In Between Two Alphas: Love for War

CHAPTER FOUR

The door creaked open slightly, and in the dim light, she could make out the figure of Anna, the warrior who had questioned her earlier.

“Raven,” Anna said in a quiet, deadly tone, stepping into the room. “We need to talk.”

The air in the room seemed to freeze as Lila stared at Anna, a pit of dread forming in her stomach. Something was wrong.

And she knew, whatever Anna had to say, it wasn’t going to be good.

Lila’s heart pounded as Anna closed the door behind her, sealing them both in the small room. The air between them was thick with tension, and Lila could feel the walls closing in as Anna’s cold eyes bore into her.

“We need to talk,” Anna repeated, her voice sharper this time, and her presence more intimidating. She didn’t move from her spot near the door, but her energy filled the room, making Lila feel trapped. There was no escaping this confrontation.

Lila forced herself to remain calm, even as panic clawed at her insides. She had prepared for a moment like this, but nothing could truly prepare her for facing someone who might be able to unravel everything. She had built her new identity on lies, and it seemed like Anna was far too close to tearing that down.

“Is something wrong?” Lila asked, doing her best to feign innocence.

Anna’s lips curved into a small, humorless smile. “Do you take me for a fool?”

Lila’s pulse quickened. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Anna took a step forward, her sharp gaze never leaving Lila. “You don’t belong here.”

The words were simple, but they carried a weight that hit Lila like a punch to the gut. She fought to keep her expression neutral, but her mind was racing.

*What does she know? What does she suspect?*

“You showed up out of nowhere, half-dead in the woods, and suddenly you’re here, acting like one of us,” Anna continued, her voice growing colder with every word. “But you’re not. You don’t smell like us. You don’t *feel* like us.”

Lila swallowed hard. She had known that keeping her identity hidden would be difficult, but she hadn’t anticipated being called out this soon. And especially not by someone as observant as Anna.

“I told you, I’m from a distant pack,” Lila said, her voice as steady as she could manage. “I was attacked, and Caius found me.”

Anna crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed. “You think that’s enough? You think that story holds up when I can see in your eyes that you’re hiding something?”

Lila’s stomach tightened. She’s too close.

Anna stepped closer, her face inches from Lila’s now.

Lila clenched her fists at her sides, forcing herself not to back down.

Anna could see through the cracks in Lila’s story, and if she dug any deeper, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

Anna’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see.”

Before Lila could respond, Anna turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. The tension left the room as quickly as it had filled it, but the dread in Lila’s chest only grew heavier.

This isn’t over. Anna would be watching her, waiting for her to slip up. And when she did, the consequences would be far worse than just losing her place in the Bloodfang Pack.

Lila sank onto the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. She had to be careful. Every word, every action from now on had to be calculated. If Anna suspected her, it wouldn’t take long for others to start questioning her as well. And if the Alpha himself grew suspicious...

A knock on the door broke her thoughts. Lila’s head snapped up, her body tensing again. Not again

But this time, when the door opened, it wasn’t Anna. Caius stepped inside, his expression softer, though still laced with concern.

“You’re not sleeping?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Lila forced a weak smile. “Just... thinking.”

Caius closed the door behind him and crossed the room to sit beside her. His presence was calming, a sharp contrast to Anna’s cold scrutiny, but even so, Lila couldn’t shake the unease that lingered in her chest.

“You shouldn’t worry so much,” Caius said, his eyes scanning her face. “I spoke with Lucian. He’s... intrigued by you. That’s a good thing.”

Lila nodded absently, though the word *intrigued* only deepened her anxiety. Alpha Lucian wasn’t the kind of man who let things slide easily. If he was interested in her, that meant she was far from safe.

“I know it’s been hard for you, but you’re safe here,” Caius continued, his voice low and soothing. “Lucian trusts me. And if I trust you, he will too. Just give it some time.”

Lila’s heart sank. Trust? She was drowning in lies. Trust was a luxury she couldn’t afford—not with her past lurking just beyond the surface, waiting to tear everything apart.

But she forced a nod, knowing that Caius meant well. “Thank you. Really.”

Caius smiled faintly, a warmth in his eyes that made her chest ache with guilt. He was kind—too kind—and she couldn’t bear the thought of him being caught in the crossfire when everything finally fell apart.

“I should go,” Caius said, rising to his feet. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to Lucian.”

Her stomach twisted at the thought, but she managed another weak smile as Caius turned and left the room. The door clicked shut behind him, and once again, Lila was alone with her racing thoughts.

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The next morning arrived too quickly. Lila hadn’t slept at all, her mind consumed with the confrontation with Anna and the looming meeting with Lucian. She knew she had to be ready—ready to lie, ready to play her role to perfection.