Chapter 172

Chapter 172
{Lisa’s POV}

‘Come on Lisa. Calm down.’ No matter how many times I told myself that… I could feel it, Ronan needed me.

For a long time now. Since the accident. Even before that. Since the fall. Even before that. Since reaching New Haven… and even before that. Since we got married. I had felt my connection to Ronan grow. I could feel his unease. And he could feel mine. I couldn’t explain how or why, but I did.

So I couldn't just sit back when I had this nagging feeling eating at me.

I had promised Ronan I would stay home. I had given him my word, and for most of the morning I repeated it to myself as though chanting it would help. Yet the longer I sat, the more restless I became. My mind would not stay still. Images of him facing Lucien without me clawed at me until I could not breathe.

Heri and Anya were in the living room, sprawled on the carpet with a mess of markers and paper scattered around them. Heri had taken to showing Anya how to outline trees with confident strokes, while Anya filled the spaces with words instead of color. Their laughter echoed down the hallway, a sound so light it almost convinced me to stay. Almost.

I crouched beside them and stroked Heri’s hair. “Stay busy with this, both of you. And stay inside.”

“Promise me… ok?”

Anya looked up with wide eyes, her little fingers still clutching a marker. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere far,” I lied. “Security is right outside, and they’ll make sure no one comes in. You two stick together.”

Heri squinted at me, the kind of look children gave when they sensed they were not being told the full truth. Still, she nodded. I kissed their foreheads, rising before my guilt trapped me there.

Outside, two guards straightened immediately. “Alpha Ronan said—”

“I know what he said,” I cut in, tugging the hood of my coat over my head. “But I need you to keep watch here, more than ever. Do not leave these girls alone, no matter what.”

They exchanged a glance but did not protest. I slipped past them, my pulse pounding in my ears.

The ride to the venue felt longer than it was. Each turn of the wheels seemed to scrape at my nerves. By the time the colossus of a building came into view, my palms were clammy and my breaths came shallow. I had expected the ceremony to be in full swing. The Council announcing votes, the Elders weighing in. Instead, the air outside was too charged. I could hear… fighting.

And as I went in, I saw why.

My breath lodged in my throat. In the center of the chamber, Ronan was on his knees, his body battered, while Lucien stood over him with the cruel satisfaction of a predator. Damon was there too, standing off to the side with something in his hand.

I did not think. I did not measure the risk. My feet carried me forward before reason could chain me down. Gasps rippled through the crowd as I broke into the open. Faces turned, whispers surged, but none of it mattered.

All I saw was Ronan bleeding under Lucien’s blows.

“Lisa!” Ronan’s voice was hoarse, yet the disbelief in it struck me harder than anything else. His eyes widened at the sight of me, a mix of shock and dread.

The Elders stepped forward, their robes swaying. One raised a hand. “Stay back, child. This is a battle between Alphas.”

“Then explain to me,” I shot back, “why one Alpha is being restrained while the other pummels him? Where is the honor in that?” My voice shook, but it carried.

Murmurs swept through the gathered wolves. Ronan coughed, his face pale. “Lisa… stay out of this.”

“No.” My hands trembled, yet I moved closer. “You told me once I was stronger than I thought. Let me be strong now.”

I tried to push Lucien away, my body acting on nothing but sheer instinct. But his arm swung with cruel precision, and before I could brace myself, pain exploded across my cheek. The world tilted. I felt my body crash to the ground, and for a breathless moment everything blurred.

Gasps filled the air. My ears rang. Then, through the haze, I heard Ronan’s growl.

In an instant, he was beside me, the wolves restraining him now all the way across the chamber. He gathered me up with trembling hands, his voice fierce and frantic. “Lisa, talk to me. Look at me.”

I blinked at him, vision wavering. “I’m fine… I think.”

Lucien staggered back, blood at the corner of his mouth from the punch Ronan had thrown in his rush to reach me. His expression twisted with rage, but the sheer shock held him still.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damon step forward, his hand extended. “Here, let me—”

“Stay away from her!” Ronan’s roar shook the air. His body hunched protectively over mine, his glare fixed on Damon with venom I did not understand.

Confused, I pulled slightly at his sleeve. “Ronan… what’s going on?”

“Later,” he muttered, his jaw set. His hand cradled my face with trembling gentleness. “For now, sit. Rest.”

He guided me to a nearby chair, refusing to let anyone else touch me. The crowd whispered louder, shifting like restless waves.

An Elder rose to his feet, his voice booming. “Enough. We have seen more than sufficient. The Council and Elders will deliberate. A judgement will be given.”

I clutched Ronan’s hand, guilt searing me. “I ruined it, didn’t I? By stepping in. I cost you the fight.”

His thumb brushed my knuckles. His voice lowered, soft and firm. “You could never ruin anything for me. Let them make their decision. Once they do, we leave. That’s all that matters.”

Tears stung my eyes. I squeezed his hand, desperate to anchor us both. “Alright.”

The Elder cleared his throat, about to speak the deciding words. Relief and dread collided inside me. I wanted it over, wanted us gone.

But then a voice rang out.

“Wait.”

The single word sliced through the crowd like a blade. My stomach dropped. I knew that voice.

I turned, slowly, as though prolonging the moment might change what I would see.

There she was.

“Lena…”

Her face was calm, but her eyes gleamed with cruel delight. My heart sank, pounding so loudly it drowned the crowd’s collective gasp.

And as though she had been waiting for the perfect stage, Bryan emerged behind her, Selena beside him, their expressions smug and unrepentant.

The sight of them together stole my breath.

The glee in Lena’s smile made my skin crawl. She stood tall, poised as though she had every right to intrude on this sacred ground.

My hand trembled in Ronan’s. His grip tightened around mine instantly, his warmth grounding me.

“Do not look at them,” he murmured under his breath, his voice meant only for me. “Look at me.”

I obeyed, though my heart hammered in my chest.

Just what was about to happen…