Pursuing My Rejected Alpha
Chapter 54

Ronan lifted the empty bowl.

"I was just giving him medicine."

Clearly not believing him, Kinnon squinted his eyes at the Alpha of his rival pack.

"Aha."

He then discreetly closed the door behind him and entered the room.

"What do you need me to do next?" he asked in a low voice while drawing a chair close to the bed and taking a seat.

"Nothing," Ronan said in response. "Lay low. Focus on keeping Lucien safe. I am going to start launching an attack on old Madam Woodland."

It was the morning after the fake ceremony in the Infinite Eclipse Pack House was held. Around this time, Lucrethia Woodland must have found out that she failed. The old woman must be livid with anger. Elijah's son was in danger, and so was Lucien.

.....

Thankfully, both had been moved to safe locations.

Annalynne had promised to shelter Erick Summertide for as long as it took to bring Lucrethia down.

On the other side, no one would have thought that Ronan, who fought in public with Kinnon, opted to hide Lucien in the Night Prowler Pack House. They after all had a falling out. There was no better hiding place for Lucien right now. "Kinnon, I can't afford any blunder from your side," Ronan emphasized. "I am entrusting the love of my life to you. Please take good care of him."

Kinnon scoffed.

"You know, he is the love of my life too. I will take good care of him whether you ask me or not."

Ronan pursed his lips.

Kinnon scoffed.

"Besides, my whole pack treated him like the Luna while he stayed here. You have nothing to worry about."

"That was before the war," he pointed out. "I don't want any of your pack members to develop some funny ideas."

Ronan was quite sick with how things developed over the past few months. Too many irrelevant people cared about the personal business between him and Lucien. They drew false conclusions and were adamant about defending their faulty point of view. They even went as far as attacking Lucien physically. His poor mate had to deal with a lot of things.

Human beings were folly, but who to say that some of the werewolves were not? Foolish werewolves were even more dangerous than average human beings. They had their in-built weapons and they did not hesitate to use them whenever necessary. "They won't. Everyone knows that the Silverback family has been framed during the war. Casualties on both sides are to be reckoned with when two parties fight in a war. No one is as delusional to think that everyone will survive and live happily ever after." "I'm glad that we are on the same page," Ronan said.

"Bjorn even asked me why I fought with you in the bathroom. He did not want you to complain to the Werewolf Council about me snatching your Luna away."

Ronan smiled.

"Bjorn is a great guy. How do your pack members feel about Lucien right now?"

Kinnon pulled his lips into a thin line.

"They don't hate him, if that's what you are asking. During his short stay in the pack house, the pack members got to know and appreciate him. Alas, he is not fated to be our Luna." Ronan took a deep breath.

"That's good."

Ronan wanted to continue speaking, but he clamped up immediately when he heard the pata-pata sound coming from the corridor outside.

Kinnon too gestured for him to cut their conversation.

What followed was the childish whining voice of Ralph, "Mommy! Mommy Mommy Mommy!"

Kinnon got up from his chair and opened the door for his son.

The little blonde boy immediately rushed to Lucien's side, ignoring both his father and Ronan.

"Mommy!" he shouted while he tried to climb the bed.

Ralph had grown taller since Ronan last saw him, but he was still unable to climb into an adult bed on his own.

His father gave him a lift by pushing him up.

Ralph cupped Lucien's cheeks with both hands.

"Mommy? Are you sleeping?"

Kinnon hooked an arm around his son. "Ralphy, your mommy just recovers from a severe sickness. You must give him plenty of rest. Other than Daddy, no one is allowed to get close to Mommy, do you understand?" As a response, the little werewolf pup turned to Ronan with a glare and a growl.

...

"

What a big, scary wolf, Ronan thought.

To not break in laughter, Kinnon cleared his throat.

"And Uncle Ronan, too," the little wolf's father added with a smug grin. "You see, Ronan? Lucien even has a personal bodyguard to look after him day and night. Ralphy, you are going to protect your mommy, aren't you?" The little boy nodded so persistently that his little head threatened to fall off.

"I am Mommy's bravest knight!" He announced proudly. "I will vanquish evil and protect Mommy from danger!"

