Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE 

GROWING SUSPICION

Nyx POV. 

I spun around, heart exploding in panic.

I've been caught. 

Vieve stood in the doorway, her silver eyes cold and angry. She looked perfect as always, her black hair pulled back, her clothes expensive and neat. But there was something dangerous in her expression. More like she could literally kill me here. 

"I asked you a question, rogue." She stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "What are you doing in Luna's room?"

Think fast. I couldn't let her know I'd found the note. I mustn't let her know. 

"I was cleaning," I said, trying to sound calm. "Elder Thorne said to clean the third floor."

"He specifically said not to enter this room." Vieve moved closer, her eyes searching my face for any hidden clue. "Why are you really here? What are you looking for?"

"Nothing. I just..." I looked around the room trying to act less suspicious. "I heard about the Luna. About what happened to her. I was curious."

"Curious?" Vieve's laugh was sharp, harsh and mean. "About a traitor who betrayed her pack and got what she deserved?"

Anger flared hot in my chest. "Did she? Get what she deserved?"

Something flickered in Vieve's eyes. Surprise? Disbelief? Fear? "Of course. The evidence was very clear."

"Was it?" I took a step toward her, unable to stop myself. "Or was it just really convincing lies?"

We stared at each other. The tension in the room felt like lightning about to strike. 

"You should be careful, Nyx," Vieve said softly, but dangerously. "Asking too many questions about things that don't concern you. Bad things happen to wolves who stick their noses where they don't belong."

"Is that a threat or what?"

"It's friendly advice." She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "The Luna asked too many questions too. And look what happened to her."

My wolf growled inside me, wanting to attack, wanting to make Vieve pay for everything she'd done. But I forced myself to stay calm, not to act rational. 

"I should get back to work," I said, moving toward the door.

Vieve blocked my path. "What's in your hand?"

My blood went cold. The diary. I was still holding the diary.

"Just some old book I found under the bed," I said quickly. "Thought I'd throw it away."

"Let me see it."

"It's nothing important"

"I said let me see it." The Alpha command in her voice was weak compared to Derrick's, but it still made my wolf want to submit to her. 

I had no choice. I handed over the diary, my heart sinking as I did. 

Vieve flipped through it quickly, her eyes scanning the pages. I watched her face change as she read the entries about herself, about her suspicious meetings and weird questions.

"Interesting," she said quietly. "I didn't know Lora kept such detailed records." Her eyes snapped to mine. "Did you read this?"

"No. I just found it."

"Liar." She stepped closer, so close I could see the rage barely controlled behind her perfect mask. "You read every word, didn't you? That's why you're here. That's why you came to this pack. Somehow you know about Lora's death, and you're trying to play detective."

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"Don't lie to me!" Her shout echoed in the room. Then she took a breath, calming herself. "It doesn't matter. This diary doesn't prove anything. Just a paranoid Luna seeing conspiracies everywhere. If anything, it makes her look unstable."

She was right. The diary alone wouldn't convince anyone.

But I still had the note hidden in my pocket. I'd managed to slip it out before giving her the diary.

"Get out," Vieve said coldly. "And if I catch you snooping around where you don't belong again, I'll make sure Derrick kicks you out of this pack. Or worse."

I left quickly, my heart pounding. As soon as I was in the hallway, I heard Vieve lock the door behind me.

I'd made a mistake. A very big one. Now Vieve knew I was suspicious of her. She'd be watching me more carefully, making it harder to investigate.

But I had the note. The mysterious note from someone who'd tried to warn Lora and failed.

I needed to find out who wrote it. And I needed to do it before Vieve realized the note was missing.

As I walked down the hallway, I felt eyes on me. I turned and saw Derrick standing at the top of the stairs, watching me with those intense blue eyes.

"Everything okay?" he asked. "I heard shouting."

"Fine," I said quickly. "Just a misunderstanding with Vieve."

He frowned. "What kind of misunderstanding?"

"Nothing important. I should get back to work, I have things to do."

I tried to walk past him, but he caught my arm gently. The touch sent electricity through me, the mate bond responding instantly, flaring back to life. 

"Nyx," he said softly. "If Vieve is giving you trouble, tell me. I know she can be... intense sometimes. But she's just protective of the pack, I guess."

*She murdered me*, I wanted to scream. *She destroyed everything we had, she's the reason why we are in this situation, and you're making excuses for her. Pathetic*

But I couldn't say any of that. I kept calm, trying not to explode all those emotions inside of me. 

"I can handle it," I said instead.

Derrick looked like he wanted to say more, but then his phone rang. He sighed and let go of my arm. "We'll talk later."

I nodded and practically ran down the stairs, my mind racing.

I had a clue. A real clue. Someone out there knew the truth about Vieve and had tried to save me.

I just had to figure out who it was before Vieve figured out what I was doing.

Because next time, she might not just threaten me.

Next time, she might actually try to finish what she started and kill me all over again.

And this time, I have to be prepared for her every move.