Crowned by the enemy Alpha

Bad timing

CHAPTER 6

~KAELAN~•

I stare at Lyria on the balcony, moonlight turning her hair to silver, and I know…I know I can’t fall in love with her.

She’s a tool. A means to an end. Something I acquired to hurt Damon, nothing more.

But the woman standing beside me doesn’t look like a tool. She looks like temptation wrapped in starlight.

“Lucky for you, I get to decide what you deserve,” she whispers, her hand still cupping my face.

My body moves before my mind can stop it. I lean down, drawn by something stronger than logic or revenge. My lips barely brush against hers, the softest touch, a question more than a kiss, when a throat clears behind us.

“Alpha. My apologies for the interruption.”

I jerk back, fury blazing through my veins. Lyria’s eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed, and I want to throw my Beta off the damn balcony for this timing.

“Finn,” I growl. “This had better be important.”

“It is, Alpha. We need to speak. Privately.”

I turn to Lyria, forcing my voice to soften. “Take care. Get some rest.”

She nods, confusion flickering across her face as she slips past us into her room. The door closes with a soft click, and I round on Finn.

“What could possibly be more important than the moment you just destroyed?”

Finn’s eyebrows shoot up. “Do you mean that?”

“What?”

“The moment. You said I destroyed a moment.” He crosses his arms, studying me like I’m a puzzle he can’t solve. “This is the woman you bought to use against Damon. The tool in your revenge plan. Since when do tools deserve moments?”

I stalk away from the balcony, heading toward my chambers. Finn follows, his footsteps steady behind me. When we’re inside with the door firmly closed, I pour myself a drink I don’t really want.

“What did you want to discuss?” I ask, not looking at him.

“No.” Finn moves to stand in front of me, blocking my view of the window. “First, you’re going to tell me if you have feelings for her.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is when you’re my Alpha and my best friend. It is when I’ve watched you build this entire elaborate revenge plot around a woman you’re supposed to be using.” His voice gentles slightly. “Kaelan, do you have feelings for Lyria?”

The question hangs in the air between us. I should have an immediate answer. I should laugh it off, remind him of the plan, pour another drink.

Instead, I’m quiet. Too quiet.

“Kaelan…”

“Cut it, Finn.”

“No.”

I set down my glass with more force than necessary. “She’s a tool. A weapon I’m using against Damon. That’s all she’s ever been, and that’s all she’ll ever be. I don’t see myself falling for her.”

The words taste like ash in my mouth, but I force them out anyway. They need to be said. They need to be true.

“I bought her to hurt him,” I continue, my voice hardening. “To show him that what he threw away, I could claim and make better. To parade her in front of him as my Luna while he’s stuck with that scheming sister of hers. It’s about revenge, Finn. It’s always been about revenge.”

The moment the words left my lips, the door burst open.

Lyria stands in the doorway, her face pale. She’s holding a book, probably came to return it or ask a question. Her eyes meet mine, and I see the exact moment my words register.

“I…” She forces a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Sorry. Wrong time. I’ll just… I’ll go.”

She’s gone before I can move, the door clicking shut behind her.

Finn and I exchange a glance.

“Well,” he says quietly. “That’s unfortunate.”

I’m already moving toward the door, but Finn catches my arm.

“Wait. Think about what you’re going to say. Because right now, you don’t even know if you were lying or telling the truth.”

His words stop me cold.

He’s right. When I said those things—when I called her a tool, claimed I’d never fall for her—was I speaking the truth? Or was I trying to convince myself of something that stopped being true weeks ago?

“f**k,” I breathe.

“Yeah,” Finn agrees. “So. What are you going to do about it?”