CHAPTER 73

Lycus POV

I felt the shift immediately. Her fingers hovered just slightly against my chest as if debating whether to close the distance between us.

I inhaled sharply.

This was crossing a line.

Stepping back, I put space between us, my expression hardening. “Aneles.” My tone carried a warning.

She blinked, as if snapping out of something, then quickly looked away. “I—I’m sorry,” she murmured, wiping her tears. “I don’t know what came over me.”

Neither did I.

—-

The next morning, I barely had time to settle into my duties before Knox strode into my office.

“Our people aren’t pleased,” he said without preamble.

I didn’t look up from the papers in front of me. “I’m aware.”

Knox crossed his arms. “You don’t seem too bothered by it.”

I sighed, setting my pen down. “What do you want me to do? I already told them I’m handling the rogues.”

“They need something to ease their nerves,” he pressed. “Or at least a distraction.”

I leaned back in my chair, considering. “Then let’s give them something.”

Before Knox could respond, the door swung open.

Sasha.

She sauntered in with that usual confidence, her eyes flicking between us before landing on me. “If you’re looking for a way to calm everyone down, why not throw a party?”

I scowled at the interruption, but I had to admit… she had a point.

Knox, too, seemed to consider it. “It could work,” he admitted.

I exhaled sharply before turning to him. “What do you think?”

Knox nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt.”

Sasha clapped her hands together, grinning. “Great. And, of course, I’d love for you to be my date, Lycus.”

I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes. “That’s a very hard pass.”

Knox turned away, but I could feel his laughter through the mind link.

Sasha pouted. “You wound me, Alpha.”

“You’ll live,” I muttered.

She tilted her head, as if debating whether to push further, but before she could, I gave her a pointed look. “Anything else?”

Sasha tapped her chin, pretending to think. “Well… now that you mention it, I did come to check up on you.”

I raised a brow. “Check up on me?”

She nodded, stepping closer. “I heard you brought in a female guest. Thought I’d see how you were holding up.” Her gaze flickered with amusement. “And I couldn’t help but notice how she looks at you.”

I exhaled sharply. “Who?”

She clicked her fingers as if trying to recall a name. “Aneles, was it?”

My jaw tightened slightly.

Sasha smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Oh, don’t look so serious. I’m just saying, she watches you like you hung the moon. Like she’s just waiting for you to give her a reason to—”

“That’s enough.” My voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

Sasha put her hands up in surrender. “Relax, Alpha. I’m only making an observation.”

Knox, still standing off to the side, was doing a terrible job at hiding his amusement.

Sasha took a step back, her smirk widening. “Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your oh-so-important Alpha duties. See you at the party.”

With that, she spun on her heel and strolled out, leaving behind an air of mischief.

I sighed, rubbing my temple.

“She’s not wrong, you know,” Knox remarked through the mind link.

I shot him a look. “Not you too.”

He chuckled but said nothing more.

As the evening stretched on, I stood before my warriors, addressing them under the fading sunlight. They listened intently as I spoke about patrol strategies, our defenses, and the plan to deal with the increasing rogue activity. Their tension was still there, but at least now, they had direction—something to focus on.

When I dismissed them, I turned back toward the pack house, my thoughts shifting to Ariana. If she were here, we would have attended the party together. Maybe she’d tease me about my reluctance to go, or maybe—just maybe—I’d actually enjoy myself with her by my side.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair as I stepped onto the main path.

Then, just as I was about to enter the pack house, Aneles appeared in front of me.

I immediately recalled our last encounter—the way she had looked at me, the way she had clung to me. I made a mental note to keep my distance.

Her smile was soft. “Alpha Lycus,” she greeted. “I heard about the party.”

I studied her for a brief moment before responding. “Word spreads fast.”

She nodded. “It sounds exciting. The pack must really need a distraction.”

I gave a curt nod. “That’s the plan.”

She clasped her hands together, shifting slightly on her feet. “Are you attending?”

I exhaled. “I wasn’t planning on it.”

Her face fell slightly, but she quickly masked it with a small smile. “That’s a shame. A party wouldn’t be the same without the Alpha.”

“I’m sure the pack will enjoy themselves just fine without me,” I said, my tone final.

Aneles hesitated as if wanting to say more, but I had no interest in prolonging the conversation. “If that’s all, I have other matters to attend to.”

She dipped her head. “Of course, Alpha.”

I turned and walked away, though I could still feel her gaze on me, lingering long after I disappeared into the pack house.

Less than an hour later, a piercing scream echoed through the halls.

I was already moving before I fully registered it, sprinting toward the source. My heart pounded as I rounded the corner, only to see Sasha standing there, eyes wide with shock.

Then I followed her gaze down the staircase.

Aneles lay sprawled at the bottom, unmoving.

I hurried down the stairs, kneeling beside her. “Aneles?” My voice was sharp with concern as I checked for any visible injuries.

She let out a fragile, pained breath, her eyes slowly fluttering open. The moment her gaze met mine, her expression contorted with distress.

“Please…” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. “Don’t let her hurt me again…”

My frown deepened. “What do you mean?”

A shaky breath escaped her lips as she hesitated before finally murmuring, “She… pushed me.”