Chapter 134: The Truth
LUCIAN’S P.O.V.
The silence was heavy, pressing against my skin as I stood in the center of the meeting hall. I could feel the tension humming in the air like a taut string ready to snap. The rustling of fabric, the shifting of feet—these small sounds were amplified in my world of darkness, painting a vivid picture of the unease surrounding me.
Then, a voice I knew all too well broke through the stillness.
"Lucian," Maverick drawled, his tone dripping with a smugness that made Ares stir restlessly in my mind. "It’s about time you showed up. The pack deserves answers."
I clenched my jaw, recognizing him instantly. Maverick, the eldest son of my father’s younger brother, had always been a thorn in my side. Though he carried the Alpha gene, he lacked the strength, the charisma, and, frankly, the loyalty that made a true leader. Still, his hunger for power was insatiable, and my prolonged absence had undoubtedly emboldened him.
Ares growled low in my head. "He’s challenging us, Lucian. Let me out. I’ll shut him up for good."
I couldn’t argue with his assessment—Maverick’s tone, his words, the barely concealed hostility were all signs of a challenge. But I wasn’t about to let Ares take over. Not yet.
"Calm down, Ares," I replied internally, my tone firm but steady. "This isn’t the time for that. Let me handle it."
Maverick stepped forward, his boots scraping against the wooden floor. I could hear the smirk in his voice as he continued. "Three months, Lucian. You’ve been gone for three long months without so much as a word to the pack. You left us with Rylan spinning tales that didn’t hold water, and now you waltz in like nothing happened? The pack deserves better."