THE HEIR'S MATE

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

Lyla sighed deeply, her patience wearing thin as she watched the two Alphas bickering in front of her. This was supposed to be her sanctuary—the library—a place where she could focus, surrounded by the comforting presence of countless books and the wealth of knowledge they contained. But now, her beloved refuge had become the stage for their heated argument, shattering the peace she so desperately needed.

"You should just talk to him," Lukan said, his voice tinged with annoyance as he glared at Isolde. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his posture rigid as if holding back the urge to do more than just talk. "Ask him, persuade him, be smooth—whatever it takes, as long as you just talk."

"But he doesn't want to listen!" Isolde shot back, her frustration evident in the way she clenched her fists at her sides. Her entire body was tense, like a coiled spring ready to snap. "He'll just walk away the moment I try. What am I supposed to do then?" Her voice cracked slightly, betraying the vulnerability beneath her fiery exterior.

"Do whatever you can, as long as you can control your wolf instinct," Lukan replied, his tone exasperated, as if the answer should be obvious to her. His eyes narrowed, watching her intently as if daring her to disagree.

"Easy for you to say," Isolde muttered, her eyes narrowing as she felt cornered by Lukan's blunt advice. She began pacing back and forth, her movements sharp and agitated, the tension in her body visible as she struggled to find a solution. The library's peaceful atmosphere seemed to mock the turmoil swirling inside her, the rows of books offering no solace for the battle raging within.

Lyla watched the exchange with growing irritation, her usual calm demeanor fraying at the edges. She loved this place—the quiet, the order, the endless resources at her fingertips—and the last thing she needed was their arguing disturbing her peace. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to block out their voices, but their heated words continued to echo off the walls, invading her thoughts like an unwelcome storm, making her head throb with every syllable.

Finally, she snapped, her voice cutting through their argument with a stoic edge. "Get out, you two!" she ordered, her tone deceptively calm but with a bite that made both Alphas pause. Her expression was one of sheer boredom, but the tension around her eyes betrayed the headache brewing beneath. "Find somewhere else if you want to shout at each other."

When they hesitated, she fixed them with a sharper glare, her patience clearly at its limit. "No, just find somewhere else. Neither of you belongs here."

The weight of her words hung in the air for a moment, the library's usual serenity now charged with an undercurrent of frustration. The two Alphas exchanged a glance, the realization that they had overstayed their welcome sinking in.

"You heard her—go!" Isolde barked at Lukan, seizing the opportunity to direct her own irritation elsewhere. Lukan raised an eyebrow, uncrossing his arms as he leaned back slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He was certain Lyla's command had been meant for both of them, not just him.

"Why are you even here?" Isolde snapped, her tone dripping with mockery as she tried to regain some control of the situation.

"Why are you even here too?" Lukan retorted, mimicking Isolde's words with a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"My mother is the head of this library. I have every right to be here," Isolde replied proudly, her chin lifting as if that fact alone would dismiss Lukan. Her stance was defiant, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes as she glanced back at Lyla.

Lyla, however, was far from impressed. "No, you're not Alpha Isolde. The only right you have is to go straight to your mother's office. And as far as I remember, this is not it. So, please go. Both of you." Her voice was firm, cutting through their bickering like a blade, leaving no room for argument.