Defying the Rogue Alpha-Chapter 41: Wreckage

Selene lunged at him.

Leon didn't move. He just watched, unimpressed, as she beat her fists against his chest.

It took a solid ten seconds before she realized he wasn't fighting back.

Humiliation surged through her veins.

He didn't even care enough to retaliate.

Her fingers clenched the fabric of his shirt, her breaths ragged. She was trembling, her emotions spinning out of control.

"Why won't you fight me? Why won't you fight for me? Is it because you still love her?" she whispered, voice thick with emotion.

Leon reached up, gently prying her fingers off him. His expression softened just for a moment.

"Because, Selene," he murmured, "I gave up diamond to settle with you, a valueless rock."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving her standing amidst the wreckage of her own destruction.

Selene sank to her knees, staring at the mess around her.

She felt utterly, completely, alone.

*****

Dorian leaned back in his chair, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand, contemplating his next move. The weight of the Ava problem sat heavy on his mind.

Lucas had made his move. And it was bad.

Dorian couldn't let Ava rise to power and ruin everything. But he was no fool. He couldn't get his own hands dirty. No, he needed a scapegoat.

And that's where Sarah came in.

He had called her for a private meeting in his office.

Dorian smirked. "We have a problem."

Sarah folded her arms, her stance impatient. "When don't we?"

"This one's big." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Lucas has announced Ava as Luna."

For a moment, there was silence.

"I TOLD YOU! I WARNED YOU!" Sarah shrieked, slamming both hands onto his desk so hard that his whiskey glass wobbled.

Dorian winced, eyes darting toward the door.

"Hey, relax." He quickly stood and moved to her side, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "Keep your voice down. Do you want everyone to hear?"

"I don't care!" she hissed, her nails digging into her palms. "I cannot allow this to happen. Dorian, she has to die."

There it was.

He knew she would say it. Sarah was predictable like that; rage-driven, impatient, desperate.

Dorian let out a slow exhale, stepping away and sitting on the edge of his desk, deliberately casual. "It's not that simple."

Sarah glared at him. "It's exactly that simple. We kill her, and the problem is solved."

Dorian chuckled darkly. "And when we're caught? When they trace it back to us? You think Lucas won't burn this entire place to the ground to avenge his precious girl?"

Sarah opened her mouth, then snapped it shut, her jaw clenching.

"If we're going to be absolved of any suspicion," Dorian continued, his voice smooth as silk, "Lucas has to do the killing himself."

Sarah's breath hitched.

Dorian smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.

"At the very least," he added, "we need him to banish her. Get her out of the picture permanently."

Sarah's expression was unreadable for a moment. Then, her lips curled into a smirk.

"What do you need?"

Dorian lifted a brow. "Nothing yet." He took another slow sip of his whiskey. "I just have some interesting information that I don't know what to do with yet."

Sarah's eyes gleamed with hunger. "Tell me."

Dorian let the tension build before finally delivering his carefully crafted speech.

"As of now," he said, voice casual, "I know Ava is Alpha Leon's ex fated mate."

Sarah's breath hitched.

"Oh, but it gets better," Dorian continued, relishing this moment. "I also know she's working with the Silver Pack to take down Alpha Lucas."

Sarah's entire body tensed.

"Oh my God," she whispered.

Dorian shrugged. "But, of course, I have no proof. And you know Lucas, he's got blinders on when it comes to Ava. If I accuse her, I might just lose my head."

Sarah's fingers twitched at her sides. He could see the wheels turning in her head, her mind already crafting a plan.

"What do we do?" she finally asked.

Dorian exhaled, pretending to think. He already knew what he wanted.

"It's up to you now," he said smoothly. "Whatever information I get in the future, I'll give to you. But as of now? That's all I have."

Sarah nodded slowly, her expression shifting from rage to something far more dangerous.

Determination.

She wasn't just angry anymore. She was focused.

Dorian hid his smirk behind another sip of whiskey.

Perfect.

*****

Lucas signed the contract with a flourish, pressing the pen into the paper with just a bit more force than necessary.

With this signature, the Crimson Pack would have ten years of peace in exchange for Ava's departure to the Silver Pack.

It was done.

Lucas shut the folder, exhaling slowly. He had never felt so fucking exhausted.

The moment the ink dried, all he wanted was to get the hell out of there. He stalked toward the row of parked cars, his jaw clenched tight, scanning the area for Ava.

Turning to Kade, he snapped, "Where's Ava?"

Kade, ever the unfortunate messenger, shifted uncomfortably. "Zari says she refuses to leave until she speaks with you. She's still in her room."

Lucas rolled his eyes so hard it almost hurt. Women. First, she wants to leave. Now she doesn't.

Without another word, he stormed back inside, irritation thrumming through his veins.

Ava sat motionless in front of her dresser, staring blankly into the mirror as if it would whisper the answers she needed.

When Lucas entered, his footsteps sharp and purposeful, she didn't even flinch.

"What the hell is this nonsense?" His tone was edged with frustration and exhaustion. "Come on. We have to leave."

"I need to talk about last night," she said softly, standing.

Lucas immediately turned on his heel. "There's nothing to talk about."

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Ava grabbed his arm, her fingers tight around his wrist.

"Lucas..."

"I said," he ground out, "there is nothing to talk about." His eyes were cold, unreadable. "You have five minutes to get to the car, or I'll have Kade drag you out of here. Is that what you want?"

Ava swallowed hard. "Lucas... look at me. Please."