h4Chapter 202: Chapter 202/h4

Theo sat still, his gaze unwavering, watching both Kimberly and Lucian as they grew restless.

Their impatience was evident, but he remained quiet, his expression unreadable.

The weight of the moment pressed down on them, the air thick with unspoken questions.

Kimberly was the first to break the silence.

"Theo, what do you mean with your statement?" she asked, her voice carrying a mix of curiosity and caution.

She knew Theo never spoke without purpose. If he had said something as serious as saving Lucian’s life, then it meant there was far more to the situation than they understood.

Theo finally shifted his posture, his eyes still locked onto Lucian. "Lucian,e have a seat here," he said, gesturing to the empty spot beside him.

Lucian hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward.

His movements were slow, reluctant, but he eventually sat down. His displeasure was clear, anger, confusion, and disappointment all simmering within him.

He had lost, and now he was being asked to sit beside the very man who made that loss happen.

Theo leaned forward slightly, his tone calm but firm.

"I’m going to ask you a question, and I need you to be honest with me. No hesitation. No deflection. Just the truth. Can you do that?"

Lucian exhaled sharply but nodded. "Yeah... okay."

Theo’s piercing eyes locked onto Lucian’s.

"What kind of alpha do you wish to be?"

Lucian blinked, caught off guard. Kimberly, too, was visibly surprised by the unexpected question.

Lucian frowned. "Does it matter anymore? I’ve already lost. There’s no point in talking about it." His voice carried the bitterness of defeat.

Theo’s lips curled into a faint smile, but it wasn’t one of amusement. It was knowing, almost testing.

He straightened up. "I’ll ask one more time. And if you don’t answer, then we’re done here. What kind of alpha do you wish to be?"

There was something in Theo’s voice, an authority that left no room for indifference.

Lucian felt it like a force pressing down on him, demanding an answer.

He swallowed hard and sat up straighter. "I want to be different. I want to be like you," he admitted.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Like me? And what exactly do you mean by that?"

Lucian took a breath, gathering his thoughts.

"I want to lead, not rule. I want to be just. To be someone who sacrifices for his people, someone who makes things better for everyone, not just those in power.

That’s what I see in you."

Theo watched him closely, reading beyond his words. Then he spoke, his tone even and deliberate. "Can a dead alpha achieve that?"

Lucian stiffened. His brows furrowed. "I... I don’t understand what you mean."

Theo leaned forward, his voice dropping slightly.

"When I excused myself to ’use the toilet’ during the vote counting, I saw something in the woods.

I saw men waiting, armed, hidden, ready. And among them..." He paused, letting the words sink in before delivering the final blow. "...was Derrick."

Kimberly sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening.

Lucian stared at Theo, his mind reeling. "Derrick... was there?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Theo nodded. "I found it suspicious that everything was too calm. Derrick isn’t one to sit back and ept fate.

So I stepped away, pretending to take a call, and scanned the area.

What I found was exactly what I suspected, Derrick had men stationed, waiting. If you had won the vote, Lucian... you’d be dead by now."

The room fell into silence.

Lucian’s fingers dug into his thighs as his thoughts raced. *Dead? Derrick would have killed me? Just like that?*

Kimberly was the first to speak. "So... he was nning to take over by force if Lucian won?"

Theo nodded again. "It wasn’t just Lucian who was in danger.

If things had yed out differently, there would have been bloodshed. A lot of it.

Your supporters would have fought back, but Derrick is ruthless. He wouldn’t have cared about casualties. I had to make a decision right there."

Lucian was still in shock. His whole body felt cold.

"But why? What does Derrick even want anymore?" His voice was strained, trying to make sense of it all.

Theo’s expression darkened. "Power. That’s all he’s ever wanted.

The version of Derrick you once knew is gone. The man that remains is someone who will stop at nothing.

He waited patiently for this moment, and now he’s ready to take back everything by any means necessary.

If I had let you win today, you wouldn’t have lived to see tomorrow."

Lucian’s jaw clenched. Anger and frustration swirled inside him, but so did something else, fear.

Not for himself, but for everyone around him. He had been so focused on winning that he never considered the real danger lurking behind it all.

Theo continued, his voice steady. "Pack politics isn’t just about winning votes, Lucian.

It’s about knowing when to strike, when to hold back, and most importantly, when to survive.

The people who pledged loyalty to you today? Many of them would have switched sides the moment Derrick walked into that hall.

You’re not ready yet. That’s why I did what I did."

Lucian inhaled deeply, his hands still clenched. "Do I still have a chance?"

Theo smirked. "There’s always a chance. You just need to be patient. Watch, learn, and when the right timees... you’ll know exactly how to take what’s yours."

Lucian let those words sink in. He had lost the battle, but not the war.

He looked at Theo with new understanding. The anger was still there, but now, there was also determination.

Kimberly, who had been silent, finally spoke again.

"Lucian, your father had no one to protect him when he fell. That was his downfall. You have Theo looking out for you. Trust that."

Lucian took a deep breath, then stood. His eyes met Theo’s, and for the first time since the voting, he bowed his head.

"Thank you. I won’t forget this."

Theo nodded but said nothing.

Lucian turned and walked out, leaving only Theo and Kimberly in the room.

Kimberly stepped closer to Theo. "So... what do we do about Derrick?"

Theo’s grip tightened around the ss of wine he had just picked up. His gaze was distant, his mind already calcting.

"Derrick is pretending to be patient, but his true nature won’t stay hidden for long.

He’s waiting for the right moment. For now, we wait too. We watch. And when he finally makes his move..."

Theo took a slow sip of the wine, his eyes glinting with something dangerous.

"...we’ll be ready."

But deep in his mind, one thought stood out above all else.

*Derrick... let’s see the version of the new you.*