Chapter 190: How about a challenge?

By morning the next day, the tension of the previous night had somewhat lessened.

Alyssa sat with Pandora and Henna in the living room after breakfast, the three of them chatting lightly in an attempt to restore a sense of normalcy.

Dorian had left early that morning to oversee a trial in the Eastern territory. Alyssa had offered to go with him, but he had firmly refused. He knew the trial could easily devolve into bloodshed, and he didn’t want to endanger her in any way.

None of them had brought up the events of the night before. When Dorian finally returned to the mansion, Alyssa had seen the dried blood smeared across his bruised knuckles, and she knew instantly that Joffrey had suffered a horrific fate.

Without a word, she had taken him into the bathroom, helped him wash the blood from his skin, gently wiped down his trembling body, and pulled him into bed beside her. By morning, everyone silently agreed to pretend last night hadn’t occurred.

It was after breakfast that Pandora finally filled in the missing pieces; how close Dorian had come to murdering Joffrey on the spot, and the lies Elvira had spun when recounting what she claimed to have seen.

"I can’t believe Elvira would do something like that," Alyssa murmured, slowly shaking her head in disbelief. "She saw me crying. She saw me clutching my torn shirt. She knew exactly what Joffrey tried to do to me, yet she completely twisted it when she spoke to Dorian."

"Are you honestly surprised?" Pandora replied with a dramatic roll of her eyes. "Elvira is a bitch. Always has been, always will be. She will construct any lie if it means ruining you in Dorian’s eyes, but I trust my brother. He will never believe a single word out of her mouth."

​"Still, Alyssa," Henna chimed in gently, her tone laced with concern. "Why didn’t you tell us what happened right away? Why did you lock yourself inside the room?"

"Henna’s right," Pandora agreed, leaning closer. "You should have said something the moment we got back. You could have told Alec."

"You wouldn’t understand," Alyssa murmured, letting out a long sigh. "I felt... dirty. Disgusted with myself. I don’t even know how to put it into words. I felt ashamed..."

"You shouldn’t have," Pandora said firmly, reaching over to take her hand and entwine their fingers. "Joffrey had no right to come here when none of us were around. He broke the law, and he deserved whatever Dorian gave him."

"Well, it’s in the past now," Alyssa muttered, pulling her gaze away. "I don’t even want to think about it. If I could wipe that entire memory from my head, I would."

"Jake told me he’s in critical condition," Henna said softly. "Fractured skull, a shattered jaw, internal bleeding."

"Dorian really destroyed him," Pandora said, her lips twitching uncontrollably with a dark, suppressed satisfaction. "I’m not surprised, though. A fight between the two of them has been brewing for years."

She adjusted her position on the sofa and gently stroked Alyssa’s knuckles. "How are you holding up after all of it?"

Alyssa offered a faint shrug and managed a small smile. "I’ll be fine," she murmured. "I just want to move past it. I couldn’t bring myself to go to the Academy today because I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on anything."

"Just give yourself a few days," Pandora smiled back reassuringly. "Dorian has banned Joffrey and Serena from ever setting foot here. You will never have to see their faces again."

Alyssa nodded slowly, relieved, before steering the conversation away from herself. "How did your meeting go with the welfare members?"

"It ended in an argument, as usual," Pandora scoffed. "The Winter Solstice is right around the corner, and I always help organize it every year. I wanted to implement a few structural changes this time, but they refused to budge."

"The Winter Solstice?" Alyssa repeated, her interest piqued. "That must be what Alec mentioned to me–the major event approaching."

"It is," Pandora nodded. "It’s one of our most sacred nights. Every Lycan and werewolf reaches the peak of their power under that particular full moon. It’s when many end up finding their fated mates."

"Really?" Henna’s eyes lit up instantly. "Maybe you and Anthony will finally feel the pull of the mate bond."

Pandora opened her mouth to shoot back an argument as she usually did, but before she could speak, the doors to the hallway swung open.

Jake and Anthony stepped into the living room, arguing over something trivial. Alec had traveled alongside Dorian to the Eastern territory.

"Where are you two off to?" Alyssa asked as they crossed past the seating area. She couldn’t help but notice how Anthony meticulously kept his eyes averted from Pandora, and she immediately picked up on the awkward tension lingering between them.

