Chapter 110 I’ll marry Zeus
ADIRA
The long oak table is set with the kind of precision that only the Lycan King’s household can command. Silverware gleams under the dim amber light of flickering chandeliers, casting shadows that dance on the faces gathered around the room. The air is thick with unspoken grudges and ambition, a cocktail I’ve learned to sip carefully. Tonight, it tastes bitter, and ripe for a challenge.
I sit between Zeus and the King, my fingers lightly tracing the rim of my wine glass, the crimson liquid swirling with slow, deliberate movements. My heart pounds, but my expression stays smooth, controlled. I’m not a girl who cowers beneath royal scrutiny.
The King’s eyes narrow as he studies me. His presence is like a mountain, immovable, cold, and unyielding. “Zeus,” he begins, his voice gravelly, the tone sharp like a blade, “It’s only been two days since Darian returned, and already there are shifts in the pack… changes that you, my son, could not accomplish in all your years.”
Zeus leans forward, lips curling with a hint of something dangerous. “Father, it’s not about time. It’s about results. Darian’s presence stirs unrest, but I’m the one who maintains order.”
The King snorts, a dark laugh rumbling from deep within his chest. “Order? Chaos follows you like a shadow. Perhaps it’s time you admit you’re out of your depth.”
My pulse quickens, but I don’t speak yet. This is the moment to watch the wolves claw at one another before the final move.
Darian’s voice cuts through the tension, cold and deliberate. “You both speak as if the throne belongs to you already. But power is more than titles and threats.”
I glance sideways at him. His eyes hold that familiar fire the one that has sparked too many battles, too many heartbreaks. I remind myself why I no longer want to be tethered to him.
Zeus sneers, “You always play the righteous one, Darian. But you’ve been gone, chasing your distractions while the pack needed a leader.”
Darian’s gaze sharpens. “My distractions are the future of this pack, something you wouldn’t understand.”
The King’s glare shifts between his sons, the weight of his judgment hanging heavy. Then, without warning, my fork taps sharply against my glass.
The clang echoes, silencing the room instantly.
All eyes fall on me.
I straighten, the practiced confidence settling over my shoulders like armor. “I think it’s time I speak.”
Zeus’s eyes gleam, a mix of curiosity and suspicion, while Darian’s jaw tightens. The King’s gaze narrows, as if preparing for a blow.
“I’ve listened long enough to the petty squabbles of princes,” I say slowly, each word measured, deliberate. “To the battle for power that sidelines the very future of the pack.”
A soft murmur ripples through the servants nearby, but I ignore them. This is not for them.
“I’m done waiting to be a pawn, a prize, a tool in your games.” My eyes lock with Darian’s for a moment, cold and resolute.
Zeus shifts, his mouth twitching as if ready to speak, but I raise a hand, commanding silence.
“Darian has chosen his path, one that does not include me.” The words hit like stones thrown in a still pond. “I will not be bound to a man who turns away when loyalty is needed most.”
The King’s eyebrows shoot up, disbelief flashing across his face.
I let the silence stretch, tension thick as the smoke that curls from the candle flames.
“Therefore,” I continue, voice clear and unwavering, “I will align myself with Zeus.”
The room’s atmosphere shifts instantly. The King blinks as if processing a blow to the chest. Darian’s eyes widen, disbelief turning to a cold, smoldering rage.
Zeus, meanwhile, leans back, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across his lips.
I don’t let myself flinch.
“And I will marry him instead of Darian.”
For a moment, no one speaks. The only sound is the faint crackle of the fire, punctuating the stunned silence like a ticking clock counting down to the inevitable fallout.
The King finally breaks the silence, voice low but trembling with disbelief. “Adira… do you understand what you say? To turn your back on Darian? To marry Zeus?” His words are more a question to the room than to me.
I meet his gaze steadily. “I understand perfectly. Darian was offered the crown by blood, but he’s chosen his distractions over duty and has chosen countless times to insult and humiliate me whenever I get close. So, I’ve decided to move on.”
Darian scoffs, the raw edge of betrayal in his voice. “You think allying with a schemer like Zeus is the answer? You’re playing with fire, Adira.”
I shrug, unfazed. “Maybe. But better to burn with purpose than freeze in silence.”
Zeus’s smile deepens, pride shining in his eyes. “Wise words, baby. Together, we will forge a new path.”
The King’s lips press into a thin line, his expression unreadable. Finally, he mutters, “Alright then”