I stood at the entrance of my room, watching the maid as she cleaned the floor. Her hands moved in small circles, but the moment her eyes lifted and met mine, she froze. She gasped softly, her shoulders stiffening. The cloth slipped from her hand and landed on the floor with a dull, wet sound.
She bowed so quickly her forehead almost touched the ground.
"Madam…" she whispered shakily.
I took a slow step toward her. My face remained calm, empty, unreadable. Only my voice carried a small edge.
"I recognize you," I said quietly. "I have seen you a few times at alpha Aaron's pack."
Her eyes widened in fear. Her lips trembled.
Before she could deny it, I leaned down slightly and whispered with a small, cold smile:
"You're a spy… aren't you?"
Her knees gave way instantly. She fell to the ground and pressed her palms together as tears filled her eyes.
"Please don't report me," she begged desperately. Her voice cracked. "He will kill me. Alpha Leon despises betrayal more than anything."
I looked down at her with a blank expression. My arms remained crossed. There was no pity in my face. No softness. No mercy.
She was useful to me. That was all.
"If you want me to keep your secret," I said slowly, "then you must work for me."
Her hands shook so badly I thought she might collapse, but she nodded quickly and whispered:
"I… I will do anything, madam."
A small, satisfied smile curved my lips. I knelt down to her level and gently stroked her hair, pretending to comfort her. Her shoulders relaxed for a moment — foolish girl.
I slipped the folded letter into her palms.
"Make sure this gets to Aaron," I whispered. "And do it fast. The sooner, the better."
I stood and walked out, the faint click of my heels echoing softly down the hall.
As I left her kneeling there, I whispered to myself:
"It's time."
I knew Aaron's temperament better than anyone.
I knew what touched his pride.
I knew what ignited his fury.
He hated two things deeply:
Being looked down on…
And losing something he believed was his.
I had written the perfect poison in Leon's handwriting.
In the letter, I made Leon sound arrogant and merciless.
I made him sound like he was mocking Aaron.
I made him sound like he wanted to take me from him.
I wrote:
"Even your woman doesn't want you anymore. If you are too weak to protect her, then you shouldn't have one in the first place."
I knew those words would cut him deeply.
I knew Aaron would never ignore them.
And when he reacted…
He would bring chaos with him.
Two alphas.
Two beasts.
Two dangers.
Clashing because of me.
I should have felt powerful.
Instead, something sharp twisted in my chest. Something I ignored.
I walked into my room and stopped in the center. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and allowed my voice to rise into a scream.
"Leon!"
The sound ripped out of me like terror.
Loud.
Broken.
Desperate.
Within minutes, my door burst open so violently that it slammed into the wall.
Leon ran in.
His breathing was heavy.
His chest rose and fell quickly.
His wounds were only half-dressed.
His hair was messy, like he had left everything instantly the moment he heard me.
He stood there in shock, trying to understand what was wrong.
The moment I saw him — I let myself fall apart.
I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him tightly. My body shook violently. My tears fell in fast streams.
"He won't leave me alone!" I cried. My voice broke with every word. My fingers dug into his clothes as I trembled helplessly. "Aaron won't leave me alone!"
Leon stiffened at first, confused, uncertain…
But then his arms wrapped around me.
Strong.
Warm.
Protective.
He held me so close that I felt the heat of his skin and the steady beat of his heart.
"You're with me," he whispered.
His voice was deep and gentle.
"You're safe here."
He kept repeating those words, even when his own voice shook slightly with anger and worry.
I allowed myself to weaken in his arms.
But it was too late to stop.
I had to continue.
I stepped back from him suddenly and grabbed his hands.
"He knows where I am," I whispered quickly. "Aaron knows. He's coming for me. He won't spare me. He will kill me, Leon."
Leon pulled me into a softer, deeper hug this time.
His chin rested above my head.
His arms wrapped around my back so tightly I could barely breathe.
"I promise you," he murmured slowly, "no one will ever hurt you. Not under my watch."
When he pulled away, he held my chin gently and forced my eyes to meet his.