Ronan scoffed. He messed up Ralph's hair, causing the latter to cry," Hey!!!"

"Then, I should get going. I will leave your mommy in your good hands, o brave knight."

Ralph turned pink at the address.

Ronan went back to Lucien to give him one last kiss on his lips before he left.

'Take care, my love.'

'Ronan, be careful. Don't be rash,' Lucien again reminded him.

If he was not completely useless at the moment, Lucien would want to follow Ronan back to the Infinite Eclipse Pack to help him.

Ronan brushed against Lucien's cheeks with his thumbs.

'Darling, this is something that I have to do on my own. If you want to help, then stay here to recuperate. I will finish this as soon as possible, I promise!

'I love you,' Lucien said.

'I love you, my baby Lulu...

Ronan looked back to see Kinnon and Ralph sitting by Lucien's bedside, speaking to each other in a low voice while Lucien lay on the bed.

That could be them, he thought. He and Lucien with their child... Or children...

"Alpha, are you alright?" Milroy asked as soon as his Alpha went back to the foyer. For some reason, he was all red in the face.

"I am fine," he said. "Let's go back to the pack house."

While they were in the car, Ronan pondered to himself for a long time. After hesitating for a long time, he decided to make a call.

"Good morning, Mr. Gordon Clearwater."

News about the vicious attack on Lucien had already spread throughout the werewolf community by the time the morning sun broke through the horizon.

It was like the key puzzle piece that served to combine all the other puzzle pieces to form a whole picture.

The mysterious illness that the Luna of the Infinite Eclipse Pack suddenly contracted.

The abhorrent attack on the Holy Temple's ground.

Someone wanted Lucien dead.

It did not take a genius for everyone to quickly guess the person who would benefit the most from his death.

Lillian Woodland, because she was currently pregnant with Ronan's child.

Then again, the werewolf society knew Lillian. She alone would not be able to pull this kind of stunt. People doubted that she had the heart to carry out such evil schemes. Who was the force behind her? Who masterminded these scrupulous actions?

.....

The Woodland family, of course, with Conrad Woodland as the Alpha of the Ironclad Claws Pack.

Within one night, the Ironclad Claws pack in general and the Woodland family in particular became the center of attention.

Led by Dane Silverback, the warriors from Werewolf Council gave chase to the seat of the Ironclad Claws pack in Pine Groove City.

Conrad Woodland did not see it coming at all. He knew that his mother did a lot of questionable things behind his back, but so far they left not a single trace. Everything was carried out smoothly and swiftly.

This time, his mother's blunder brought tens of Werewolf Council warriors to the gate of his pack house.

The Alpha broke into a cold sweat.

The panicked voices of his subordinates were suppressed by the sound of his own pounding heart.

"Alpha, Mr. Dane Silverback is here with the warriors from the Werewolf Council."

"Alpha, what do we need to do?"

"Alpha..."

Conrad Woodland tossed out an anguished cry.

"Stop calling me!!! Don't ask me!!! Don't come closer!!!"

The Beta of the pack, Kieran Locksworth, gritted his teeth. He grabbed Conrad Woodland by his collar and pulled the cowering man to his feet.

"Alpha! You are the Alpha of this pack! Please conduct yourself accordingly."

"I NEVER WANTED TO BE THE ALPHA!!!" Conrad shouted. "IT WAS MY FATHER! HE FORCED ME! I DID NOT WANT TO! GO TELL KATREENA TO BE THE ALPHA! OR VERA!"

Vera Woodland, the youngest daughter of Lucrethia and Lionel Woodland, shook her head in fear.

"No way I am taking over the Alpha position in this mess," she said, her voice trembling with fear. "I don't want to. Whoever wants it can take it."

Kieran was burning with rage.

"You two are part of the Woodland family!" He hollered. "The Alpha position has been in your family for generations! How can you throw away everything, knowing that you bear the responsibility???" Conrad wailed.

Vera kept her head down.

Fuming, the Beta dropped the sobbing Conrad to the ground.

"Fine," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "I will take over the Alpha position because no one wants it!"

