CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 215: PUPPET RULER

Author’s POV~

Luca opened the door slowly, already preparing himself for the worst.

And he was right.

Vaelen...the prince, the so-called villain...stood directly in front of him. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, and his expression was bored as if he had been forced to come here against his will. His eyes lifted to Luca with a cold, nonchalant glance, like this whole trip was a waste of his time.

Luca’s jaw ticked.

He wanted to scowl.

He wanted to bare his teeth.

But he held himself back.

He had no interest in provoking this man.

Not because he feared him... Luca never feared anyone...but Selene did. And Selene clearly had some history with this prince... something deep enough that even thinking of offending him made Luca feel uneasy. He didn’t want to do anything that would make his mate look at him with hate.

So he forced his shoulders to relax, forced his face to be neutral, and tried to act polite.

Tried.

It wasn’t going well.

Vaelen, on the other hand, looked just as irritated. He had dark circles under his eyes, as if someone had dragged him out of bed a second before coming here. And that was exactly what happened.

He didn’t even want to be here.

His father had ordered him to check on the alphas personally. Apparently the guards saw some movement around their territory. Vaelen didn’t care. He didn’t want to see their faces. He didn’t want to enter their home. He wanted to go back to sleep and forget the world existed.

But here he was.

And the moment he saw Luca’s forced smile, something inside him twitched. He wanted to punch him just for existing.

Vaelen smiled back...a thin, sharp, completely fake smile.

"I heard the disturbance," he said calmly. "Since I’m already here, do you mind if I come inside?"

Luca’s smile tightened.

"I don’t think that would be a good idea for you."

Vaelen raised a brow. "Why not?"

Luca kept his voice even, though his heart was thumping hard. "It’s late. We’re already settled. And there’s nothing here to check."

Vaelen’s eyes narrowed. "It’s not like you’re hiding someone, right?"

That hit too close.

Luca stiffened, but he didn’t step back. He didn’t show fear. He only kept smiling, though it took everything in him not to snap.

"If I wanted to hide someone," Luca said slowly, "why would I stand here talking to you? I’d be inside, closing the doors and windows. Think a little, Prince."

Vaelen’s smile faded.

Luca continued, voice steady, "And even if...I did want to hide someone, you wouldn’t sniff anything. You know that. Our scent control is stronger than you think. So drop the accusations."

Vaelen stared at him.

Luca stared back.

The tension thickened, sharp enough to cut through.

Then Vaelen stepped forward.

It wasn’t a threat.

It wasn’t permission either.

It was simply him walking inside because he wanted to.

Luca blocked him instantly, planting a hand on the doorframe.

Vaelen’s eyes sharpened. The prince wasn’t used to being physically stopped. Not by anyone. Certainly not by three wild alphas.

"Move," Vaelen said quietly.

"No," Luca replied.

His heart was hammering now. He could already smell faint traces of Selene’s scent lingering inside the house. Light, delicate, but still dangerous if this prince caught even a hint. Luca had no intention of letting him step inside and sniff around.

Not tonight.

Not ever.

Vaelen stepped forward again, this time trying to walk past Luca.

Luca pushed him back with one arm.

The slight shove made the prince’s expression finally crack.

His eyes darkened.

"You dare..."

Before he could finish, two shadows appeared behind Luca.

Lucian and Kael.

Their footsteps were silent, their presence heavy and cold.

They stopped on either side of Luca, forming a solid wall in front of the doorway. Three alphas, all expressionless, all staring directly at the prince.

Vaelen’s face changed with seriousness. Now he got curious about what they are hiding. Something was definitely wrong here.

He wasn’t stupid. If all three brothers were blocking him...something was wrong. Badly wrong. They were hiding something, and it wasn’t a thief or a random intruder.

It was something important.

And Vaelen suddenly knew...he had to enter the house. Not because of the king’s order.

Not because of the guards.

But because his instincts told him the truth was behind those walls.

He took one more step forward.

"I am going inside," he said flatly.

