The trembling oga’s breath ca out unevenly, his shoulders quivering. Rhea’s gaze softened, though her tone didn’t. "Don’t panic," she said curtly. "You shaking like that isn’t helping anyone."
Another heavy thud rattled the door.
"I know you’re in there, Roff! Open up this instant!"
Rhea groaned under her breath. "What does that annoying walking corpse want now?" she hissed.
The oga’s voice cracked as he whispered, "Is that... Sir Eberhard?"
"Unfortunately." Rhea’s lips curved into a humorless smirk. "The one and only."
Another heavy knock landed, loud enough to make the hinges creak.
"Roff!" Eberhard barked again, tone sharp as steel. "Open this door imdiately!"
The oga flinched. "What are we going to do?" he whispered, voice trembling. "They’ll definitely punish us for being found here...in Roff’s room."
Rhea’s eyes narrowed. "First," she said, stepping closer, "you’re going to stop trembling like a leaf. And second..." she paused as another bang ca, harder than the rest. "...nobody is punishing anyone. Not while I’m here."
"You don’t understand," the oga said, voice breaking. "Ogas aren’t allowed to be with another male that’s not their mate."
"Oh, shush it." Rhea said, irritation threading through her tone. "They were the ones trying to force themselves on you. If anyone should be punished, it’s the idiots who ignored you when you needed help."
The oga blinked at her, stunned. For a mont, he just stared, his fear giving way to quiet awe. This couldn’t be the sa girl everyone called filth, traitor, unfit to be Alpha’s mate. If only they knew , he couldn’t believes she was the only one who’d actually stood up for him.
"Rhea!"
The voice outside made the oga stiffen violently. His eyes widened further, face draining of color. "Th—that’s the Alpha," he gasped.
"I know." Rhea’s tone was flat. "Let’s just open it and see what they want."
"Are... are you sure?" he asked, voice small.
"Yeah. Stay here. I’ll check what the damn commotion’s about."
He nodded hesitantly, clutching his arm, as Rhea moved toward the door.
Outside, the air was tense, everyone was waiting. Nikki, of course, was at the front, lips twitching with smug excitent.
"They probably don’t want to open it because they’re about to be caught red-handed," she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Ares’s jaw flexed, his patience thinning. "Ellie," he said lowly, "break it down."
Eberhard imdiately stepped aside, giving the Beta space. Ellie exhaled, flexing her leg, ready to slam into the door, when it suddenly flung open.
His leg froze mid-air before he awkwardly lowered it, eyes widening at the sight before Rhea. She stood in the doorway, calm and unimpressed, clearly wearing his favorite T-shirt and his jeans?
"You’re... really in there?" Ellie asked, disbelief coating his voice.
"See, Alpha?" Nikki jumped in imdiately, pointing accusingly. "She’s even wearing Roff’s clothes, she must’ve rushed to dress before opening the door!"
Rhea stared at her like she’d just declared herself Queen of the Idiots.
From the crowd, Seraphine’s lips tightened. Lyra and Lena exchanged uneasy glances. Even Marta frowned — they had seen Rhea in that sa outfit earlier in the day, long before the supposed scandal.
Ares’s gaze swept over Rhea, his eyes lingering on the loose shirt and jeans. His expression hardened. "What’s the aning of this?" he demanded.
The crowd murmured behind him, tension rippling through the hall.
"What’s the aning of what?" Rhea asked lazily, leaning against the doorfra, eyes flicking across the crowd behind him. "What’s going on here, what’s with all these people?"
"Stop feigning ignorance!" Nikki snapped, stepping forward. "Just call Roff out already, we know what you’ve been doing."
"What I’ve been doing?" Rhea she echoed, genuinely confused. "You’re going to have to be a little clearer, pink."
Eberhard, tired of the stalling, shoved past her, only to stop dead in his track, eyes widening.
Rhea turned sharply, frowning as Ellie pushed the door wider — revealing the chaos inside.
The collective gasp from the crowd followed almost instantly.
Two n lay sprawled out cold on the floor, and Roff was groaning weakly, half-conscious near the bed, clutching his mangled arm.
Nikki stord inside, face pale, voice shaking. "W–what’s going on here?"
"I should be the one asking you that," Rhea said flatly, folding her arms.
The crowd broke into a wave of whispers, ncks craning to get a glimpse.
"Is that... Is that Tavian?" soone asked, pointing toward the frightened male oga pressed close to the wall.
Rhea followed their gaze. "Tavian?" she repeated, testing the na. "That’s your na?"
He nodded, hesitantly.
"Hmm," she said with a faint smirk. "I like it. It suits you."
Tavian blinked at her, utterly dumbfounded. Was she seriously complinting his na. Right now? Any sane oga would be trembling in fear at being caught like this, and she stood there all calm and unbothered talking about his na?
He swallowed hard. Rhea was either the bravest girl he’d ever t, or completely unhinged.
"What happened here?" Ares’s voice cut through the low murmurs, deep and sharp with disbelief as his gaze swept the room.
"Nothing much," Rhea said coolly, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve. "They were being idiots, so I handled them like idiots."
A murmur ran through the gathered pack. Eberhard blinked, his disbelief bordering on offense. "That’s impossible," he said tightly. "You expect us to believe you did this?"
Rhea arched an eyebrow, expression dry. "Do I look like I care what you believe?"
Ellie, who had been silently scanning the room, felt his stomach twist.
She actually did this? His eyes darted between the unconscious n and Rhea, who looked completely unfazed There was no trace of panic, no sign of fear, just calm irritation. She had sa look when she dealt with Eberhard and his cohorts.
Sothing isn’t right. There’s no way she could have done all these. unease crept down his spine. Ogas weren’t built to take down wolves higher in ranks and she’s a wolf-less one. But then again... who else could it have been?
This was not the girl he used to know. What happened to you? he wondered, watching her as if seeing her for the first ti.
Reviews
All reviews (0)