How To Lose Your Billionaire Alpha Husband In 365 Days (Or Less)!-Chapter 108: Caught...

Emerald tossed her phone onto the bed and rubbed her temples.

"I swear," she muttered, "if one more man sends me a threatening love letter..."

Viola snorted. "You’re collecting red flags like trophies."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile that briefly appeared faded fast. Ares had a point—again. She wasn’t safe here. Not entirely. But safety had never been guaranteed in any pack she’d set foot in. At least here, she had control of the game she was about to play.

And it was time to start.

—

The following morning, she entered the breakfast hall to find Lucien already seated. A pot of tea steamed between them, untouched.

He looked up as she entered. "You stayed."

She took her seat opposite him, smoothing her hands over the folds of her dress. "I said I would."

His gaze lingered for a beat too long. "Why did you call Kieran? Why not Darius?"

"I didn’t want to worry him," she said simply. "He’d have dropped everything to come."

Lucien nodded slowly, hiding whatever emotion flickered behind his eyes.

They sat in silence for a while, the only sound the soft clinking of porcelain as she poured herself tea.

Then Emerald broke it. "I have an idea."

Lucien glanced up. "Let me guess. It’s dangerous."

She gave him a dry look. "Take a walk with me."

He blinked. "That’s the idea?"

"In the village. Just you and me. No guards."

Lucien’s jaw flexed. "Absolutely not."

She leaned forward. "You’re never going to win their hearts if you keep hiding behind stone walls and armed escorts."

"They’ve tried to kill me, Emerald."

"They’ve tried to kill me, too," she said pointedly. "Look, I’m not asking you to strip naked and do cartwheels through the market. I’m saying show your face. Show them you’re not a monster."

"They don’t see me as anything else."

"Then change that," she said. "We walk. We talk to them. I won’t let anyone touch you. Promise."

He exhaled. "This is a bad idea."

"I’m full of them. Come on."

—

They left through the east gate—no guards, no fanfare. Just the two of them.

At first, it was awkward. The streets were quieter than usual, people pausing mid-step as the Alpha strolled into view beside the infamous outsider. Some froze, others stared. But not with fear this time.

Emerald offered a small smile to the first woman they passed. The woman blinked, startled... but nodded back.

They walked further into the square, where a few merchants were already setting up stalls. A young man rebuilding one of the vegetable carts looked up as they approached. Emerald stepped toward him.

"Need a hand?"

He blinked at her. "You want to help?"

She smiled and crouched beside the overturned crates, lifting one into place. "I don’t mind."

The young man hesitated, then nodded. "Sure... thank you."

Lucien remained behind her, hands tucked behind his back. But the moment the merchant noticed him, his face changed.

"I—I can handle it myself, actually," the man said, quickly stepping back. "Really. It’s fine."

Emerald straightened slowly.

Lucien’s voice dropped low. "Told you."

She looked up at him. "And I told you it would take time. They’re not going to sing your praises overnight."

"They might never."

"Then you’ll just have to walk with me again tomorrow," she said, brushing off her hands.

Lucien raised a brow. "Tomorrow?"

"And the day after. And the day after that."

His lips twitched. "You’re relentless."

"Someone has to be." She started walking again. "Also, I’ve been thinking. You need to start making declarations."

He frowned. "Declarations?"

"Changes. Reforms. Things that benefit the people. Abolish an old tax, fix the housing problem. Something big enough to turn heads, small enough not to cause panic."

Lucien considered. "I’ll think about it."

"No," she said. "You’ll do it."

—

By midday, they returned to the Alpha’s quarters and headed for his study. Emerald sank into the armchair by the fireplace while Lucien poured water.

"There’s something else," she said.

Lucien glanced at her.

"Kieran gave me advice. Stir the pot. Make them react. Then watch who flinches."

Lucien folded his arms. "You want to provoke them?"

"I want to find out who wants you dead," she replied. "And I can’t do that from the outside."

He looked hesitant.

"I want to sit in on the next council meeting."

He tilted his head. "They’ll hate that."

