After I Torched Alive, My Alpha Went crazy novel Chapter 178

"I’m not sure. Nathan and I were just talking earlier. It was nothing serious, just exchanging pleasantries." My voice betrayed none of the turmoil within me.

The Alpha King’s eyes sharpened, his expression unreadable but unsettling.

The Alpha King looked at me with a complicated look and said, "It seems Ms. Grace has a lot on her mind, I was merely trying to thank you for being such a good friend to Estelle."

The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Estelle’s behavior, her teary eyes, this was a trap, and I’d walked right into it.

My gaze darted to her, but she avoided eye contact, her fingers nervously twisting a piece of fabric.

"I—" I started, but my voice faltered under the Alpha King’s intense gaze. His wolf’s presence, Fenrir, loomed like a shadow over every word I tried to say. Tina remained frozen, her breaths shallow and uneven.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," I finally managed, my voice quieter, "Estelle has been kind to me as well."

The Alpha King leaned back slightly, observing me like a predator sizing up its prey. "That’s good to hear," he said, though his tone lacked warmth.

The room fell into silence again, each second dragging out like an eternity. My mind still occupied , trying to find a way out of this web Estelle had spun.

"Your Majesty," I ventured cautiously, "if I may ask, is there something troubling you?"

His responded,. "No, nothing troubling," he said. "Just curious about the company my family keeps."

I struggled to keep my frustration hidden. The Alpha King’s words were deliberate, each one pressing me further into a corner.

"Your Majesty," I said carefully, "I assure you, I have no ill intentions toward Estelle or anyone in your family."

His gaze softened slightly but remained sharp. "Good," he said. "Because loyalty is everything in this pack. Betrayal, even unintentional, has consequences."

I nodded, keeping my head low. "I understand."

The Alpha King turned his attention to Estelle, who had remained silent throughout the exchange. "Estelle," he said, his voice gentler now, "Is there something you’d like to say?"

I had no way to explain myself. Meeting Nathan, my ex-husband, was already a bad idea. With Estelle’s prying eyes and sharp tongue, it now felt like a crime. I could almost hear her thoughts accusing me.

My position was far too delicate to allow for even the smallest misstep, and she knew it. My nerves were tight, my heart racing, but I knew better than to say anything.

I couldn’t explain myself, not without giving her more ammunition. I had no choice but to wait for the Alpha King to speak.

The silence between us did not stretch further as the Alpha King returned to his seat, his presence once again dominating the room.

Without wasting any time, he resumed the conversation, his voice steady and commanding.

"You look uneasy, Grace," Estelle said. She tilted her head, her soft features illuminated with feigned innocence. "Something troubling you?"

I could feel the underlying mockery in her tone, but I kept my composure. "I’m fine," I replied.

Estelle’s smile faltered, but she didn’t back down. Her eyes glinted with a sharpness that made me wonder if she was trying to provoke me intentionally.