"To the training grounds," Jake answered and walked around the back of the couch. He leaned down, planting a soft kiss on Henna’s cheek before nuzzling the curve of her neck, sending her into a quiet fit of laughter.

Alyssa smiled at the sight, then slowly shifted her gaze toward Anthony.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly. She had picked up on a subtle shift in his demeanor ever since they returned to the mansion last night. Even when she had explained what Joffrey had done, he had seemed unusually distant, lost in his own thoughts.

Now, he met her eyes and offered a reassuring smile. "I’m fine, Alyssa. I should be asking you that question."

Alyssa lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. "I’ll manage. You said you’re heading to the training grounds?"

Anthony nodded, though his eyes drifted momentarily toward Pandora, who was suddenly very focused on her phone.

Alyssa didn’t know what had transpired between them, but the uncomfortable strain was impossible to miss.

"We’ll tag along," she said, forcing a bright smile. "I’ve actually never been to the training grounds, and this seems like a good chance to check it out."

Anthony finally snapped his attention away from Pandora, looking at Alyssa in surprise. "Are you sure you want to go there today?"

Alyssa nodded, already pushing herself up off the couch. "Of course. We’d love to go, wouldn’t we?" She turned back to glance at Pandora and Henna.

Henna was the first to agree, nodding eagerly. "I’d love to go."

"Of course you would," Pandora muttered playfully. "You’d follow Jake straight off a cliff if he asked you to."

"Looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," Jake teased with a light laugh–a rare sight for his usually stern demeanor. "What’s eating at you, Pandora?"

"Nothing," Pandora said defensively. She stole a brief glance at Anthony before snapping her phone shut and standing up. "I’d love to join you all at the training grounds, but I actually have an errand to run."

She turned to Alyssa, giving her a gentle smile. "Have fun. I’ll catch up with you later."

"Where are you headed?" Alyssa asked, stepping forward. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, stay here," Pandora shook her head quickly. "I’ll find you when I get back."

​She brushed past Anthony, flashing him a tight smile before disappearing through the double doors.

The moment she was gone, Jake, Henna, and Alyssa turned their attention directly onto Anthony.

"What?" Anthony demanded. "Why are you all staring at me like that?"

"What is going on between you two?" Alyssa asked, finally voicing the question on everyone’s mind.

"Nothing’s going on."

"Then why does it feel like you two are practically jumping out of your skin to avoid each other?" Jake pushed, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Did something happen?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Anthony replied coolly, crossing his arms. "Nothing happened. Pandora and I are fine. We’re still good friends."

"Did you finally confess your feelings and get rejected?" Jake teased with a smirk.

"Jake!" Henna gasped, playfully hitting his arm. "Don’t be mean."

"It’s just a question," Jake said in his own defense.

"Your mate clearly has more sense than you do," Anthony laughed, shaking his head, though Alyssa, who had remained quiet, caught the brief flash of pain in his eyes. Something had definitely gone wrong between him and Pandora, leaving a deep rift in their friendship.

Deciding not to press him further, she walked alongside them as they made their way out toward the outdoor arena. Anthony was clearly uncomfortable, and she resolved to ask Pandora privately later.

The training grounds were bustling, filled with dozens of shirtless Lycan guards mid-drill. Some were sparring with bare fists, others were lifting massive iron weights, while a few were held in painful-looking workout poses.

The scent of sweat hung thick in the air, mixed with the dominant, suffocating pheromones of high-ranking warriors.

Over on the far side of the open space, Elvira was engaged in a hand-to-hand session with a female instructor. The moment Alyssa caught sight of her, her stomach churned. Elvira was the last person on earth she wanted to see.

She turned back toward Anthony and Jake. "I think I’m going to head back inside," she said, keeping her tone as light as possible. "If that’s okay."

"Of course it is, Luna," Jake nodded understandingly, already knowing why she felt uncomfortable.

However, just as Alyssa turned her back to leave, Elvira’s voice echoed clearly across the noisy training ground, loud enough for everyone present to hear.

"Luna Alyssa! How about a challenge? Engage in hand-to-hand combat with me!"