Lilith’s P. O. V
What was supposed to be a nice dinner for us to enjoy together was now ruined by a single and messy letter. Adams, my Alpha King and my love looked like a brewing storm with his usually kind eyes now cold and angry. My heart tightened with the warm feelings from our meal were replaced by worry.
“Adams?” I asked softly with my voice almost a whisper in the heavy silence “Is everything okay?”
His jaw was set tight with the muscles hard under his skin. “It’s nothing, Lilith,” he said with his words short and lacking his usual kindness.
He pushed his chair away with the sound scraping loudly on the smooth stone floor and stood up quickly with his movements sharp and almost rough.
A knot of worry formed in my stomach. It wasn’t like him to ignore me so quickly. Adams always talked to me about his worries, his joys, and everything else on his mind. This sudden rejection hurt like a quiet plea for help that I couldn’t understand.
“Adams,” I urged with my voice full of worry. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”
He stopped with his hand near the handle of his dagger, then turned around and gave me a brief look. “I told you it’s not something you should worry about, dear.”
His words felt like a hard wall that was shut off and distant. But I understood him while sensing the shake in his voice and the hidden anger in his eyes.
He was hurting a lot, and he was trying to protect me from it. But I couldn’t just watch, not when he was so clearly in pain.
My heart raced like a scared bird in my chest while pushing me to go after him. I got up and quickly followed him, with my footsteps loud in the quiet hall.
He didn’t turn around or show he noticed me, but his tense shoulders showed he was upset.
He walked to his study which was filled with books and paperwork and I followed with my heart scared yet wishing I could help him.
I saw him stop at the door with his hand going for the fancy handle with a strange look in his eyes.
“Adams,” I begged with my voice gentle and my heart matching my words, “Please let me help you.”
He turned around with his face showing controlled anger, then he sighed and motioned for me to come in. The study, which was a calm place full of books, suddenly felt tight and hard to breathe in because of Adams’ anger.
He walked to his desk with his movements quick and tense and took out a wrinkled letter with his hands shaking a little as he tried to flatten it.
“Read it, Lilith,” he said, with his voice gruff and the words just above a growl.
I grabbed the letter with my hands shaking as I opened the paper. My eyes swept over the words with each one feeling like a cold knife stabbing my heart.
It was from Ben. He pledged loyalty to Augustus, the rogue king who jeopardized our lives. And he promised war, a war that would come to Adams and to us.
I gasped at his words, biting hard and hurting my heart. I glanced at Adams with my eyes growing wide with shock and feeling cheated. He stared back at me with a mix of feelings churning in his deep eyes.
“He… he has really gone too deep now,” I said softly with my voice nearly a whisper.
Adams nodded, which was a sign that was as harsh as the message itself. “He had picked darkness, Lilith. He has decided to support our enemy.”
“But why does he keep doing this to family?” I asked while feeling confused with my head spinning from the shock.
He didn’t reply right away. He just looked at me with deep hurt on his face. “He thinks he can take the crown, Lilith. He thinks he can be the Alpha King. He thinks he can take everything we’ve made, everything we are.”
I felt sorry for him because of the heavy load of responsibility and being the Alpha King. I realized then why he was suffering. It wasn’t just his brother’s betrayal but the danger it brought to our lives and our world.
I moved closer to him while feeling a strong urge to protect him and hugged him from behind. At first, he stiffened, surprised by my sudden touch, but then he relaxed against me with his body gradually loosening up.
“Don’t worry Adams,” I whispered against his back with my voice carrying a strength I didn’t know I had, leaving a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t let this take over. You are the strong Alpha King. You can get through this.”
He tilted his head a bit while resting his face on my hair and letting out a soft sigh. “It’s not about my strength, Lilith. It’s about keeping you safe.”
“I’m strong enough to take care of myself, my dear,” I said, while sounding sure. “I won’t be a trouble. When things get tough, I’ll be right there with you ready to fight.”
He hugged me closer, then with his body relaxing a bit. “My love,” he said softly and full of warmth, “you are my strength, my heart, my everything. I won’t ask you to struggle, but your words and your steady support help me handle any darkness.”
I wanted to stay there wrapped in his warmth with the sweet perfume that lingered on him, which was a scent that was all his own. But just as I was ready to melt into that cozy hug, a loud knock broke the quiet moment.
“Your Highness,” Ronan said with his voice bouncing off the quiet walls, “we have important news from Green Forest Pack.”
Adams’ expression changed again with his relaxed face becoming serious. “Step in, Ronan,” he said, with his voice sounding firm once more.
“Lilith, my dear,” Adams said to me with his voice deep, “I need to take care of my work.”
I felt my heart ache at what he said while feeling his inner struggle. “Sure,” I answered with a hint of sadness in my voice.
I took a step back from him with my fingers resting on his shoulder for a brief moment. He looked into my eyes for a second more showing gratitude and openness before turning to the door.
I walked to the door while feeling sad and went out of the study with my fingers running over the detailed carvings on the doorframe.
Just as I was getting to my room I hesitated. I spotted him in the dim hallway light, Bartholomew and Raoul.
My heart raced as a wave of energy rushed through me. I was instantly alert with my senses heightened and ready for anything. Their presence in this quiet part of the castle felt wrong with a dark sign of the trouble ahead.
The weak light showed their faces which had a serious and almost threatening look. I felt uneasy all over and it wasn’t just because of the hallway’s chill.
This was bad. This was risky…