Chapter 81
I turned to see Erie waving at me from the door. “What’s up?” I asked, glad for the interruption. Anything was better than the awkward confrontation with Ryan.
As I approached Eric. he glanced over my shoulder at Ryan, still standing there in a daze. “Did Lirian not show up today?” Eric asked, seemingly unaware of the situation.
I shook my head. “No, he didn’t. I was just about to call and check in on him.”
Eric nodded thoughtfully. “I heard he got hurt. I was thinking of checking on him after school. Do you want to come with me?”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat at the mention of Lirian being injured. “Injured? What happened?” I asked, unable to hide the concern that laced my voice.
Eric sighed, his usual laid–back demeanor darkened. “Lirian… he’s the hardest person I’ve ever seen
on himself.
Always pushing, always chasing power. Day and night, training non–stop. Injuries for him are normal, but this time… it seems worse.” Eric hesitated, his eyes shifting as if weighing whether to say
more..
My pulse quickened. “Worse? How bad?”
He glanced away, his voice lowering. “He didn’t show up at school this time. I guess… one, he’s hurt very badly. Second is…” Eric trailed off.
I frowned, not quite understanding. “second is what?”
Eric looked at me seriously, his words measured. “second is… he doesn’t want you to worry.
My stomach tightened, a mix of dread and confusion churning inside me. Lirian didn’t want meto worry? Why wouldn’t he tell me if something serious had happened? All this sounded confusing and
worrisome to me..
That afternoon, Eric and I were supposed to visit Lirian together, but an impromptu task came up for him, leaving me to go alone. As the time approached, my nerves frayed. The Iron Claw Pack’s territory wasn’t exactly a place people casually visited.
There were countless rumors about the wolves there–rumors that made my steps heavier as 1 peared the border.
1 People whispered that the Iron Claw wolves were cruel, hardened by generations of bloodshed and ruthless training. They were said to be territorial to the extreme, ready to tear apart anyone they. didn’t trust or who dared to challenge their authority.
Many avoided their lands altogether, afraid of provoking even the slightest confrontation. I had never given the rumors much thought before, but now they gnawed at me.
When I reached the border of the Iron Claw Pack, a warrior stopped me. His sharp, calculating gaze scanned me before confirming my identity and letting me through. As I passed, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of those rumors pressing down on me.
The territory beyond the border was vast and isolated, giving off an eerie sense of power and silence, as if the land itself held its breath.
The villa where Lirian lived stood tall on top of a hill, surrounded by thick, green trees. Its stone walls were strong and tall, with narrow windows that let in just a little light. The garden had neat hedges and paths that twisted through the land.
Though it was large and beautiful, the villa felt cold and quiet, more like a fortress than a home, matching the serious people who lived there., perched on a hill overlooking a dense forest.
The view was breathtaking yet severe, the stone structure reflecting the iron will of those who lived
within.
The steward who greeted me was polite but clearly surprised. “Miss Sophia?” he asked, raising an eyebrow as if he couldn’t quite believe I had come to visit. “It’s unusual for anyone to visit young Master Lirian. He doesn’t seem to keep… friends.”
I smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to that. “Well, I wanted to check on him.”
The steward nodded but gave me a concerned look. “He’s been pushing himself too hard lately. The young master is very skilled, but even he needs rest. If you could, Miss, perhaps you could persuade him to take it easy?”
I wasn’t sure how much influence I had over Lirian, but I followed the steward down the long, cpld. hallways until we reached Lirian’s room. The tension in my chest grew with each step.
When we arrived at his door, the steward knocked before opening it gently. “Young Sophia is here.”
ng master,
Miss
I peeked inside and saw Lirian sitting on the floor, shirtless, carefully tending to his wounds. His strong, muscular body was covered with bandages that wrapped tightly around his chest, some of them soaked with fresh blood.
The Alpha’s Sidestitute Luna A Heart Claimed. A Saul Reborn
46.95
His usually flawless skin was now marked by cuts and bruises, a sharp reminder of his intense
training. Under the soft, dim light, his skin gleamed slightly, highlighting every curve and line of his. Joned physique.
