With Henrik

Lilian's POV

The moment I heard someone clear their throat behind me I turned to see that it was Henrik who stood behind me, and at that moment I felt my heart still at the sight of Henrik standing just a few feet from me.



He had a smug look on his face, as if he had all the time in the world to play whatever twisted game that was running through his mind.


What was it this time? I wondered as I felt a cold chill run down my spine, but I steeled myself, nonetheless.



This was the moment and I knew it.
If I wanted to get answers, I needed to confront him right away and head on.


"Alpha Henrik," I said as I politely bowed my head, not in any bit of respect for him but because I didn't want that intimidating face of his to stop me from what I wanted to say. "I didn’t expect to see you out here." I said as I tried to balance my voice and prepare myself.



"Nor did I expect to see you out here, Luna Lilian," he replied.


It wasn't supposed to but the manner in which the title rolled off his tongue felt like a snake coiling to strike.


He took a step closer, slightly narrowed his eyes as he watched me. "The festivities inside are not to your liking?" He asked me.



"They're... fine," I managed to say, as I looked up at him and then away from him.


"But I needed a moment to think. And perhaps... to ask you something." I said as I looked back at him.


Okay! Here goes.
"Ask me away," Henrik said, his tone was rather deceptively light and it made me uncomfortable.


But I could see the tinge of something darker in his eyes, something that told me I was treading on dangerous ground. I tried to not gulp.


I took a deep breath as I forced myself to meet his gaze.


"D-did you have a hand in the deaths of Kaiden’s parents?" I asked him. It was more like a plea than a question.


There. I had said it.


Those words hung thick and heavily in the air between us. I could feel the atmosphere getting charged.

Henrik’s expression didn’t change immediately, I could see; he simply stared at me, as if deciding on how to respond to my question.



Then, ever so slowly, a smile spread across his face—a smile that sent another shiver down my spine.


"My dearest Lilian," he said, his voice bearing that of false sweetness. "Why would you think such a thing?" He asked me in mock annoyance, but by now I could see that his eyes were no longer smiling.



"I’m not accusing you," I said quickly, though we both knew that wasn’t true. "I just need to know... for my own peace of mind." I said.



Because, you know, I had a hand in this, since I was the one who gave out the information about The Alpha and Luna to him.

I mentally slapped myself each time I thought about that.


Henrik chuckled softly as I watched him shake his head.


"Peace of mind, hmm? Well, let me put your troubled heart to rest, then." He took another step forward, so close now that I could feel the heat radiating off him.


Angry heat I got to say. "I had nothing to do with their deaths." He said pointedly at me.



He said the words with such conviction that, for a moment, I almost believed him.


Almost, I said. But something in his eyes, something in the way his smile didn’t quite reach them, told me otherwise.


I clenched my fists at my sides, and forced myself to remain calm.


"You’re lying," I whispered more to myself than to him. I had hoped that if I asked him the question he would deny it and I would believe that what happened to Alpha Authur and Luna Caroline was merely an accident.


But that wasn't the case right now.
His smile faltered, just for a second, before it returned to his lips, it was colder this time.



"I have told you, I have no hand in it." He said. Then he stepped closer to me. "Do you believe that I do have a hand in what happened to your mate's parents?" He asked me as he took menacing steps towards me. I gulped, harder.




"I’m not afraid of you," I lied, as I tried my hardest to lift up my chin in defiance.


The honest truth?
I was terrified.


I was terrified of what he might do, of what I might uncover. But I had to know.


I watched as Henrik’s expression darkened, and in a flash, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm with a grip so tight it made me wince.


I wanted to scream but I held back.


"You should be afraid," he hissed at me in a low and venomous voice. "You don’t know who you’re dealing with, girl." He said.


I knew alright?
I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened on my hand.

Panic surged through my body as I realized just how dangerous this situation had become.


"Let me go," I demanded, even though my voice trembled with fear.


"And if I don’t?" He sneered, raising his other hand as if to strike me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I shut my eyes tight as I braced myself for the blow.


But it never came.
"What the hell is going on here?"Kaiden’s voice rang out like a gunshot, it was sharp and authoritative. Henrik froze immediately, his hand still hovering in the air, before he slowly lowered it at his sides.



His grip on my arm loosened, and I quickly pulled away, and took instinctive steps back as Kaiden approached us.



"I asked a question?" Kaiden demanded, his voice was dangerously calm while his blue depths flicked between Henrik and me, I could see suspicion in those eyes.



"Nothing," Henrik replied smoothly, though there was an edge to his voice. "Lilian and I were just... discussing some things. Isn’t that right, Lilian?" He asked me sweetly.
I swallowed hard, feeling Kaiden’s eyes on me.



I wanted to scream the truth, to tell him everything, but something in Henrik’s eyes warned me against it. I nodded my head.
"Yes. We were just talking." I whispered the lie.



Kaiden didn’t look convinced. He stared at Henrik for a long moment, his jaw clenched, before finally turning to me.



"Are you alright?" He asked me.
I nodded again, though I knew he could see the fear in my eyes.


"I’m fine." I said.
"Good." Kaiden’s tone softened slightly as he looked at me, but when he turned back to Henrik, his expression hardened once more.


"Well, I shall leave you both." Henrik said and with that he walked away from us.


As soon as he was gone, Kaiden turned to me, his eyes were filled with concern.


"Lilian, what happened? What were you and Henrik talking about?" Kaiden asked me.


"Nothing." I said.

"What really is your relationship with Henrik?" Kaiden asked me and that shocked me more than anything else before.