The man marched out of the room, then out of the pack house. Outside, a woman threw herself at him.

"Kieran, are you nuts???" She shouted. "Don't go over there! Did you not hear what happened to Lucien Clearwater??? This is the wrongdoing of the Woodland family! Their ambition is finally catching up to them! It has nothing to do with our Locksworth family!" Kieran clenched his jaw.

The Woodland family, unfortunately, was the Alpha's family. The Alpha represented the pack. If the Alpha did anything wrong, the whole pack must bear the burden as well.

When he took the Beta position, he swore his loyalty to the Alpha, to the pack.

"Mom, I am the Beta of our pack. Our Alpha already relinquished his position and no one else wants to be the Alpha. If no one steps forward to meet the people from Werewolf Council, the whole pack will have to answer for more." More sooner than later.

Kieran gave his mother one last hug before he disentangled himself from her clutches and went to meet the people at the gate.

From inside the pack house, everyone but those from the Woodland family came out to see what it was about.

Kieran Locksworth swallowed hard when the gate fence swung open and he came face-to-face with Dane Silverback.

Tilting his chin upward arrogantly, Dane Silverback looked like a pompous king. Even among his generation, his name induced fear and commanded respect. His contemptuous gaze swept over this man who dared to stand before him. He was so insignificant that Dane did not even remember his name. He only knew that he was the current Beta of Conrad Woodland. The son of his previous Beta.

Ironically, this man was the one who came forward to meet him.

"Where is your Alpha, young man?" Dane asked with a thunderous voice.

Kieran was by no means a young man, but it was not exactly the focal point here.

"My Alpha has retreated and relinquished his position to me. Mr. Dane Silverback, how can I be of help?"

A few pack members gasped audibly.

A few people shrieked. "Kieran! No!"

"No, don't!!!"

"Is that so?" Dane said with a languid tone, ignoring the pleas of the Ironclad Claws pack members. "You know that becoming an Alpha at this time means that you will bear all the responsibilities for the crime that has been done by the previous Alpha?" Kieran's eyelashes fluttered for a split second.

"Yes," he said.

"Seize him," Dane Silverback said. "And every Woodland that you can replace in the pack house."

"Wait," Kieran said. "I am not resisting arrest, but may I know on what ground?"

"On the ground of perpetrating the murder attempt on Lucien Clearwater, the Luna of the Infinite Eclipse Pack," Dane answered smoothly.

"With all due respect, Mr. Dane Silverback, it is nothing but speculation. Surely you must have a witness or at least a piece of evidence in order to come here and detain us?"

In his heart, Kieran knew for sure that the Woodland family was guilty. Else why would Conrad Woodland act that way? Then again, he was not going to let Dane Silverback trample on his pack without a good reason.

"Indeed, how very impolite of me," Dane Silverback said with a touch of mockery. "We have adequate witness and evidence to support this claim."

Dane's bold statement was nothing but a blatant lie.

Elijah Summertide was a tough nut to crack.

Once he was dragged to the Werewolf Council and locked up in its dungeon, he refused to divulge any information to anyone.

Whether or not this was something that Elijah and Lucrethia Woodland agreed on in case he got caught was unclear. Dane only knew that it gave Lucrethia some time to move freely.

What would the old madam do in the middle of this chaos?

Escape, of course.

He was thus not at all surprised when the warriors returned with a screaming Conrad Woodland and a silently crying Vera Woodland, but no Lucrethia Woodland.

"Reporting to Mr. Dane, we have rounded up all the remaining Woodland family members, but we fail to locate Madam Lucrethia Woodland."

Dane scoffed.

.....

Snakes slithered away quickly in the face of problems.

"What is your name, young man?" Dane asked haughtily, referring to the new Alpha of the pack.

"My name is Kieran Locksworth," the man in shackles said, his gaze unyielding against Dane's piercing stare.

Dane then turned to speak to Conrad Woodland.

"Alpha Conrad, is it true that you have passed your Alpha position to this young man?"

The elder man gave him a frantic reply.

