Kaizer took one last glance at Lian, ensuring she was fast asleep before stepping out of the room. His expression hardened the moment he was met with the disapproving glare of his Beta, Clarise. She stood with her arms crossed, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"You shouldn't have brought her here," Clarise said, her voice laced with frustration.
Kaizer met her gaze coldly. "She’s my mate," he replied, his tone sharp. "Would you have me leave her to die?"
Clarise’s expression didn’t waver. "Yes," she said without hesitation. "If I were in your shoes, I’d have ignored it for the sake of the pack. She doesn’t belong here, Alpha Kaizer. She needs to go back to where she came from."
His jaw clenched at her words. He took a slow, deep breath before speaking, his voice dangerously calm. "That’s you, but I’m not you so why would I need to do what you said? You’re not my boss nor a leader that is higher than me, Clarise. You don’t know me at all, Clarise."
She flinched slightly at his tone, but she refused to back down. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment," she pressed on. "She’s weak and she’s useless. She’ll bring nothing but trouble because of how unworthy she is. She’ll not make you strong!"
Kaizer narrowed his eyes. "I’m the Alpha here, and It’s not for you to make a decision for me.” Kaizer looked at her coldly, “You are relieved from your duty as Lian’s guard. From now on, don’t ever approach her, do you understand me?"
Clarise’s eyes widened in shock. "What?"
"I don't trust you around her," he said coldly. "I can't risk you doing something reckless."
Clarise's hands clenched into fists. "You're making a mistake," she hissed.
Kaizer didn’t reply. Instead, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her fuming in the hallway.
As she stood there, seething, another figure stepped in front of her. Luke, Kaizer’s most trusted Beta, leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "What are you planning, Clarise? I can see in your eyes that you were thinking of doing something that the Alpha doesn’t like," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Clarise scoffed. "I’m going to take that woman out of this pack. She doesn’t belong here. She belongs to the Evergreen pack."
Luke let out a short laugh before his expression darkened. "Then, are you going to defy the Alpha’s orders?"
Clarise lifted her chin. "She’s not fit to be our Luna. She doesn’t even know how to lead."
Luke smirked. "And you do?"
She glared at him. "I deserve it more than she does! I’ve trained to be one! She doesn’t!"
Luke shook his head, unimpressed. "If you were meant to be Luna, we’d all feel it. But we don’t, do we?" His voice dripped with mockery. "The Alpha chooses his Luna. Not you. Not your family. Not anyone else."
Clarise’s face turned red with anger. She had spent years convincing herself that she would stand beside Kaizer one day. A few had believed it, including her parents, who had always schemed for more power. But now, this weak, battered woman was standing in the way of everything she wanted.
Luke stepped forward, blocking the door. "Leave before I report you to the Alpha."
Clarise shot him a venomous look. "You’ll regret this," she spat before storming away.
After a few days Lian stayed Inside the room. Her mind was clouded with thoughts. Kaizer had been kind to her—kind in a way no one else had been before. Could she really trust him?
"Luminous," Lian whispered in her mind, "can I trust him?"
Luminous hummed in response. "You can. He will protect us."
Lian wasn’t sure. No one had ever protected her before—not her father, not Bruce. She had never been strong enough to fight back. And what if Kaizer turned on her when he found out the truth? That she was a failed wolf, unable to shift? Would he cast her out like everyone else?
She hugged herself, trying to chase away the fear creeping into her heart.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
Lian barely had time to react before a strong hand grabbed her wrist and yanked her forward. She gasped, stumbling as she was dragged out of the room.
A familiar face loomed over her—Clarise.
"You don’t belong here," she hissed.
Lian trembled. Fear clawed at her chest as she was pulled down the hallway.
Where was Kaizer? Would he even come for her?
Her heart pounded as she realized—she might not get the chance to find out.