"Perfect," she said. "Let’s rattle feathers."

Lucien walked to the desk, picked up a small bell, and rang it. A guard entered within seconds.

"Send word to the council," Lucien instructed. "We’ll convene tomorrow evening."

The guard bowed and exited.

Emerald stood. "Now... brief me. Names, positions, loyalties."

Lucien walked to a locked cabinet and withdrew a small folder. He laid it open on the table, revealing profiles of every current council member.

"There are three I suspect the most," he said. "Elias Morn. Sera Tain. Gavik Holt. All served under the old Alpha. All publicly support me—but only just enough to avoid suspicion."

Emerald’s eyes scanned the photos. Two of them were familiar.

"These two... I saw them the day I arrived," she said. "Whispering in the hallway."

Lucien nodded grimly. "That doesn’t surprise me."

Emerald smirked. "Good. Then all we have to do... is rattle them. And see who bites."

—

Later that evening, Emerald returned to her room and sent for Talia.

The girl entered quietly, her nervousness more noticeable than usual.

Emerald gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit."

Talia sat stiffly. "You’re... still here."

"I am," Emerald said. "I changed my mind."

"Why?" Talia’s voice was barely above a whisper.

Emerald leaned forward. "Because I want to help. But I can’t do that alone. I need someone who knows this place. Someone people don’t notice. Someone like you."

Talia stiffened. "You want me to spy?"

"I want you to listen," Emerald said calmly. "That’s all. You don’t need to do anything dangerous. Just... pay attention. To what the council says when they think no one is listening. Who they meet. What they say about the Alpha."

"I... I could get caught."

"You won’t," Emerald said. "I’ll make sure of it. No one will know you’re helping me. Not even Lucien."

Talia hesitated.

Emerald stood and walked over to her. "You said once that I was the only one who asked like I cared. I meant it, Talia. I want to help your people. I want to stop the ones who are making life worse for all of you. But I can’t fix what I can’t see."

The maid stared at her lap.

Emerald added softly, "You’re in the perfect position. You hear things. You see who comes and goes. I’m not asking for betrayal. I’m asking for your eyes."

Talia bit her lip. "Just listening?"

"That’s all."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then finally, Talia nodded once. "Alright. I’ll try."

Emerald exhaled. "Thank you."

"I’ll be careful."

"I’ll keep you safe."

As Talia stood to leave, Emerald caught her sleeve. "One more thing."

Talia looked back.

"When you hear something... anything... come to me first. No one else."

The girl nodded and slipped out the door.

Emerald closed it behind her, locking it with a quiet click.

Then she turned back to the window, her arms crossed.

It had begun.

She was no longer just a guest.

She was a player.

And it was time to uncover every lie this pack had buried.

"I’ll keep you safe."

As Talia stood to leave, Emerald caught her sleeve. "One more thing."

Talia looked back.

"When you hear something... anything... come to me first. No one else."

The girl nodded and slipped out the door.

Emerald closed it behind her, locking it with a quiet click.

Then she turned back to the window, her arms crossed.

It had begun.

She was no longer just a guest.

She was a player.

And it was time to uncover every lie this pack had buried.

Emerald tossed her phone onto the bed and rubbed her temples.

"I swear," she muttered, "if one more man sends me a threatening love letter..." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Viola snorted. "You’re collecting red flags like trophies."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile that briefly appeared faded fast. Ares had a point—again. She wasn’t safe here. Not entirely. But safety had never been guaranteed in any pack she’d set foot in. At least here, she had control of the game she was about to play.

She leaned forward. "You’re never going to win their hearts if you keep hiding behind stone walls and armed escorts."

"They’ve tried to kill me, Emerald."

"They’ve tried to kill me, too," she said pointedly. "Look, I’m not asking you to strip naked and do cartwheels through the market. I’m saying show your face. Show them you’re not a monster."

"They don’t see me as anything else."

"Then change that," she said. "We walk. We talk to them. I won’t let anyone touch you. Promise."

He exhaled. "This is a bad idea."

"I’m full of them. Come on."