Chapter 9:

Vincent's POV:

"Is that so." I laughed quietly. Ryder must have already guessed that sooner or later I would summon him here. He was ready to accept whatever punishment awaited. We knew each other too well for there to be any surprises.

Before I could even sit down, I stood up again, moved around the desk, and faced him directly.

"You knew it, did you not? You knew I did not want Majori to die, right?"

If I said I was not angry, it would be a lie. But mixed within that anger was conflict, helplessness, and understanding. I knew why Ryder did what he did. I understood.

"Yes, exactly because of that, I decided to act," Ryder said, meeting my eyes without fear. With his nature, if he dared to do something, he would also dare to admit it. By calling him here, I already knew there would be an argument.

"You should not be like this, Vincent. Majori is no longer only your former lover, she is now someone from the opposing side. If you cannot be cruel the way she was to you, then at least stop caring about her. Who knows what she is hiding behind that face. What if she is Brian's spy?"

Ryder's voice was sharper than ever. He was not wrong, and it was not that I did not know those things, but I…

"Vincent."

Ryder's hand suddenly gripped my shoulder tightly. He pulled me forward, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"We fought so hard to get to where we are today. Vincent, feelings are only secondary in this life. They can be replaced. Affections blind reasons. Love is blind. If not this person, then another. When you are standing at the top, there will never be a shortage of people who love you sincerely. But if you fall, you will be nothing. We will lose everything. Everything, do you understand? Do you still remember where you started?"

Where I started? Those words pierced my heart like a blade. Of course I remembered. How could I not remember where I came from?

From the moment I was born, I had no one to depend on. I never knew who my parents were. I was abandoned in a forest near town, attacked by wild beasts, and nearly lost a leg. Then a hunter found me and brought me back.

An orphanage took me in, but life there was far from easy. In a place that claimed to offer shelter for free, one was either lucky enough to find kindness, or unlucky enough to end up somewhere that only existed to cheat charity money. I was not lucky.

In a place where food was scarce, clothes were thin, and even the smallest mistake earned scolding and beatings like a prisoner, my childhood was truly dark.

And then, Majori appeared like sunlight in the night, like a warm and safe ray sent down to guide someone lost in the forest who could not find their way out.

We grew up together. Majori showed me what family meant, what warmth and safety felt like. When we turned eighteen, when our wolves appeared, we realized we were mates. I had never been happier, but that was when the tragedy truly began.

I have lost count of how many times I dreamed of that day. It is like a nail driven deep into my mind that I can never pull out. I knew. I always reminded myself to feel the right emotions toward Majori — to hate her, or at least to forget. But I could not. My heart went wild beyond my control whenever I thought of her or heard her name.

I have tortured myself for years trying to understand why she did what she did. But whenever I heard the answer from her lips, or any explanation from others, I refused to believe it. Denial led to anger, and anger led to losing control. Deep down I always believed — or perhaps always hoped — that there was another reason, something Majori had never told me. She was not like that. I grew up with her. She could not be that kind of person.

While I was drowning in my tangled thoughts, a sudden push on my shoulder brought me back. Ryder's face came into focus, his brows drawn together, frustration rising when he realized I was no longer listening.

"Are you even hearing me, Vincent? You are the Lycan King now. You are no longer living only for yourself. You carry the responsibility of many lives. Wake up, Vincent. Majori — who knows what she has done? During the time she was with you, she must have slept with Brian already. How would you know? You always trusted her completely..."

"Enough, Ryder. Do not forget, hatred is as blind as love. You do not understand me that well. Do not forget, a thief knows a thief as a wolf knows a wolf."

At my words, Ryder nodded repeatedly, his teeth gritting, his whole body shaking with anger.

"You say a thief knows a thief as a wolf knows a wolf? Do you think I do not know what is in your heart?" He jabbed a finger at my chest. "You still love her, and she knows it. She will use that against you. You do not want her to die, fine. Then let her go, let her be free to go wherever she pleases. Keeping her here will only stir doubt among your people. You would not want your pack to start questioning your loyalty, would you?"

My fists clenched. Hearing someone insult the woman I loved was infuriating. I could speak ill of her myself, but no one else could.

"Majori has been with Brian for years, so of course she must hold some secrets useful to us. Besides, if Brian truly loves her, then is this not a gift from the gods, a valuable hostage in our hands? Also, are you not curious why Majori was suddenly hunted down? I think Brian's side is hiding something from us."

