Chapter 170: Wrong Direction
Chapter 170 of "Mated To The Crippled Alpha" begins the action: Lincy was too focused on winning Yenik back.That worried me.If she found out too much,... Discover the next part!
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.
"Itâs better if you leave today," I said calmly. "The New Year is coming. The bonding ceremony is close. This isnât the time to stir trouble."
She snapped back immediately. "Why should I leave? Iâm not some dirty secret that needs to be hidden!"
Inside, I sighed. If she wasnât a disgrace, then who was? She didnât 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 havenât 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 Lincyâs face before she could hide it.
No matter how stubborn she was, she knew the truth. Nolanâs death had shadows that reached back to her choices.
"Itâs 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. "Iâll 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 wouldnât 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 didnât 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 wouldnât 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 servantâs 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 couldnât 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. "Iâm so sorry, Mrs. Hale. Heâs new. He doesnât know the rules yet. He just finished preparing the poultry and hasnât 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. "Itâs 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 didnât shout or threaten.
They watched.
They waited.
On that night, I hadnât 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.
She wasnât wrong.
But the fear in my chest wasnât from blood.
It was from recognition.
The hunter had found his way back into my territory.
And this time, I knew
he wasnât here by accident.
"Mrs. Hale, are you frightened?" the woman asked gently. "Donât worry. Itâs just some chickens."
I pressed a hand to my chest, pretending to calm my racing heart. "Iâve never seen anything like that before," I said softly. "It was... overwhelming. I got lost and accidentally wandered near the kitchen."
"Thatâs understandable," she said quickly. "Let me escort you back."
"Thank you."
As we walked, I glanced over my shoulder. The manâs 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 wasnât a chicken he was carrying away but me.
"Who was that?" I asked on purpose, my voice light. "He looked... scary."
"Oh, thatâs Silas," she replied. "He doesnât talk much, but heâs efficient. He handles all the unpleasant work in the kitchen slaughtering poultry and things like that. No one else wants the job, but heâs fast."
Fast.
The word slid under my skin. Someone who moved that cleanly, that quietly, was dangerous.
"Silas?" I repeated, pretending curiosity. "Whatâs his last name?"
"I think itâs Blevins. Do you know him?"
"No," I lied easily. "He just has a very intimidating presence."
She laughed softly. "Donât be fooled by his size. Heâs careful and precise. Youâre safe here, Mrs. Hale."
"Thank you," I said, forcing a smile. "Iâll head inside now."
She nodded politely and turned away.
I took two steps toward the house and froze.
My brooch was gone.
It wasnât expensive, but it mattered. Lewis had given it to me himself. I was sure Iâd had it not long ago, which meant it had fallen somewhere along the path Iâd 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 sheâd 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 hadnât pushed earlier. One wrong question, one extra glance, and I would have exposed myself.
But the danger wasnât 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 wasnât safe anymore.
I needed to leave. Now.
Just as I shifted my weight to step back
"Whoâs there?" a voice snapped.
My breath caught.