Chapter 168

Chapter 168
Lucas's POV

Alexander blinked.

For the first time since this confrontation began, I saw that flicker of hesitation. He stared at her for a long moment, his body tense, his breathing heavy yet controlled.

Arabella pressed her forehead against his, her fingers gently tracing his jaw. "Please, Alexander. Even if you don't kill him yourself, he'll still die, he'll still never hurt us again."

Her voice broke.

"Please let it go, okay? For me." Her lips trembled as she exhaled, "If not for me, then for Alice, and for them."

She took his hand and placed it on her stomach.

Then, a single tear slid down her cheek.

That was the moment.

Alexander's rage collapsed like a house of cards, the fire in his eyes extinguished beneath something deeper, more primal.

He wiped away her tear with his thumb, jaw clenched as if wrestling with himself. "Fuck, don't cry, Puppy," he whispered, pleading. "You know I can't stand it when you cry. I'm not going anywhere, alright? I promise."

He pulled her closer, the embrace no longer tense but something completely different. Protective. Possessive.

I felt it too—everything had changed.

We all knew he wasn't going to argue with her about this anymore.

Tristan chuckled softly. "Damn, she's good."

I shook my head, looking at Asher. "Looks like Arabella just saved your ass again."

Asher clenched his jaw, his gaze shifting to Alexander. "I always knew he'd be pissed about this. But my job isn't to placate anyone's feelings. My job is to keep the Blood Moon pack safe. Even if you're all screwing my sister behind my back."

Wow, he really wasn't going to let that go, was he?

I watched as Arabella nestled against Alexander, melting away his last bit of anger. I doubted he even remembered what he was mad about anymore.

Tristan shifted beside me, crossing his arms, turning his attention to Asher. "So what exactly are you planning to do?"

Asher laid it all out. Every detail, every contingency, the timeline, the alibis, the backup plans.

We all listened.

Even Alexander listened, absently stroking Arabella's back as he did. Her eyelashes fluttered as she fought not to fall asleep, but Alexander's slow, soothing caresses up and down her spine ultimately relaxed her completely, her breathing eventually evening out as she fell asleep against his shoulder.

I was almost certain he'd done it deliberately—lulled her to sleep so we could discuss freely. So she wouldn't argue with him anymore.

It was probably for the best. She was pregnant, needed all the rest she could get.

Besides, I wouldn't let Alexander do anything she wouldn't approve of.

When Asher finished speaking, the room fell into a heavy silence.

We were all thinking.

Tristan was the first to speak, his voice calm. "Actually... this plan could work." But I caught the slight hesitation in his expression, maybe even some reluctance.

He looked at me. "What do you think, Lucas?"

I raised my hand to rub my chin, still processing. "As long as we stay clean, there's no way anyone can pin this on us. If we make sure we have alibis for the night Wesley dies? Even better."

What I didn't say out loud was that Asher's idea to release those abuse videos—making that bastard enemies everywhere—was fucking brilliant. Not that I was going to compliment him right now, I was still pissed.

Maybe, the night Wesley died would be the night we'd been planning all along.

I snuck a glance at Alexander.

He hadn't moved, but I noticed his fingers tighten slightly on Arabella's back, his chest rising and falling in slow, powerful breaths.

He was angry again.

Not because the plan wasn't solid.

But because Landon/Blood would be the one to do it.

He'd just promised Arabella, right before she fell asleep, that he wouldn't go after Wesley himself. That she didn't need to worry about him going off the rails.

But now?

That promise was the only thing keeping him from charging out of here, breaking through anyone who tried to stop him.

He seemed to read my thoughts, glancing down at Arabella before looking back at Asher, his expression unreadable but softer than before.

Then, he exhaled slowly.

His gaze shifted to Asher.

"If you don't trust me to control myself around him, at least tell Lucas and Tristan where he is." His voice was lower, but still determined. "I just want to... say a few words to that bastard before this is over."

Asher tilted his head slightly, lips pressed into a thin line. "Come on, Alexander. You really expect me to believe you just want to 'say a few words'?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "Trust me, I'm barely restraining myself from killing him with my bare hands. But you?" His sharp gaze locked onto Alexander. "You'd completely lose it."

Alexander didn't immediately answer.

Then, his eyes darkened, and a slow, almost dangerous smile curved his lips.

"Actually, I just remembered I still owe her a promise—and it involves him."

My eyes widened instantly.

He still wanted us to fuck Arabella in front of Wesley?

Just imagining it—Arabella on her hands and knees, taking all of us while Wesley was forced to watch—

Shit.

I quickly shoved my hands into my sweatpants pockets, trying to hide my body's immediate reaction.

Asher frowned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can already tell I absolutely do not want to know the details."

Tristan snickered quietly. "Yeah, trust me, you don't."

Asher looked between us, then let out a heavy sigh. "If you two can keep him in check, fine. Just... whatever you're planning to do, don't traumatize my sister."

Tristan shot me a look, eyebrow raised, silently asking: Can you actually keep this secret?

I met Alexander's gaze, my eyes sharp with warning. "Once we know, you're not getting shit out of me."

Or fucking it out of me, either.

Which was basically the same thing.

Alexander's smile deepened, a wicked glint in his eye.

"We'll see about that."

I rolled my eyes. He could try. That was all he'd get.

Asher stood up, ready to leave when Alexander's voice rang out.

"Elder."

Asher stopped.

"I'm letting this slide—because I understand why you did it. But the next time you let a woman I care about carry a secret this big for you, I can't guarantee she'll be able to stop me."

Asher didn't turn around, but I saw his jaw clench.

I braced myself for an explosion, but he just slowly nodded. Not in submission, not in defiance, but in acknowledgment—because he knew. He had crossed a line.

He was setting a boundary.

And on that point, Tristan and I were one hundred percent with him.

Asher walked silently toward Alexander's office. Tristan and I followed, leaving Alexander and Arabella behind, his warning hanging in the air like a loaded gun.

I just hoped Asher would listen—because that wasn't a threat.

It was a promise.