Crowned by the enemy Alpha

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

~LYRIA~

I sit in my room, my hands clasped together so tightly my knuckles have turned white. I’ve been like this for hours, barely moving, barely breathing, just… praying.

Please let Vera come back alive. Please.

What I said in the dungeon—that threat about cutting off heads and delivering them myself—it was just words. Heat of the moment bravado. I never actually meant for anyone to do it.

But Vera took it seriously. And when she told Alpha Kaelan what I said, he took it seriously too.

That’s how we ended up here. With Vera riding toward Moon Strike Pack territory carrying a severed head in a bag.

The worst part? Alpha Kaelan wanted to go himself. Said it was too dangerous to send Vera alone, that he wasn’t sure she’d make it back alive from such a provocative mission.

Vera laughed in his face and volunteered anyway. Said if anyone was going to deliver that message, it should be her.

So he sent her. With only five guards.

Five guards against an entire pack if things went wrong.

I’ve been sick with worry ever since.

A soft knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts.

“Luna?” Clara’s voice comes through the door. “It’s time for dinner. Alpha Kaelan is waiting for you in the dining hall.”

Dinner. Right. Because life just continues even when one of your few allies might be riding to her death because of something you said.

“I’ll be right there,” I call back, my voice hoarse from not speaking for hours.

I force myself to stand, to smooth my dress, to look presentable. But my hands are still shaking.

The walk to the dining hall feels endless. When I finally arrive, Alpha Kaelan is already seated at the head of the table, papers spread before him like he’s been working through dinner preparations.

I take my seat without really looking at him, my mind still miles away with Vera.

“Lyria.” His voice cuts through my thoughts.

I don’t respond. Can’t respond. All I can think about is Vera facing Damon, delivering that horrific message, and what might happen if…

“Lyria,” he says again, more firmly.

I blink, finally focusing on him. “Yes?”

“Stop thinking so much. Vera will come back alive.”

“How can you be so sure?” The words burst out of me, all my fear and frustration coming with them. “You sent her with only five guards! Five! To deliver a severed head to an Alpha’s doorstep! If that’s not wickedness, I don’t know what is!”

He raises an eyebrow, but I’m too worked up to stop.

“You could have sent more guards. You could have gone yourself like you wanted to. But no, you let her go into enemy territory with barely any backup to deliver a message that could start a war. What if Damon attacks her? What if his pack tears her apart? What if….”

I stop abruptly, my hand flying to my mouth.

Did I just call Alpha Kaelan wicked? To his face? Did I just yell at him?

His expression is unreadable, “ his l eyes fixed on me with an intensity that makes me want to disappear into my chair.

“Do you know who you’re talking to?” he asks quietly.

My heart drops into my stomach. “I…Alpha Kaelan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean….I wasn’t thinking….”

“Clearly.”

“I was just worried about Vera and the words came out and I….” I’m babbling now, terror replacing my earlier anger. “Please, I apologize. I spoke out of turn. I was disrespectful. I…”

The door bursts open.

Finn strides in, and the smile on his face makes my heart leap. “Alpha, Sentinel Vera has returned.”

I’m out of my chair before I can think, before I can remember protocol or propriety or anything except relief.

“I want to see her,” I say immediately. “Right now.”

“Tomorrow,” Alpha Kaelan says. “It’s late, and….”

“No.” I turn to face him, and I know I’m being bold again, maybe too bold, but I don’t care. “I need to see her now. Please. I need to know she’s safe.”

He studies me for a long moment, and I hold my breath, waiting for him to refuse, to remind me that I don’t give orders here.

Instead, he nods. “Finn, bring her here.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Finn disappears, and the wait feels eternal. I pace near the door, unable to sit still, my eyes fixed on the entrance.

When Vera finally appears, I don’t think. I just move.

I throw my arms around her, hugging her tightly, checking her for injuries even as I hold her. “Are you hurt? Did they touch you? Did Damon…”

Vera laughs, actually laughs, as she gently extricates herself from my embrace. “I’m fine, Luna. Not a scratch on me.”

“But how? What happened? What did Damon say?”

“Say?” Vera’s grin is absolutely wicked. “He didn’t say much of anything. Just stood there looking like a dumb animal while I delivered the message. My beauty must have captivated him. Rendered him speechless.”

Despite everything, I feel a laugh bubble up in my chest. “Vera, I’m serious.”

“So am I.” She crosses her arms, looking pleased with herself. “I’ve never seen an Alpha look so thoroughly shocked. When I threw the head at his feet and told him the rest would be coming monthly, I thought he might actually faint.”

“His mate was there too,” one of the guards who accompanied her adds. “She looked ready to be sick.”

Selene. My sister saw that. Saw what I’ve become capable of, even if indirectly.

Good.

“You’re sure you’re alright?” I ask Vera again, still not quite believing she’s here, whole and unharmed.

“Luna, I promise. Damon’s pack didn’t dare touch us. They were too busy being horrified.” Vera’s expression softens slightly. “But thank you. For worrying about me.”

“Of course I worried. You went because of what I said…”

“I went because it needed to be done.” She glances past me at Alpha Kaelan. “And because our Alpha trusted me to handle it.”

I turn to look at Kaelan, who’s been watching this entire exchange with that unreadable expression.

“Thank you,” I tell him quietly. “For sending her with enough protection. For bringing her back safely.”

“I told you she’d return,” he says simply.

“You did.” I swallow hard. “And I’m sorry. For what I said earlier. For calling you wicked.”