*****EMMELINE'S POV******* The news of the Council leader’s death spread like wildfire. It was shocking enough that he had been murdered, but by his own daughter? Rumors swirled. Some claimed Ava was his illegitimate child, mistreated and scorned her entire life. But no one could confirm anything. The only person who could—Ava—had escaped before her execution. “So… what happens now?” I asked Elara as she finished brushing my hair. She shrugged. “I really don’t know.” Elara had become my only source of information. Since Cedric had tightened the security around the pack, I wasn’t allowed to leave—not that I had anywhere to go. “I heard a new Council leader has been elected,” she added, gathering the combs and pins from the table. “But I didn’t catch his name.” I yawned, though I had barely done anything today. Fatigue clung to me constantly. “Are you sure you’re alright?” Elara asked, her voice tinged with concern. I nodded quickly. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust her, it was ju
****CEDRIC POV***As I watched Emmeline leave the room, I let out a deep sigh of frustration.How could she say that?Rejection? Does she really think that’s the right solution?I rubbed my forehead, trying to calm the storm of emotions building within me. I had more urgent matters to deal with now.Ava…She attacked me last night. Why? I never trusted her, but I didn’t think she’d go so far as to try and kill me.I’d been certain she was smitten with me or maybe that was just an act to hide her true intentions. Her hatred.“My Lord, you’re awake?” the physician asked, entering the room with a mix of confusion and surprise.I frowned. “Would you prefer me dead?” I muttered sarcastically.He shook his head vehemently. “No, my Lord! Please pardon my reaction. It’s just… the potion you were injected with. it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.”I narrowed my eyes. “Really?”Not surprising. Ava worked with the Council and they collaborated with the witches of Arachne. It’s no wonder
*****EMMELINE'S POV*****The pack was in disarray when I returned. Confused, I walked over to Grace, who was speaking with the guards."What's happening?" I asked, noticing the guards following a trail through the bushes."Where have you been, Emmeline?" Grace asked, instructing the guards to leave us."Somewhere," I muttered nonchalantly. I couldn't possibly tell her I went to see Lord Anthony. She would tell Cedric—and from what I've heard, Cedric doesn't like Lord Anthony.She scoffed, ignoring my insolent reply. "We were attacked by Ava. Lord Cedric is at the clinic."I froze at her words. What does she mean Cedric is in the clinic? He's one of the strongest Alphas I know.Why would Ava attack him? I saw them talking earlier today like friends… So what's with the sudden hostility?Without thinking twice, I ran to the pack infirmary. Grace called after me, but I didn’t respond.When I arrived, the physicians directed me to his bed. It struck me how the pack's hostility toward me ha
********CEDRIC POV*****I paced my room, a hand pressed to my lips as I smiled, replaying the kiss over and over in my mind. Maybe…just maybe…there was still hope.Hope for Emmeline and me.Hope that we can find our way back to each other.I would risk it all. I’d do everything in my power to win my mate back.But right now, I had to focus on the issue at hand; the spy.Grace and I had searched every corner of the manor and questioned every member of the pack, but so far, everyone had come out clean.The poison used was the same type as before—Shadow Bite, the one used on Emmeline. But according to our investigation, there hadn't been a witch in this manor since Juliet and July’s departure.I rubbed my forehead, already exhausted from chasing shadows.Just then, the door creaked open slowly. I frowned, irritated by the intrusion, especially from someone who didn’t even bother to knock.