Chapter 2

I had never been so grateful for a tray—It gave my trembling hands something to hold.

"Take these to the meeting chamber," the head maid instructed as she placed four crystal glasses and a silver jug of wine onto the tray. "You know what Alpha Leo doesn't like, so don't keep him waiting."

"Yes, Ma'am."

I lowered my head, took a slow breath and lifted the tray carefully. Serving the Alpha and his guests didn't bother me because I did it regularly. I was invisible to them most of the time but today was different.

Every step toward the meeting chamber made my heart thump loudly because I knew who would be inside.

Arthur.

The memory of his lips against mine flashed through my mind, making my grip tighten around the tray.

Focus, Lucien.

You're just serving drinks, nothing more.

Acting normal around the man who had kissed me shouldn't be that difficult...

Right?

I stopped outside the large oak doors, took a deep breath and knocked twice.

"Come in." Alpha Leo commanded from within.

I pushed the doors open with my shoulder and stepped inside.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Alpha Leo sat at the head of the long table, while Luna Ema occupied the seat beside him. Arthur sat to his right, his posture straight and composed as always.

Across from them sat Alpha Magnus.

He looked to be around Alpha Leo's age, powerfully built, broad shoulders with streaks of grey running through his dark hair. Unlike Alpha Leo's stern expression, he carried a quiet confidence, and his sharp amber eyes seemed to notice everything.

"Alpha Magnus," Alpha Leo said, "Shadowclaw appreciates Ironfang's willingness to lend additional warriors."

"It is the least we can do," the visiting Alpha replied. "The Lycan King's arrival concerns every neighboring pack. If anything goes wrong here, it affects us all."

I kept my head lowered as I approached the table.

"Reports say His Majesty has changed his route twice already," Alpha Magnus continued. "No one seems to know why."

"It is unlike him," Luna Ema added. "He always announces his movements well in advance."

Arthur finally spoke.

"Which is exactly why we should prepare for every possibility."

His deep voice sent a shiver through me.

I could still hear that same voice from earlier that morning.

"Yeah... there is, Lucien."

I swallowed hard and tried to steady my hands from spilling the wine. I carefully poured wine into Alpha Leo's glass, then Luna Ema's and Alpha Magnus'.

Finally...

Arthur's.

As I reached across the table, I felt it. His eyes were on me, I didn't need to look to know, I could feel them.

My heartbeat became so loud I wondered if everyone in the room could hear it too. Against my better judgment, I lifted my gaze. Our eyes met, he held my gaze for only a few seconds but the room seemed to disappear around us. My fingers trembled and slipped, and a few drops of wine splashed onto the polished wooden table. They all turned to look at me and Arthur quickly averted his gaze.

I froze.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Alpha," I stammered immediately, reaching for a cloth.

"Careful."

Alpha Leo's voice was calm, but firm.

"I apologise."

I quickly wiped the table, keeping my eyes fixed on my hands.

For a brief second, I hated Arthur for making me look like a fool in front of all these people.

The silence somehow felt worse; more embarrassing.

"That will be all," Alpha Leo said.

"Yes, Alpha."

I bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

As I reached the door, Alpha Magnus' voice stopped me. "The boy."

I paused.

Alpha Leo looked toward him, "What about him?"

"Is he new?"

"No."

"He seems unusually nervous."

I felt my stomach drop.

"He is merely an omega," Alpha Leo replied dismissively. "They tend to be timid."

Alpha Magnus didn't answer immediately.

Instead, I felt his gaze linger on me, longer than it should have.

"...Perhaps," he said at last.

"You may go," Alpha Leo repeated.

"Yes, Alpha."

I slipped out of the room and quietly closed the doors behind me.

Immediately I was outside, I let out a long sigh and my legs suddenly felt weak.

I leaned against the cold stone wall and closed my eyes.

“Me...a timid omega?” I scoffed.

Get yourself together, Lucien.

It had only been a kiss, one kiss. So why did it feel like my entire world had shifted? I wasn't sure if I felt anything for Arthur so why was I acting like a weirdo. No, I wasn't going to let him have this much effect on me.

From somewhere down the corridor, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

"Lucien!"

I opened my eyes. Mira was hurrying toward me, her brows knitted with concern.

"There you are," she said. "I've been looking everywhere for you. You missed breakfast."

"I wasn't hungry."

“What is going on, Lucien?”

“What?”

"Darius and his friends are at the training field. I passed by on my way here and they were laughing about something." She lowered her voice. "I heard your name."

A chill ran through me.

"My name?"

She nodded.

"They went quiet when they noticed me, but before that I distinctly heard Darius mention you."

I grabbed her wrist without thinking.

"Come with me."

Before she could ask another question, I pulled her into my room and shut the door behind us.

She folded her arms.

"Alright," she said. "Start talking."

I turned away, struggling to find the words.

"Lucien."

"I... I don't know where or how to begin."

"I swear if you don't start talking!" she said impatiently.

I sighed.

"Look Mira, what I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room." Her expression grew serious.

"You have my word."

Silence stretched between us before I finally spoke.

"Arthur kissed me." Her eyes widened.

"...What?"

"This morning."

She searched my face for any sign that I was joking but there wasn't any. 

"You mean Beta Arthur?"

I nodded slowly.

"He came back into his chamber after leaving while I was cleaning…” I swallowed. "...he kissed me and without saying a word, he walked out.”

Mira stared at me in disbelief.

Then, to my surprise, she smacked my arm.

"Ouch!"

"You idiot! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

I blinked.

"I didn't know what to do."

"You should've told me immediately!"

"I was trying to understand it myself."

She sighed in frustration and ran a hand through her hair.

“No wonder, you've been hiding all morning.”

She began pacing the room.

“We're going to the training field.”

“What? No.”

“We're confronting Darius.”

“Mira, I said No.”

She stopped.

“No?”

“We're not even sure he knows anything.”

“He mentioned your name.”

“That doesn't mean he knows. We cannot tell anyone about this”

“And if he does?”

I looked down at the floor.

“Then confronting him will only confirm it.”

The door creaked open, Mira and I froze.

“Confirm what?”

The room fell silent.