"TAKE IT! JUST TAKE IT! I DON'T CARE ANYMORE! JUST LET ME GO! I DID NOT DO ANYTHING! AAARRHHHHHH!!!"

That settled it.

Dane Silverback lazily shifted his gaze to Kieran, a cynical smile playing on his lips.

"Congratulations, Alpha Kieran. Now, if you can tell me the whereabouts of Madam Lucrethia Woodland, I will be very grateful."

"The old madam stopped minding pack-related affairs years ago," Kieran said, shooting glares at Dane Silverback. "She is now just enjoying her retirement years."

Dane scoffed full of contempt.

Yeah, right.

if the whole werewolf society did not know that Lucrethia Woodland had the Alpha of the pack in her palms at all times.

If anything, it was Conrad Woodland who enjoyed his retirement years as soon as he became the Alpha.

"Whether or not Madam Lucrethia Woodland is just enjoying her retirement years or is related to this crime will be decided by the Werewolf Council after a series of thorough investigations," Dane pointed out.

Kieran gritted his teeth in defiance.

"Didn't you say that the murderer already spat out the name of the mastermind? Why are you rounding up all of us if that's the case?"

Smart mouth. At least he was not Conrad Woodland who freaked out at every turn of events.

"It is standard procedure to gather everyone around the suspect for interrogation purposes."

Kieran swallowed.

"Alright," he said in desperation. "I will tell you where Lucrethia Woodland is, but for that I want you to spare someone else."

Dane smiled at Kieran.

"And who is the person I am supposed to spare?"

"Lillian Woodland," Kieran said with a pleading tone. "She is reaching the last stage of her pregnancy. Please don't put her in an unnecessary, stressful situation."

"Touching," Dane commented. "I will consider it. So, where is Lucrethia Woodland?"

Kieran turned his head and shot Conrad Woodland one last look. The latter was cowering on the ground. He had nothing to say at all.

"Madam Lucrethia Woodland booked a flight to Europe early this morning. She plans to enjoy a few weeks of holiday, touring various countries."

Over at the nearest international airport, Lucrethia Woodland was waiting for her flight at the boarding gate.

Only thirty minutes were left before the boarding call began.

The Werewolf Council might already arrive at the Ironclad Claws Pack House by now. Conrad must be having a mental breakdown at the very moment. Katreena was thankfully far away in an unrelated pack. Vera had been living her whole life in luxury. A little bit of thrill would make her life more colorful.

Lucrethia heaved a sigh and pondered about her own situation.

Once she got off the plane, she would go off the radar. No one would be able to reach her.

From her hiding place, she planned to carefully assess her situation and see what she could do next.

A masculine voice rang out behind Lucrethia, startling her from a daze.

"Is the seat next to you occupied, Madam Woodland?"

Lucrethia turned her head and came face-to-face with a tall, handsome, dark-haired man. He wore a pair of sunglasses on top of the black coat that extended to his knees.

When Ronan Silverback took off his sunglasses, the two pairs of greenish-blue eyes stared into each other.

Lucrethia scoffed.

"I have to say, you completely fooled me."

"Did I?" Ronan took a seat next to the elderly. "I was just playing along."

"How do you enjoy the game so far?"

"Oh, I enjoy it a lot. As you can see, I am winning the later rounds."

A smirk hushed across Lucrethia's wrinkled face.

"You have yet to win," she pointed out. "Don't be so arrogant in front of your elder."

Ronan tilted his head to the side and flashed Lucrethia his most charming smile as a response.

"I respected you until I cannot do it anymore."

That was when he found out that she was the one behind his mother's death.

When he found out that she attacked his mate again and again.

Lucrethia Woodland hailed from the Fangblade family. She was Lady Adele Fangblade's biological aunt.

If Lucien did not give him any hints about her, Ronan would never have once believed that Lucrethia was the person whose shadow he had been chasing for months.

"So what are you planning to do now?" Lucrethia asked sweetly.

"Now, I am just here to stop you from boarding the plane. The warriors from the Werewolf Council are on their way to seize you."

"My plane is boarding soon," Lucrethia reminded him with a sneer. "So sorry but I have no time to entertain you any longer, Alpha Ronan."