“What do you want?” I asked sharply when I saw Ava leaning casually against the doorframe.She let o
****EMMELINE'S POV****The manor was rowdy, with people moving up and down in a frenzy. I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but Elara mentioned someone had been murdered.I’d gone to Cedric’s room twice to find out what was happening, but he was never there.For the past two days, my mind had been consumed with thoughts of how to prove my father’s innocence. He’d kept me away from all his experiments, so I had little to no knowledge of his work schedule or projects.Cedric had asked me to think of someone from the Blood Moon pack who might be a suspect. The only person that came to mind was Luna Maya—but I doubted she could do something like that.What would she even gain? And she didn’t seem like someone affiliated with the Council… unless there were multiple people behind the experiments.I made a mental note to mention my suspicions to Cedric.As I walked downstairs into the unusually quiet hallway, I halted when I saw Ava with Cedric. They were deep in conversation, speaking
******* CEDRIC POV******I sat in my office, burying myself in work so I wouldn't think about my mate, but it proved more difficult than I thought.Her words kept ringing in my ears… Teammates.How could that even be possible, given that we are mates?But I couldn’t argue with her. The fear that she might disappear from my life completely was nerve-racking. I know I deserve every bit of her coldness, but it still hurts.Her eyes, once full of love and admiration for me, were now filled with disgust and hatred.“My Lord,” Grace muttered, pulling me out of my thoughts. I hadn’t even heard her enter, which was unusual, especially since my senses had heightened after my last shift.“What brings you here?” I asked, looking up at her.She bit her lip. “Um… Lady Emmeline is insisting on seeing you.”I shrugged. “You can send her in.”When we agreed to work together as teammates, she made it clear the chains had to go. Said if we were equals, she needed to be treated like one. So she was now
*******Devlin's POV******I paced the room, jaw clenched in rage. It had been three days…three excruciating days…since Emmeline disappeared, and there was still no trace of her.Had she run away?Or worse… had someone taken her?But that didn’t make sense. My pack was tightly secured. No one could breach the territory without my knowledge. Still, the silence around her disappearance was maddening.“Alpha Devlin, the Council Leader is here to see you,” Belle announced as she stepped into the room.What does that old man want now?“I’ll be there,” I muttered, and she bowed before leaving.With a deep frown, I fixed my hair and schooled my expression, forcing on my infamous smile—the one that made people believe they were always in control.When I arrived at the courtyard, he was already there, standing with that ever-present glint of amusement in his eyes.“Greetings, Uncle,” I said smoothly, bowing with calculated grace. “Why go through the trouble of traveling so far just to see your
*******CEDRIC POV******I sat in my office, deep in thought. Emmeline didn’t know that I knew about Devlin’s baby. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t told her, maybe the words just felt too heavy to say.Since she tried to escape, the security around her room had been increased. Her leg was also chained to the bed.“My Lord,” Grace bowed as she entered, a frustrated look on her face.“What is it?” I asked.“Mistress Emmeline has refused to eat anything since she arrived,” she replied.I sighed, rubbing my temples. It had been two days of her starving herself. What was she trying to achieve with this?“Have you sent Elara in?” I asked. Since Elara was her friend, I thought she’d be the best person to convince her to eat.Grace shook her head. “It was no use… Emmeline smashed the food against the wall.”Was she trying to kill the baby?I waved her off. “I’ll handle this.”She bowed and left. I adjusted my clothes as I stood and made my way to Emmeline’s room. After taking a deep breath, I pushe
*****AVA’S POV*****I hurried back to my room the moment I heard footsteps near the door; I’d been eavesdropping on Cedric.My chest tightened. Santos Gray is innocent. Those words kept echoing in my head. How could that be true?My father and the rest of the Council had conducted a full investigation. All the evidence pointed to Santos. Unless… there was something my father hadn’t told me?But what stung the most was Devlin. How could he betray me like this? He saved that wretched girl, knowing full well what the Master's orders were.I bit my lip, pacing the room. I had to act. Cedric would toss me out the moment Emmeline returned to full strength. I could feel it.But what could I do? I couldn’t risk trying to kill her again. Cedric would be watching her like a hawk now.Just then, the door burst open and Mario stormed in.“Do you ever knock?” I snapped.He didn’t answer, just sighed and walked further in. His cheek was swollen, his lip split and bleeding. Someone had clearly rough