MasukFor several seconds, nobody in the dining hall moved. Max stood near the entrance with the guards beside him and Greta held firmly between them.The silence was so heavy that even the usual sounds of servants moving around the mansion seemed to have disappeared.Alpha King Eugene's eyes remained fixed on Max."What is going on?" He asked.Max stepped forward."I found Greta in the kitchen. She was standing over Mira's breakfast, being suspicious” he explained.Greta immediately shook her head."That's not what happened” she said.Max ignored her while Mira's face changed."My breakfast?"Jack immediately looked at her and Max nodded."I watched her deliberately create a distraction so the maids would leave the area. Once they were gone, she took a vial from her clothing and poured its contents into Mira's soup” he continued.A shocked gasp escaped several of the maids.Mira stared at Greta and for a moment, she couldn't process what she had just heard."She tried to poison me?" She as
The moment Alpha King Eugene entered the dining hall, Becca's eyes briefly met his but only for a second.She immediately looked away. She wasn't ready to deal with him, not after everything that had happened that morning.Instead, Becca turned her attention toward the nurse maid standing nearby with her son."Is he comfortable?" she asked softly.The nurse maid smiled."Yes, Luna. He's calm” she answered.Becca nodded."Make sure he's properly supported” she instructed."Of course."Becca leaned slightly closer to her baby. The small child shifted in the nurse maid's arms, and Becca's expression softened.For the moment, that was all she wanted to focus on, her son, not Eugene, Kaelyn or the uncomfortable conversation waiting between her and her mate.Eugene noticed as his eyes remained on Becca for several moments.He had expected her to look at him, perhaps even acknowledge him. Instead, she had deliberately turned her attention elsewhere.He couldn't blame her, but it still hurt.
Greta froze and for a moment, she couldn't even breathe. Max stood directly in front of her, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her stomach twist.He had seen her, there was no doubt about it, but Greta wasn't ready to give up.She quickly forced a confused expression onto her face."Beta Max?"Max didn't move."What did you put in the soup?" He asked.Greta blinked."I don't know what you're talking about” she said innocently.Max's jaw tightened."I asked you a question so answer me” he demanded.Greta glanced toward the nearby maids. She needed to stay calm. She couldn't allow herself to panic."I was only helping in the kitchen” she said.Max looked toward the bowl of soup behind her."You were standing over Mira's food” he said.Greta shook her head."I wasn't doing anything.""I saw you” he insisted."You must have misunderstood what you saw” she argued.Max's eyes narrowed."Misunderstood?""Yes." Greta gave a nervous little laugh. "I was simply stirring the soup
Becca sat quietly on the edge of the bed, staring down at her hands. She had been sitting there for several minutes without saying a word.Her mind was still replaying the scene from earlier that morning.She wasn't sure whether she had been right not to listen, but at that moment, she hadn't trusted herself to hear anything he had to say without becoming even more upset.She was still angry, she was hurt and she was jealous.She hated admitting that last part, even to herself, but she couldn't deny it.The thought of another woman spending the night in Eugene's room had unsettled her in a way she hadn't expected.Especially Kaelyn.Becca slowly exhaled. She wasn't ready to face Eugene again.Not yet."You're thinking too much” Mira's voice pulled her out of her thoughts.Becca looked up to see Mira standing nearby, watching her carefully."I'm fine” she said.Mira raised an eyebrow."You've said that three times already” she said."Because I am” Becca insisted.Mira walked closer."B
Greta moved quietly through the mansion corridors, keeping her head lowered as she made her way toward the kitchen.She wasn't in a hurry.Hurrying would only make her look suspicious.Instead, she forced herself to maintain the calm, ordinary pace of a maid who had somewhere to be and nothing to hide. But beneath the calm expression on her face, her mind was racing.She had only one goal that morning.Every few steps, Greta glanced over her shoulder. She needed to be certain that nobody was following her.The mansion was unusually busy that morning. Maids moved through the corridors carrying folded clothes, trays, and fresh linens. Guards stood at different points along the hallways, while servants hurried about their morning duties.There were too many eyes, too many opportunities for someone to notice her and Greta couldn't afford a mistake.She reached the corner leading toward the kitchen and slowed down. She looked behind her one last time and the corridor was empty.Good.Greta
The morning sun hung gently over the mansion grounds, casting a warm golden glow across the garden.Tyler had been working for most of the morning.He had spent the last few hours tending to the flowers, trimming some of the overgrown branches, pulling out weeds, and making sure everything looked as beautiful as it possibly could.It was one of the few things that gave him peace, away from the tension inside the mansion.Eventually, Tyler decided to take a short break.He leaned against the wooden handle of the gardening tool in his hand and lifted his gaze toward the flower beds.The flowers swayed gently beneath the soft breeze.Pink petals danced beside white ones, while the taller flowers bent slightly with every passing gust before returning to their original positions.Tyler watched them quietly and for a moment, everything seemed peaceful.He wished his life could feel that simple. Instead, his thoughts inevitably returned to Becca.He remembered the conversation they had share
The crowd was so quiet that Max could hear the faint rustle of the banners above the arena. Brian stood across from him, his head tilted slightly, that familiar cruel grin tugging at his mouth. Max’s jaw tightened, his pulse beat hard in his throat. He hadn’t expected this. Of all the warriors Des
The clinking of silverware faded into the low hum of servants clearing plates. The meal had ended, but no one seemed eager to leave.Eugene poured himself another glass of wine, his movements controlled but thoughtful. Max was silent, elbows resting on the table, staring into the flames. Mira, how
Gasps rippled through the crowd the moment the name Brian was announced. For a heartbeat, no one moved, no one even breathed. The arena, moments ago filled with cheers and chants for Max, fell into a very heavy silence. Eugene froze. His chest locked as his eyes locked on the figure who had steppe
The guards pushed them roughly through the gates, chains rattling, their shoes sounding against the ground.Mira’s voice broke the silence. “How could they just stand there? They all saw what he did!”“Fear,” Becca muttered bitterly. “That’s what Desmond feeds on.”Max growled low in his throat.







