Chapter 22 Insider

Chapter 22 Insider

Kael’s POV

The room had an irritating smell due to the herbs Cyrus had crushed earlier, and then the smoke from the incense by the side of the room.

Plus, the fact that Cyrus had burned something earlier, claiming it would help neutralize whatever poison still lingered in her blood. The scent of everything mixed together, almost tasting in my throat now. The smell was thick, and it also smelled like something bitter.

But of course, I didn’t mind staying there. If anything, it grounded me and also did well to remind me that she was still breathing.

Alpha Lani sat propped against the pillows, her back straight despite the weakness that still seemed to be pulling her down. She looked better than she did hours ago, but not by much. Her skin still looked a little too faint and pale, compared to what I was used to seeing every day.

And from the looks on her face, anyone would know that she hated it.

I could see it in the way her fingers curled against the blanket, like she was fighting the urge to rip the IV out and walk away.

Cyrus paced slowly across the room, hands folded behind his back. His eyes kept moving from her to me, then back again.

“The poison wasn’t ordinary,” he said finally.

Alpha Lani didn’t give a reply.

But I did. “We figured that much.”

“It was layered,” Cyrus continued. “Not meant to kill immediately, or possibly not to kill at all. Just meant to weigh her down and even as much as to paralyse her for a certain period of time."

"Could it be that someone was trying to do something in her absence? And all of these were just to buy time?”

My jaw tightened. “Hmmm...” Those were the only words that made it out of my lips.

He stopped pacing. “Who the heck could have done this?"

Alpha Lani's eyes lifted. And even in her condition, I could still see that hard, steel-like resolve behind her gaze.

“This has the Rogue King written all over it,” she said quietly.

I nodded. “And there's every tendency that his ally is involved too.”

“Gomez,” she finished.

Cyrus hummed softly. “Or…”

He hesitated.

Alpha Lani's brows drew together. “Or what?”

“The Vampire King,” he said.

The room fell silent.

I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms. “You think he’d involve himself in this?”

"I'm just saying cause what issue could he possibly have with Alpha Lani? I know he hates the werewolves to the core, but why would he want to target one Alpha?"

Cyrus shrugged lightly. “People can become your enemy without you realising. And it's also possible that he figured Alpha Lani is the only Alpha that has the spell and power to defeat the vampires completely.”

Alpha Lani's fingers tapped once against the blanket. A habit she had when she was thinking.

“But the timing,” she murmured. “The ambush… the poison… the precision.”

She exhaled slowly.

“This wasn’t random.”

“Of course,” I agreed. “It wasn’t.”

Cyrus looked at both of us, then spoke carefully. “There’s also another possibility.”

“What?” I asked.

“Do you think Alpha Azrael has a hand in this, too?”

The words hung heavy in the room.

I stiffened.

Alpha Lani didn’t react immediately, but I saw the small shift in her shoulders.

Cyrus continued, “It can’t be a coincidence. He's the only one who knew you would be passing that route that day."

"He and his pack members..." I added.

Cyrus nodded to that. "So it's either there’s an insider from his pack that's working with a bigger enemy… or he’s involved.”

I stayed quiet, considering the possibilities.

Alpha Lani's brows furrowed, her gaze drifting somewhere distant.

She was lost in thought.

I knew Alpha Lani as someone who trusted a very few people. And Azrael had somehow slipped into that small circle without her noticing. But I noticed it.

Finally, she spoke. “No.”

Cyrus raised an eyebrow.

“He had chances,” she continued. “If he wanted me dead, he wouldn’t have saved me.”

“That’s one way to look at it,” Cyrus said.

“It’s the only way,” she replied.

I didn’t miss the firmness in her tone.

Cyrus checked his watch, then exhaled softly. “You need to eat something. Your body needs strength.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You will be soon,” he said simply.

He turned toward the door. “I’ll ask the maids to bring food.”

He left before she could argue.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Silence filled the room as we both said nothing.

Alpha Lani shifted slightly, wincing when the movement pulled at her side. She masked it quickly, but I saw.

I always noticed.

Moments later, a maid entered quietly, carrying a tray of soup, bread, and a small bowl of fruit. Just something very light and simple.

Scarlette pushed herself upright.

"Let me..."

“I can manage,” she said before the maid could even complete her offer of help.

The maid set the tray down and left.

She picked up the spoon.

Her hand trembled as she moved it, though just slightly.

She ignored it.

The spoon dipped into the soup, but when she lifted it, some of it spilled back into the bowl.

She frowned, clearly annoyed.

I tried to look away cause I knew how much she hated being watched when she struggled.

So I pretended to study the window, though my attention stayed fixed on her.

She made another attempt, and this time she got the spoon to her mouth.

Her moves were slow, careful, and determined.

Why do you find it so hard to lean on anyone?

The question formed in my mind, heavy and persistent.

I didn’t ask for it.

I just watched.

I had known her for years.

Before she became who she is now, Alpha Lani.

Then she was just Scarlette, a nobody. Her words, not mine.

I had been training under Cyrus when she arrived. She was a lot slimmer then, and too quiet. Her eyes were always on alert, and she guarded herself always as if she expected the world to strike her at any moment.

She had worked harder than anyone else. She took longer hours and did a lot of brutal training without complaints.

It was like she had something to prove wrong.

Like she was chasing strength, not for pride… but for survival.

I watched her grow in strength.

I watched her fall.

I also watched her stand again.

And still… she never let anyone get too close.

No one knew about her past, except for Cyrus.

And even
he never said anything about it. Like a safe, everyone's secret was safe with Cyrus.

For years, even before she finally became Alpha, I watched her, and I noticed how she always pulled back whenever she found herself opening up. It was like something inside her warned her she had already said too much.

“Is there something on my face?” she asked suddenly.

I blinked.

She was staring at me.

“Why the heck are you staring at me like that?”

“It... " It’s nothing,” I said.

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re terrible at lying.”

I shrugged.

She sighed, then added dryly, “I might as well pluck your eyes out if you keep staring at me like that.”

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

She kept talking, but my focus shifted.

A strand of hair had fallen across her face, blocking her view.

Without thinking, I stepped forward.

My hand moved on its own.

I tucked the strand behind her ear.

She flinched.

One small and quick movement, but the movement didn't go unnoticed.

I paused.

“We’ve spent years together,” I said quietly, “yet you still flinch at my touch.”

“It’s just reflex,” she replied immediately. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Reflex… hmm,” I said, watching her for a little too long.

I didn’t believe it.

Not even a bit of it.

She looked away. “Instead of trying to figure me out, why not go and check on the security teams?”

Her voice hardened slightly. Defensive.

“I’m sure that if Azrael is involved in this, they’ll be trying to look for ways to take me down again now that they know I’m well.”

I frowned. “You don’t actually believe he’s involved.”

“He’s the only one that knows I’m awake,” she replied.

Her eyes met mine in a sharp gaze.

“As much as I don't believe he's involved. I can't let my guard down."

"And you know, if anything happens to me now… I’ll know he’s not to be trusted.”