Chapter 36 036

Chapter 36 036


Lucien's POV

I made my way downstairs feeling drained from the morning conversation with my brothers. Dante was going to be a problem. I could see it in his eyes, that smug look that said he had no intention of listening to a word I said.

The fact that Ria was already aware about Anna and Dante didn't seem like a problem yet, but somehow I knew it might end up becoming one soon.

The dining hall doors were open and I could already smell breakfast. My stomach growled, reminding me I had not eaten yet. But when I stepped inside, I stopped short.

Ria was sitting at the head of the table having her meal. That was not what surprised me though. What surprised me was the other person in the room.

Tracy.

What the hell was she doing here?

She spotted me immediately and her face lit up. Before I could even process what was happening, she rushed over and threw her arms around me.

"Lucien! I have missed you so much."

I stood there stiffly while she pressed herself against me. Her perfume was too strong, making my nose itch. I could feel Ria's eyes on us from where she sat.

Ria didn't have much makeup on her face, but why did she look so beautiful or was my wolf playing some sort of game with me?

"Tracy," I said, gently trying to untangle myself from her grip. "What are you doing here?" I asked with a frown on my face but she didn't seem to mind seeing that her expression was beaming with a smile.

"I wanted to see you." She looked up at me with wide eyes. "Is that so wrong? I missed you."

I resisted the urge to sigh. Tracy was Elder Gerald's daughter. Her father had been incredibly helpful to me over the years, supporting my decisions and backing me up in council meetings. I could not just dismiss his daughter like she was nothing. I needed to keep that relationship intact for my plans to work.

"You should have told me you were coming," I said, finally managing to pry her arms off me. "I have a busy day ahead."

"I know about the trial." She grabbed my hand and squeezed it gently. "But surely you have time for breakfast? I will not stay long, I promise. I just want to spend a little time with you."

I glanced over at Ria. She was watching us while calmly eating her sandwich. Her expression gave nothing away.

"Fine," I said to Tracy. "But then you need to leave. I have things to handle today."

"Of course!" She beamed at me. "I will just join you for breakfast and then I will go."

I started to walk toward the table, planning to sit in my usual spot. But Tracy had other ideas. She practically skipped ahead of me and slid into the chair between mine and Ria's.

I clenched my jaw. That was deliberate. She knew exactly what she was doing.

Before I could say anything about it, Dante and Silas walked in together, both looking freshly showered and ready for the day.

Silas spotted Ria immediately and his face softened. He walked right over to her and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her lips.

I watched, expecting Ria to pull away or turn her head. She had been resistant to all of us lately, keeping her distance and putting up walls.

But she did not pull away. Instead, she smiled at Silas warmly when he pulled back. Like she was genuinely happy to see him.

Dante noticed it too. His eyes narrowed as he watched the exchange. Then he shrugged and took his seat across from me.

We all started eating in tense silence. The only sounds were forks scraping plates and the occasional sip of tea.

Then Tracy opened her mouth.

"So, Ria," she said in that fake sweet voice she used when she was about to be cruel. "What are you expecting from the trial today?"

Ria did not even look up from her plate. Just kept eating like Tracy had not spoken at all.

Tracy's smile tightened. "I mean, you must have some idea of what is coming. Are you nervous or even scared"

Still nothing. Ria cut her toast into small pieces and took a bite.

"I think it is admirable, really," Tracy continued, her tone filled with false sympathy. "The way you keep trying even though everyone knows you are going to fail. Most girls would have given up by now."

"Tracy," I called out in a commanding tone."That is enough."

She glanced at me and then back at Ria. "I am just being honest. Maybe if Ria accepted her fate, if she stopped carrying her shoulders so high, she could ask the Alphas for mercy. Plead with them for an easy punishment instead of pretending she has a chance."

"I said that is enough," I repeated, my voice harder now.

But Tracy was not done. "It must be exhausting, putting on this brave face every day. Would it not be easier to just..."

"Tracy, stop talking." I set down my fork and looked directly at her.

She finally went quiet, but she was pouting now like I had hurt her feelings.

What surprised me was Ria's reaction. Or rather, her lack of reaction. She seemed completely unbothered by Tracy's words. She just kept eating with that same calm expression, like Tracy was background noise she did not need to acknowledge.

When had Ria become so controlled? So unshakeable?

She finished her meal and set down her fork. Then she picked up her napkin, dabbed at her lips, and stood up from the table.

As she rose to her feet, her movement was elegant. The emerald green dress she wore moved with her body, catching the morning light coming through the windows. Her posture was perfect, her head held high like she owned the room.

I found myself staring intensely at her. There was something different about her this morning. Something that made it impossible to look away.

My body reacted before my brain caught up. Heat pooled low in my stomach and I felt myself getting hard just from watching her stand there.

Damn it.

I shifted in my seat, trying to adjust myself discreetly. But Tracy noticed, Of course she would notice.

Her hand slid under the table and landed on my thigh. Then it moved higher, reaching for the bulge in my pants.

I grabbed her wrist and yanked her hand away, shooting her a warning glance.

Ria walked past us toward the door. She did not look at any of us. Just swept out of the room like a queen leaving her subjects behind.

The door closed behind her and I let out a breath I did not realize I was holding.

"Well," Dante said, breaking the silence. "That was interesting."

Silas smirked. "She looked good this morning."

"She always looks good," I muttered, releasing Tracy's wrist.

We finished breakfast quickly after that. I was not hungry anymore anyway. My mind was too busy trying to figure out what had changed with Ria overnight and I knew that the more I sat there, the more I might begin to lose my mind.