Chapter 62

The tension in the air was fierce even after the fight had come to an abrupt halt. Dust from the scuffle lingered in the breeze and the faint murmur of the dispersing crowd hummed in the air. Leo's hand was still stiffened in the air as he looked up. All focus shifted to the one who had stopped the fight. 

Alpha Eric stepped in the training ground, his presence commanding immediate attention. Eric strode forward with long, purposeful steps, his silver edge clock billowing slightly behind him. His guards flanked him, their expressions stoic and beside him walked Ethan. 

Ethan has been the one to deliver the news of the escalating fight. Ethan's eyes scanned the ground, his sharp gaW noting every detail, from the guards to the pack members.

Leo straightened the moment he saw his father approach, wiping the sweat from his brow as he quickly stood to his full height. Aiden, however, didn't move right away. Sitting on the dusty ground, he tilted his head slightly, spitting blood to the side as he adjusted his posture. His eyes flicked to Eric, unreadable, before briefly glancing at Leo.

Eric's arrival was swift and deliberate. As he neared, Leo bowed respectfully, his fists clenched at his sides. Aiden's lack of movement was a stark contrast but his guards, stationed at the edges of the training ground, remained disciplined.

They had watched their Prince take blow after blow, yet none had intervened—not because they couldn't but because Aiden had commanded them not to.

“Aiden,” Eric said, his voice deep but measured, carrying the weight of authority. He stretched out a hand toward him, his expression softening. “I'm sorry it turned out like this.”

Aiden glanced at the outstretched hand, then back at Eric's face. He smirked faintly, wiping his jaw with the back of his hand before pulling himself up. Ignoring Eric's order of help he rose to his feet, slow but steady.

“I'm Alpha… it's not proper if you help me up… I hope you understand.” 

Eric nodded. “Sorry for all this… that you had to get into a fight.” He sighed.

“No need to apologize, Alpha,” Aiden said, his voice even but tinged with something else. “This wasn't your doing.”

Eric's brow furrowed as he studied Adding sharp eyes noting the bruises already forming on his jaw and side. He closed his eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply and in a few seconds he let out a deep breath. 

Aiden was about to speak when Leo interjected, his voice tight with restrained frustration. 

“It was just training,” Leo said quickly, taking a step forward. “Aiden seemed fit for it. Isn't that right?”

The words dripped with challenge and Leo's eyes flickered with defiance as they met his father's gaze.

Aiden chuckled softly, the sound low and rough, a reminder of the hits he'd taken. He rolled his shoulders back, his smirk growing as he looked directly at Leo. “Training, huh?” he said, his tone light but edged with mockery. “You have a unique way of calling that.*

Eric's sharp gaze shifted to his son, his voice cutting through the tension. “Enough, Leo.”

Leo hesitated, his jaw tightening as he looked between Aiden and his father. It wasn't the reprinan that stung—it was the apology Eric had offered Aiden, the way he had extended his hand to the man who wasn't even his blood.

Ethan stepped forward then, his voice firm but calm as he addressed the guards and the few lingering onlookers. “This is over. Disperse. Now.”

The crowd hesitated for a moment, as though they were reluctant to leave the scene of such a rare spectacle. But as Ethan's commanding tone carried over them, they began to shuffle away, murmuring amongst themselves.

Lucy stood rooted to the spot, her heart still hammering in her chest. She had watched the entire exchange with bated breath, her gaze flicking between Aiden and Eric, then back to Leo. But her eyes lingered on Aiden longer than they should have.

Marie, who had walked away when Ethan dispersed the whole crowd, rushed to Lucy and pulled her by the hand. “It's like you want to get punished again before the full moon… don't you?”

“I know, I was lost.”

“Yeah… we have to go… the fight is over.” Marie immediately pulled her away and they left the scene, in an attempt to get back to their previous work.

As the crowd dispersed entirely, Eric turned to Aiden again. “You both should rest,” he said, his voice quieter now. “It's just two days until the full moon.”

Aiden shook his head and wiped the slight blood in his jaw. 

“Oh… your cut is no more there.” Eric exclaimed. “It's true what they say about your healing ability.” He chuckled.

Aiden nodded. “I've had worse,” he replied simply. He didn't elaborate but something in his tone suggested that the fight with Leo wasn't at all near anything like a fight he'd faced. And wouldn't have taken a hit if he hadn't been distracted. “I'll take my leave.” He slightly bowed his head before Eric and walked away. He clicked his finger and immediately his guards followed behind him.

Eric turned to face his son. “What did you do that for? If you want a fight with Aiden, can't you wait till the full moon…”

“It's nothing father… it was just training.” 

“You call that training… it does not look like it… you win here, it doesn't matter… you see how he healed faster. He is a Lycan, he's faster, stronger than you Leo and what you should be doing is train harder. The only way you can show yourself to the pack that you're their Alpha is if you win him during the full moon when you fight.”

Ethan was quiet at first but soon spoke up. “I know father… but I won, you saw that too, right? I was about to land a third blow when you stopped the fight… he wouldn't have survived cuz my wolf was involved.”

Eric chuckled at first and soon bursted into laughter. “You called that win. You might be wrong Leo… Aiden would never fall easily…” he sighed and wagged his head sideways, like he was pitying his son. “You don't joke with that… you've never seen an angry Aiden… remember your last fight… you both were young but yet you were no match for him… you train… two days, Leo… two days.” He said, pointing his fingers at Leo.

In no time, he walked away, leaving both Ethan and Leo. He called out to Isabella who was just standing with a gesture of his hand. Isabella followed him without question.

Leo bent down and ran his fingers through his hair with his head bowed. “Why is this happening? My father did not seem to trust me and I hate him for that.”

Ethan stood, short of words and didn't know what to say.

“You were the one, right? You went to inform father?” Leo looked up at Ethan.

Ethan grunted and nodded. “Leo, I thought it wasn't the right time for a fight and besides, you were not yourself. You only fought because of your assumptions.”

There was a moment of silence between them and it hung in the air for a while. Leo thought about the moment he caught Aiden staring at Lucy. He wagged his head as the thought seemed to stir up his anger. Leo's voice came through and broke the silence. 

“My assumptions may be right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ethan, I think there's something between Aiden and Lucy… something I don't want to accept… something I can't accept.”