Chapter 52

LIANNA

Devon had left the day before, promising to bring flowers and chocolates next time he came, appearing like a true enchanting prince who cared about every tiny detail.

But... honestly? As much as I wanted that to be the focus of my thoughts, it wasn't what stayed in my mind.

What stayed in my mind was the way he had talked about Caleb - so much so that it lingered like an annoying mosquito that wouldn't let me sleep at night, buzzing near my ear - and also how he had insinuated that the kindness I saw in those sapphire eyes could just be... my imagination, something in my head.

And yes, I understood that many things surrounding Caleb - because of that way that made him seem like he had a split personality - made his actions questionable, unstable because he could change them at any moment. But it couldn't be the reality, right? Not when something in my chest seemed to scream, telling me that... everything that dark-haired man did was genuine, and that... he didn't owe me anything either.

Yes, he didn't owe me anything, he was a werewolf who had no obligation towards me, a commander who was just there to do his job and lead his own people, and on top of that, he wouldn't gain anything by helping a human, taking her to her own sister just because he saw her almost having a panic attack because of it.

He didn't need to do any of the things he did, and maybe... that proved that there was some kind of heart, feelings of generosity and compassion within Caleb.

Characteristics resembling something... human.

Something that didn't seem like that of a monster.

I pressed my hands against my chest at that moment, my eyes once again staring at the ceiling, hope filling my chest like it had never before, along with that feeling that this time... he seemed like he would actually try to do something, try to save Emily somehow, and... make us be a united family again.

I didn't know how he would make everything right, I didn't know how he would avoid suspicions around him - because, well, werewolves seemed to disdain humans so much that his help would probably be categorized as betrayal - but... maybe it didn't matter that much, because Caleb seemed to have quite an influence among the werewolves, at least, it seemed that way from how he showed himself, how he acted.

"Maybe... I should go see him?" I questioned myself at some point, my hand going to my chin, "now I can finally go, right? I don't need to wait for him to talk to him anymore." I stated, getting up and heading towards the door, but before that, my body turned to go to the dresser, to look at myself in the mirror.

Yes, I recognized it was a stupid act, but... I didn't want to leave my room anyway.

But as soon as I opened it? I came face to face with Alastair, who had his chest full of medals, wearing that uniform that made his position clear, along with his blood-red eyes, accompanied by a faint smile.

"Oh? Did I come at a bad time?" He said with clear sarcasm, which made apprehension take over my body, and a question that was quite normal to think: what the hell was he doing there?

"My dear... why the sour face?" He was clearly mocking me, a cunning smile like that of a fox taking over his lips, "isn't having two men at your disposal enough?"

I raised one of my eyebrows.

"I'm sorry?"

"Please, don't play dumb, my dear... I know you're better than that," he continued with that air of superiority, as if he were a god who still wanted to play with the ignorance I possessed in my soul, "no need to be shy, I already know you have two very loyal dogs on a leash."

Loyal dogs?

Where did he get that from?

'No, wait...' I found myself thinking at some point, a certain fear starting to take over my being, 'did he... find out about Devon?'

My heart rate skyrocketed. What would he do if he was really talking about Devon? About literally... a traitor to his own kind? Not that Alastair wasn't another one - in terms of also helping me - but... they seemed different in some way.

They could have... opposing motives.

'Stop thinking nonsense, Lianna!' Once again, that voice came to my mind, 'why would he bother to warn you if that were the case? Wouldn't he have already gone to capture or hand over Devon?'

Yes, that was the most logical thing to think.

I had to stay calmer, and I had to especially... not show anything that would give me away to that being with eyes as red as a rose.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about, could you enlighten me?" I ended up pretending not to understand what he was referring to, just for him to start circling me like a shark.

"Of course, as you wish, my dear..." he used a more velvety tone again, his gloved hands starting to move as he showed that he was going to start his explanation - almost like a professor - "you became one of Caleb's concubines, but in the end... you weren't satisfied, right? Or... did I get the information wrong? A redhead didn't leave your room after that fire incident?"

My eyes widened, surprise taking over my expression.

"How do you know that? And honestly? Aren't you ashamed to talk about it so casually?" I scoffed, because that seemed common among werewolves, just throwing everything out there as if it were extremely natural, as if they had no shame.

"For the love of the goddess, my dear... I believe we are much more intimate than that." He joked, "and answering your question... I have eyes and ears everywhere."