“You and Orion better stop playing with me,” Leila said firmly, voice low, dangerous.Evelyn smirked like she couldn’t care less. “Come on. I didn’t even know you were fucking your brother’s best friend. I only found out when I walked in and saw you two screwing in his damn room.”Leila’s eyes narrowed. “And you didn’t think to walk out?”“Why would I?” Evelyn folded her arms. “Free show. Plus, you were enjoying it. Moaning like you hadn’t touched a man in years.”Leila stepped forward. “Won’t Zarek ask you why you’re suddenly playing messenger girl between him and Orion? Why were you meeting up with him behind everyone’s back?”Evelyn shrugged. “Let him ask. At least now we’re both dirty. We’re both in shit. So as long as we both stay out of trouble, your secret’s safe with me…” She leaned in, smirking. “…and mine should be safe with you.”Leila’s jaw clenched.Evelyn’s voice dipped. “It’s not like you didn’t enjoy his dick.”Then she turned, heels clicking against the stone path, wa
Leila didn’t waste a damn second.The moment the door clicked shut behind Zarek, she stormed out from behind the hallway curtain like a woman on fire.She grabbed the nearest glass off the table and hurled it straight at Orion’s head.It froze mid-air.Stopped, dead, hovering inches from his face.Orion didn’t even blink. He just flicked his fingers, and the glass fell harmlessly to the floor with a soft clink.“Really?” he muttered.Leila grabbed another.“I said stop it,” Orion growled, low and sharp.“You think that voice scares me?” she snapped. “Who the hell do you think you are? Turning my brother’s back against his mate? This wasn’t part of the plan! What the fuck are you doing?”“I promised I wouldn’t hurt Zarek or Selene,” Orion said, calm but cold. “I never promised I wouldn’t shake the damn table.”“You’ve lost it,” she spat. “I’m done. You’ve been acting shady as hell. I’m pulling out before this goes completely sideways.”She bent down and yanked a small black bag from un
Orion let out a light chuckle that didn’t reach his eyes. “Can’t a man eat a double portion in peace?”Zarek raised a brow. “Two plates. Still hot. Still untouched. One of them has Leila’s favorite food.” He looked over slowly. “Did she come here?”Orion didn’t blink. “Leila? Your sister? I don’t really know. But you know if she came here, she’s free to.”Zarek took another step closer. “So you didn’t see her?”“I see a lot of people,” Orion replied evenly. “But not always the ones I want.”Zarek tilted his head. “I’m not in the mood for word games tonight.”“I’m not playing any.”Zarek’s eyes darkened a little, nose lifting slightly. He sniffed the air once—then again. The mood shifted. Something in his face twisted for half a second. Recognition.His voice dropped. “Her scent is here.”Orion didn’t flinch. “She might’ve stopped by earlier. I wasn’t around.”Zarek stared at him, saying nothing for a long second. The silence felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. Then he stepped towa
Orion gave a bitter chuckle and shook his head. “You think this is about love? Loyalty? That baby is power. And Selene’s not stupid. Whether the baby is really his or not, she knows exactly what she’s doing.”Leila’s eyes narrowed. “You’re saying she’s faking it?”“I’m saying,” he said slowly, “that pregnancy is her shield now. Nobody questions a Luna carrying an heir. No one pushes too hard. She’s protected, and she knows it.”“Iris confirmed it. She said Selene is really pregnant.”“Good,” Orion muttered. “Then that makes her even more dangerous.”Leila stared at him, confused. “Why are you looking at her like she’s a threat now? I thought you didn’t even care about her.”Orion finally looked away, like he was trying to hide something. “There’s more going on than you know. And if she’s pregnant, we need to move faster.”“Faster with what? What are you not telling me?”Orion didn’t speak. He just rubbed the back of his neck and walked toward the window.“Orion,” Leila said firmly, he
Leila walked out of the office and let the heavy door close behind her with a soft click. Her heels echoed down the hallway, matching the tempo of her heartbeat. She didn’t turn back. She didn’t hesitate. But every step she took felt heavier than the last.When she reached the garden, the sun was already dipping, staining the sky with amber streaks. And beside the garden, Evelyn was standing there.Feeding the fish. Like she had no care in the world. Like she didn’t just get named the silent threat in the room.Evelyn didn’t turn when Leila stepped closer. She just tossed another pinch of food into the water, watching the fish scatter and gather again in a frenzy.Leila folded her arms tightly. “Do you have anything to tell me?”Evelyn glanced over her shoulder, her smile lazy, mocking. “You’ll have to be more specific, darling.”Leila’s expression didn’t change. “Did you threaten the healer?”Evelyn chuckled, soft and bitter. “I’m offended. You make it sound like I was subtle about i
SELENEIt was Iris who walked in.“Iris?” Leila asked.Iris smirked, then she locked the door behind her.“I have to speak with the Alpha and the Luna,” she said calmly.Leila raised a brow, sat down slowly, and crossed her legs as if settling in for a show. We all stared at her.She glanced between us. “Why are you all looking at me? Do you want me to leave?”Iris didn’t say a word. She just nodded once.“I’m the Alpha’s sister,” Leila replied, her tone clipped. “I can’t leave.”“Leila,” I called softly.“What?” she shot back. “I said what I said. I’m staying.”“You’ve been acting stubborn these past few days,” I said with a half-smile.Zarek’s voice cut through. “You can speak now, Iris.”Iris turned to him without hesitation. “Alpha, I would like to step down from my position.”I blinked, immediately rising to my feet. “What? Why?”Iris looked at me and smiled faintly. “Luna, I promised to leave once your ability to sense your mate returned. And now it has. I need to go.”Zarek’s j