3: YOU'VE LOST THE RIGHT.

MALIA’S POV

“Why… do you smell like another Alpha?”

The question doesn’t just land, it cuts… deeper than anything.

I sprayed the special perfume; he shouldn’t be able to tell any scent on me, or did I spray the wrong one?

“Malia…”

I don’t answer.

I don’t move.

Because anything I do right now—anything at all—will give me away.

Emil’s grip tightens around my hands, not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me who he is.

“Answer me.” His voice is dangerously low, making it worse.

He steps closer again, closing the distance I created earlier, his presence pressing in without actually touching me this time.

“Who Is he?” he asks.

I force my face into something neutral, “No one. I’ve been using a different perfume. That’s what you must’ve perceived.”

His gaze sharpens.

“This scent isn’t ‘some new perfume’ Malia.”

My pulse pounds, but I don’t let it show. “You’re imagining things.”

A small, humorless exhale leaves him.

“You’re lying to me.”

My chest tightens, but I hold his gaze. “And you’re reaching.”

I force a breath through my nose, lifting my chin just enough to meet his gaze. “You disappear for two years,” I say evenly, “and the first thing you do when you come back is interrogate me?”

 “Don’t twist this.”  He spat, taking sharp breaths as if it would calm the furry behind his gaze.

“I’m not twisting anything” I snatch my hand away from his. Moving to the accusation ground is risky.  But it’s the only way out for me right now.

Emil just came back, and if this scent was enough to rile him up, telling him everything that happened last night right now… would only do more harm than good. He wouldn’t understand.

“Then tell me.” his voice hardens, “why does my mate smells like she’s been in another Alpha’s arms.”

Heat flashes through me, sharp and immediate. I pull my hands out of his grasp, taking a step back. “Careful, Emil.”

His eyes darken. “Careful?” he repeats, low. “You think I won’t ask questions when something is clearly—”

“You lost the right.”

The words slice through him before he can finish.

Silence crashes between us.

For a second, I see it—the flicker of something raw in his expression. Then it’s gone, Replaced by something colder.

“You think I lost my place?”

“I think you walked away from it.”

His lips press into a thin line, something dangerous settling behind his eyes. “You’re my mate.”

“And you were gone,” I shoot back, my voice rising despite myself. “No calls. No messages. No explanations. Just silence. So don’t stand here and act like you still get to question me like nothing changed.”

“Everything I did—”

“Was your choice. You could have come back when you got injured. But you didn’t, you tossed me aside like I meant nothing. So whatever right you think you have over me? You don’t. You never had it to begin with. I’m your mate not your possession!”

His shoulders tense. He turns away from me, dragging a hand through his hair, pacing once… twice… When he faces me again, the anger is gone.

That should have relieved me.

It doesn’t.

He steps back, creating space between us. 

“The ambushed on the road to Darkfang. Wasn’t a random attack. It was a Coordinated plan.”

My chest tightens. 

“It was one of Draven’s many attempts.”

Many.

The word doesn’t sit right.

“I almost lost my men,” Emil continues. “Resources. Territory along the eastern border nearly collapsed. I had two choices—come back weak… or stay and rebuild something stronger.”

“And you chose to disappear.”

“I chose to win.”

The way he says it sends something cold down my spine, it wasn’t defensive or regretful.

But certain.

“I secured alliances,” he goes on, stepping closer again, slower this time. “Stronger packs. Smarter leaders. Wolves who understand what it takes to survive what’s coming.”

“What’s coming?” I dared.

His lips curve slightly “War.”

The word settles heavy between us.

“Draven isn’t just threatening borders anymore,” Emil continues. “He’s expanding. Taking land that doesn’t belong to him. Breaking packs that won’t submit.”

“But that can’t be possible. Draven and I came to a middle ground”

“Middle ground?” he lets out a dry chuckle. “With a woman?”

I didn’t like how he said that.

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

He lets out a sigh.

“Do you think we’d still be alive and well if we sat idlily waiting for you to save us?” I spat.

The threats got worse after Emil left. As the luna, I knew I had to figure out a way, or the entire pack would’ve been wiped out, or forced into slavery.

“Draven and I signed a treaty. He gave me his words and we have been on good terms ever since”

Terms so good, you ended up his bed.

“Draven is a liar! He gave you his word because he was busy trying to assassinate me.”

“It’s been almost two years since I signed the treaty and Draven has been nothing but cordial, he kept his end of the bargain. Even helped when we needed more hands on the farms once.”

“The attack could’ve been from anyone, maybe another enemy or—”

“I am an alpha damn it” Emil hissed “I know how things work when it comes to an invader like Draven, the only language he understands is violence.”

“Not everything needs to be sorted through war.”

“When you drop the ego and actually talk, for once. You might save more than your pride, lives of those you’re sending out to fight matters. They have people who love them. People who see them as more than disposable pieces in power plays”

Emil’s eyes narrow at me for a second.

“First, you defended Draven, now warriors?”

“I’m not defending anyone; I’m stating facts.”

“Stating facts?” He muses.

 “Yes. There are other ways to solve problems. Look into the attack, have solid evidence before you accuse anyone.”

 Emil doesn’t respond. he studies me, Long and carefully.

Like he’s memorizing every reaction.

Every breath.Every possible crack. And that’s when I know— 

“Alright,” he breaks the silence. then pulled on his shirt “Whoever he is. He won’t be a problem for long.”

A chill runs down my spine, and for the first time since I walked into this room—

I’m not thinking about what I did,  I’m thinking about who I did it with.

If Emil finds out the truth—It’ll definitely be a war.