"No," Luca replied again, firmer this time.

Lucian’s aura darkened like a storm behind him. Kael’s gaze lowered, watching every twitch of the prince’s muscles.

Vaelen looked at all three of them, eyes cold and steady.

This was no longer routine. This was no longer duty. This was personal. Something was happening inside that house.

And he was going to find out.

Lucian suddenly stepped forward, placing one hand on Luca’s shoulder before Luca could snap at the prince again.

"Brother, let him come," Lucian said casually, voice dripping with sarcasm. "He can’t sleep without sniffing around our house anyway."

Vaelen’s eye twitched. But Lucian didn’t stop.

"Honestly," he added with a disgusted sigh, "the prince must have some strange habits... coming to sniff around Alpha’s homes in the middle of the night. Makes you wonder."

Vaelen’s jaw tightened so hard it almost cracked.

He really wanted to strangle Lucian right there.

But Lucian only smiled at him with that dangerous, provoking smile and gently dragged Luca away from the door like he wasn’t talking to one of the most powerful men in the kingdom.

Luca shot him a glare, still worried, still tense.

He wanted to protect Selene.

He didn’t want that prince stepping inside even for a second.

But when he saw Lucian’s confident little grin, he exhaled slowly. They must have done something. He could trust his brothers.

So he stepped aside without any resistance.

Kael didn’t say a word. He simply walked outside to block the guards’ view while Vaelen moved past the doorway.

He didn’t want any prying eyes inside his personal space; if it was not necessary, he would not have allowed even that prince to enter.

Vaelen marched inside without hesitation, his expression set, his steps sharp. He checked every corner of the living room. Then the hallway. Then the kitchen. The back room. He even opened a few cabinets like he expected someone to be hiding inside one.

When he returned, he looked strangely bewildered...because he found nothing.

Luca leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"I thought the prince asked to ’come inside,’ not tear apart our house like you’re some frustrated patrol guard," he said with a mocking smile. "It’s rude, you know. I guess politeness doesn’t exist in the lycan palace anymore."

Vaelen stared directly at him.

"It’s good I didn’t find anyone here," he said coldly. "Because if I had... you should start preparing yourself. You know the rules. You cannot betray lycans. We are your rulers. You obey us."

He growled the last word, then turned sharply and stormed out.

Luca snickered, low and bitter.

"Yeah... obey a puppet ruler."

Vaelen froze for half a second outside the door.

His fist clenched so tight the bones cracked. But he swallowed his anger and walked away fast, shadows curling around him like smoke.

The royal guards waiting outside took one look at his expression and ran. Literally ran. Their footsteps slapped against the ground as they sprinted off like their lives depended on it.

Luca scoffed. "They look like scared puppies," he muttered. "Trails behind that bastard king like loyal dogs."

He slammed the door shut with such force that even the doorframe rattled. The sound echoed, and somewhere outside, one guard yelped in fright and ran even faster.

Inside, Luca immediately turned to Kael and Lucian.

"How is it possible?" he demanded. "How did he not smell her? Selene’s scent was everywhere just a moment ago."

Kael smiled, calm and proud.

"Our princess is smarter than all of us," he said. "Don’t underestimate her."

Luca frowned. "But how? She left her scent all over the room..."

"Come," Kael interrupted, nodding toward the hallway. "See for yourself."

Luca followed them back inside.

And the moment he stepped into the room where Selene had been moments ago... he froze.

There was nothing.

Not even the faintest trace of her scent.

The air smelled clean, as if a breeze had swept everything out.

No warmth, not her sweet smell, and definitely not her slight arousal...no hint that she’d ever been there.

Luca stared at Lucian and Kael in disbelief.

"How is that possible?" he whispered.

Both brothers shrugged at the same time.

"No idea," Lucian said.

"But it must be her doing," Kael added easily. "She left before the prince arrived. And she’s a witch. Anything is possible with her."

A small smile appeared on both their faces.

Because even while panicking, even while terrified... Selene had been smart enough to protect herself and them.