Chapter 134
LUCIAN’S P.O.V.
The silence was heavy, pressing against my skin as I stood in the center of the meeting hall. I could feel the tension humming in the air like a taut string ready to snap. The rustling of fabric, the shifting of feet—these small sounds were amplified in my world of darkness, painting a vivid picture of the unease surrounding me.
Then, a voice I knew all too well broke through the stillness.
“Lucian,” Maverick drawled, his tone dripping with a smugness that made Ares stir restlessly in my mind. “It’s about time you showed up. The pack deserves answers p>
I clenched my jaw, recognizing him instantly. Maverick, the eldest son of my father’s younger brother, had always been a thorn in my side. Though he carried the Alpha gene, he lacked the strength, the charisma, and, frankly, the loyalty that made a true leader. Still, his hunger for power was insatiable, and my prolonged absence had undoubtedly emboldened him.
Ares growled low in my head. “He’s challenging us, Lucian. Let me out. I’ll shut him up for good p>
I couldn’t argue with his assessment—Maverick’s tone, his words, the barely concealed hostility were all signs of a challenge. But I wasn’t about to let Ares take over. Not yet.
“Calm down, Ares,” I replied internally, my tone firm but steady. “This isn’t the time for that. Let me handle it p>
Maverick stepped forward, his boots scraping against the wooden floor. I could hear the smirk in his voice as he continued. “Three months, Lucian. You’ve been gone for three long months without so much as a word to the pack. You left us with Rylan spinning tales that didn’t hold water, and now you waltz in like nothing happened? The pack deserves better p>
The room murmured in agreement, the unease in their voices like a thorn pricking at my composure.
“Maverick,” I said, my voice calm but laced with steel, “you seem awfully concerned about the pack’s well-being. How noble of you p>
He scoffed. “Someone has to be when our Alpha abandons his responsibilities p>
Ares growled louder, and I could feel the beast pushing against my restraint. “Let me handle him, Lucian. He’s asking for it p>
“Not yet,” I replied, though my patience was wearing thin.
I reached out through my private mind link to Teresa, a skill we’d perfected over time. When I’d first introduced her to it, she’d been terrified, but now, she responded with ease.
“Teresa,” I said, my mental voice steady despite the storm brewing around me, “I think it’s time. I need to tell them about my sight p>
Her response was immediate and reassuring. “If you’re ready, Lucian, I’ll be right here. Whatever happens, I’m with you p>
I felt her move closer, her warmth grounding me as she took my hand in hers. The faint scent of her perfume, lavender, washed over me, calming my nerves.
Drawing strength from her presence, I turned my attention back to the room. “Maverick,” I began, my tone commanding the silence, “you’re right. The pack deserves answers, and I intend to give them p>
The murmurs ceased, replaced by a stillness so profound that even the sound of my heartbeat seemed loud.
“I left,” I continued, my voice steady but thick with emotion, “because I needed time to adjust to something that has changed my life forever. I’ve hidden this from all of you, not because I don’t trust you, but because I needed to find my footing before I could lead you again p>
I felt Teresa’s grip tighten on my hand, her silent support giving me the courage to take the next step.
“I’m blind,” I said, the words falling into the silence like stones into a deep well. “Completely blind. That’s why I’ve been away—to learn how to live, how to lead, and how to protect this pack without my sight p>
For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence. The weight of my confession hung heavy in the air, pressing down on everyone present.
Then, all hell broke loose.
“What?” someone shouted.
“Blind? Our Alpha is blind?” another voice echoed.
“This is madness p>
The room erupted into chaos, voices overlapping in a cacophony of disbelief, anger, and confusion. My heightened senses picked up the sharp intake of breaths, the shuffle of feet, the frantic whispers.
“ENOUGH!” Teresa’s voice cut through the storm like a blade, sharp and strong. The room fell into a tense silence, though the air thrummed with barely contained energy, like a coiled spring waiting to snap.
Maverick stepped forward, his voice dripping with condescension, every word calculated to wound. “Lucian,” he said, his mock concern barely masking the venom beneath, “how do you expect to lead this pack when you can’t even see? This isn’t just about you; it’s about all of us p>
A low, feral growl rumbled from Ares’ chest, his protective fury mirroring the storm brewing inside me. His voice was a raw snarl, vibrating with unrestrained anger. “Say the word, Lucian. Let me shut him up for good p>
I raised a hand, forcing myself to remain calm even as my blood boiled. My voice was steady but carried the weight of authority. “Leadership isn’t about what you can see, Maverick. It’s about strength, wisdom, and loyalty. Three things you clearly lack p>
My words seemed to suck the air out of the room. The silence that followed was suffocating, heavy with unspoken truths and bruised egos.
Teresa took a step closer, her presence radiating an almost tangible power. Her voice was steady and unwavering, each word sharp enough to cut stone. “Lucian may be blind, but that doesn’t make him any less of a leader. In fact, it makes him stronger. He’s the most capable Alpha this pack has ever seen. If anyone here doubts that, they’ll have to deal with me p>
Her declaration sent a ripple through the crowd, like a stone breaking the surface of a still pond. Whispers grew louder, uncertainty and fear mingling in the air. Yet beneath it all, I could sense the shift—a grudging respect spreading through the room like wildfire.
Then suddenly, Maverick’s sharp laughter echoed through the entire hall, silencing every murmur as all attention turned to him.