The morning light filtered through the tall windows of Ahicia's office, but its warmth did little to lift the gloom that surrounded her. She sat at her desk, papers scattered in front of her, though she barely registered their content. Her crimson eyes were puffy and swollen, evidence of the restless night she had endured. Her usually vibrant demeanor was replaced by a dull, lifeless air.
Lysandra observed her carefully from across the room. The beta wolf had her notepad in hand, but her focus was entirely on Ahicia. Finally, she couldn't hold back. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Ahicia forced a weary smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine," she replied softly, her tone unconvincing.
Lysandra's ears twitched, but she didn't press further. She knew Ahicia well enough to recognize when she didn't want to talk. Instead, she stayed close, her protective instincts heightened.
A knock at the door broke the heavy silence. Before Ahicia could respond, Damian entered, his golden eyes immediately locking onto her. He froze for a moment, taking in her state. The sight of her swollen eyes and weary expression made his chest tighten with guilt.
Damian approached her desk slowly, crouching to meet her gaze. "Ahicia," he began, his voice low and earnest. "About last night…"
Ahicia's crimson eyes flicked to him briefly before returning to the papers on her desk. She kept her face expressionless, her tail unmoving behind her. "There's nothing to explain," she said flatly, her voice devoid of emotion.
"Ahicia, please," Damian pressed, his tone tinged with frustration and desperation. "It wasn't what it looked like. I need you to believe me."
Before Ahicia could respond, laughter echoed down the hallway, drawing both Damian and Lysandra's attention. Selene and Anara entered the room, their voices light and filled with amusement. They stopped short when they noticed the tense atmosphere.
Lysandra's eyes narrowed, her growl low and menacing. Damian's gaze hardened as he turned to face the intruders. "What's so funny?" he asked, his voice icy.
Selene smirked, crossing her arms. "Relax, brother. Not everything is about you."
Anara's green eyes flicked to Ahicia, who remained motionless, her expression unreadable. She tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Looks like someone had a rough night," she remarked casually.
Lysandra's growl deepened, and she took a step forward, but Damian raised a hand to stop her. "Leave," he said firmly, his golden eyes blazing.
Selene raised an eyebrow but said nothing, tugging Anara's arm lightly. "Come on. Let's not make things worse."
Before Damian or Lysandra could react, Ahicia moved. Her motion was a blur—faster than even Damian could track. In an instant, she was in front of Anara, her hand wrapped tightly around the fox shifter's neck. Her claws extended, gleaming sharply, and her crimson eyes blazed with an intensity that made the room feel smaller. Her teeth elongated into sharp points, and a deep, menacing growl escaped her throat.
"And who do you think you are?" Ahicia hissed, her voice low and dripping with fury.
Anara gasped, her emerald eyes wide with shock and a flicker of fear. She clawed at Ahicia's hand, her confidence shattered in the face of the omega's raw power.
"Ahicia!" Damian barked, stepping forward, his golden eyes glowing with warning. "Let her go!"
Ahicia's grip tightened for a moment, her gaze unwavering, before she released Anara abruptly. The fox shifter stumbled back, clutching her neck and coughing, her earlier arrogance replaced with a mixture of indignation and fear.
Lysandra stepped closer to Ahicia, her tail swishing in approval. Damian, however, looked between the two women, his expression a mixture of frustration and concern.
"Stay out of this, Damian," Ahicia said, her voice trembling with restrained anger as she turned to him. Her tail bristled, and her ears flattened against her head. "I don't need you to defend me from someone who clearly doesn't know her place."
Anara regained her footing, her fear giving way to anger. "Doesn't know her place?" she spat, her voice hoarse but venomous. "You think you're the only one who belongs here?"
Damian stepped between them, his golden eyes blazing with authority. "Enough. Both of you," he said firmly.
Ahicia shot Anara one last glare before storming out of the room. Her footsteps echoed in the hallway, leaving behind a silence heavy with unresolved tension. Damian sighed, running a hand through his hair before turning to Anara and Selene.
"Let's not make this any worse than it already is," he said quietly, his voice tinged with exhaustion. Selene nodded, tugging Anara's arm lightly, and the two women finally left without another word.
The tension lingered even after they were gone. Damian turned back to Lysandra, who shook her head slightly but said nothing. The silence in the room was suffocating, a testament to the chaos that had unfolded.