All Chapters of Mates Deception : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Sirella’s pov Keiran isn’t himself. I see it in the way he stands—rigid, tense, as if his own skin is too tight. His usual easy arrogance is gone. No smirks, no sharp remarks. Just silence. And Keiran is never silent. He sits across from me in the candlelit room, his gaze fixed on the floor. His knuckles are white where his hands rest on his knees. Something is wrong. I lean back in my chair, studying him. “Whatever it is, just say it.” His jaw tics. He doesn’t look at me. Then, finally, he exhales. “Salvatore gave me orders.” His voice is flat. Careful. A chill runs down my spine. “And?” His fingers twitch like he wants to clench them into fists. “And they don’t make sense.” I watch him closely. He’s never questioned Salvatore before. Not once. Not in all the time I’ve known him. Keiran follows orders without hesitation. Without emotion. But now? Now he looks like a man standing at the edge of something he’s not sure he’s ready to face. “What did he say?” I p

Sirella’s pov In one dim room, I find Donovan speaking quietly with his trusted guards. His voice is low, controlled, every word measured. “Find the snake,” he says, his eyes narrowing as he gestures toward a map spread out on a rough wooden table. The guards exchange looks, and I see the fear in their eyes. They know what happens when one is accused of treachery. Donovan’s tone leaves no room for mercy. I linger near the door, careful not to be seen. Every word he speaks pierces the silence. “I want names,” he adds. “Anyone with the slightest hint of disloyalty must be dealt with.” His hand, wrapped around a cold metal hilt, betrays nothing of his inner turmoil. But I can see that his calm is as dangerous as the edge of a blade. Across the palace, in a damp and forgotten corner, Damien roams in a haze. I catch sight of him staggering past a mirror, his reflection warring with the man I once knew. His eyes are glassy, and his laughter is hollow. I can almost feel the desperation

Sirella’s pov The fire crackled low in the hearth, casting restless shadows against the wooden walls. The air inside the cabin felt thick, suffocating, like something unseen had slithered in and coiled itself around the space between us. Keiran sat across from me, elbows resting on his knees, fingers laced together in thought. His usual arrogance was absent. No lazy smirks. No taunting remarks. Just silence. I watched him carefully. There was something different about the way he held himself tonight—tense, guarded, like a man standing on the edge of something vast and uncertain. Keiran never hesitated. Never doubted. He moved through the world with the certainty of a blade cutting through flesh. But now… Now, he looked like he wasn’t sure who he was anymore. I shifted in my chair, stretching my legs toward the fire. “You’re thinking too much,” I murmured. “That’s dangerous for someone like you.” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he exhaled slowly,

Sirella’s pov Damien was unraveling. I saw it in the way he moved, the restless energy in his steps, the way his gaze darted around as if waiting for something—someone—to betray him. I wasn’t sure if he was clinging to me because he wanted to, or because he had no one else left. “You keep disappearing,” he murmured, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, not painfully, but firm enough to remind me that he still thought he had a claim on me. I met his eyes, sharp and golden even in the dim glow of the corridor torches. “Maybe I don’t want to be found.” Something flickered across his face—hurt? Frustration? Maybe both. “You don’t mean that,” Damien said, softer now, his grip loosening. “You know me, Sirella. Better than anyone.” I wanted to laugh at the irony. Once, I had believed that. Once, I had looked at him and seen mine. But that illusion had shattered the moment he cast me aside. And yet, here he was, looking at me like I was the only thing tethering him to reality.

Sirella’s POV The palace was quieter than usual. Too quiet. Most of the warriors were stationed outside, preparing for the next move against Alpha Salvatore. Tension filled the air, thick enough to choke on. The failed assassination attempt on Alpha Donovan had shaken everyone, though no one would admit it out loud. Whoever had tried to kill him had inside information—details only someone close to the palace would know. A traitor. Keiran had been distant all morning, slipping away without a word. That usually meant he was hunting. I didn’t need him to tell me what he was doing. He was looking for the one who had betrayed Donovan. And if Keiran was looking, that meant blood would be spilled by the end of the night. I should have stayed in my room. Laid low. But I couldn’t. Not when I knew something big was happening. I moved quickly through the halls, keeping my steps light. The farther I went, the fewer servants I saw. Most of them didn’t dare venture near the eastern wing—