Zara's Next Schemes
Damian watched as Ella climbed down, his heart pounding with pride. She had done it—she proved her strength and courage in front of everyone.
But something didn’t feel right.
He remembered Zara’s face earlier—the smug look like she was waiting for Ella to fail. Then, when Ella succeeded, Zara’s smile disappeared. She looked furious.
Damian’s jaw clenched. This wasn’t just about getting envious of her little successes or jealousy. Zara had really expected something to go wrong. But, why?
His eyes moved to Lucian, who stood quietly at the edge of the arena. His gaze was fixed on Ella, his stance tense, and protective.
Had Lucian seen something too? Had he stopped something from happening around the arena?
Damian’s chest tightened. Zara had planned something—and Lucian might know the truth.
\---
Zara’s Growing Resentment
Zara stormed away from the arena, her heart pounding with anger.
Everything had been planned. Ella was supposed to fail in front of everyone. She was supposed to fall and be humiliated.
But she didn’t. Instead, she won. And the crowd cheered for her.
Zara’s hands shook with rage. Someone had ruined her plan?.
She thought of Lucian—always watching from the shadows of the scene. Always near Ella. Could he have stopped it?
Her anger grew. If Lucian was helping Ella, then he was against her too.
Ella had taken the spotlight. Damian’s attention. The respect Zara had worked so hard for within the pack.
She wouldn’t let it happen again.
With her eyes burning with hatred, and her thoughts spinning with more scheming ideas, Zara walked away. She needed a new plan.
Next time, Ella wouldn’t win.
\---
Lucian watched from the shadows of the scene as Zara stormed off, her face twisted with anger. She was furious—and he knew she wasn’t done. She would certainly try again.
He turned his eyes back to Ella. She was smiling, proud and strong. She had proven herself to everyone today. But Lucian knew the danger wasn’t over.
He stepped deeper further into the shadows, his mind made up. He would protect her, no matter what.
Even if it meant going against Zara. Even if it meant breaking his loyalty to Damian. Even if it cost him everything.
He would keep her safe… even if she never knew.
Meanwhile, Zara paced her room, seething. Ella’s victory haunted her. She had planned everything perfectly—how then did it all go wrong?
Her hands curled into fists. Someone had stopped her plan. And she knew exactly who—Lucian. Always lurking. Always watching out for Ella. That fool! That scheming bitch! Who pretends to be a damsel in distress just to get the alpha's attention.
"God! How I hate that sliming bitch!. I must teach her a lesson!" A wicked smile spread across her face. If Lucian wanted to protect Ella, then she would take them both down.
She walked to her vanity and pulled out a hidden vial—given to her as a gift from the healer’s supplies. The liquid shimmered faintly. A poison. Slow and deadly. No one would suspect it.
She would poison Ella. Bit by bit. Quietly. Painfully. And Lucian? He would watch helplessly.
The thought filled her with twisted joy. Soon, Ella’s light would fade. And Lucian’s hope would die with it.
\---
It wasn't up to thirty minutes later after the battle at the arena when Lucian saw Zara doing hide and seek around the kitchen vicinity.
The way her eyes darts to the right and left, felt somehow, and Lucian instantly felt it in his gut—something was wrong. The look in Zara’s eyes, the dark edge in her composure... she was definitely planning something bad.
So, he kept close, hidden at the back of the big oak tree a leap walk away from the kitchen building, watching her every move. He wouldn’t let her hurt anyone, especially Ella—not again.
When Zara slipped into the kitchen, moving quickly and quietly, his suspicion grew stronger. He followed her, silent as a shadow.
Then he saw it.
She pulled out a small vial, and poured a strange looking shimmering liquid into a bowl of food possibly meant for someone to eat.
"God! How come nor of the maids are around?".
Soon, she careful stir the food, washed her hands, and at once she left, smiling to herself, Lucian stepped out. His expression was cold, his mind clear. He grabbed the bowl and sniff it.
"What! Poison! My goodness! She actually added poison to someone food?". He said in dismay on recognizing the smell of the lethal poison not everyone can easily detect.
"Wait a minute! Isn't this Ella's favorite color of plate?" He asked himself on careful observation.
"She actually wanted her dead?Poison! On an innocent girl's food?"
Lucian’s chest tightened with anger. How far was Zara willing to go? Quickly, he threw it out. Ella would not be harmed—not on his watch.
What should he do next? Confront her directly? Report her to Damian? Zara is very cunning, and crafty! She will definitely deny it without a solid prove from him.
Looking confused, with his heart pounded, and his resolve burning. He knew Zara would try again. But so would he.
So, he would protect Ella. Always. Even if she never knew.
\---
Zara’s Boiling Rage
Forty minutes later, Zara made her way to the Alpha’s house, hoping to hear bad news about Ella—maybe she had fallen ill or probably dead from the poison. She wore a calm smile, masking her true hopes.
But what she saw stopped her cold.
In the training yard, Damian and Lucian were both with Ella—training her, guiding her, encouraging her to become stronger. And the bitch herself? Ella, she looked strong, healthy… even smiling.
Zara’s heart dropped, her smile faltering. "Why isn’t the poison working?" she thought. "Was it too weak to get her killed in few minutes?" Her fury simmered beneath her skin.
As she stood watching with her heart racing fast in rage of fury, Lucian turned to her with a sly smile and said, “Zara, maybe you’d like to train Ella for a bit?”
"Train her?" It was a deliberate jab, and her anger toward him, grew bigger.
She could have loved to get him slain right there and now, but instead, she forced a polite smile and shook her head. “Not today, Beta Lucian.” But inside, she was seething.
She watched them a moment longer—how Damian’s gaze softened around Ella, how Lucian stayed close, always alert, like a well trained personal puppy.
Unable to take it anymore, Zara left. Her heart burned with increased jealousy, and her mind spinning with rage.
If the poison didn’t work, she would find another way.
Ella would suffer. She swore it....