CHAPTER 33: KANE'S DEADLY ULTIMATUM

LEONA

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Two days with only water? It sounded harsh, even for what Liora had done. But when I looked at him, his expression was firm, his jaw tight. He truly believed she deserved it.

I didn't know what to say. Part of me was glad she was being held accountable, but another part felt uneasy.

"I didn't want this," I said softly, gripping the edge of the blanket.

Zane's gaze softened just a little, though his resolve didn't waver. "You didn't ask for it, but it had to be done. People like Liora only learn through real consequences."

His words were firm, and I couldn't argue with them. Still, it all felt like too much.

"Thank you," I said quietly, barely above a whisper. "For standing up for me."

His eyes met mine, steady and intent. For a moment, the room felt smaller, the air heavier. "You're part of this pack, Leona. I protect my own."

Something about the way he said it made my chest tighten. It didn't feel like just an Alpha speaking to one of his pack members—it felt personal. I looked away, unsure how to respond or how to handle the way his words made my heart race.

"I should let you rest," he said after a pause, standing to leave.

"Wait," I blurted out, surprising even myself. "I—" I hesitated, unsure of what I was trying to say. "Thank you," I repeated, feeling silly.

He gave me a small nod. "Rest, Leona. I'll check on you later."

With that, he left, closing the door softly behind him.

I leaned back into the bed, staring up at the ceiling as the day's events replayed in my mind. Liora's cruelty, the fear of being locked in that room, and now Zane's unyielding protection.

I didn't know how to make sense of it all, but one thing stood out: Zane wasn't just a leader—he was a protector. And for reasons I couldn't fully explain, that thought made me feel safe.

—

I had just settled into bed, hoping sleep would give me a reprieve from the day's chaos, when a soft noise broke through the silence of my room. At first, I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me—until the cold night air brushed against my skin.

My head snapped toward the window. The curtains billowed slightly, and a shadow moved. I bolted upright, my heart hammering as two figures climbed through the window, their movements swift and precise.

"Who—" I started, but one of them raised a gloved hand, silencing me.

The men were tall, and dressed in dark clothing, their faces obscured by scarves. But their presence was suffocating, their authority undeniable. These weren't random intruders.

The taller one stepped forward, his voice low but laced with menace. "Stay quiet, and listen carefully. We have a message for you."

"Who sent you?" I demanded, though my voice betrayed my fear.

"Alpha Kane," the man replied smoothly, and my blood ran cold.

Before I could respond, the second man pulled something from his coat and tossed it onto my bed. My heart sank as I recognized the small, crumpled photograph.

"Fiona," I whispered, my voice trembling.

My sister's wide, frightened eyes stared back at me. Her wrists were bound, her face pale.

"She's alive for now," the first man said, his tone mocking, "but that depends on you."

I forced my gaze away from the photo, glaring at them with as much strength as I could muster. "What do you want?"

The second man held out a small vial, the liquid inside so dark it seemed to absorb the light.

"You'll put this in Alpha Zane's food tonight," he said simply. "Make sure he eats it."

The air in the room felt like it had been sucked away. "You want me to poison him?"

The taller man's eyes glinted beneath the shadows of his scarf. "It's simple. You do this, and your sister lives. You refuse, and she dies. Painfully."

My heart pounded in my chest, panic clawing at me. "I can't—"

"You can," the man snapped, stepping closer. "If you care about her, you will."

Tears blurred my vision as I stared at the vial. Fiona was all I had left, my only family. But Zane—he had just saved me, protected me, and trusted me.

The first man leaned in, his voice a harsh whisper. "Do it when the palace is quiet. The cooks have already prepared dinner for the Alpha and his council. All you have to do is pour this into his meal. No one will know."

He shoved the vial into my hand, his grip tight and unforgiving.

"We'll be watching," the second man warned. "Don't make us return. If you do, it won't be for a chat."

Without another word, they slipped back through the window, their movements as silent as shadows.

I sat frozen, clutching the vial as though it burned my skin. My mind raced, torn between Fiona's terrified face and the betrayal this would mean.

—

When the palace fell silent, I knew I couldn't delay any longer. I grabbed my crutches and forced myself to move. Each step was a battle against my exhaustion, my body protesting every movement. But I couldn't stop.

The kitchen was empty, just as the guards had said. The stew prepared for Zane and the council sat covered on the counter, its aroma filling the air.

I pulled out the vial, my hands trembling as I uncorked it.

For Fiona, I told myself, trying to block out the guilt clawing at my chest. I have no choice.

I leaned forward, tilting the vial over the stew—

"What are you doing?"

The sharp voice froze me in place. The vial slipped from my fingers, clinking against the counter but staying upright.

I turned to find Mrs. Marlowe standing in the doorway, her piercing eyes locking onto mine.

Her gaze fell to the vial, then back to me. "Leona," she said, her tone deadly. "Explain yourself. Now."