Chapter 20
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Chapter 20
There was a small bonfire gathering outside the dining hall on Saturday night.
A few veteran border guards brought out some strong homemade moonshine, and the atmosphere was rowdy and warm.
ucas was right in the thick of it, arm-wrestling other wolves and laughing loudly. Yet, his bright eyes instinctively drifted toward he quiet corner near the fire where I was sitting.
are my roasted meat quietly, occasionally offering a small smile to the conversation.
Harper, don’t just sit there. Why not have a drink to warm up?” an older guard named Moore called out, holding out a large wooden up of strong alcohol.
ust as I was about to politely decline-alcohol didn’t mix well with my weak system-Lucas naturally stepped in front of me.
Moore, give her a break! We’re heading deep into the forest tomorrow, and I need my Healer to have a clear head. I’ll drink her
hare!
With that, Lucas tilted his head back and downed the burning liquid in one gulp, prompting a loud round of cheers and howling rom the table.
de turned and shot me a quick, handsome wink. I looked down, a soft blush warming my cheeks.
Alpha Silas was sitting at a table further away. I could feel his heavy, golden eyes burning into us. His knuckles were pressed against he wooden table until they turned white.
ucas was too radiant-like a blazing sun. His loud, confident presence only made Silas look colder, stiffer, and completely out of lace in this wild environment.
ilas downed his own drink in silence, the harsh alcohol seemingly scorching his throat.
After the bonfire began to die down, I stepped away into the quiet trees to get some fresh air. The night sky over the Badlands was rystal clear, the stars shining brightly through the pine branches.
Stargazing again?” Lucas’s deep voice sounded behind me.
de stepped close and handed me a warm cup of herbal tea. “To keep the cold away.”
Thank you.”
We stood side by side in silence for a moment. Then, Lucas spoke, his voice lower and more serious than usual.
I think you’re incredible. Moving from the Headquarters to a place like this… the environment is so much harsher. Most female volves would have spent the whole time complaining. But you act like it’s nothing, and you work harder than any warrior here.” de paused, looking down at his boots. “I heard… back at the Ice Crown Headquarters, you used to be engaged to Alpha Silas?
My body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
ucas looked up at the stars as if talking to himself. “My family is back in the Western Wilds. You might have heard of them-the Sterling Royal Pack.”
de spoke casually, but the name made my heart skip a beat. The Sterlings were the ruling Lycan Royals of the continent
I have capable older siblings to handle the heavy crown duties, so I’m happy to just be the idle Prince I’ve loved messing around in he wild and fighting rogues since I was a pup. My royal family couldn’t stop me.”
He turned his head to look at me, his eyes incredibly soft. So, I think I understand that feeling wanting to break free from something suffocating. Whether it’s a strict royal family or… a broken relationship.”
I gripped the warm cup tightly. He understood. He actually saw me.
Just then, the sound of heavy, stumbling footsteps came from the snow behind us
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Silas stood a few paces away. His face was deathly pale, his hair a mess, and his golden eyes were glowing red with possessive anger. The smell of cheap alcohol rolled off him.
Lucas frowned. He took half a step forward, instinctively moving his broad body to shield me.
I lightly touched Lucas’s arm, signaling him to stay back.
Silas suddenly lunged forward, trying to grab my wrist. But Lucas intercepted him, his hand clamping down on Silas’s shoulder like a vice, blocking his path.
“What gives you the right…” Silas’s breathing was ragged, his words slurring. He bared his teeth at Lucas. “She loved me for ten years! Ten years! You’ve only known her for a month! What do you even know about her?”
Lucas let out a soft, sharp laugh. His tone was laced with unshielded, dominant mockery.
‘Oh? Ten years? I’m surprised the great Alpha Vance can even remember the count.”
‘In those ten years, what did you ever do for her? Did you steal her healing formula to give to a spoiled white wolf? Did you publicly humiliate her? Did you take her sacrifices for granted?”
Silas froze. His lips trembled, but no sound came out.
The smirk on Lucas’s face deepened, but his eyes were deadly serious. The air around him suddenly felt heavy, pulsing with a errifying power that forced Silas to step back.
‘Alpha Silas, you can’t even remember the exact date she took that silver blade for you to save your pathetic life, yet you’re bragging about knowing her for ten years?”
Lucas turned to look at me, but then he abruptly shut his mouth.
realized that in his rush to tear into Silas, Lucas had accidentally let a secret slip. He knew about my past.
met Lucas’s gaze. My expression didn’t change, but I turned toward Silas and spoke flatly.
Are you finished? Alpha Silas, please leave.”
Silas stared into my eyes. They were as calm as a frozen lake. He looked like a man who had been hollowed out of all his strength.
Come back with me, Harper.” His voice broke. “You can name your price. The Pack, the medical tents, I’ll give you all the credit for he antidote…”
Don’t hang around with some nobody like him…”
Watching him lose control so completely was simply pathetic. The cold, perfect Ice King I had spent a decade looking up to was nelting into a miserable, ugly mess.
Silas Vance,” I said, enunciating every syllable perfectly. “Don’t you understand? I don’t love you anymore. My inner wolf doesn’t vant you. It ended the day you denied everything I was just to protect Chloe Miller.”
turned back to Lucas, my tone softening completely. “Let’s go.”
Lucas nodded and walked away with me. Neither of us looked back at the broken Alpha standing frozen in the dark snow.
After we had walked a fair distance, Lucas rubbed his nose. “So… about that ‘nobody’ thing. I did try to introduce myself earlier, you
know.”