Lucrethia rose to her feet just as the announcement was heard across the boarding hall.

"Apologies to all passengers, all flights are delayed for at least six hours. You will all be compensated at the ticketing counter. I repeat..."

""

One by one, the disgruntled and confused passengers poured out of the boarding area. The loud murmur was reduced to utter silence when only Ronan and Lucrethia stayed behind.

Ronan too rose to his feet and pinned Lucrethia's back with a scorching glare.

"The airport is on lockdown. Sorry to ruin your holiday plan, Madam."

Ten minutes later, Dane Silverback arrived with another group of warriors from the Werewolf Council.

The sight of twenty-something men marching into the airport halls was eye-catching enough, but what made them so memorable were the printed T-shirts and jeans that they wore so proudly. The flip-flops that peeked from under their jeans contributed further to the deterioration of their image.

Mr. Dane Silverback, who led the group, wore one with a huge cartoon image on the front side. It depicted a duck with a suit and sunglasses. It was smoking some rolled-up weed with a look full of satisfaction.

Those who saw them could not help giggling. Meanwhile, the poor men tried their best to keep straight faces.

"I don't know which is worse," Lucrethia quipped as her captors drew nearer. "Being dragged away by men who wear such ridiculous clothes or continuing to chat with you, Alpha Ronan."

Ronan sneered.

"Happy to serve, Madam."

Lucrethia turned to give one last toxic look at Ronan before she was shackled and taken away.

"This is not over, young man."

.....

Leaning against the wall, Ronan cut her a haughty smile. "I sure hope not."

After the men left with Lucrethia in tow, Dane Silverback approached his son.

"Good job," he praised.

"You too, Dad," Ronan said in return.

Dane's eyes wandered around the dark circles around Ronan's eyes that made him look like a reversed panda.

"You look awful. Go back and rest."

4"

Dane Silverback never handed out praise without following up with insult. It was a die-hard habit.

Ronan rubbed at the aching spot between his brows.

He barely slept during the past few days. The emotional rollercoaster with Lucien's close call with death and the plotting against Lucrethia Woodland exhausted him both physically and mentally. Capturing Elijah and placing Lucrethia under arrest were two big moves in his plan to get justice for his mother and Lucien, but he could not rest yet.

Not until Lucrethia Woodland rotted behind bars.

Not until Lucien was back in his arms.

"What is going to happen next?" he asked his father, ignoring his advice completely.

"We need Elijah's confession before the trial. The trial is scheduled in three days."

Dane heaved a sigh. He gave his obstinate son an exasperated look.

Ronan scoffed. He staggered away from the wall and muttered, "I am going to beat the truth out of that bastard."

Dane grabbed Ronan's shoulder from behind and squeezed it.

"You are tired, and you are irritable. You neither are in a state to force a confession out of the defendant, nor have the right to. Leave it to me."

Dane Silverback as part of the Werewolf Council certainly could do that, as opposed to Ronan.

Ronan looked up at his father.

He still hated Dane for what the latter did to his mother, but Dane had done a lot to help him and Lucien. Should he say something to try to mend the bridge between the father and son?

...

Lacking ideas for better things to say, Ronan looked his father up and down instead and commented, "You look hideous."

Ronan naturally referred to the T-shirt and jeans that did not suit Dane at all. He looked like an old man who tried too hard to fit in with the youngsters.

The elder man looked down at himself.

"If I had better options, I would have gotten myself a fine three-piece suit and a pair of leather shoes."

"Where did you leave your clothes, anyway?"

"Pine Groove City? We ran all the way here, you know. I did not want Lucrethia Woodland to beat you up in a fistfight."

"... I am not that weak."

That was what he said, but Ronan knew there was some truth to it. In his current state, it might only take a hard kick in his stomach and a few punches across his face to make him sleep for a few hours.

"Go home," Dane repeated.

Ronan nodded stiffly.

"Fine."

Outside of the airport, Noah was waiting for his Alpha. Ronan looked like he could topple sideways anytime soon, but there was no mistaking the victorious smile on his face.

In his imagination, Noah punched into the air and shouted excitedly like a lunatic.