His eyes burned.
Not with anger…
But with determination.
With something fierce.
Something protective.
Something painful.
"This is an Alpha's promise," he said. "To you."
The air left my lungs.
For the first time in years…
Someone was defending me.
Someone was choosing me.
For the longest time, I had always been my own protector.
My own shelter.
My own strength.
Standing in his arms…
I felt something I had not felt in a very long time.
Warmth.
Peace.
I didn't want to feel it.
But I did.
I pushed away from him slowly and bent down to pick up a package from the floor.
My hands shook as I handed it to him.
Leon opened the box carefully.
The moment he saw what was inside, his expression darkened.
A small doll.
Ripped apart.
Torn limbs.
Stained with real blood.
Beside it was a note:
"It will be you next. I'm coming for you."
I pretended to break.
I grabbed Leon's arms tightly as fear danced in my eyes.
"He knows where I am," I sobbed. "He's coming to kill me. He won't give me an easy death."
Then I stepped back. Slowly. Dramatically.
I let my tears fall freely.
"Kill me," I whispered.
Leon blinked, stunned.
"Kill me before he gets to me," I choked out. "I don't want him to touch me. I don't want him to hurt me again. Please… please, Leon… kill me."
Before he could react, I grabbed the small knife from the tray beside my bed. My fingers trembled so hard I could barely hold it. I placed the knife into his hand and forced it to my neck.
"KILL ME!" I screamed.
Leon's eyes widened, and he immediately threw the knife away.
It clattered loudly against the floor.
He grabbed my shoulders firmly.
His grip was strong.
His breathing was deep and ragged.
"BRENDA!" he roared.
The sound shook me.
His voice broke with pain.
With anger.
With protectiveness that felt too real.
He stared straight into my eyes.
"I would die," he said slowly, "before I let him hurt even a hair on your head."
My lips parted.
I couldn't breathe.
"With me here," he continued, voice softer now, "you no longer have to fear that monster."
I looked up at him.
His face showed so much sincerity… too much.
His hand rose gently and wiped my tears away.
His fingers traced the corners of my lips and lifted them into a small smile.
"With me here," he whispered, "nothing and no one can ever hurt you."
Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on my lips.
A faint kiss.
But it carried warmth.
And something else.
Something I didn't want to feel.
He pulled away, turned, and walked out of my room quietly.
The door closed gently.
I stood frozen.
My heart beat painfully against my ribs.
My chest tightened with a strange ache.
A soft pain.
A longing.
A regret.
Why did I feel sad?
Why did my heart hurt?
I should be happy.
Everything was going exactly as I planned.
I had Leon wrapped in fear and emotion.
I had Aaron provoked and enraged.
The two alphas would fight soon.
This was my revenge.
But now…
For the first time…
I wished Leon would be safe.
I pressed my hand to my chest as the ache deepened.
What was this feeling?
I didn't know.
I didn't want to know.
I closed my eyes and whispered:
"Don't be foolish, Brenda… remember what you came here to do."
---
In the woods, the maid ran as fast as she could.
Her cloak whipped behind her in the wind.
Her breath came in quick gasps.
Her eyes darted left and right, terrified of being followed.
She stopped in a small clearing.
A figure in a dark cloak stood waiting.
The maid bowed quickly and handed over the letter.
The cloaked figure opened it and read every word carefully.
A slow smile curled the lips.
"How about…" the figure whispered, "we make things a little more exciting?"
The figure pulled out another letter.
This one was longer.
Darker.
More dangerous.
"Give-this-to Alpha Aaron instead."
The maid nodded quickly and ran off, clutching the new letter tightly.
The figure remained standing in the shadows.
Their back faced the moonlight.
Their smile widened slowly.
"Oh, Alpha Leon," the figure whispered, voice dripping with malice.
"Enjoy the peace you have now."
The figure tilted their head back and laughed.
Soft at first.
Then louder.
Louder.
Until the entire forest echoed with the sound of their cruel amusement.
"You will never know what hit you."