Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 63: Fire

Chapter 63: Fire

He stormed toward the balcony, shoving the doors open with too much force. The cool evening air hit his face, but it did nothing to soothe the fire raging inside him.

Lucas gripped the railing, his knuckles turning white.

His throat tightened.

His heart pounded so hard it hurt.

There was no way.

No way Ava could be betraying him.

That was... That was impossible.

His breathing grew shallow, uneven. He was struggling to draw breath into his lungs, as if the mere thought of Ava’s betrayal was suffocating him.

Dorian’s words echoed in his mind, mixing with the memories he didn’t want to revisit.

Years ago, Dorian had warned him then, too. About Dennis. Lucas had laughed it off, had told Dorian he was being paranoid, that his own brother would never stab him in the back.

Yet that was exactly what Dennis had been doing. He had been plotting and scheming.

Waiting for the right moment to take everything from him.

Lucas had learned his lesson that day.

Or had he?

A sick feeling twisted in his stomach.

Dorian had been right before.

Could he be right again?

Lucas squeezed his eyes shut.

No. Ava wasn’t Dennis.

She wasn’t like that.

She was the first woman he had let into his heart since Mara.

His mind recoiled at the thought, but it was too late. The name had been spoken, even if only in his head.

Mara who had rejected him and still died because of him.

Mara, whose memory he had buried beneath layers of rage, duty, and survival.

For years, he had told himself that love was a weakness. That he didn’t need it. That he wouldn’t make that mistake again.

And then... Ava had stormed into his life like a wildfire, burning through every wall he had built with terrifying ease. and since the Moon Goddess loved messing with him, she turned out to be Mara and Wishbone’s daughter.

She was his match. Fierce and stubborn. Unapologetically herself.

Now he had to consider the possibility that she was also a liar.

He forced his breathing to steady, dragging air into his lungs, forcing his wolf to calm.

Ava had saved his life.

Why would she do that if she was plotting against him?

Unless...

Unless it had all been part of a bigger plan.

Lucas slammed his fist against the balcony railing, the metal groaning under his strength.

He was going in circles.

*****

Ava strolled along the winding paths of the compound, enjoying the familiar routine of her evening walk.

Her boots crunched against the gravel as she absentmindedly traced her usual path. It was one of the few moments in her day where she could just breathe.

A heavy presence moved in from behind.

She turned just in time to see Beta Dorian storming toward her, his face locked in that signature expression of self-righteous authority that she had come to loathe.

Behind him, a handful of Gammas trailed in his wake, their movements sharp and purposeful. Among them, Kade.

Ava stopped walking, tilting her head slightly.

"What’s going on?" she asked, folding her arms.

Dorian didn’t even acknowledge her.

Instead, he turned to Kade, his voice firm and unyielding.

"Seize her."

Zari, who had been standing nearby, took a sharp step forward, her voice edged with disbelief.

"What are you doing?" she demanded.

Doctor Mary, who had been speaking with Zari just moments before, joined in.

"You cannot treat her like that!" she argued, her eyes flashing with defiance.

But it was already too late.

Kade grabbed Ava’s arm, his grip firm but hesitant.

She could feel the undercurrent of reluctance in his hold, the slight hesitation in his movements.

Kade didn’t want to do this.

Not really. But he did it anyway.

Because that’s what loyal soldiers do.

Ava could have fought them.

She could have struggled, argued, screamed but she didn’t.

Instead, she lifted her chin proudly, her back straight as she let them lead her away.

Not because she was guilty.

But because she refused to give Dorian the satisfaction of seeing her break.

The walk to the dungeons was too long and too short all at once.

When they finally shoved her through the iron gate, a loud clang echoed through the stone walls, reverberating into the still, stale air of the underground cells.

Ava turned slowly, her gaze locked on Dorian’s face as she spoke, voice cold and measured.

"What have I done?"

Dorian’s smirk was infuriating.

"You’re going to be interrogated," he said smoothly, relishing every word.

A beat of silence.

"For suspicions of treason."

Ava’s stomach dropped.

She stared at him, searching his face for any sign that this was some kind of sick joke.

"Treason?" she repeated.

Her gaze flickered toward Kade, searching for some reassurance, some indication that this was all just a misunderstanding.

But Kade averted his eyes.

That was when she knew.

This wasn’t a joke.

"Where’s Lucas?" she demanded, her voice sharper now.

Dorian’s grin widened.

"He won’t be able to help you."

Ava’s stomach twisted.

No. That wasn’t possible.

Lucas wouldn’t let this happen.

He couldn’t.

But Dorian was still talking, his voice mockingly sweet.

"I told you I’d keep my eyes on you, didn’t I?"

Ava’s hands clenched into tight fists.

She had known that Dorian hated her.

But this? This was low, even for him.

"Whatever you think you found," she said, voice deadly calm, "you put there."

Dorian laughed.

Then, with an exaggerated shrug, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Ava inhaled deeply, forcing the rising panic to suffocate itself.

She would not break.

She would not give them the satisfaction.

She turned toward Kade, who still stood rigidly at attention, his posture stiff and unnaturally forced.

"Kade," she said, her voice softer now. "You cannot honestly believe I’m guilty of what he’s accusing me of."

A shadow flickered across Kade’s face, too quick to catch fully.

"I warned you, Ava," he said. "You didn’t listen."

He shook his head, as if this was her fault.

"This is what you get."

"Then get a message to Lucas for me," she said, trying again.

Kade’s jaw tightened.

"You don’t get it yet, do you?" he snapped, his voice rising in frustration.

"He doesn’t care about you."

The words hit harder than she expected.

Ava blinked, momentarily thrown off balance.

"You’re lying," she said quickly, her voice stronger than she felt.

She let out a breath, shaking her head.

"You’re saying that just because you’re jealous."

Kade’s expression darkened.

"Yes, we had a thing a long time ago," she continued, voice sharp. "I was confused back then. But quit acting like a heartbroken girl."

Kade flinched, his fingers twitching.

Ava narrowed her eyes.

Lucas cared about her.

She knew he did.

Kade’s lips curled into a cruel smirk.

"If that’s true," he said, stepping forward, "then tell me this."

Ava’s heart pounded.

"Why is he with Sarah right now," Kade said slowly, "while you’re in here?"

The air sucked out of her lungs.

She took a step back.

There was no way Lucas knew she was in here and wasn’t doing something about it.

No way.

...Right? She swallowed, her throat suddenly aching.

Kade just watched her, his silence speaking louder than any words.