OLEG'S POV

　　"How did she find out? And why didn't you do anything?" I questioned Kate, my frustration bubbling over. Both these women were proving to be more resilient than I had anticipated. Why can't they just die like normal people? They were turning out to be bigger thorns than Rufus himself.

　　Kate looked nervous, wringing her hands. "I... I don't know how she figured it out. Lydia must have noticed something off with the tea. She's sharper than we gave her credit for."

　　"And you just stood there?" I growled, my anger barely contained. "Why didn't you do something?"

　　Kate flinched. "I couldn't risk exposing myself. If I acted suspiciously, she would have known for sure."

　　"Useless," I muttered, pacing back and forth. "What did you do? Did you try to explain anything to her or did you just sit there and enjoy the drama in front of everyone?"

　　"I didn't know what to say," Kate stammered. "Everything happened in the spur of the moment. She was already upset about the proposal. When I tried to explain that saying yes would help her, she didn't listen. Then suddenly she took the cup from my hand and threw it away."

　　I nodded, processing her words. Manipulating Lydia was no easy feat; she was a lot smarter than Rufus and even Kate. Her only weakness was her emotions. She gets emotional quite easily and takes steps without thinking. And I knew that was the chink in her armour I needed to exploit.

　　Her two betas were loyal to her, making it difficult to reach her directly. But if I could break their bond by permanently eliminating her connection to the kingdom, then even they wouldn't be able to protect her.

　　"I am leaving," I announced and got up to leave, my mind racing with the need to act quickly. I was perilously close to being exposed in front of everyone.

　　"But... I thought you would spend tonight with me," Kate pouted, and I mentally rolled my eyes. The façade I had to maintain was growing tiresome.

　　"I have some work to do. I promise I will accompany you tomorrow," I excused myself, even though it did nothing to ease her disappointment. I couldn't let her suspect that my feelings for her were anything but genuine. I needed her trust for as long as this game continued.

　　"Bye, sweetheart. Take care of yourself," I said, trying to sound affectionate. She nodded timidly, and I walked out of her room, my mind already on my next move.

　　As I made my way through the palace, I overheard two maids talking outside Lydia's room. My ears perked up at the mention of Lydia's plans.

　　"She's leaving tomorrow for the West River Pack," one maid said to the other, her voice hushed but clear enough for me to catch.

　　This new information puzzled me. "Why is she going there? I thought she didn't want Heckim as her mate. What if she's going there to gain their alliance?" I muttered to myself.

　　The possibility was troubling. If Lydia managed to secure the support of the West River Pack without marrying Heckim, it would complicate my plans. I needed to know more about her intentions and ensure she didn't gain any advantage.

　　Determined to find out more, I decided to act swiftly. I headed back to my quarters, where I kept a small but effective network of spies and informants. One of them, a maid named Elara, had proven particularly useful in the past. She had access to places I couldn't reach, and her loyalty was secured through a mix of fear and promised rewards.

　　I found Elara waiting in the shadows near my room, as we had arranged. "Elara," I said quietly, "I need information on Lydia's departure tomorrow. I need to know her plans, who she's meeting, and what she hopes to achieve."

　　Elara nodded, her eyes sharp with understanding. "I'll find out everything, my lord."

　　"Good," I replied. "And be discreet."

　　As she slipped away into the darkness, I felt a grim satisfaction.

　　There was still one last thing to do. I needed to ensure that Lydia's visit to the West River Pack would permanently sever her connection to the kingdom. Fortunately, I had an old friend in that pack who owed me a favor. He had once been the Alpha, and I had helped him secure his position. Now it was time for him to return the favor.

　　I picked up the phone and called Jeremy. He answered on the third ring.

　　"Jeremy, where have you been, my friend? Seems like your Alpha duties are keeping you quite occupied," I said, trying to keep my tone light and cheerful.

　　"Not at all, I'm not an Alpha anymore. A b*tch took my place, and now I'm just a warrior in the pack," he replied, his bitterness palpable.

　　"What? How did that happen?" I asked, genuinely shocked.

　　"It's a long story, but I'm not an Alpha anymore. So if you're calling for some favor, I'm sorry, but I can't help you. And I know you're not the kind of person who would just call to check up on an old friend," he mocked, and I growled at his audacity.

　　Damn it!

　　"It's not like that," I lied smoothly. "I just called to inform you that the princess herself is coming to visit your pack. Take care of her." I hung up before he could respond.

　　I couldn't afford to reveal my plan to him, especially now that he was no longer in power. I needed a new strategy.

　　I paced my room, my mind racing. If Jeremy couldn't help, I had to find another way to undermine Lydia's efforts. My thoughts turned to Heckim.

　　If Heckim and Lydia somehow marked each other, it would permanently sever Lydia's bond with the kingdom. But for that to happen, I needed to get Heckim and Lydia in the same room. An idea struck me, and I quickly called another pawn of mine from the West River Pack, a cunning and ambitious wolf.

　　After explaining the plan to, he hesitated. "Hmm... it's risky," he said.

　　I rolled my eyes. "Not at all. I have full faith in you. Only you can do this," I encouraged him, knowing his ego would respond to the flattery.

　　"Fine, but I can't promise anything. And I need something in return," he countered, his voice taking on a calculating tone.

　　"Of course you do. Just name your price," I said confidently, feeling quite pleased with how things were unfolding.

　　"A virgin beauty from your kingdom and a bag of gold," he stated, his voice dripping with greed.

　　I agreed without hesitation. "Done. You'll get what you want, but only after the job is done."

　　He laughed. "Consider it done. What's the plan?"

　　"Here's what I need you to do," I began, laying out the details. "Lydia is planning to visit the West River Pack. You'll need to arrange a situation where she and Heckim are alone, preferably in a secluded place where they won't be disturbed. Use whatever means necessary to ensure they mark each other. If Heckim is reluctant, make him think this is his only chance to prove his love and loyalty to her. Use whatever means necessary to make sure that they mate and mark each other. Drug them if you have to and make sure you do it before she gain the alliance of the new Alpha."

　　He sighed. "I'll do my best. But remember, if this fails, it's on you."

　　"It won't fail," I said with conviction. "I trust you, my friend. You've never let me down before."

　　After hanging up, I felt a sense of satisfaction. The pieces were moving into place. Lydia's defiance and strength would be her downfall. Once she marked Heckim, her bond with the kingdom would be irrevocably broken, and the throne would be within my reach. All I needed was patience and for my pawns to play their parts perfectly. Now let's see, how do you gain the upper hand in this game Lydia.