"Noah, back to the pack house."

"Yes, Alpha!!!"

The ride back to the Infinite Eclipse pack house took almost four hours, but it felt like a blink of an eye.

Ronan literally passed out from fatigue as soon as he hit the fluffy seat. He only opened his eyes when they arrived at the pack house, with Noah calling after him repeatedly.

"Alpha? Alpha, we are here."

Ronan rubbed at his eyes.

As soon as he got out of the car, he saw Lillian Woodland rushing toward him.

"You acted on your own," she chastised him. "You were supposed to tell me! We are partners!"

"Our so-called partnership ended when your grandmother attacked Lucien. Was that not clear to you?"

Ronan shut the car door and then calmly turned his head to look at Lillian.

Ronan walked past a dazed Lillian. She then turned around and grabbed Ronan's sleeves.

"Every poison has an antidote! You were overreacting!"

If Ronan was not that tired, his temper might just get a hold of his body.

"Overreacting?" he repeated in disbelief. "Lulu almost died!"

Lillian clutched her dress and pursed her lips.

"You said that he was being treated at the Holy Temple. You said that all you needed to do was a ceremony to pray for his recovery..."

Ronan tossed out a burst of booming laughter.

"Seriously? It was nothing but a trap. I knew that your grandmother would be impatient enough to end Lucien once and for all."

The Alpha sneered. "I was right."

Lillian stomped on the ground angrily. "It is too rushed! I told you that we should wait until the baby is born!"

She wanted to say more, but Ronan threw her a gaze that was so cold that her blood froze in her veins.

"Do you know what the most horrible thing is?"

"... No?"

"The fact that you know she poisoned Lucien, but you did not bother to tell me about it.

Lillian gave Ronan an exasperated look.

"You don't understand," she said. "When I found out, it was already too late. He already got poisoned. I did my best to help. I was also searching for an antidote..."

"Spare me," Ronan interrupted her briskly, holding a hand up to stop her from completing a speech in her defense. "I don't want to hear it. You were so quick to act on your interest, but you never bothered to tell me any of your plans. I was stupid enough to dance according to your tune."

"Ronan, I was not... You were not dancing to my tune at all," Lillian tried to placate Ronan, but it was futile.

Lillian was not the one who almost lost her mate.

Lillian was not the one who almost died.

Whatever Lillian said at this point did not matter to Ronan.

The Alpha rubbed at his temples and sigh. When he removed his hand, Lillian saw the hunger for vengeance gleaming in his eyes.

"From now on, it's my way or no way. You either join me or you don't. I no longer need your help."

.....

Lillian looked like she was close to tears.

"Then, are you going to throw me out of the pack house, just like that?"

Ronan almost burst into laughter. Despite the scolding that he gave her, in the end, Lillian was still mostly concerned about herself and her baby's wellbeing.

"I am not a monster," he pointed out. "Stay until the baby is born. After that, you can decide what you want to do."

As Ronan walked away and headed to his apartment, he could hear Lillian's pitiful sobs.

Usually, when similar things happened in the past, Ronan's heart would soften and then he would try to comfort the crying woman. Seeing women cry made him feel uncomfortable because it reminded him of his mother.

Lady Adele Fangblade was a tough and brave woman, but she too was made of flesh and blood. She too shed tears when the heartache was too much for her.

This time, it was different.

When Ronan saw Lillian cry, all he could see were the tears that Lucien did not shed or shed behind his back.

Lucien suffered so much in these few months.

It was supposed to be the happiest time of their life. They were supposed to spend their time rolling between sheets night after night while whispering about their passion and love to each other.

If Lillian didn't show up in December, Ronan and Lucien would have been happily married by now.

Look at what happened instead.

Ronan was busy tying a noose around Lucrethia, while Lucien was still recovering far, far away from Ronan.

For once, Ronan wanted to be selfish.

He wanted to sleep.

He wanted to eat and drink.

He wanted to think only about himself and Lucien, and no one else.

Ronan thought that his harsh words would keep Lillian away for a while. That would be best, because Ronan did not have the patience to deal with her. Not right now.

