Chapter 27

Leo stood before his father, his posture rigid as he tried to steady his breathing. The hallway outside the chamber had felt suffocating, but now that he was standing in front of Alpha Eric, the air seemed even thicker. He could feel his father’s eyes on him, sharp and discerning, as if they could pierce right through his thoughts.

“Leo,” Eric began, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority, “you seem nervous. This isn’t like you.”

Leo’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself. **I can’t let him see through me,** he thought, forcing his expression to remain neutral. He straightened his shoulders and met his father’s gaze with as much confidence as he could muster.

“I’m fine, Father,” Leo replied, his voice steady. “There’s nothing to worry about.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying Leo’s face. The silence between them stretched for what felt like an eternity, and Leo’s mind raced. **Does he know? Is he going to ask about the other day?** The memory of his fists smashing into the wall flashed in his mind, and he could almost feel the rawness of his knuckles again. He watched his father as he thought he might be thinking about asking but to his surprise, Eric didn’t mention it.

Finally, Eric broke the silence. “Good,” he said, his tone even, though there was a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “I need you focused, Leo. There’s a lot at stake.”

Leo nodded, relief washing over him that his father hadn’t pursued the matter further. **Maybe he didn’t see, or maybe he’s waiting for the right moment to confront me about it.** But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. He needed to stay sharp, to keep his guard up.

“What did you want to see me about, Father?” Leo asked, steering the conversation back to his father’s agenda.

Eric leaned back slightly in his chair, his eyes never leaving Leo’s. “Aiden will be arriving tonight,” he said, his voice carrying the gravity of the news. “He’ll be staying in preparation for the celebration. I expect you to be there to welcome him.”

Leo’s stomach tightened at the mention of Aiden. Aiden was a Lycan and the strongest of them all from another pack, one with whom Eric had a complicated relationship. **So that’s what this is about.** Leo’s mind whirred, trying to think through the implications. **Aiden arriving here... it means things are going to get more tense.**

He clenched his fists tightly at his sides at the thought of Aiden's name. The mention of Aiden’s name ignited a fury within him that he could barely contain. **Aiden... of all people, why him?** The memory of their last encounter surged to the forefront of his mind, causing a bitter taste.

It had been in front of the whole pack, a fight that had started with words and escalated into something much more brutal. They had circled each other, both refusing to back down. Leo had fought with everything he had, but Aiden... Aiden had been too strong. His strength was beyond that of a regular werewolf, and Leo had quickly realized that he was outmatched. Aiden was a Lycan, a breed apart, with power that made Leo feel like a child in comparison. The fight had ended with Leo on the ground, bloodied and defeated, while Aiden had stood over him, victorious and unscathed. The humiliation of that day had never left him. **He’s always been my enemy,** Leo thought bitterly. **And now he’s coming here?**

His father’s voice broke through his thoughts, cold and authoritative. “Yes, Leo, what happened,” Eric questioned, his head raised. 

“Nothing, but, is it the same Aiden, the Lycan Prince?”

“Yes, Leo, the same Aiden, the Lycan Prince. You know what this means. You must prepare yourself. He’ll be arriving any moment now.”

Leo’s jaw tightened, the muscles in his neck straining with the effort to keep his emotions in check. **Why now? Why does it have to be now, when Lucy needs me the most?** The realization that he wouldn’t have time to help her out, that he would have to put everything aside to deal with Aiden’s arrival, filled him with a helpless rage. **Damn him. Damn them all.**

He couldn’t keep the bitterness from seeping into his voice as he asked, “Why tonight? He wasn’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow.”

Eric’s gaze was stern, unwavering. “He’s a prince, Leo. He can do as he pleases. No one questions him, not even us. They're still the ruling pack, and there are lines we do not cross.”

“But, the humiliation of that day… I can't face him, it will be difficult.” 

Eric stood up from his chair and walked up to Leo. He grabbed him by his shoulder. “Look at me Leo… that is gone, here is now and there is nothing you can do about it… that was a long time ago and that incident would have been long gone from the pack's mind. Don't worry about it. Worry about now, you're also strong and remember that you will have to face him during this celebration period.”

Leo bit back a retort, knowing it would do no good to argue. **Of course. Aiden can come and go as he pleases, and we’re expected to bow and scrape like everyone else.** He hated it. Hated the power Aiden wielded, hated the respect and fear that he commanded. But most of all, he hated that he would have to abandon Lucy in her time of need because of it.

But there was nothing he could do. Not in front of his father. Not now that his Father trusted him. “Fine, I'll be prepared, father. He'll meet me here. I've learnt a lot since my encounter with him,” Leo said, his voice flat, though the anger simmered just beneath the surface. “I’ll prepare myself.”

Eric studied him for a moment, as if sensing the storm brewing within his son. But he said nothing, simply giving a curt nod of dismissal. “Good. I expect you to be ready when he arrives.”

Leo turned on his heel, his mind racing. **Damn it all. I have to find Ethan. I have to know what’s happening with Lucy.** But as he made his way out of the chamber, his father’s presence lingered in his mind like a heavy shadow. **Aiden... I’ll be damned if I let him humiliate me again.**

The thought of seeing Aiden again, of having to face him after all this time, sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through him. **He’s a monster, but he won’t win this time.**

Just as he was about to step out of the door. His Father called out to him and stopped him. Leo shivered as the sound of his voice didn't sound friendly. 

**What is it this time?** he thought with a slight fear that struck his heart.