Help! Five Beast Alphas Want To Breed Me!!(BL)-Chapter 317: To trust my intuition?

Koda;

The moment I step into the hall, my steps stop, and the chatter fades.

There she is.

Standing in the middle of the crowd, hands folded neatly in front of her, posture straight as ever, and expression calm.

She may have stayed only a few days at Nagari, but it seems to have done wonders for her. She looks... clean.

I don’t know if that’s the word, but she just looks so... bright... healthy... clean.

She holds my gaze in a way she’s never done before as she bows so deeply, I fear her back might break.

"Alpha Koda..." She greets, and I blink.

I incline my head to acknowledge her greeting, as just gawking at her would be awkward.

"Alana. You made it safely." I speak as she straightens and a small smile splits her face.

"Yes," she replies softly.

"By the goddess’s grace. The journey back was uneventful."

Uneventful.

That alone should have reassured me. But instead, the faint weight in my chest settles deeper.

She steps forward, stopping at a proper distance.

She does not rush... or hesitate. She looks like someone who has already rehearsed this moment in her head and arrived with all the correct words prepared.

Words intended to hide things.

"I’m sorry I had to leave Master Elián so suddenly," she says, softly.

"It... saddens me greatly." She adds, and although her tone is respectful, and her words are right.

Something feels... wrong.

She does not look like someone freshly torn from the side of the man she serves with her whole heart.

And that’s weird. The days she spent here without Elián, I could see the misery in her face. And now... being freshly torn away from him, she’s... unaffected? So... accepting of it?

Something definitely happened at Nagari that no one is telling me about.

"I understand it wasn’t an easy decision," I reply, with a nod, and she inclines her head in response.

"No. But it was the best option available." She replies with a small smile, and my heart skips.

There it is again.

Best option.

What were the other options!?? Why does it feel like the truth is hiding in plain sight right in front of me??

I study her more carefully now, letting my silence stretch. Alana does not fidget beneath my gaze. She meets it briefly, then lowers her eyes as expected.

But there was something about the way her gaze lingered. With this bravery, she hadn’t possessed just days before.

"Master Elián was very worried about you, Alpha," she continues, keeping her gaze on the floor.

"About Gravemaw... About the strain you must be under." She adds, and I take a deep breath.

That... is believable. Elián worries about everyone.

Even too much sometimes. So it’s almost believable to think he sent her back because he is worried, but my instincts...

Why am I restless with this arrival?

First, Alpha Liandria... and now, Alana.

"He instructed me to return," Alana breaks into my thoughts smoothly,

"He... instructed me to assist where I can. To help ease the workload so things may progress faster. So we can return to him sooner." She adds, and the words strike me.

Return to him.

Her lips curve into a faint smile at the words.

But still... the weight remains.

Something in me feels this is an act, and I hate that I can not point out what exactly is wrong.

"I see," I say, and she nods.

"I will do everything within my ability to help. I hope I can work efficiently. I do not wish to be away from Master Elián longer than necessary." She says with a delicate smile.

There is affection in her voice when she says his name... but I can’t help but notice there is no ache.

That sweet tenderness she has each time she’s talking about Elián like a little brother... it isn’t there...

I have seen people leave Elián’s side before. I have seen how it hurts them. How it clings. Mother, Rhydian, Seun, Kishan, Me... even the baby Anwil.

This... For someone so close to Elián, this is nothing like that.

This feels... curated.

I do not voice the thought though. Instead, I offer what is expected.

Silent observation feels best right now.

"You’re welcome here, Alana. You’ve always been diligent. I’m sure your help will be valuable." I say, and her shoulders relax slightly, as though she had been waiting for that exact sentence.

"Thank you, Alpha," she says.

"I will not disappoint you." She adds, and I hold my breath.

I nod once, and she smiles.

"You should go and settle in. Rest. We can speak more later." I order, and she agrees gingerly.

"Yes. That would be best." She says, and my brows crease.

She bows again, then walks up to and past me.

As she walks by, the strange feeling in my chest tightens for a brief moment— sharp and inexplicable. Like watching something drift just out of reach without knowing why I want to grab it.

Stop it, and just... not let it get away.

I turn my head slightly, watching her retreating form, and for a split second, my eyes zone in on the numerous flowers in her hair.

That’s new.

Her walk lacks the graceful composure she always had.

She’s walking like a part of her is actively battling to remember how to place the next step.

She doesn’t quite seem like herself.

So, was I right? Was there a fight, then?

That is the most logical explanation.

She wouldn’t have left Elián like this unless words were said that could not be taken back.

I exhale quietly through my nose as my mind churns.

Elián is fragile, but he carries heavy truths. Truths he had no fear spitting out.

And Alana... Alana has always carried more fear than she lets on. She’s so used to locking herself up and hiding parts of her.

I will not pry.

Not yet.

As I turn back toward the hall, footsteps echo from behind me.

I don’t need to look to know it’s him. His presence always arrives before he does. Like heat before flame.

I turn around, and he comes into view just as Alana is passing the exit.

And then... He slows.

Not by much, but just enough that I notice.

His eyes flick to her. Narrow... Assessing.

Not out of curiosity... but confusion.

Alana bows to him and keeps her gaze forward, but her steps falter for the briefest heartbeat.

So brief it could be imagined. So brief most would miss it. Not me.

And apparently not Rhydian either.

His jaw tightens. And his brows knot together.

Something unspoken passes between them. Something I do not understand, but can feel.

Alana smiles slightly as she passes him, respectful and silent. Rhydian does not return the gesture. He does not speak.

He simply watches her go.

I open my mouth... then close it again.

This is not the time.

Rhydian turns to me, expression already hardening back into the familiar mask of irritation and restraint.

"She looks... different," he says flatly. Ignoring the people, as though commenting on the weather, and I take a deep breath.

"Yes," I reply carefully as I walk over to him.

"She does."

He hums under his breath, and I watch him.

It’s not approval, and it’s not disapproval either.

Just... acknowledgement.

"I sense trouble." He whispers to me, and I raise a brow.

"Alana has never caused trouble," I reply, and he scoffs quietly.

"People don’t need to cause trouble to be dangerous." He replies, and I hold his gaze.

"What are you implying?" I ask, and Rhydian hesitates.

Just for a moment. Then he shakes his head.

"Nothing." He replies, and my jaw tightens.

It’s a lie. I know.

But I let it pass.

"She’s here to help," I say instead.

"That’s all," I add, despite myself, and Rhydian’s eyes flick once more toward the path Alana disappeared down.

"Sure," he mutters.

Then he turns away.

I watch him leave, and with his departure, the other people who came to welcome Alana leave as well.

When the hall finally empties, I remain standing there longer than necessary.

Alana’s calm lingers in the air like a fragrance after someone has gone.

I think of Elián’s letter. How firm it was. How final... how it left no room for discussion.

She will be more useful to you there.

Elián always explains himself. Even when you don’t need him to. But this time, he didn’t, and that worries me.

I press a hand briefly to my chest, then let it fall.

Whatever happened between them... I will learn in time.

For now, Gravemaw has enough wounds to tend.

And something tells me Alana’s return is not as simple as it seems.

I don’t want to give in to the unease that’s building in my heart because I don’t know what to do with it.

Maybe I’m just being paranoid. But I’ve never been one to doubt my intuitions.

I don’t think it’s a good idea to start now.