Of course, I was not a fool to be easily manipulated or blinded by love. I simply could not control my emotions when it came to her, but I would never allow her to act recklessly or do anything that harmed my interests or those under my protection. Protecting her did not mean allowing her to do as she pleased.

Yet Ryder did not seem to believe me. He gave a cold, sarcastic laugh.

"This is just an excuse you made up to justify keeping her here and indulging her. Have you not heard what people outside are saying? Majori was about to become Luna of Brian's pack. They were happy together. Have you not seen the social media? This is nothing but a ridiculous play they staged to fool a lovesick fool like you. Wake up."

"Ryder, you almost killed her."

"So what?" he shouted. "The only thing I regret is not using a stronger dose."

"Ryder, are you sure you did this for me?"

"If not for you, then for who?" Ryder laughed bitterly. "Vincent, let me tell you something. It is fine if you cannot hate her, but she despises you. She would rather die than stay by your side. Her death was her way of declaring that she belongs only to Brian, and that being with you defiles her. Is that not ridiculous?"

"Ryder!" I roared. His words struck the weakest and darkest part of me — the part that refused to believe Majori would rather die than be with me.

"What, did I hit a nerve? Vincent, she was never loyal to you. She only ever had eyes for Brian. Maybe during all those years with you, she was already waiting for his call. Keeping her here is pointless. You will gain nothing. It only makes you look pathetic."

"Enough, Ryder. Do not count your chickens before they hatch. I have my own plans. I also know that Dane met you outside Majori's room before you went in to talk to her."

Perhaps Ryder did not know that I already knew this.

But outside Majori's room, I had cameras installed to monitor everyone coming and going. I knew she would not be safe here.

Ryder froze for a moment at my words. Of course he did. Just as he knew who I carried in my heart, I also knew who filled his. Ryder had secretly loved Dane for five years.

My words hit the deepest part of his heart, leaving him momentarily speechless. No one in this world is entirely rational. Every action is driven, more or less, by emotion. And no one ever does something completely selfless. There is always a reason tied to themselves.

"Yes," Ryder finally admitted when he realized there was no point in denying it. "I talked to Dane before entering Majori's room and sending her to meet her end. So what? I think Dane is a thousand times better than Majori. She has done so much for you. Why do you never once look at her? If people could learn to choose and be content, they would not suffer. Do you not agree?"

"Ryder, calm down. Dane being good is undeniable. But I do not need a relationship that requires me to choose anyone. Love cannot be forced, and for me, having or lacking love changes nothing about what I do. What she has done for me, I will repay in my own way. You do not have to think for her, or for me. If what she gives feels meaningless, then she should stop. I do not want to become anyone's reason for pain," I said firmly.

The truth is rarely pleasant to hear, and what I said was no exception. Ryder liked Dane, so of course he would defend her, feel wronged for her, and angry on her behalf.

"Fine, fine. I will not argue anymore. Punish me however you want. I will not deny it," he said and turned away. From behind, I could see his shoulders rising and falling sharply, showing how furious he was.

"I will not punish you. But I will suspend you for a month. Stay home and calm yourself. From now on, you must never act on your own again. You are the royal physician, and you take orders from me, only from me."

"Yes, thank you, sir," Ryder said before walking straight out without looking back. Watching his silhouette fade away, I sighed. If anyone else behaved that way, it would have been disrespectful. But this was my friend, my companion, my partner. All I could feel was the fire burning between us, the tension ready to explode.

"Vincent, perhaps we should find a way to make peace with Ryder," my wolf, Vanity, said inside my head. I nodded.

"He is not one to hold grudges."

Then I walked out as well. My body needed sleep after a sleepless night, but first, I wanted to visit Majori.

At the door to her room, Dr. Luke, Pembroke's trusted associate, stood up to greet me.

"Good morning, sir."

"How is she?"

"She is stable now, and she has regained consciousness."

She has awakened? Hearing those words, I felt my chest loosen, but at the same time a knot of unease twisted inside me. How should I face her now? Angry, of course I was angry. Looking at her pale, hollow face and clouded eyes, I could not stay calm or gentle. What had she done to herself all these years? To let her body wither to this extent — that was not an act.

I was angry, and because of that, I could not be gentle enough to let her know that I still loved her. I wanted her to see me as cold and heartless, yet I also wanted her to stay with me. What a contradiction.

"Mr. Vincent," Luke's voice pulled me back to reality.

"Yes?"

"This is Majori's necklace. I removed it during the operation."

Luke opened his palm. Inside lay a delicate chain, and it would have been unremarkable if not for the ring threaded through it.