No Coincidence

~Alaric~

The study is in a peaceful silence, save for the occasional sound of Cedric tapping on the arm of the chair he sits on, across the desk from where I sit. It has already been a good few minutes since he came into my study and Cedric is yet to say a word, though I can tell he has a lot to say.

The file on my desk has my full attention, and it seems to further agitate Cedric that I have not paid him any attention since he arrived. Knowing Cedric as long as I have, I can tell but I do not acknowledge it, nor plan to.

"It has been a week...you haven't asked once." Cedric finally broke the silence. "I do not understand you."

"Asked about what?" I ask absentmindedly, turning the pages on the file I am working on. 

"Do not feign ignorance." Cedric replied, unimpressed by my response. "It is hardly possible that her absence has gone unnoticed by you. So why have you not asked?"

'Her.' It is obvious to me who Cedric is referring to. Kyra... the girl he recruited to seduce me and get into my bed because he knows just how exact her resemblance is to my deceased mate.

The thought of it still aggravates me and I pass Cedric a withering glare before reverting my attention back to my files. "Bold of you to mention her to me. You have yet to answer for constantly disregarding my orders to keep her away from my private quarters."

Cedric purses his lips at my words and he takes a moment before he responds. "You cannot deny the fact that her presence affects the mania differently. Don't you want to be free of it? Even if you don't admit it, I know you'll give anything to go back to how things used to be..." Cedric trails off.

I frown at Cedric words but I do not argue. There is no point, Cedric knows me too well.

"Getting laid is not my way back to normalcy." I begin. "And, what has been lost cannot be given back... there is no going back..."

Cedric huffs beneath breath. "Do you think I don't know that? It's just... the quickest way to appeal to the lingering teters of your mate bond... hopefully fix something that was broken. There isn't a manual available for fixing your best friend's mania, is there? I just...did what I thought was best." Cedric sighs.

"I did not expect it to be such a complete failure too." Cedric adds. "You must have scared the living daylights out of Kyra, she gave up on you despite the cost being her own freedom."

My hand pauses momentarily over the file I am working on. "A complete failure..."

I had my suspicions that Kyra kept our night together a secret from Cedric but it is only now I confirm that she truly revealed nothing about the night we spent together in my bed and the fact that I am the one who failed and made love to her when I swore I would not.

The quiet snapping sound of the pen breaking in two halves is what draws my attention to how tightly I am gripping the pen in my hand and the potency of the rage surging through my veins.

Rage... disappointment, they were just a few of the tirade of emotions I feel at the moment. Though I am not certain what or who I am raging at, or what exactly I am disappointed in. The one thing I know for certain is that my state of mind has nothing to do with Kyra, I am solely responsible and it is for the best that she finally chose to leave at this point, before I lose control again and make everything even more complicated.

"Let her be. You have your hands full, keeping law enforcement from sniffing anywhere close to the silver tower." I say to Cedric after a short moment of silence.

Cedric nods slowly in agreement. "I do not know where they came up with the idea of a serial arsonist, but the entire city is shaken up by it. Do you think the wildfire could have been...planned?" Cedric asks worriedly.

"I mean, it seemingly started out of nowhere. Precisely when you were by yourself in the woods, and from my observation, the fire seemed to have been stronger around the cabin...more concentrated. Like someone..." Cedric trails off.

"Like someone knew I would be out there by myself at that time and took the opportunity to take me out." I complete the words Cedric is unable to, I have already guessed the same.

Kyra certainly is not a serial arsonist, but someone did set that fire, and the target was most likely me... I do not believe there are any coincidences in life, everything that happens is premeditated.

"An assassination attempt?...It would not be the first time. With our numbers dwindling, there are more than a few who want Lycans wiped from existence for good."

"Now, with so many eyes on the silver tower due to the fire, if nothing else, they achieved one thing. We will have to be more cautious when hunting down rogue supernaturals in the city, or risk exposing ourselves to humans." Cedric murmurs quietly.

The true appearance of the silver tower is only visible to the supernatural. To humans, it is just a regular mansion owned by my corporation in the desolate parts of Everdale. But the fire had started too close to the tower and now more and more humans were paying attention to these parts of the city, seeking out an arsonist.

"The city will be busy these days. Have everyone return to their mundane duties in the city for the time." I instruct Cedric. "It is for the best that we all take a page out of Kyra's book and lie low. But keep a close watch on the city, Cedric...if someone started this, they won't stop with just one wildfire."