Unexpectedly, the beautiful woman showed up again in the evening and asked to meet with Ronan.

Said Alpha had just woken up after sleeping for six hours straight. He was in the middle of eating his dinner when Milroy came to disturb his peace.

"Reporting to the Alpha, uh, Miss Woodland requests an audience."

"No," Ronan answered nonchalantly while biting into a piece of beef steak.

Milroy did not move. He twiddled his thumbs nervously.

"Why are you still here?" Ronan barked at his assistant.

Milroy gave him a beseeching gaze.

"Alpha, Miss Woodland refuses to go unless she gets to meet you today. It seems to be very important."

Ronan rolled with his eyes but said nothing in return.

"Alpha, please think of the heir inside Miss Woodland's belly..."

Ronan slammed the wine glass hard against the dining table, causing the glass to crack.

Glaring at Milroy, Ronan was about to blurt out the words, "That baby is not the heir". But then he realized that he should not carelessly announce such things. There was a suitable time for every kind of announcement.

"Alright, ask her to meet me at the audience hall."

Milroy bowed in gratitude.

"Yes, Alpha."

When Ronan arrived at the audience hall, Lillian was already sitting on a chair, waiting for him.

The woman did not bother beating around the bush.

"I heard some news," she said. "My father has abandoned his position as an Alpha. My entire family is being imprisoned in the Werewolf Council's dungeon. Is that right?"

"Pretty much," Ronan confirmed.

"The new Alpha is also being detained. Why?"

Ronan squinted at Lillian.

"He decided to take the Alpha position despite the incriminating circumstances. He did that voluntarily without the slightest bit of coercion. I would say that he knew what he was in for."

Lillian took a deep breath.

"Listen to me," she said. "We both know that my grandmother is the perpetrator. Fine if you want to detain my whole family out of suspicion, but Kieran Locksworth is innocent. Please let him go."

Ronan scoffed. He leaned to one side of his seat while tapping his fingers on the armrest on the other side.

"You do know that the Alpha is never entirely innocent when a pack member commits a crime. If the crime is done within the pack, the Alpha has the privilege to punish as he wants. If the crime is done to another pack, the Alpha has to bear responsibilities for his

pack members' crime."

Lillian nodded fervently.

"I know," she said. "But we both know that he is innocent. He knows nothing about the Woodland family's schemes. He didn't even serve my grandmother! He served my father!"

Ronan narrowed his eyes at the pregnant woman in front of him.

"Do you know what I replace very interesting?"

"... What?"

Ronan slumped forward, supporting his weight on two elbows that pressed against his legs.

"Your whole family is behind bars. Your grandmother, your father, your aunts... Even your extended relatives, all those who are unlucky enough to bear the surname Woodland in their names. But you, you are here to plead for Kieran Locksworth."

44"

"It's him, right?"

"What

do you mean?" Lillian asked, trying her best to maintain her composure.

"He is the father of your baby, am I right?"

Lillian's lips trembled violently before tears started falling from her eyes.

"Yes," she sobbed. "He is."

Ronan could hardly believe his ears. He had just randomly tossed out a dart, never expecting it to hit a target.

"The father of your baby is the Beta who used to serve your father," Ronan reiterated, just so that he did not misunderstand anything.

Lillian kept her head bowed while sobbing.

"And I thought it was some random man, a married Alpha from another pack..."

Lillian lifted her head and shot Ronan daggers.

"Do you think that I am that cheap of a woman???"

Ronan stared at her.

"You are not exactly doing better with this... Kieran Locksworth, are you? What is this? The great conspiracy that your pack concocted to stake a claim at the Alpha position in my pack?"

Blood climbed up Lillian's cheeks due to a mix of embarrassment and fury.

.....

"Kieran is innocent!" She repeated. "He did not mean to... He..."

Ronan squinted at the woman opposite him.

"So he did not mean to sleep with you and produce a child. Such accidents happen all the time, I am sure..."

"Come down from your high horse, Ronan Silverback. You of all people should not judge him."

Ronan cleared his throat and tugged his collar loose.

