CHAPTER 50: OWN DELICATE HANDS

"I don’t think so," Leia said, dismissing Azalea’s hopeful theory. Then, without hesitation, she shifted the direction of the conversation entirely. "Grandma, I overheard something earlier, you don’t seem to like Ronan’s presence in this house. Is that why he’s not staying at the mansion?"

Azalea’s expression tightened, her eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you implying? Speak clearly," she demanded sharply.

Leia met her gaze with a calm gaze. "I was just looking for Ronan, Grandmother. That’s all," she said lightly, brushing the tension off as if it were nothing. "You two can continue your conversation."

With that, she rose gracefully and walked away, leaving behind a lingering silence.

Azalea watched her retreating figure, lips pressed into a thin line. "She heard everything, didn’t she?" she muttered, feeling a sting of discomfort. "I thought Leia was gentle... seems I misjudged her."

"Grandma, Leia is a wonderful woman," Kieran said, trying to soften her stance. "She’s just upset... anyone would be, feeling trapped like that."

Azalea scoffed, her disapproval clear. "Trapped? She’s moving freely around the house, speaking out of turn, such an insolent brat!" she muttered, shaking her head. "It would’ve been better if Lucien had accepted the marriage proposal I brought him last year. At least that girl knew how to behave."

With a huff, she rose from her seat, gripping her cane for support. Her voice snapped as she turned to a nearby servant. "Bring tea and snacks to my room."

The servant bowed quickly and left.

Kieran sighed, watching his grandmother disappear down the hallway. Once the coast was clear, he turned and quietly made his way toward the garden, hoping to find Leia and check on her.

As he spotted Leia, he saw she was on the phone. Stopping right beside her, he asked, "Who are you calling?"

As Kieran stepped into the garden, he spotted Leia seated on a stone bench beneath the jasmine-covered archway, her phone pressed to her ear. He slowed his pace and came to a stop beside her.

"Who are you calling?" he asked gently.

"Ronan. But he’s not picking up my call," Leia replied, lowering the phone slightly. "I’ve been wondering where he disappeared to... and then I realized, it’s because of your grandmother. Her words must have driven him away."

She sighed, her brows knitting with concern. "Does she always treat him like that? No wonder he prefers to keep his distance. Now that I think about it, I remember some of the pack children saying terrible things about him. I brushed it off, thinking they were just babbling. But maybe they were reflecting what they hear at home."

Kieran exhaled slowly. "Ronan’s has decided to stay at a hotel ever until Grandma is here. He avoids the mansion while she’s here."

Leia turned to him in disbelief, eyes widening. "What?" she gasped. "Why did you allow him to go away? Let’s bring him back!" She quickly rose to her feet.

"Even if I had tried to stop Ronan, he wouldn’t have listened. Besides, I found out later that he left for a hotel to stay," Kieran said. "I don’t think he’s going to return even if we ask him."

"Why? It’s his house!" Leia said loudly.

"It’s not that easy, Leia. You should let Ronan stay in the hotel. Grandma can be very brutal when it comes to him. Lucien did his best in the past, but she never cared or listened. You shouldn’t speak about it either with her. She might take out her anger on you," Kieran suggested.

"I’ll fight with your grandmother then. She is doing wrong. Ronan doesn’t deserve any of this," Leia pronounced. "Let’s go to the hotel where Ronan is. We must give him company," she murmured.

"I’ve to ask Lucien whether I can take you out or not," Kieran stated.

"You are scared of your brother, aren’t you? I thought you could make such small decisions by yourself. Why do you’ve to report everything to him?" Leia complained.

"Because I’m the pack’s alpha," Lucien’s voice reverberated through the air.

Leia’s eyes widened as she saw Lucien in front of them. She slowly hid behind Kieran, thinking he would again pester her for speaking badly about him behind his back.

"Why are you hiding behind him?" Lucien questioned as he approached them.

Kieran smiled at Leia’s gesture as he tilted his head back over his shoulder.

Leia stepped up and held her head high. "I wasn’t hiding. I just didn’t want to see you," she said, turning to walk away.

But before she could take more than a step, Lucien’s hand shot out and grasped her arm.

In the blink of an eye, he yanked her toward him. Her breath caught as their faces were suddenly just inches apart.

"I’m heading into battle," Lucien said. "Don’t stir up trouble while I’m gone, Leia. Because if you do... I will make sure it’s you who kills Delia. With your own delicate hands."

His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, time stopped for them. "I’m not bluffing. You know I’m serious."

Then, just as quickly, he released her.

Leia stumbled back, caught off guard, and fell onto the bench behind her, her hand pressing to her chest as her heart raced, not just from the fall, but from the cold threat lingering in the air.

"You could’ve been gentle," Kieran said, glancing at Lucien.

"Stay quiet," Lucien said, his eyes shimmering red. "You keep pampering her. That’s why she’s turning more rebellious every day."

Then, without another word, Lucien walked away from their sights.

"Wait for me. I’ll be back soon," Kieran said and ran after his brother. He stopped him, gasping for air from the run as he blocked Lucien’s path.

"Are you in a rut? You don’t look well," Kieran said in a worried gaze.

"No. I’ve been taking suppressents," Lucien asserted.

"But your body... It felt different earlier. You even pushed away Leia in anger as if you were holding something inside," Kieran murmured.

"It wasn’t rut. I needed to threaten her, so she stays quietly behind my back and doesn’t trouble you either," Lucien affirmed.

"Hmm. So, the battle is inevitable now. Please don’t get harmed. I personally don’t like battles between wolves," Kieran whispered, showing his concern.

"I won’t," Lucien assured him and left.