All Chapters of The Alpha's Wife, The Lycan King's Obsession : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Gianna did not ring the bell.She dressed quickly, pulling on the first thing she found in her wardrobe, and left the packhouse before the sun fully rose.The market was just beginning to stir when she arrived.Vendors were setting up their stalls, arranging their wares, calling out to one another in the early morning light.Gianna went to the fountain first, to Gretel's stall.The woman looked up from stacking bread and smiled when she saw Gianna approaching."Luna, you're up early.""I'm looking for someone," Gianna said. "A young woman named Molly. Brown hair, about my age. Pregnant. Have you seen her?"Gretel's smile faded. "Not today, no. Is something wrong?""I don't know yet."Gianna moved on.She went to every stall she and Molly had passed the day before, retracing their steps, asking the same question over and over.A few of the vendors recognized Molly from the description."She was here yesterday," one said. "With you, Luna. I remember because she was smiling.""But not to

Gianna arrived at the palace through the servants' entrance just after dusk.She wore the dark cloak she always wore for these visits, her hood pulled low enough to shadow her face.The hallways were empty. She made her way to Nolan's chambers without seeing a single guard or servant, which meant he'd cleared the path deliberately.When she pushed the door open, Nolan was already waiting.He stood near the window, his posture stiff, his hands clasped behind his back.The healer was there too, arranging vials and instruments on a small table with meticulous precision.The room felt formal in a way it hadn't before.Structured.Controlled.Like Nolan had set it up this way on purpose.Gianna closed the door behind her and pulled back her hood."Lady Gianna," the healer said, inclining his head. "Please, take a seat."She sat in the chair he gestured to, her movements deliberate.Nolan turned from the window but didn't come closer."Your Majesty," the healer said. "We're ready when you a

Gianna reached the packhouse gates just as the last light faded from the sky.She pulled her hood down and stepped inside, expecting the usual quiet of an empty entrance hall.Instead, Cyrus was waiting.He stood in the corridor with his arms crossed, his posture unnaturally still.Not the stillness of calm.The stillness of a man who had already made decisions and was waiting to announce them.Gianna stopped."Where have you been?" Cyrus asked.His voice was even. Too even."Out," Gianna said."I know that much." He stepped forward. "What I want to know is where.""That's none of your concern.""It is when my Beta reports that you've been using the palace servants' entrance."Gianna's stomach dropped, but she kept her face neutral. "Your Beta followed me?""Twice now," Cyrus said. "And both times, you came from the same place. The servants' entrance. The one people use when they don't want to be seen.""I don't know what Ivan thinks he saw—""He saw you," Cyrus interrupted. "Coming f

Nolan was in the drawing room when Elmund knocked."Come in," Nolan said without looking up from the canvas he was working on.Elmund entered and closed the door behind him."Your Majesty, I have information."Nolan set down his brush. "Go on.""A contact inside the lower council picked up a rumor. Someone is asking questions about your health and your recent withdrawal from public events."Nolan's hand stilled. "What kind of questions?""Pointed ones. The contact says it came through an anonymous channel, but he was able to trace it back to a name.""Which name?""Marius."Nolan frowned. "I don't know a Marius.""He's a council elder," Elmund said. "Lower chamber. He's known for trading information, building networks. He keeps his hands clean but his reach is extensive."Nolan leaned back in his chair. "And this Marius received the question anonymously?""Yes, Your Majesty."Nolan thought about that for a moment.Then he sat forward. "Who gave the elder the question in the first plac

Gianna used the vial before leaving the palace. She uncorked it in one of the empty corridors near the servants' entrance and tipped a few drops onto her wrist, rubbing it into her skin the way Nolan had instructed. The scent that rose from it was faint and clean, with no trace of anything that could be identified as distinctly hers or his. She corked the vial and slipped it into her pocket, then pulled her hood up and stepped out into the night. The walk back to Valemont was quiet, the road empty except for the occasional night traveler passing in the opposite direction. Gianna's mind turned over the vial in her pocket and the months that had come before it. All the times Cyrus had noticed her scent changing, all the suspicion and accusations that could have been avoided if Nolan had given her this from the beginning. She was not exactly angry at him but she wasn't happy either. By the time she reached the packhouse gates, the moon was high and the grounds were quiet. Cyrus