"Fine," he said while rising to his feet. "I am equally irresponsible, but at least I would have taken the responsibility for both the woman and the baby if the woman falls pregnant with my child."

Lillian stared at Ronan. Her gaze was full of mistrust.

"So you are saying that you would have stopped pursuing Lucien if this baby were yours?"

"I didn't say that. What I said was that I would take responsibility. Whether or not Lucien accepts me afterward is none of your business."

Lillian

humphed.

"Does he know that this baby is not mine?" Ronan asked.

"Yes. Other than Dad and Grandma, only Kieran knows."

Ronan scoffed full of contempt.

"And this a*****e willingly sent you and his baby to my pack without remorse? Wow."

"He doesn't know that the baby is his," Lillian added. "I never told him." Ronan walked around Lillian in a circle while musing about the situation.

"Just how many men did you sleep with after you left me that morning?" "Only one."

....

"... So..."

"He didn't know that. I lied to him and said that it was someone else."

"Arghhh."

Ronan pinched the spot between his brows.

"Lillian Woodland, are you insane? Didn't you love the man? Why don't you just tell him that it was his baby?"

"Do you think Grandma and Dad would let him live if he admitted to sleeping with me and impregnating me???" Lillian snapped. "I did it for him!"

"Heh."

Ronan pulled at a bell that hung from a rope just near his seat.

A moment later, a guard came in.

"Yes, Alpha?"

"I need brandy, extra strong."

He then turned to Lillian and asked, "Do you also want something?"

"Fruit tea, thanks," she snapped at the poor guard. Sensing the dangerous sparks between his Alpha and Lillian, the guard quickly exited the room after he noted the orders.

"Let me get this straight," Ronan slowly said.

"After you left me that morning, you had s*x with Kieran Locksworth and then you became pregnant. When your grandmother and father found out, you told them it was not my child, and that it was the result of a passionate encounter with a non-existent person

that was not Kieran Locksworth."

"Yes."

"You lied about the father because you wanted to protect Kieran. Then you lied about having s*x with me because you want to protect your baby."

"Correct."

Ronan slammed a fist against the table, causing Lillian to jolt from fright.

"Wow. Just wow."

Lillian

swallowed.

"Look, it's beside the point, alright? He is innocent, please let him go."

"Innocent? I don't think so," Ronan said, his tone dripping with malice. "He willingly became part of this great lie that your grandmother and father devised! How is that innocent???"

"He had no choice. He was the Beta! Do you expect him to betray his Alpha?"

A sneer

spread across Ronan's face.

"And do you expect me to save him because he did not betray his Alpha?"

Lillian bit her lower lip. Ronan was burning with a vengeful spirit. He would not listen to anyone, he was not willing to forgive anyone. If he could scoop up all the rats and roaches in the Woodland family's residence, he would lock them all up too for being

accessories to the crime.

"If you are so adamant about punishing him, why don't you do the same to me?" Lillian asked while hugging herself.

Ronan pinned her with a cold stare.

"What do you mean?"

"I am the one who spoke the lie. You should punish me before you punish all those who participate in this lie."

Ronan scoffed.

"Watch your tongue, Lillian. Do you think that I do not dare to do it? Do you think that you can manipulate me to do what you want?"

Tears came streaming down Lillian's cheeks.

"Manipulate you? How? I have nothing else in my hands! I have lost everything except for the baby! I just want to save one person and all I can do is beg you!"

Ronan took a deep breath. Pregnant women were emotional and vulnerable. He should not further agitate Lillian. She could not do him and Lucien any more harm, anyway.

"Look,

calm down."

Ronan himself poured Lillian a cup of tea after an attendant came by to bring them their drinks.

"Am I not?" Lillian snapped. "These few months, have I spent a day not thinking about my child? I also have to think about my father and Kieran! I am so exhausted! I am tired! I don't want to do this anymore but I can't even stop!"

"Don't get upset. You are heavily pregnant. Think about your child."

Lillian grabbed Ronan by the collar. The sudden jerking movement almost caused him to drop the cup along with its content.

"Do you think you are the only one suffering, huh??? Do you even know how all of these started??? What do you know about my family? About me???"