Chapter 157

Claire's POV The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the two Alphas faced off. I knew I needed to make a decision, and fast. These two weren't going to let me walk away alone, no matter how much I insisted on my independence. And while joining Cyrus's pack was tempting just to spite Lucius, it would be foolish to bind myself to a stranger. Which left me with one option, as much as I hated to admit it. "Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "I'll go with Lucius." Lucius's expression softened with relief. Cyrus looked disappointed but unsurprised. "But," I added firmly, locking eyes with Lucius, "this doesn't mean I'm coming back to you. This is temporary, until I figure out my next step. Understand?" "Crystal clear," he replied, though the determined glint in his eyes told me this was far from over. As we prepared to leave, Cyrus approached me one last time. "When you change your mind," he said softly, "Eclipse Pack will welcome you." He pressed something into my pa