Chapter 26: A Dance with the Alpha King
(Vivian's POV)
"I'm just curious, why should I help you when we're not pack-bonded?" Lucian Thorne's voice was smooth as venison, but his question had teeth.
I stared at the Alpha King, momentarily struck dumb. His steel-gray eyes pierced through me, analyzing my reaction with cold precision.
The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implication. We sat in his private study at Northwood Manor, the space exuding masculine power—dark wood, leather-bound books, and the subtle scent of moonlight wine.
"I..." I faltered, suddenly unsure of my approach.
My mind raced back to our first encounter after my separation from Hadrian. I remembered how stiffly I had addressed him as "Alpha Thorne," the formality creating an instant wall betwe
