CHAPTER 170: THE UNDEFEATABLE ALPHA

As Leia stepped into the living room, her gaze immediately found Ronan. He had just returned from North Calimore.

"Ronan, you’re back! That’s a surprise for us," Travis said warmly, striding over to give him a quick hug. Ronan returned the gesture, but his eyes didn’t leave Leia, or the way Kieran lingered protectively beside her.

"Where are you heading off to so suddenly?" Ronan asked with curiosity.

"Something urgent came up at home," Fleur replied. "We have to leave for a few days, but we’ll return next week. Leia is coming with us."

"That’s good to hear," Ronan said.

Leia’s brows knit together. She had expected him to protest, to try and keep her close as he always did. But instead, he accepted it without hesitation, and that made her smile.

"Leia could use a change of scenery," Ronan went on. "She must be wary of being caught between three alphas."

He crossed the room to stand before her, and before she could react, he held out a small bag.

"I brought your favorite cupcakes," he said in a low voice so that only she caught the gentleness there. "Have them on your journey."

"Thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you," Leia said softly, her fingers brushing the small bag of cupcakes.

"How’s your wound?" Ronan asked, his eyes scanning her. "I suppose it’s healed fully. That’s why you’re going with them, isn’t it?"

"We should get the luggage into the car," Travis interjected, breaking the moment. At his signal, the servants began carrying the bags outside, leaving the room with only Ronan, Kieran, and Leia.

"Yes, it’s healed," Leia finally answered, her tone calm but her heart racing under his gaze.

"I’ll miss your presence here," Ronan murmured. His hand lifted almost instinctively, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead. Then, with deliberate tenderness, he pressed a kiss to the center of her brow, his palm resting lightly at the nape of her neck.

Leia’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment, savoring the warmth of his scent and the gentleness of his touch. When she opened them again, her voice wavered between jest and truth. "I will miss you both too. Don’t you two think I might run away?" she teased with a faint smile.

"We trust you," Ronan replied without hesitation. "Because as much as we want you... you want us too."

His words struck deep, overwhelming her more than she expected. For a moment, she could only stare at him. ’Strange. I thought Ronan didn’t know what love is. But it’s not true. Lucien is the one, who never understood me.’

Leia wrapped her arms around Ronan, closing her eyes as if anchoring herself in his warmth. A single tear slipped from the corner of her right eye.

’What happened to her?’ Ronan mindlinked Kieran, tightening his embrace protectively.

’It’s a long story,’ Kieran replied.

Before either of them could comment, Leia pulled away quickly. She wiped the tear with a faint smile, disguising her weakness. "I shouldn’t delay more," she murmured.

"Of course," Ronan said softly, stepping aside to give her space.

They walked her to the waiting car, where Azalea was already seated with Fleur. Leia bent to clasp her grandmother’s hands gently.

"Grandma, take care of your health. Don’t skip meals, okay? I’ll be back soon," she said.

"For now, think about yourself," Azalea replied firmly, though her eyes softened. "I hope this time away brings you clarity of thought."

Leia nodded and hugged her tightly, whispering against her shoulder, "Thank you for letting me go with your daughter."

When she finally pulled away, she climbed into the back seat. Travis shut the door, then leaned forward in the passenger seat, telling the driver to go. "We’ll return soon. Take care," he promised, glancing at his cousins and grandmother.

From the window, Leia smiled and waved, her face glowing with fragile warmth. Ronan and Kieran lifted their hands in return, watching the car disappear down the road.

Once it was out of sight, they escorted Azalea back inside.

"I’d like to rest for a while," she said, fatigue lacing her voice. She paused and touched Ronan’s arm gently. "I’m glad you returned safely." With that, she left with a maid to her room.

"So, what’s wrong with Leia? She didn’t look well to me," Ronan asked, sinking into the couch. A maid approached with a glass of water and offered it to him politely.

"Lucien and Leia fought earlier," Kieran replied flatly.

