Chapter 216 Venom in silk

Chapter 216 Venom in silk
Lazarus's POV
There were three kinds of wolves.
The ones who bared their teeth before they bit.
The ones who smiled while they bit.
And the ones who convinced you biting had been your idea all along.
Maris belonged to the third kind.
I realized that before she even opened my office door.
The knock came lightly.
Too lightly.
Most pack members knocked with purpose.
Warriors knocked hard.
Alec didn't knock at all.
Nova usually pushed the door open halfway before asking if I was busy.
This knock was rehearsed.
Polite.
Deliberate.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Maris stepped inside with practiced grace.
She wore a deep burgundy dress that matched the late afternoon sunlight spilling through my windows. Her dark hair was pinned neatly behind one ear, and if I hadn't already known exactly who she was, I would've mistaken her expression for nervousness.
Almost.
"Alpha."
I didn't stand.
"Maris."
She closed the door quietly behind her.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"You are."
She smiled.
"I'll be quick."
I leaned back in my chair.
"Then be quick."
Her eyes wandered briefly around my office.
Maps covered one wall.
Old weapons hung above the fireplace.
The desk between us was buried beneath patrol reports, council notes, and correspondence from neighboring packs.
She noticed the mess.
"You work very hard."
"I do."
"It must be exhausting."
"It is."
She waited.
Probably expecting conversation.
She wasn't getting one.
Eventually, she laughed softly.
"You're difficult."
"I've been told."
She stepped closer.
"I only came because I thought we should talk."
"About?"
She tilted her head.
"Nova."
Of course.
I folded my hands on the desk.
"What about my mate?"
The slightest pause.
She recovered quickly.
"I've been worried about her."
"No."
She blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"You're not worried about her."
Her smile didn't disappear.
"I think you've misunderstood."
"I don't."
She laughed again.
"People always said you were stubborn."
"I inherited that."
She walked closer anyway.
Stopping just far enough from the desk to seem respectful.
"I know this must be awkward."
"For who?"
"For you."
She sighed sympathetically.
"I can't imagine how confusing this has been."
I stared at her.
"My Luna's former mate. Her former family. Her painful history."
She shook her head sadly.
"That's a lot to carry."
I said nothing.
She continued.
"I'm sure you've noticed."
"Noticed what?"
"She doesn't tell you everything."
There it was.
The first drop of poison.
I kept my expression blank.
Maris mistook silence for uncertainty.
"Nova has always been like that."
She smiled faintly.
"She keeps things inside until they become impossible to ignore."
I remembered Nova crying in my arms.
Telling me everything she'd buried for years.
I almost laughed.
Maris didn't know her anymore.
"I appreciate your concern."
"But?"
"I don't need relationship advice."
She smiled.
"I wasn't giving advice."
"No?"
"I was giving context."
I leaned forward slightly.
"Context would require honesty."
Her eyes flickered.
Interesting.
She changed tactics.
"I loved her once."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You?"
She nodded.
"Like a sister."
"No."
Another blink.
"Excuse me?"
"You didn't."
Silence.
She smiled again.
"You really are impossible."
"I've heard that today already."
She rested one hand lightly against the edge of my desk.
"You know..."
Her voice softened.
"I understand protective men."
"I doubt that."
"Seth was protective."
The room became colder.
I looked at her.
"Seth abandoned her."
Maris hesitated.
"He made mistakes."
"He rejected his mate."
"He was frightened."
"So was Nova."
Maris's expression tightened.
Barely.
Then she sighed.
"I suppose you'll always take her side."
I answered without hesitation.
"Every time."
Something flashed behind her eyes.
Not anger.
Calculation.
She'd expected loyalty.
She hadn't expected certainty.
So she changed the game.
Again.
"You know..."
She let her fingers trail absentmindedly across the polished wood of my desk.
"Alphas carry lonely burdens."
I watched her.
"They need someone who understands responsibility."
She smiled gently.
"Someone strong."
"I have someone strong."
Her smile wavered.
"Of course."
She took another slow step.
Close enough now that I could smell expensive perfume beneath her wolf scent.
Intentional.
Everything she did was intentional.
She lowered her voice.
"I've always admired capable men."
I almost rolled my eyes.
Instead I asked,
"Does Seth know you're here?"
She laughed.
"He doesn't need to."
"Interesting answer."
She leaned slightly closer.
"I simply thought..."
Her eyes met mine.
"...that perhaps we understand each other."
I stared at her for three long seconds.
Then stood.
The movement was enough.
She instinctively stepped back.
Good.
Now we were standing at eye level.
Actually—
No.
She still had to tilt her chin upward.
I walked around the desk slowly.
Not threatening.
Just enough to reclaim my space.
"You've misunderstood something."
Her smile became more careful.
"What?"
"I don't admire manipulation."
"I wasn't—"
"I don't admire lies."
She opened her mouth.
I continued.
"And I certainly don't admire women who weaponize another woman's pain."
Silence.
The air between us hardened.
Her pleasant mask slipped.
Just for a second.
Then returned.
"You've already decided who I am."
"No."
I stopped in front of her.
"I've watched who you are."
She looked away first.
Interesting.
Then she smiled again.
Smaller now.
Sharper.
"Be careful, Alpha."
"There it is."
"What?"
"The real voice."
She didn't answer.
I folded my arms.
"Now."
My voice stayed calm.
"Tell me why you're actually here."
She hesitated.
For the first time since entering my office.
Then she said quietly,
"I came to help you."
"No."
"I did."
"No."
She sighed.
"I came because Nova isn't who you think she is."
My wolf growled.
Low.
Warning.
I held it back.
Maris noticed anyway.
"She'll destroy you."
The words hung between us.
I almost laughed.
Instead I asked,
"Are you finished?"
She frowned.
"You don't even want to know what I mean?"
"I already do."
"What?"
"I think you're afraid."
Something changed.
Her smile disappeared completely.
"I'm afraid?"
"Yes."
"Of Nova?"
"You tell me."
Her jaw tightened.
Then—
A knock.
Three quick knocks.
Alec's voice came through the door.
"Alpha?"
Maris immediately stepped away from me.
Mask back in place.
Interesting.
"Come."
Alec entered carrying a folded letter.
He stopped.
His eyes moved between us.
Then settled on Maris.
Something about his expression changed.
Concern.
He handed me the letter.
"It came from the northern patrol."
I opened it.
My eyes scanned the page.
Once.
Twice.
My pulse slowed.
Then quickened.
I looked at Alec.
"When?"
"This morning."
I looked back at the letter.
Then at Maris.
She was watching me carefully.
Too carefully.
As though she already knew what was written there.
I folded the paper slowly.
"What is it?" Alec asked.
I didn't answer immediately.
Because the report wasn't about Magnus.
It wasn't about Nova.
It wasn't about patrols.
It was about someone leaving the guest cabins before dawn.
Someone who wasn't supposed to leave.
I lifted my eyes to Maris.
She smiled.
Tiny.
Knowing.
Then I spoke.
"Tell me."
My voice had gone dangerously quiet.
"Where was Seth this morning?"