uncers 176

uncers 176

Chapter 176 

Faye was walking back toward the eastern wing, her steps quick and uneven, the sting of the spar still fresh on her skin and even fresher in her pride. The air was cool, brushing against her damp skin as if to mock her. 

She didn’t want to think about it–didn’t want to replay the way Kyle’s hand had connected, the shock in his eyes, or the murmurs that followed. She just wanted to reach her room, close the door, and forget. But before she could get very far, she heard a familiar voice calling after her. 

“Faye! Wait up!” 

Irene’s voice–light, breathless, and annoyingly persistent. 

Faye stopped and turned halfway, trying to smooth her expression into something neutral before she caught up. 

Irene jogged toward her, her hair swaying, her brows drawn together in confusion. 

“What was that back there?” she demanded, slightly panting but with that spark of curiosity that never quite left her. “I mean, I’ve seen you spar, Faye. I’ve seen you and Kyle go at it more times than I can count, and you’re usually unstoppable. Even when he somehow wins, you leave him crawling for air. But that…” She gestured vaguely back toward the training grounds. “That wasn’t you.” 

Faye exhaled slowly, her patience thinning. “It was nothing, Irene. I’m fine.” 

“Fine?” Irene echoed, disbelief painting her tone. “You got knocked on your back by Kyle.” 

Faye gave a small, dismissive shrug. “He got lucky today.” 

Irene frowned, unconvinced. “Lucky doesn’t make you stumble like that. I thought you were hurt for a second.” 

“I said I’m fine,” Faye repeated, sharper this time. The edge in her tone surprised even her. 

But Irene didn’t back off. “Faye, come on. You can talk to me. Did something happen? You’re not-” 

“I said I’m fine!” The words came out louder than she intended, slicing through the corridor like a whip. 

The silence that followed was deafening. 

Irene froze where she stood, eyes wide in shock. Faye never snapped. It just wasn’t in her nature. She was the calm one–the Luna who spoke with grace even under pressure, the woman who could silence an argument with a single look instead of a raised voice. Seeing her lose her composure, even for a moment, was jarring. 

Realizing what she’d done, Faye turned away quickly, her face tightening. “I didn’t mean to…” she started but stopped herself. What would be the point? She wasn’t in the mood to explain, not when she didn’t even understand it herself. So instead, she shook her head and muttered, “Just–let it go, Irene.” 

25 Points 

Without waiting for a response, she walked off. Her pace was brisk, her posture rigid, as if holding herself together by sheer willpower. She didn’t look back. 

Irene stood there, her mind spinning. She wasn’t offended–just deeply unsettled. Faye had been through situations before. She’d seen her face down enemies, seen her handle interrogation, betrayal… without once letting her composure slip. And now? One spar with Kyle had her snapping like that? 

No. Something was wrong. 

She replayed the scene in her head–the way Faye fought today. The Luna’s movements had been slower, less fluid. There was power missing from her strikes, hesitation where there used to be precision. Even the way she carried herself afterward felt… hollow. 

Irene folded her arms and sighed. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe Faye really was just tired from the trip. But the look in her eyes before she walked away–there had been something there… eating her up. 

“Great,” Irene muttered under her breath. “Now I’m the paranoid one.” 

Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling gnawing at her gut. She started walking, her mind already made up. If anyone could get through to Faye–or at least make sense of what was happening–it was Alexander. 

She hesitated briefly at the thought of barging into his office unannounced when he was busy, but this was different. Faye wasn’t just anyone–she was Alexander’s mate and the one person he’d drop everything for. If something was off with her, he needed to know. 

And, well… if Alexander was the reason Faye was acting like this, Irene had every intention of making that very clear to him. 

By the time she reached the hallway that led to his office, she’d already composed what she was going to say. She’d start calmly, of course–no need to make him defensive right away. But if he brushed it off, if he dared to treat it like it was nothing, then she’d push harder. 

Because Faye didn’t just “snap.” Something had broken through that calm, and whether it was something emotional, physical, or something deeper, Irene wasn’t going to just sit back and pretend it was fine. 

She paused in front of Alexander’s office door. Inside, she could already hear low voices–Alexander’s 

steady tone and Cole’s deeper one. Probably another strategy meeting, another crisis waiting to be fixed. 

She sighed, then knocked once. 

If there was one thing she knew for sure, it was that Faye needed someone to pay attention before 

whatever was happening got worse. 

And if Alexander hadn’t noticed yet, she was about to make sure he did. 

Alexander looked up from behind his desk, brow furrowed. Cole was sitting across from him, mid–conversation, but whatever they’d been discussing was instantly forgotten. 

“Irene,” Alexander said carefully, “what is it?” 

2/4 

Chapter 170 

She didn’t waste time with pleasantries. “What did you do to Faye?” 

That got his full attention. His posture stiffened slightly. “What?” 

25 Porte 

“Don’t give me that look,” she snapped, planting her hands on her hips. “Something’s wrong with her, Alexander. She looked like she was carrying the entire world on her shoulders today. And don’t even get me started on the way she fought–if you can even call that fighting.” 

Cole’s head turned toward her with interest. “What happened?” 

“What happened,” Irene said, glaring briefly at him before turning back to Alexander, “is that Faye sparred with Kyle today, and it was… off. Completely off. You should’ve seen her. She moved like she wasn’t there, like she was forcing every strike. She didn’t even counter the way she usually does. Kyle practically knocked her down, and she didn’t recover fast enough to continue.” 

Alexander’s eyes narrowed slightly, the muscles in his jaw tightening. “She got hit?” 

“Yes, but that’s not the point,” Irene said quickly. “The point is… she wasn’t herself. I’ve seen her fight plenty of times, Alexander. I know how good she is. She’s fast, sharp, and always in control. But today? She looked… disconnected. Like her mind was somewhere else entirely.” 

Cole frowned. “That doesn’t sound like her.” 

“Exactly,” Irene said, her voice rising slightly in frustration. “She looked drained… like she was trying to pretend everything was fine, but it wasn’t. Everyone noticed it. Even Kyle looked uncomfortable when he hit her.” 

Alexander took a deep breath. “And you’re sure about this?” 

“Alexander,” Irene said, “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t. She wasn’t okay. I don’t know if you two fought or if something happened while you were away, but she’s not fine. I could see it in her eyes.” 

He sighed quietly, rubbing his temple. “We didn’t fight,” he said finally. “And I haven’t done anything to upset her. We haven’t even had a proper conversation since we got back.” 

Cole leaned forward, arms resting on the desk. “Could it be exhaustion? She hasn’t rested much, has she?” 

“Maybe,” Alexander muttered. “But Faye’s not the type to let fatigue affect her like that.” 

Irene crossed her arms, watching him closely. “Exactly. That’s why I’m worried. Something’s weighing on her, Alexander. I don’t know what it is, but she’s not okay–and pretending she is isn’t helping.” 

There was a beat of silence in the room. Alexander’s eyes drifted toward the window, his thoughts already running ahead. Faye had been unusually quiet since their return–more withdrawn than usual, though he hadn’t thought much of it at first. She had smiled, spoken when spoken to, and carried herself with the same calm grace as always. But now, hearing Irene describe it that way, the pieces began to fall into place. 

The faint distraction in Faye’s eyes. The way she’d been distant during breakfast. The tired edge in her voice when she said she was fine. 

He should have noticed. 

“Alexander?” Irene’s voice broke through his thoughts. 

He looked at her again, his tone low. “You’re right. Something’s wrong.” 

“So you’ll talk to her?” 

“Yes,” he said firmly. “I’ll talk to her.” 

Irene exhaled in relief, her shoulders dropping slightly. “Good.”