Ronan raised a brow as he took the glass. "That’s nothing new. They’ve been at each other’s throats since forever." He drank deeply, setting the glass aside once the maid slipped out and left them alone.

"This wasn’t the usual bickering," Kieran countered, his voice edged with concern as he leaned back into the chair. "Lucien doesn’t understand her... not the way he should."

Ronan’s gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"

Kieran hesitated a moment, then exhaled. "It happened when they tried to be... intimate. Leia admitted she wanted her first time to be with me. That pushed Lucien over the edge. A lot was said between them, and she broke down. She’s been crying since morning, that’s why Grandma decided it’d be best for her to leave for a while."

Ronan’s fingers tightened around the armrest.

"Where is he now?" Ronan asked with concern.

"He said he was going to see the Alpha King," Kieran replied, a shadow crossing his face. "I don’t know when he’ll be back. But when he does... he won’t find Leia here. He made her cry constantly, and the worst part? He actually believes she doesn’t love him."

Ronan’s jaw tightened. "I get it," he said. "But Leia does love him deeply."

"You can see that too, right?" Kieran pressed, as if seeking reassurance that he wasn’t imagining the bond between them.

"Yeah," Ronan affirmed, nodding. "His words hurt her more than anything. Still... she always forgives him." He paused, then added with resolve, "When he comes back, we need to talk to him. He’s going to be upset when he finds Leia gone for a few days, staying with Aunt Fleur."

Kieran frowned, his brows knitting together. "I just hope he understands... this time," he murmured.

~~~~~

"Lucien, I didn’t expect to see you here today," Francis said, clearly surprised by his sudden appearance.

Lucien rose gracefully and bowed. "Your Majesty," he greeted, then lifted his head. "Forgive me for arriving without prior notice."

"It’s quite alright. Please, have a seat," Francis replied, settling into his chair. "So... have you discovered anything about Enigma?"

"Not yet, Your Majesty," Lucien explained. "It appears to be nothing more than a rumor spread by the humans, to instill fear among us."

"Are you certain?" Francis asked, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Absolutely," Lucien affirmed. "Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come all this way to report it in person."

Francis let out a small sigh, his gaze thoughtful. "That’s quite petty of them. I suppose they’re just worried we might overpower him."

"That seems to be their only motivation," Lucien agreed firmly.

Francis smiled, shaking his head lightly. "It’s a relief to hear. You really didn’t need to travel all this distance just to tell me this, you could have called."

"Yes, I could have," Lucien replied, his tone calm but deliberate. "But I chose to inform Your Majesty in person. Besides... there’s something I wish to learn directly from you."

Francis’s curiosity sharpened. "Oh? And what is it that you want to know?"

Lucien’s gaze grew serious. "There was once a werewolf of considerable power—one who even killed witches in the past. I believe this was over twenty-four years ago. Does Your Majesty know anything about him?"

Francis pressed his fingers lightly to his temple, recalling distant memories. "If you mean an alpha who ruled a land... then yes. But he wasn’t of this region. He ruled independently, far from here," he explained carefully.

"A far territory?" Lucien leaned forward, intrigue sparking in his eyes. "Who was this alpha, Your Majesty?"

"Grayson Zirren," Francis replied. "The undefeatable alpha, who brought terror among the witches and even hunters. However, one deadly night his entire pack wiped out. Some said they poisoned him while the other said he was died in a deadly fire. But the truth is still unknown. It’s still a mystery how he actually died," he explained.

The name hit Lucien like a jolt. It was the same one Delia had whispered when he first interrogated her.

"What’s the matter, Lucien? Why are you asking about him all of a sudden?" Francis inquired, sensing the change in Lucien’s demeanor.

"I... I heard his name from someone and it piqued my curiosity," Lucien replied carefully, masking the truth. "So I thought I should ask Your Majesty about him." He deliberately refrained from mentioning that Grayson was Leia’s father.

Francis studied him for a moment. "You also killed the witches once. I think your strength is also remarkable," he stated.

Lucien didn’t say anything, but that remark somewhat hurt him.