Chapter 214 A little bit of doubt

Chapter 214: Chapter 214 A little bit of doubt

_Alaric’s POV_

I am a warrior and a leader, I know how to wield a gun, lead people, and run a pack, but I am certainly no mechanical engineer.

Looking at the many diagrams on her screen, I couldn’t make heads or tails of what I was seeing. It looked like a random mess of lines, numbers, and strange shapes.

To my untrained eyes, it didn’t look like a human leg at all. It looked more like a blueprint for a high speed racing engine or a piece of art.

A small wave of worry washed over my chest. The three week deadline was coming closer every single day, and the entire pack council was watching this challenge like hawks. If Rowena failed, the elders would use it as an excuse to attack her reputation and strip away her standing in the territory, also make me leave her and say she cannot be Luna Queen.

I looked sideways at Rowena. She was completely calm, with confidence as her fingers moved quickly across her control board.

Seeing the determination in her face, my worry quickly faded away.

I didn’t need to understand the science on her screen. I just needed to trust her. She had never let me down before, and I knew she wasn’t about to start now.

"I am leaving you to your work," I said, stepping closer to her chair.

Before she could respond, I leaned down and pressed a light gentle kiss against her forehead, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.

Rowena paused, offering me a small, beautiful smile that made my heart feel light.

"Don’t work too late," I added gently, pulling back.

I turned around and walked out of the laboratory, heading upstairs to the main entrance where Gabriel was waiting beside the running motorcade. He opened the rear door for me, bowing his head respectfully.

"Where to, Alpha?" Gabriel asked as I slid into the backseat.

"Brielle’s family estate," I instructed, leaning my head back against the headrest.

Aunt Kristy had explicitly asked me yesterday to inspect both ongoing projects before the final reveal date. She wanted to ensure that both Rowena and Brielle were following the strict safety protocols and making real progress.

As the Alpha King, it was my duty to remain fair and oversee the process personally, no matter how much I disliked visiting the Logan household.

Twenty minutes later, our car pulled up the long driveway of the Logan mansion. The estate was massive, surrounded by lawns and fountains.

Gabriel hurried around to open my door, and we walked up the wide stone steps toward the front doors.

Mrs. Logan met us at the entrance, her eyes widening in sudden surprise and delight when she saw me standing on her porch.

"Alaric, my dear!” She gasped, quickly bowing her head. "What a wonderful surprise! We were not expecting a royal visit today!"

"I am here to inspect Brielle’s progress on the prosthetic project," I said, keeping my voice flat and official. "Aunt Kristy requested a direct update."

"Of course, of course!" She nodded eagerly, stepping aside to let me in. "Brielle has been working tirelessly in her study. In fact, the poor girl was so exhausted she just fell asleep at her desk an hour ago. I will go wake her immediately!"

She hurried upstairs while Gabriel and I waited in the spacious, overly decorated living room.

Less than three minutes later, rapid footsteps echoed down the staircase. Brielle came rushing into the room, looking slightly flustered. She looked like she had quickly thrown on a neat blouse and smoothed down her messy hair, though her eyes were still a bit sleepy.

"Alaric!" Brielle exclaimed, a bright smile lighting up her face as she walked toward me. "I... I mean, Alpha King.” She snorted.

"Show me the project, Brielle," I said instead, cutting straight to the point without any small talk.

"Right this way," she said happily, guiding me down the hallway to her own study.

We stepped into her office. Sitting on a clean display stand in the center of the room was a completed prototype of a mechanical leg.

I stepped closer to examine it, my eyes narrowing as I took in the details. Honestly, I was thoroughly impressed.

The leg looked incredible, it was made of silver metal with smooth sweeping curves that perfectly matched human anatomy.

Unlike Rowena’s diagrams on a screen, Brielle had a full physical masterpiece standing right in front of me. It looked like a piece of high end medical art.

Brielle stood beside the stand, her chin raised proudly as she gestured toward the prototype. "As you can see, Alaric, the design is flawless. I solved the neural link connection using advanced fluid channels. It is completely stable, highly durable, and ready for Aunt Kristy. I told you that you could trust my expertise."

I stared at the metal leg for a long moment. It really did look like a winning design. A small voice in the back of my mind wondered if Rowena had taken on a challenge that was simply too big for her to handle alone.

“Don’t say such things, you punk.” Phillip growled in my mind and I immediately trashed the idea.

But then I remembered the fierce, unshakeable look in Rowena’s eyes earlier today. I remembered how brilliant she was, how she always managed to turn the tables when everyone doubted her.

I refused to give up on her.

Physical appearances could be deceiving, and I knew Rowena always had a hidden ace up her sleeve.

"You have done good work, Brielle," I said, keeping my tone strictly normal. "Aunt Kristy will be pleased to hear that you have a physical prototype ready."

Brielle’s eyes sparkled with delight at my praise. She took a step closer to me, her voice softening into a sweet playful tone just like before. "Since you are already here, Alaric, why don’t we go out for lunch?" She offered, looking up at me through her lashes. "A new seafood restaurant just opened near the harbor. We could get a private table and talk more about the project."

"No," I replied instantly, my voice going cold as I stepped back to create distance between us. "I have official pack business to attend to at the estate. I have to leave."

Brielle’s smile faltered, a flash of deep disappointment crossing her face, but she quickly masked it. "Oh... I understand. You are always so busy running the pack."

I turned on my heel and walked out of her study, heading back down the hallway toward the front entrance of the mansion. Gabriel followed closely behind me.

Just as I reached the front doors and reached out to push them open, a stern, deep voice called out from the parlor.

"Your Majesty. Hold on a moment."

I stopped in my tracks and turned my head. Mr. Logan, Brielle’s father stepped out of his office, his expression serious.

"Mr. Logan," I acknowledged him with a small bow.

"If you have a few minutes, Alpha King," he said, his eyes locking onto mine as he smiled thinly. "I would like to have a word with you. In private."