Chapter 271 A Warning Over Tea

Chapter 271: Chapter 271 A Warning Over Tea

The Clearhaven hid behind a wall of manicured hedges, its pale stone fa?ade glowing in the afternoon sun. Inside, servers moved quietly between tables, pouring tea into fine porcelain cups and speaking in voices barely above a whisper.

At a private table, Alpha Killian sat across from Vincent. Lainey was beside her brother, while Henry Crawford held the head chair, perfectly at ease in the place of authority.

He noticed the tension at once.

The Crawfords, Reeds, and Sterlings had stood together for generations. Their children, however, had found plenty of reasons to turn old alliances into personal grudges.

Alpha Henry lifted his teacup. "Chamomile, Killian? Since when?"

"About a month ago."

"That’s a sudden change."

"Someone gave it to me."

Alpha Henry’s gaze flicked toward Lainey, then back to him. "A man or a woman?"

"Someone I care about."

Vincent’s jaw tightened."What’s so special about her?"

Alpha Killian set down his cup. His expression cooled. "If you can’t see it, that’s your problem. Not hers."

"Killian—"

"Vincent." Lainey touched his arm. "Don’t start."

Alpha Henry ignored the tension and looked at his daughter. "You know her?"

Lainey’s smile held, but her fingers tightened around her napkin. "We’ve met."

"At my estate," Alpha Killian added.

The answer changed the air at the table.

Alpha Henry’s brows rose. Whoever the woman was, she had been inside Alpha Killian’s home. That meant she was more than a passing interest.

"Which Pack is she from?" Alpha Henry asked. "She must be someone special to catch your attention."

Vincent gave a short, bitter laugh. "She doesn’t come from a Pack. She grew up in foster care."

The words landed hard.

Alpha Killian’s silver eyes turned cold.

"Eira may not have a powerful family behind her," he said, his voice low and even, "but she has more loyalty and class than the woman you keep making excuses for."

Vincent shoved his chair back.

"Watch your mouth."

"Why?" Alpha Killian asked. "Did I touch a nerve?"

Vincent rose, the chair legs scraping across the hardwood. His wolf pressed close beneath his skin, anger flashing in his eyes.

Alpha Killian remained seated.

He simply looked up at him.

The difference was unmistakable. Vincent was standing because he had lost control. Alpha Killian did not need to stand to own the room.

Alpha Henry’s easy expression disappeared.

"Sit down."

Vincent froze.

Alpha Henry’s voice sharpened. "That wasn’t a suggestion."

For a moment, no one moved.

Then Vincent slowly lowered himself back into his chair, his fists clenched beneath the table.

Alpha Killian picked up his teacup again as if nothing had happened.

Vincent’s expression hardened."So you’ll tear one woman down just to defend another?"

"At least you understand what I’m doing," Alpha Killian said.

Vincent’s jaw tightened. "Eira grew up in foster care. That’s a fact. I’m not insulting her by saying it."

"And I’m stating a fact too."

"Serena isn’t like her." Vincent’s voice sharpened. "Eira is divorced, and you’re acting like she’s some kind of saint. You have a strange taste in women, Sterling."

Alpha Killian’s smile turned cold.

"We’re not teenagers anymore. Everyone comes with a history. Eira has one. Serena has..." His gaze flicked over Vincent. "What exactly is it you enjoy, Vincent? Cleaning up after another man and calling it loyalty?"

The words struck hard.

Vincent’s face flushed all the way to his collar. It wasn’t only the insult to Serena. Alpha Killian had reduced him to a fool in front of his father, and Vincent had no way to answer without making himself look even worse.

"Killian," Lainey said quickly. "Enough. If you two want to settle personal business, take it outside. Dad is sitting right here."

"It’s fine," Alpha Henry said.

His tone was mild, but the quiet authority beneath it stilled the table.

"Actually, I’d like to know," he continued. "What kind of woman has my son defending her like this?"

Vincent’s stomach tightened.

"Dad, don’t judge her based on someone else’s version of the story. Meet her yourself."

The last thing he wanted was for Alpha Henry to hear only Alpha Killian’s side and write Serena off before understanding what had happened.

Alpha Killian leaned back, one hand resting against the arm of his chair.

"I’m guessing Lainey hasn’t told you how this morning’s hearing went."

Lainey’s expression tightened.

"I’ll explain later," she said. "Can we please stop tearing people apart over lunch? You don’t want anyone discussing Eira, and Vincent doesn’t want anyone discussing Serena. Same instinct, different target."

She looked between the two men.

"So call a truce."

The plea in her voice was quiet but unmistakable.

Vincent backed down first. He pressed his lips together and looked away.

Alpha Killian could have pushed harder. Everyone at the table knew it. Instead, he let the moment die.

Lainey released a slow breath.

Alpha Henry said nothing, but he stored both names away.

Serena would be easy enough to investigate.

Eira was different. She was under Alpha Killian’s protection, and that alone made her dangerous to approach casually.

After lunch, they walked through the Clearhaven grounds. Alpha Henry’s assistant followed a few steps behind, while Alpha Killian moved between Kate and Natalie.

The gardens were immaculate, all clipped hedges, winter roses, and stone paths wet with rain. Together, the group looked like old power on display.

Their conversation shifted to contracts, territory boundaries, Pack security, and upcoming alliances.

By silent agreement, neither Alpha Killian nor Vincent mentioned Eira or Serena again.