CHAPTER 39: SMUG LITTLE WENCH

Ares’s eyes lingered on Rhea longer than he intended. There was something about her new confidence, something unsettlingly magnetic. The girl who used to tremble under his gaze now stood with her chin high, eyes unwavering. It gnawed at him. Her parents had betrayed this pack, brought shame and blood with their choices. Could the Moon Goddess truly have blessed someone like her? And if so... why her of all people?

Rhea blinked up at him. "Is there something on my face, Alpha?" she asked, tone feigning innocence but her lips twitching. "You’ve been staring for quite a while."

Ares’s jaw tightened as he turned away sharply, his gaze shifting to the floor as if scolding himself for the lapse. Nikki’s glare was immediate, venomous, if looks could kill, Rhea would’ve dropped dead on the spot. Nikki’s mind burned with fury. I will not allowed her to steal him again. Never.

Rhea swayed suddenly, clutching her temple, her body dipping forward as if her strength gave out. Ellie moved at once, concern flickering across his features, but before he could reach her, Tavian who silent until now, was already at her side. He caught her arm firmly, helping her straighten, his eyes soft with worry.

"Ah," Rhea breathed dramatically, pressing her palm against her forehead. "I think I overdid it. Using the goddess-given ability," she emphasized the words with a flair of mock reverence, "to save Tavian took a lot out of me. What I really need right now is a well-cooked meal and at least ten hours of good sleep."

Ellie couldn’t help it, he chuckled, shaking his head at her performance. He never knew she was this funny.

Ares exhaled, rubbing at his temple again. "Ellie, make sure the kitchen provides her with whatever she needs," he said, voice resigned.

"Thank you, Alpha," Rhea said brightly, her tone sugary sweet. "You’re a darling." She turned her gaze toward Nikki as she said it, and the deliberate timing made Ares’s ears flush red. Nikki stiffened, rage sparking in her eyes, her hands curling into fists.

Rhea’s smirk was quick but unmistakable.

"Can I go now?" she asked, still pretending to wobble.

"I don’t think we have any more reason to hold her here," Ellie said smoothly, glancing toward Ares. "Right, Alpha?"

Ares nodded once, waving her off. "Go."

"Finally," Rhea muttered under her breath, leaning against Tavian for support as they turned to leave. But the moment her back was to Ares, her posture straightened, the fake fatigue melting from her limbs. Tavian’s eyes widened in quiet shock, but he said nothing and followed close behind.

The crowd blocking the doorway parted instinctively, the silence thick with awe and uncertainty. Some of the packmates watched her with newfound respect, or fear. Others still skeptical, unwilling to believe what they’d heard but unable to deny what they’d witnessed.

"You’re seriously letting her go just like that?" Eberhard demanded, voice shaking with barely contained anger.

Ares ignored him completely. "Ellie," he said, tone all business now, "get some men to take the three unconscious ones to the healers’ quarters. They’ll be questioned and punished when they recover."

"Yes, Alpha," Ellie replied, already calling out a few names from the gathering crowd. Several pack members hurried to obey, carefully lifting the unconscious men and carrying them down the hall.

As the crowd began to disperse, conversations buzzed low and uneasy. In the midst of it all, Jason, one of the younger kitchen omegas, stood frozen, his gaze fixed on Rhea and Tavian’s retreating backs. Something in her tone earlier, something about her standing tall before the pack, had stirred him in a way he couldn’t explain.

"Jason, are you coming?" one of the kitchen omegas called.

Jason hesitated, glancing back once toward Marta, then back to where Rhea was walking. "No," he said finally, and before the woman could argue, he jogged off down the hall after Rhea and Tavian.

"Jason, come back here!" Marta barked, her voice sharp. But the boy didn’t stop, he was already beside Rhea.

Rhea paused mid-step, turning to regard him with curious eyes, as if assessing his worth. "And what do you want?" she asked, voice measured.

Jason flinched, bowing quickly. "Forgive me, Lady Rhea, I... uh... I just wanted to know if I could... come with you, too."

Rhea studied him for a heartbeat, then smiled, a slow, deliberate smile. "Sure. Why not? But I’m okay with just Rhea."

Jason’s shoulders dropped in relief. "Thank you, Rhea." He said, his grin bright. Rhea’s lips curved wider, amused by his reaction, while Tavian gave a small smile before they moved on. A quiet exhale left Jason as he fell into step beside them. Together, the three disappeared around the corner.

Marta stood by the doorway, frowning deeply. "Did I just lose my dishwasher," she muttered darkly, "to that fake, smug little wench?"

****

Eberhard hurried after Ares, his steps echoing down the long hallway. "Alpha, please reconsider," he pleaded, voice thick with agitation. "You can’t possibly believe what that girl said back there. She’s lying, manipulating everyone. You saw it too, every word she uttered was a ploy to win sympathy!"

Ares said nothing, his stride firm, boots striking the polished floor with sharp rhythm. His silence only seemed to fuel Eberhard’s desperation.

"She’s dangerous, Alpha!" Eberhard pressed on, falling into step beside him, breath coming faster. "I can’t believe you’d let her walk free after such lied! The daughter of a traitor, of a murderer! Have you forgotten what her father did to your parents?!"

Ares stopped dead in his tracks. The sudden halt was so abrupt that Eberhard nearly collided into his back.

When Ares turned, his glare could have shattered stone. "Do you think I’ve forgotten, Eberhard?" he said, voice low but deadly. "Do you think I need you reminding me every chance you get?"

Eberhard swallowed hard, the color draining from his face. "I didn’t mean... "

"I don’t care about what you mean," Ares cut him off sharply, his tone clipped. "Go back, Eberhard. Stop following me. I need to be alone."

"But, Alpha... "

"Now!" Ares thundered, his voice reverberating through the hallway.

Eberhard flinched, his shoulders stiffening before he bowed deeply, the motion tight with restrained anger. "As you wish, Alpha," he said through clenched teeth, then turned sharply on his heel and stalked away.