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Grandma. You always look out for me," he said, touched by her gesture. Then, tilting his head curiously, he added, "What about Lucien and Ronan?"

"I’ll give one to Lucien later," Azalea replied casually. Then her expression soured ever so slightly. "As for your second brother... he doesn’t need it."

"Grandma, why do you always see Ronan as the villain?" Kieran asked gently. "He’s done nothing but protect this pack. You shouldn’t treat him like an outsider anymore."

Azalea’s expression darkened, her lips tightening.

"He brought ruin the moment he was born," she said sharply. "Ugh... just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Her voice lowered but grew heavier with bitterness. "Ronan has always been a burden to this family. Your father didn’t abandon him only because it would’ve been seen as a heartless move, but his presence here has brought nothing but unrest. There was always a storm looming when he was around. Not to mention, your once a powerful mother, the Luna, ended up losing her power while carrying Ronan. He has always been a curse to this family."

Leia, standing quietly at the bottom of the staircase, had heard everything. Her heart ached for Ronan. She couldn’t begin to imagine how suffocating it must have been for him, growing up in a house where he was never truly seen as family.

"Grandma, that was all in the past," Kieran said. "Mom never treated any of us differently. She loved the three of us equally, no matter what."

Azalea waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t start arguing with this old woman," she muttered. Then, her tone shifted slightly, almost teasing. "How did your mysterious brother even find Leia? That man never tells me anything."

Kieran hesitated, but before he could respond, Leia stepped forward.

"Your dearest grandson bought me at an auction, Grandmother," she said calmly.

Azalea blinked, clearly startled. "Were you a captive there?"

"I wasn’t," Leia answered, lowering herself into the sofa chair across from them. "But I still ended up there."

Azalea studied her with narrowed eyes. "You don’t seem happy here. Your tone and body language says it all," she remarked bluntly.

"Yes, I’m not happy," Leia admitted. "Lucien is keeping me here against my will. I was meant to live my life quietly. I never asked to be part of a pack."

Her words hit Kieran harder than she expected. He lowered his gaze, the warmth in his eyes dimming. Despite all their efforts, Leia still hadn’t found a sense of belonging here. In her heart, the human world still felt more like home.

"A wolf without a pack is vulnerable," Azalea remarked. "At the very least, here no one dares to harm you."

She paused, observing Leia closely. "I’ve heard the whispers... you lived well among humans, hiding your true nature. But maybe, you were always yearning to be free. You might feel out of place now, but who knows? The future has a way of changing hearts. One day, you might find yourself happy here."

Leia didn’t respond immediately as she absorbed the words of the old lady.

"You do match the energy of my eldest grandson," Azalea stated, smiling. "You both are stubborn. I wonder if the moon goddess brought you two together for some reason," she remarked, looking right into Leia’s eyes, who was a bit startled.