Chapter 18

Lydia’s POV

"Did you even look at the information I gave you about the Stonebrook pack?" Alpha Gregory's voice was low, tinged with frustration. "Unless it's a serious crime, they don't use physical punishment. As a Luna, you have to show care and compassion—toward your Alpha and the pack. How do you expect him to see you as his Luna if you’re going around laying hands on people for trivial things?"

His eyes were cold, his stare sharp as he leaned over the desk. "Fix this, Lydia. If your careless mistake ruins everything I’ve worked for, you'll pay the price. Understand?"

"Yes, Father," Lydia muttered, her voice trembling.

'BAM!'

The sound of his fist slamming down on the desk made Lydia flinch. He leaned closer, his words cutting deep. "I don’t want to hear ‘yes, Father’ from you anymore. You’ll go to Zane and get him to accept you. Do whatever it takes. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Father," she repeated, her heart racing. She turned and bolted from the room, closing the door behind her with a soft thud. The tension in the air felt suffocating, but she exhaled deeply when the door clicked shut. That was terrifying.

Lydia took a moment to breathe, then splashed cold water on her face. She reapplied her makeup, carefully choosing a dress that revealed just enough. She had no time to waste. Zane had to see her as his Luna.

"Are you heading out?" Lydia called as she spotted Zane in front of his room, flanked by Tyler and Vivian.

"Your brother is taking us on a tour," Tyler answered, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Lydia frowned. A tour sounded more like a bunch of sweaty soldiers and their training. She couldn't bear the thought of getting close to them. The dirt, the sweat, the grime. She had no interest in those training grounds.

"Anything I can help you with, Lydia?" Zane’s voice interrupted her thoughts. His tone was distant, colder than before.

Lydia’s heart sank. He hadn’t looked at her during breakfast, and now she could tell it wasn’t just because of what happened last night. No, it had something to do with her, the one hiding in the attic—Mabel.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. Was he starting to see her as violent, pretending to be something she wasn’t? He’d probably think she was two-faced. And maybe he was right.

Her father had already scolded her, but she couldn’t afford to lose Zane too. Not after all of this. She cursed under her breath, the weight of her failure crashing down. How could she have pushed him away like that?

"I was hoping we could talk," she said sweetly, keeping the desperation from her voice.

Zane raised an eyebrow but glanced at Tyler, who gave a small nod of understanding. Then, without a word, they left, giving Lydia and Zane privacy.

Lydia entered his room, and before Zane could react, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him. The movement was quick, instinctual.

Zane stood rigid, and for a brief, awkward second, he didn’t move. Then, with a slight grunt, he pried her arms away and stepped back, keeping a safe distance between them. His face was unreadable.

"What’s going on?" he asked, his voice stiff.

"I’m sorry," Lydia whispered, her eyes dropping to the floor. "For everything yesterday. I was out of line."

Zane’s gaze softened, just a fraction, but he still looked like he was holding back. He didn’t understand what was going on, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

"You’re here to apologize?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Lydia nodded, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Yes. I messed up."

Zane took a step back, his gaze never leaving her. "How are you going to fix it?"

Lydia’s heart skipped. She wasn’t sure what she was trying to fix, but she knew she had to do something to make it right.