Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 170: Wrong Direction

Lincy was too focused on winning Yenik back.

That worried me.

If she found out too much, too soon, everything could fall apart. With someone as sharp and patient as Camilla nearby, even a small slip could expose the whole game.

So I tried to guide her away.

"It’s better if you leave today," I said calmly. "The New Year is coming. The bonding ceremony is close. This isn’t the time to stir trouble."

She snapped back immediately. "Why should I leave? I’m not some dirty secret that needs to be hidden!"

Inside, I sighed. If she wasn’t a disgrace, then who was? She didn’t even know her true standing anymore.

But I kept my face neutral and my voice steady.

"Are you sure you want to go inside?" I asked. "The Morrigans are here too. Even if your name was cleared, they haven’t forgotten Nolan. He had no personal feud with the one who attacked him, so why was he targeted? Parents will do anything to protect their blood. You could be walking straight into their anger."

Fear flashed across Lincy’s face before she could hide it.

No matter how stubborn she was, she knew the truth. Nolan’s death had shadows that reached back to her choices.

"It’s better not to draw attention right now," I continued. "If things go wrong, you might not even get the chance to carry out your plan."

She glared at me, teeth clenched. Then, finally, she relented.

"Fine," she said sharply. "I’ll listen to you. Just this once."

She turned and walked away.

I let out a slow breath.

If she had stayed, she would have seen Yenik and Camilla together. I knew she wouldn’t have been able to handle that not yet.

I checked the time and turned to Theo. "Lewis should arrive soon. Go bring him in."

Lewis still kept up the appearance of being injured in public. Even though his strength had long returned, he insisted on wearing that mask. I didn’t fully understand why but I trusted his judgment.

"Yes, Mrs. RIley. Be careful," Theo said before leaving.

With so many people around, I felt relatively safe at the Hudson residence. Camilla wouldn’t dare act openly here.

And with Lincy gone, I could finally focus.

I walked through the courtyard, the cold air brushing my skin. As I turned a corner

I almost collided with a tall man.

He wore a servant’s uniform. In his hand was a long blade, dark and wet, with fresh blood dripping from it.

"Sorry," he muttered.

His voice was rough. Worn.

Our eyes met.

My heart stopped.

It was him.

The man who had killed me.

His face was different, but his eyes those empty, watchful eyes I would recognize them anywhere. They had followed me into death once.

He had slipped into the Hudson residence as a servant.

The blood on the blade dragged me back to that night. Cold ground. No escape. Silence before pain.

My body trembled, every instinct screaming to run. But I forced myself to stay still. To look normal. I couldn’t let him see fear.

He was watching me closely.

Measuring.

Testing.

My gaze dropped to what he held in his other hand a lifeless chicken, blood dripping onto the stone path.

So that was it.

Still, the sight drained the color from my face. I screamed sharply, letting panic spill out.

"Ah blood!"

People rushed over.

A woman hurried to my side, apologetic and flustered. "I’m so sorry, Mrs. Hale. He’s new. He doesn’t know the rules yet. He just finished preparing the poultry and hasn’t cleaned up."

My fear was real. I simply made it bigger.

Covering my eyes, I staggered back. "I I almost fainted. I turned the corner and saw him holding that bloody knife!"

The woman turned and kicked the man lightly. "Apologize. Now."

"Sorry, Mrs. Hale," he rasped.

His voice sounded scraped raw.

"Take that knife and the chicken away. Immediately," she snapped. "It’s terrifying."

Without another word, he turned and walked off.

My hands still shook.

A fresh wave of fear rolled through me. What if he turned back? What if he attacked her instead?

The most dangerous people were never loud. They didn’t shout or threaten.

They watched.

They waited.

On that night, I hadn’t heard his steps. There had been no warning. Just a sudden, precise strike.

The woman kept talking, clearly assuming someone like me used to comfort and protection would naturally be shaken by such a sight. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

She wasn’t wrong.

But the fear in my chest wasn’t from blood.

It was from recognition.

The hunter had found his way back into my territory.

And this time, I knew

he wasn’t here by accident.

"Mrs. Hale, are you frightened?" the woman asked gently. "Don’t worry. It’s just some chickens."

I pressed a hand to my chest, pretending to calm my racing heart. "I’ve never seen anything like that before," I said softly. "It was... overwhelming. I got lost and accidentally wandered near the kitchen."

"That’s understandable," she said quickly. "Let me escort you back."

"Thank you."

As we walked, I glanced over my shoulder. The man’s tall figure was already fading into the snowy distance, a thin trail of red staining the white ground behind him.

For a split second, my mind twisted the image. It felt as though it wasn’t a chicken he was carrying away but me.

"Who was that?" I asked on purpose, my voice light. "He looked... scary."

"Oh, that’s Silas," she replied. "He doesn’t talk much, but he’s efficient. He handles all the unpleasant work in the kitchen slaughtering poultry and things like that. No one else wants the job, but he’s fast."

Fast.

The word slid under my skin. Someone who moved that cleanly, that quietly, was dangerous.

"Silas?" I repeated, pretending curiosity. "What’s his last name?"

"I think it’s Blevins. Do you know him?"

"No," I lied easily. "He just has a very intimidating presence."

She laughed softly. "Don’t be fooled by his size. He’s careful and precise. You’re safe here, Mrs. Hale."

"Thank you," I said, forcing a smile. "I’ll head inside now."

She nodded politely and turned away.

I took two steps toward the house and froze.

My brooch was gone.

It wasn’t expensive, but it mattered. Lewis had given it to me himself. I was sure I’d had it not long ago, which meant it had fallen somewhere along the path I’d just walked.

I hesitated only a moment before retracing my steps.

As I turned the corner of the corridor, my heart dropped straight into my stomach.

Silas stood there.

And so did the woman.

They were close, speaking in low voices. The warmth she’d shown earlier was gone. Her posture was sharp now. Alert.

"Did she notice anything?" Silas asked quietly.

Without hesitation, the woman took the knife from his hand and wiped it clean with a cloth. "No," she replied calmly. "She seems fragile. Easily startled. But she did ask for your name."

Cold spread through my limbs, locking me in place.

So that was it.

They were working together.

Every smile, every kind word it had all been a test. They were watching me, measuring my reactions, checking for cracks.

Thank goodness I hadn’t pushed earlier. One wrong question, one extra glance, and I would have exposed myself.

But the danger wasn’t just Silas.

He had a partner.

Worse still, I could feel it now the faint pressure in the air, like eyes tracking prey. They were starting to wonder about me.

This place wasn’t safe anymore.

I needed to leave. Now.

Just as I shifted my weight to step back

"Who’s there?" a voice snapped.

My breath caught.