Chapter 162: Willow’s Dilemma (ii)

AYLA

"What do you mean?" Ayla stared at Willow.

"I heard you two talking about an escape." she said, slowly walking into the room and closing the door behind her.

Ayla’s heart slammed against her ribs. Amara, however, chuckled.

"An escape?" She shook her head. "You are delusional, Willow."

Willow’s eyes darted between them.

"Please." She stepped closer. "Please, I heard you."

Ayla said nothing, her mind racing.

How much had she heard? Had she heard everything? If Willow went to Lucius now, everything would be ruined.

Ayla’s palms became damp. She could feel Nyx stirring inside her, the wolf sensed her fear.

Willow moved closer.

"I cannot stay here." Her voice cracked. "I cannot keep doing whatever Lucius wants. Please." she said, reaching out to grab Ayla’s hand.

Ayla’s eyes immediately dropped to their joined hands then slowly rose to Willow’s face.

"If you are both thinking of escaping, then you have to involve me."

"Are you drunk?" Amara cut her off." "Touching your mistress like that? Get your hands off her."

Willow looked at Ayla.

"Ayla, please."

Something inside Ayla twisted.

For a brief moment, she saw something other than the girl who had spent so much of her life tormenting her.

She saw a frightened young woman.

Ayla understood that feeling well enough.

But this was Willow who had never let her have a moment’s peace in her life. Willow had humiliated her all her life with constant reminder of how she was beneath her.

This could also be a ruse... a ploy to get information to Lucius and she was banking on Ayla’s empathy.

"How dare you touch me?" Ayla snatched her hand back.

Willow froze.

"You forget your place, handmaid."

The words seemed to snap something back into Willow. Her eyes cleared and she took a step backward.

"My apologies. I thought..."

"You thought wrong." Ayla glared at her. "Now run along and get to your duties."

Willow stared at her for another second then she bowed.

"Yes, my lady." She turned and walked toward the door.

Ayla heaved a sigh of relief as she listened to Willow’s footsteps retreat until she could hear it no more.

She pressed a hand to her chest where her heart was still trying to beat its way out.

"That was close," she whispered, turning to Amara.

"We need to keep an eye on that one. Lucius has her watching you, that much is obvious."

Ayla’s stomach turned. "Are you saying she will tell Lucius what she heard?"

"She will not be able to prove it." Amara responded. "Do not worry. I will get to her before that happens."

She crossed to the door and paused with her hand on the latch, looking back over her shoulder.

"Remain here," she said to Ayla "I will be back."

Ayla nodded.

Amara stepped into the hallway and the door closed behind her.

Ayla remained standing in the middle of the room. She felt terrible about Willow but she could not trust her... not for anything in the world.

...

Lucius paced inside his study. His anger had not diminished... if anything, it had grown.

Ares Rykeron.

He could hardly believe it. Ares was doing exactly what Lucius had once done to him... bringing the war to his borders, attacking his territory.

It would have been amusing if it were not so irritating.

Lucius stopped near the window, his hands curled into fists.

The people of Emberfall were rogues, every last one of them and they had chosen him as their Alpha. They respected him and feared him but that did not mean they would continue sitting quietly while their villages were attacked.

If the siege dragged on and Ares pressed them hard enough, they would melt back into the wilds they had crawled out of, return to the life they had always known...go rogue again and once that happened, Lucius would lose control of them.

He could not allow that.

He had to end this. End Ares, and the other princes with him...

There was only one solution.

The Alpha Council. They could rally behind him.

They had power, influence and men and if they united against the northern territory then Ares would not stand a chance.

Kieran and his little bastard spawns had no idea what they were about to face.

He walked toward his desk and picked up the note from the Alpha Council. He had delayed answering them long enough.

Lucius pulled open the drawer, took out a sheet of paper and a pen and sat down.

His hand moved quickly across the page.

He was almost finished when the door opened and Willow walked inside.

Lucius barely looked up.

"What are you doing here?" He set the pen down with careful control.

Willow hesitated on the threshold, then stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "I was just... I wanted to see you."

"I do not have the time for this, Willow. I am busy."

Willow crossed the room and came behind his chair. Her hands settled on his shoulders, kneading the tight cords of muscle there.

Lucius felt some of the tension ease out of him. He let out a long breath and let his head tip forward, as she worked her thumbs into the knot at the base of his neck.

"Busy doing what?" she murmured, her eyes flying over the paper in front of him.

Her eyes widened.

Alpha Council, she read

She had heard those words from Ayla just moments ago. What did it mean and why was Lucius sending them a letter. She assumed it was a them with the way he addressed it.

Lucius twisted in the chair, turning around to face her.

"Have you anything for me concerning Ayla?" he asked. "I assume that is why you are here."

"Yes. I mean, no. I just wanted to see you."

Lucius studied her.

She had a blush on her face like a desperate hound.

"Listen to me, Willow." He stood. "You and I fuck once in a while. That is all there is to it. Do you understand?"

He watched Willow’s face fall..

"Yes... of course."

"Good. You are excused."

She walked away without protest, the door closing behind her with a quiet click.

He shook his head. He did not have time for her or her moods. He crossed to the door and opened it. A guard snapped to attention.

"Send a rider with this." He held out the letter. " It must reach its location before nightfall."

The guard took it, bowed, and hurried down the corridor.

A slow smile spread across his face.

Everything was falling into place. Ares had made his move and now Lucius would make his and this time, he would not be the one running.

...

Willow walked quickly through the corridor, her heart was beating wildly.

She did not bother knocking on Ayla’s door before she pushed it open.

Ayla rose from the chair by the window, eyes narrowing. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Lucius is sending a letter to the Alpha Council," she said. "He is asking them for help against Ares. If there is anything you are going to do, then I suggest you do it now."

She did not wait for an answer before she turned and walked out, leaving Ayla staring at her in open mouthed shock.