Chapter 40: The Hunter Revealed

For a long moment, nobody moved.

Victoria’s words hung in the air like a knife suspended over all of them.

Alexander’s chest rose and fell sharply. His eyes were locked on the shattered window — where the shooter had vanished into the shadows.

“My brother…” he whispered, voice strangled. “Alive. Here. Hunting us.”

Mrs. Ward was still on her knees, wringing her shaking hands. “Alexander, I never meant— I thought he was reaching out for help. For family. I didn’t know…”

Alexander’s jaw clenched so tightly his teeth ground together. “Mrs. Ward, if everything you’re saying is true, then you gave a killer access to this house.”

“He wasn’t always a killer!” she cried. “He was a sweet boy when you were little—”

Victoria let out a humorless laugh. “Sweet boys don’t become Circle hunters. Only the broken ones do.”

Lena pressed her hand to her chest, her heart pounding too fast.

Alexander’s brother.

Alive.

Working with — or for — the Circle.

And wanting her.

It didn’t feel real.

It felt like a nightmare she had fallen into by mistake.

Lena whispered, “Why me?”

Victoria didn’t hesitate.

“Because your mother hid the evidence. And the Circle believes you’re the only one who can access it.”

Lena looked down.

At the necklace lying on the floor.

Still glinting with the smallest drop of Victoria’s blood.

Mrs. Ward whispered, “We need to leave this room. It isn’t safe. The hunter may try another angle.”

Alexander didn’t look away from the window. “He won’t leave. Not until he has what he came for.”

Victoria struggled to stand; blood dripped onto the marble floor. She held the wall for support.

“Good,” she breathed. “Then let’s give him something to chase.”

Alexander glared at her. “Shut up and sit down before you lose more blood.”

Victoria shook her head. “No. You need me awake. You need me alive. I know more about your brother than you do.”

He stepped closer, eyes full of fire. “Start talking.”

Victoria’s gaze flicked toward Lena. “He and your mother were close.”

Lena’s breath caught. “What?”

Alexander stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

Victoria’s smile was thin and cruel. “Lena’s mother cared for him. Protected him. Until she discovered something she shouldn’t have.”

Lena’s skin went cold. “What did she discover?”

Victoria’s eyes gleamed. “That your brother wasn’t who he said he was.”

Alexander shook his head. “Stop the riddles—”

“No riddles,” Victoria interrupted sharply. She pointed at the necklace on the floor. “Your mother left this for a reason. She encoded the truth inside it. And it’s time to learn what she was trying to say.”

Lena hesitated, then bent down to pick it up.

Alexander grabbed her wrist. “Wait. It could be dangerous.”

Victoria gave a short, painful laugh. “It is. Everything about your mother is dangerous.”

Mrs. Ward wiped her eyes, voice trembling. “Child… be careful.”

Lena closed her fingers around the cold metal pendant.

It felt heavier than before.

Solid.

Secretive.

Alive.

“What do I do?” she whispered.

Victoria’s voice softened — eerily gentle.

“Twist it.”

Lena blinked. “Twist?”

Victoria nodded. “Your mother was clever. She hid a microdrive inside. Twist the top.”

Alexander moved in close, ready to pull her back at the slightest sign of danger.

Lena took a slow breath.

And twisted.

Click.

The pendant separated into two halves — revealing a tiny, glass-like capsule hidden inside. A faint glow pulsed from it.

Mrs. Ward gasped. “A secure micro-drive. That technology wasn’t even public when her mother was alive.”

Alexander’s eyes widened. “She must have gotten it from someone inside the Circle.”

Victoria nodded. “She did. And she used it to store the file that could destroy them.”

Lena held the glowing object carefully. “How… do I open it?”

Victoria smiled. “Your mother encoded it with a biometric lock.”

Lena frowned. “Biometric…?”

Victoria’s voice lowered. “It will only open with your DNA.”

Alexander exhaled shakily. “Lena… this was meant for you.”

Lena felt her throat tighten with emotion.

Her mother.

Knowing she wouldn’t live to see her grown daughter.

Planning for this moment.

Trusting her with the truth that could ruin the Circle.

“What happens when I open it?” she whispered.

Victoria’s eyes gleamed.

“You’ll learn the truth about your mother.”

She paused.

“And the truth about Alexander’s brother.”

Alexander stiffened. “What about him?”

Victoria tilted her head, lips curling in a dark smile.

“He killed her.”

Lena gasped.

Mrs. Ward covered her mouth.

But Alexander snapped, roaring:

“LIAR!”

He lunged at Victoria — but Lena grabbed his arm.

“Alex, STOP!”

His chest heaved. His eyes were wild.

“She’s lying,” Alexander insisted through gritted teeth. “She’s trying to manipulate you. She has always twisted everything.”

Victoria smirked. “Believe what you like, Alex. But your brother hunted your father before he died. Why do you think your father hid him? Why do you think your mother disappeared right after meeting him?”

Alexander froze. “My father would never—”

Victoria laughed bitterly. “Your father raised monsters. And your brother is simply following the family tradition.”

Lena felt her stomach twist painfully.

Her mother's last secret was inside the microdrive.

The truth — all of it — lay in her hand.

Alexander turned to her, desperation in his voice. “Lena, don’t open it. Not here. Not now. We need to move. The hunter is still outside.”

Victoria shook her head. “Open it. Now. Before he gets in.”

Lena stared at the glowing capsule.

Her mother’s final message.

Her father's enemy.

Alexander’s brother.

Her own stalker.

All tangled together.

She swallowed hard.

“Alex…” she whispered.

“What if the truth hurts you?”

Alexander stepped closer, cupping her face with trembling hands.

“Lena,” he said softly, “the only thing that hurts me… is losing you.”

Her breath caught.

Then—

A loud crash echoed from upstairs.

Followed by footsteps.

Heavy.

Deliberate.

Coming down the hall.

Victoria’s whisper was cold:

“He’s inside.”