Chapter 233

Ella POV

August paced across the living room, his brows drawn together in frustration. The tension in the room was thick.

He and Alexander had a huge fight just a short while ago. I wasn’t in the room when it happened, but I could hear them shouting. I couldn’t make out any of the words, but it was simple enough to guess what it was about.

Alexander wanted him to prepare a press release about Lexie.

I knew that he wasn’t going to be happy about this, but I hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.

I’d never actually heard August raise his voice. His anger was usually the silent, brooding kind. Alexander had stormed off, awkwardly leaving us in the apartment together.

He probably expected August to leave, but when I peaked my head out of the bedroom he was just standing there with a shocked expression on his face. It wasn’t until I asked if he was okay that he started to pace.

“This is a disaster,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “We’re already dealing with a Rogue plot, and now you want to put a child in the middle of all this?”

I folded her hands in front of me, keeping her voice calm. “Lexie won’t be in the middle of anything. She and Sabrina are moving to my parents’ lands in a few days. They’ll be safe there.”

August let out a sharp breath and shook his head. “You can’t guarantee that. These rogues will use anything they can to get to us. And a child? That’s the perfect target.”

His words sent an icy chill through my veins. I knew that Alexander had already considered the risks, but hearing them said out loud made them feel all the more real. Still, I forced herself to remain composed.

I didn’t want to escalate things. The way August was acting made it seem like he knew something that I didn’t. I wanted to know what it was.

“That’s why we’re making sure she’s out of harm’s way,” I reminded him. “Sabrina will be well protected, and my father has already assured us that they’ll have the full security of the pack. No one will be able to touch them.”

August sighed, clearly not convinced, but he didn’t argue further. Instead, he gestured toward the door. “And what about him? The press release? How does he think people are going to react to this?”

I nodded my understanding. “We have to get ahead of the story. Diana and Archer are waiting for the perfect moment to spin this against Alexander. If we release the news ourselves, we control the narrative.”

August grumbled something under his breath but finally sat down on the couch. “Fine. But we need to be careful. One wrong move and the public will turn against him.”

“I know,” I admitted. “That’s why we’re working with the best strategists we have.”

August leaned forward suddenly, bringing his hands up to cover his face. I approached him slowly, not certain what I could say to get through to him.

Then I heard a sharp inhale and a hiccuping sound.

He was crying.

I knelt in front of him and tried to see his face to confirm it, but he turned away from me.

“I don’t understand,” I said gently. “What’s actually going on here?”

August dropped his hands suddenly, revealing the pain on his face. I gasped, startled to see how upset he actually was.

“Alexander is going to get himself killed,” he said miserably. “And he refuses to let me help him. He won’t listen to reason I–”

“It’s okay,” I said softly.

“It isn’t!” he shouted. “It’s my job to protect him!”

“August,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “If Alexander is in that kind of trouble I need to understand why. Please, tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t,” he said weakly, his voice choked by tears.

“Why?” I asked, frustrated.

He looked away from me and I realized that I already knew the answer to that question. “Alexander is keeping something from me,” I said softly.

He nodded, but couldn’t seem to meet my eyes.

I could only imagine how hard this was for him. He was Alexander’s beta, it was his job to protect Alexander but also to obey his orders. He was obviously terrified right now, but he was still doing his best to obey Alexander’s order.

“August,” I said softly. “I know you can’t explain to me what’s happening, but maybe there’s a way you can still help me understand.”

He turned his head back towards him, his sharp eyes questioning.

“Is this about Diana?”

He shook his head. That wasn’t it.

“Archer?”

No again.

I frowned, trying to think of who else might be a danger to Alexander or Lexie.

“David or Amanda?”

She shook his head as he wiped his face and tried to calm his breathing.

“It’s far worse than any of that,” he said shakily.

Far worse… my heart went cold and I stared at him in disbelief.

“Ironfang?” I asked, barely audible.

For a moment he didn’t react, then he nodded. I sat back on the floor and stared at the ceiling. August knew something about Ironfang and it led him to believe that Alexander was going to end up dead.

I closed my eyes tightly, fighting back my own tears.

This nightmare just kept getting worse.

Third Person POV

Elizabeth sat across from her father in his private study. The weight of her concerns pressed heavily on her shoulders, and as much as she tried to mask her unease, she knew he could see right through her.

“You’re worried about the trials,” he observed, his gaze sharp and knowing.

Elizabeth hesitated before nodding. “It’s not just the trials. It’s Archer. He’s out there giving speeches, calling you a tyrant, claiming that these arrests are nothing more than political power plays. People are starting to believe him.”

Her father scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “Anyone with sense knows he’s lying. We have every right to bring those criminals to justice.”

“That may be true,” Elizabeth said carefully, “but public opinion is complicated. It’s not always about what’s true—it’s about what people choose to believe. And right now, some people are choosing to believe Archer.”

The king studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You think we should do something about it?”

She nodded, gripping the arms of her chair. “We can’t just let him spread lies unchecked. We need to counter his narrative with facts. Show the people the truth before they get swept up in his deception.”

A small smile played at the corner of the king’s lips. “You sound more like a ruler every day.”

Elizabeth’s cheeks warmed at the praise, but she remained focused. “I just don’t want to see all of your hard work undone by a snake like Archer.”

Her father nodded approvingly. “Then do what you think is necessary. If Archer wants a battle in the court of public opinion, let’s make sure he loses.”

Determination settled in Elizabeth’s chest. If Archer thought he could manipulate the people with empty rhetoric, he was sorely mistaken.

She knew that her father was beloved and that it would take a lot to turn people agaisnt him. Her biggest concern was how strange her father had been acting lately.

That, combined with the rumors scared her. She didn’t know what might happen if Archer was able to turn even a small number of people to his side. She had to find a way to make sure that didn’t happen.