The Witch and Her Four Dangerous Alphas

Aeron's POV

Cyrus was still standing by the door, mid-sentence, when both of us felt it—faint at first, but unmistakable. The scent of iron and pine needles, clipped and cold. Kael.

I glanced toward the entrance before Cyrus even turned. His posture stiffened immediately, his throat bobbing once. His words stopped altogether, buried under the weight of tension that now filled the room.

I knew what he was thinking. He wasn't worried about Kael. He was terrified of what would happen if Kael realized he'd been reporting to me behind his back. I had no fear of my brother knowing. 

I didn't hide my thoughts, and Kael would never confront me directly. But for Cyrus, a beta, loyalty ran in a different current. Reporting on his own Alpha's brother was as close to treason as one could get in this pack.

He swallowed again as the door opened.

Kael stepped in quietly, his expression composed, but eyes distant. He was holding something—thick parchment, sealed in wax as red as dried blood. The moment I saw the crest pressed into it, I straightened in my chair.

Cyrus gave a stiff bow, trying to act like he hadn't just been reporting on Kael seconds earlier. "Alpha Kael," he murmured.

Kael glanced at him and paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Why do you look like someone just dragged you through the swamps?"

Cyrus stiffened more, eyes darting between us. The panic on his face was almost comedic.

"He's fine," I said smoothly before Cyrus could fumble a reply. "Just upset. His girl friend cheated on him. With a kitchen guard, I believe."

Cyrus made a choking sound. "What—? That's not—!"

But the look I gave him silenced the rest of his outburst. I didn't even have to speak. His mouth snapped shut with a quiet click.

Kael turned to me, then back at Cyrus with raised brows. "…Damn. That's rough."

The poor man looked like he was about to faint. Kael even gave him a look that bordered on pity, which only made it worse. 

I could almost hear the curses Cyrus was muttering inside his head as he turned and excused himself with a stammered bow, mumbling something about reports and patrols and goddess-knows-what else before he disappeared out the door like a puff of smoke.

I didn't smirk. But I felt the corner of my mouth twitch.

Kael stepped forward and placed the sealed letter on my desk. "This just arrived. Hand-delivered by a pair of royal knights."

That pulled the humor out of the air. I stared at the seal again. The Royal Crest of the Lycan Rulers. A crown surrounded by fangs and a crescent moon. Official. Binding.

I broke the wax with my dagger and unfolded the thick parchment slowly. My eyes scanned the page once. Then again.

"He's coming here," I said flatly.

Kael sank into the chair across from me, arms crossed. "He, as in the prince?"

"Yes. The heir to the throne. He's coming to attend our coronation in person."

Kael leaned back slightly, brows drawing together. "That's… unusual."

"Very."

The letter was written in flowery formal script, filled with unnecessary niceties. It congratulated us on our victory, praised our 'resilience and leadership,' and offered the prince's personal presence to honor our rise to full Alpha status. It sounded generous, noble and prestigious.

But I didn't believe a word of it.

Kael didn't either.

"If it were anyone else," I said slowly, "they'd be celebrating or throwing feasts. Announcing it to the whole pack."

Kael shook his head. "He's never attended any coronation in the last years. Not even the Central Warden's eldest son, and that was a big one."

"And he's coming four days early," I added. "That doesn't sit right."

Kael was quiet for a moment, his fingers tapping the edge of the desk. "Do you think he suspects something? About how we handled the Crimson Fang?"

"No," I said firmly. "Our actions were within the law of war. The Council's endorsement secured that."

"Then what?"

I stared at the letter, the ink still shining faintly. "Either he wants something from us… or he wants to observe something. Maybe someone."

Kael's gaze darkened. "Selene."

"That would be my guess."

Because both of us knew the history between the royal heir and Selene.

The only thing uncertain now… was just how far the prince was willing to go for her.

Kael exhaled through his nose and looked away. His fingers curled slightly on the armrest. I noticed, but didn't comment. We both had reasons to distrust the Royal Pack. Their interest in our affairs never came without a price.

Still… refusing the prince wasn't an option.

I looked back at him. "We let him come and treat him best. Pretend like we don't suspect anything."

"Even if he's here to dig up our past?"

"We have nothing to hide," I said. "And if he's here for Selene, then we'll watch him just as closely as he watches us."

Kael gave a slow nod.

"We'll need proper arrangements made," I said, standing. "We don't have a Luna, so Gamma Thorne will handle it. Let him know the prince arrives within a day. Prepare the best chambers as royal guest quarters. Assign elite patrols to the perimeter. No mistakes."

Kael stood as well. "And Selene?"

"Keep her away from him—for now."

He gave a brief nod and exited, the door clicking shut behind him.

I turned my eyes back to the letter, fingers tightening around the edges of the parchment. The royal seal stared back at me like a silent warning, its golden emblem gleaming under the lantern light.

A royal visit was never just a visit.

It was a message. A reminder. A test.

The heir wouldn't come all this way without purpose.

He wanted to see if we were weak, disorganized or divided.

And I had no intention of giving him that satisfaction.

Not now. Not ever.

Not when the fate of the Silver Dawn Pack was still hanging by threads I was barely holding together.