The Alpha’s Rebellious Fiancee novel Chapter 15

Lyra (Seraphina)

“You don’t like your ties crooked. You don’t like cold coffee,” I said with a shrug, standing by the window while Lucien sat behind his desk. He didn’t look up, but I could tell by the way his shoulders tensed that he knew I was right. “She gave you cold coffee.”

“She’s learning,” he grunted, flipping through a folder, even though I could see it was upside down.

“She gave you cold coffee yesterday too,” I added, my voice low but steady. “And she forgot to include the southern border reports. Again.”

Lucien slammed the folder shut. “You think I can’t run my life without you?”

I raised a brow, refusing to rise to his tone. “I think you’re used to things a certain way,” I muttered, turning on my heel. “That’s all.”

And then I walked out, leaving the scent of burnt coffee and frayed patience behind.

***

That night, the wind howled around the estate, rattling windows and stirring the firelight in the halls.

Marla, tried— she really did —but trying wasn’t enough when it came to running the pack Alpha’s life.

The reports for the morning meeting were in the wrong order. His training schedule had missing names. The patrol notes were two days old. I heard one of the betas complain outside his office door, confused about where he was supposed to be and when.

I didn’t wait for Lucien to ask.

He never would.

Instead, I slipped into his office when no one was looking. The fire was cold, papers scattered like leaves on the floor, and his tea sat untouched, now more ice than warmth.

I sighed.

This used to be second nature.

Within thirty minutes, I’d fixed everything. The files were stacked, labeled, and ordered by urgency. His morning schedule was reprinted and pinned on the wall beside the door. I lit the fire, poured fresh tea, and placed the Southern Border file on top of the others, exactly where he liked it.