Chapter 18

Leo couldn't shake the feeling that this conversation was far from over. His father's suspicions had been raised, and he knew that he would need to be even more cautious in the days to come. He had to protect Lucy, but he also had to protect himself—and that meant walking a fine line between loyalty and deception.

He stood there, right at her front, Isabella staring at her with a sad expression, Leo couldn't help but think of Lucy, her face flashing in his mind. He had managed to keep his feelings hidden for so long, but now the truth was dangerously close to being exposed. And if that happened, it wouldn't just be his future on the line—it would be Lucy's as well.

Leo clenched his fists as he watched Isabella stand there, her arms crossed, a sly smirk playing on her lips as if she had been waiting for him. Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of curiosity and something darker, something more malicious. Leo instantly knew she had been listening to the conversation, more reason he met her at the door.

“Well, well,” Isabella began, her voice laced with mockery. “That was quite the performance in there, Leo. But you and I both know you're lying to Father.”

Leo's jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. He could feel his pulse quickening, a surge of anger bubbling beneath the surface of his skin but he forced himself to stay calm. He had dealt with Isabella's manipulation before, and he wasn't about to let her provoke him now.

Isabella took a step closer, her eyes narrowing as she searched his face for any sign of weakness. “You only defended her because you wanted her as your mate. Don't bother denying– I can see it in your eyes. The way you looked at her… it's pathetic.”

Leo clenched his fists at his side, his knuckles turning white. Every word Isabella spoke felt like a dagger and it took everything in him to remain silent. He wanted to lash out, to tell her to keep silent but he knew that would only give her more words to use against him. So instead, he stayed quiet, letting the storm rage inside him while maintaining a composed exterior.

“Nothing to say, Leo?” Isabella taunted, clearly enjoying his silence. “I guess that's because you know I'm right. You're so obvious. It's a wonder Father hasn't figured it out yet.”

Leo's eyes met hers for a brief moment before he looked away, starting down the empty hallway. His thoughts were a chaotic mess of frustration and anger. How dare she accuse him of such things? He wasn't lying to his father– well he might have lied about not wanting Lucy as his mate. He had to twist his words so his father would believe him and biw Isabella, here, trying to twist everything in her own narrative, to sow discord and suspicion wherever she went.

He wanted to shout at her, to tell her to stop meddling in things she didn't understand but he knew it would be pointless. He knew Isabella, she thrived on conflict, on using people's emotions against them and if he lost his temper now, she would win. So, he bit his tongue, letting the anger simmer beneath the surface, unseen.

Isabella watched him closely, clearly expecting a response but when none came, she tilted her head, a look of pity crossing her face. “It's sad, really. You think you can protect her by lying to Father, but all you are doing is putting her in more dan r. He'll figure it out eventually and when he does, do you really think he'll let her off so easily?”

Leo's teeth ground together as he fought to keep his anger in check. His thoughts, a whirlwind of rage and self doubt. Isabella's words struck too close to home, echoing the fears he had been trying to suppress. What if his father did find out the truth? What if Lucy became a target because of him? The thought made his blood run cold, but he couldn't let Isabella see that.

He inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay calm. He couldn’t let her get to him, couldn’t let her see that her words had any effect. So, he remained silent, refusing to give her the satisfaction of knowing she had hit a nerve.

Isabella let out a small, frustrated sigh when it became clear that Leo wasn’t going to engage with her. She had been hoping for a reaction, something she could use against him later, but his silence was only infuriating her more.

"You’re such a coward to not respond to my words," she spat, her tone losing its playful edge. "Hiding behind your silence because you know you can’t defend yourself. But I’m not going to let this go, Leo. You think you can just protect that little maid of yours? You’re deluding yourself. She’s beneath you, and the sooner you realize that, the better.”

“Can't you see everyone is here for you, including me… what are you waiting for but you choose good for nothing lowly maid, this is not you, Leo… I hate to see you this way.” She paused and waited for a moment to see if Leo was going to respond but it waa as she had expected.

Isabella, frustrated by his lack of response, finally let out a huff of annoyance. "Fine. Stay silent if you want. But, I know one thing, I'll be here waiting for you, Leo. I won't give up.” 

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off down the hallway, her footsteps echoing in the silence. Leo watched her go, his heart pounding in his chest, his thoughts still a chaotic mess of anger and frustration. He had managed to keep his composure, but it had taken everything in him to do so. As soon as she was out of sight, he let out a long, slow breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside him.

He couldn’t let Isabella get to him like this. He couldn’t afford to lose his temper, not when so much was at stake. But as he stood there, alone in the hallway, he couldn’t shake the lingering doubts that her words had stirred. Was he really doing the right thing by trying to protect Lucy? Or was he just putting her in more danger? What then could he do? He can't do without Lucy and there was no way he could have her unless he became the Alpha. 

He felt a surge of anger coursing through him, an uncontrollable wave that demanded release. He took a few steps forward and swung his fist at the wall with all his might. The impact sent a shockwave up his arm but he barely felt the pain. All he could think about was the unfairness of his position, the helplessness he felt when it came to Lucy and the simmering rage at his father's probing questions.

He threw another fist at the wall again, harder this time, peeling away layers of stone and plaster. The sound echoed in the room, a witness to the power behind his strikes. He hit it again, his breath coming in ragged gasps as if the violence could somehow purge the confusion and frustration that gripped him.

Each stroke was more brutal than the last. His knuckles bled but Leo didn't care as he was fueled by his anger, unleashing his wrath on a wooden form. All he could see was the image of Lucy's scared face, her eyes meeting his for that brief, torturous moment before she walked out. It was as if everything was wrong in his life- his duties and responsibilities, his unspoken love for a girl he could never have as long as his father was there.

Just as he was about to hit the wall again, a voice behind him snapped him out of his fury. “Leo, stop!” 

Leo whirled around, his eyes blazing with an unnatural light. His wolf was on the surface, pushing through his human form, ready to take control. He was ready to fight anyone who dared to interrupt him, anyone who stood in his way.

Ethan saw his eyes and knew he could not stop him nor move anywhere closer to him. He let out a growl, his fists clenched. It was Ethan anyway, his most trusted guard, who stood there, eyes wide but determined. The sight of Ethan’s familiar face,this growl, his steady, unwavering gaze, was like a splash of cold water. Leo’s fists unclenched, and he took a step back, trying to suppress the primal urge that had risen within him.

“Leo,” Ethan said again, his voice low but firm. He didn’t flinch under the intensity of Leo’s gaze, even though Leo’s eyes still held the fierce glow of his wolf. “You can’t be seen like this. We have to move.”

For a moment, Leo didn’t respond. He stood there, chest heaving, the animalistic part of him still bristling with energy. But then he wagged his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the remnants of his wolf’s influence. Slowly, the glow in his eyes faded, replaced by the more familiar intensity of his human self. 

Ethan stepped forward cautiously, laying a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Come on,” he urged, his tone insistent. “We need to get out of here before anyone sees.”

Leo nodded, though his mind was still a storm of emotions. He allowed Ethan to guide him, pulling him away from the wall he had nearly shattered in his rage. Together, they hurried down the corridor, moving quickly and quietly, like shadows in the dim light. Leo’s heart was still pounding, but with every step, he forced himself to calm down, to regain control.

As they almost reached the end of the hallway, something made Leo pause. He glanced back over his shoulder, a strange feeling prickling at the back of his mind. And then he saw a shadow—it was a man, turning away, like he had been there all the while, peering out from a corner like he had been hiding, watching. 

For a split second, Leo watched, trying to have a glimpse of who it was, knowing that whoever it was saw him in the state he was. He wasn’t sure how long the person had been there, how much he had seen or heard, but it was clear that the person had been paying close attention. The realization made Leo’s stomach twist uneasily. 

But before he could say anything, before he could even process what this might mean, Ethan tugged on his arm, urging him to keep moving. “Come on, Leo. We can’t stay here.”

``what if the shadow I saw was my Father… it could be him. No that can't be. He would know… he must have known.`` Leo thought.