Kaley’s office was a testament to his position–spacious, elegantly finished, with large windows overlooking the pack grounds. The messenger stood rigidly before his desk, a sealed container in his hands.
This must be very important,” Kalus said, gesturing for the messenger to speak. “Where is Alaric?
“Yes, Alpha. I come on a matter of great urgency,” the wolf replied, arrived, but you won’t see him until tomorrow. Today, he demands y
stone formal yet respectful. “Alpha King Alaric has already resolve this matter to his satisfaction–it’s not a request ”
Kaius leaned back slightly, his expression carefully controlled, “So my father is here but sends you instead, And now his troubles require my immediate attention?” be remarked, his voice betraying gely a hint of his displeasure.
The messenger maintained a diplomatic silence, his gaze unwavering as he placed the container on Kaius’s desk with deliberate
With practiced movements, he removed the lid to reveal a small crystal vial containing traces of a clear liquid.
This container holds a sleeping potion used against Alpha King Alinic. The perpetrator somehow managed to slip this into his drink without detection. Once the Alpha fell asleep, the assailant entered his chambers and attempted to take his life.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. Someone had tried to kill Alaric?
So… is this the matter of importance you and your Alpha had come all this way to speak to me about? You must know that Alaric has so many enemies, so this shouldn’t be a surprise,” Kaius replied, his tone measured.
“What is of concern is the fact that we know the offender is a member of this pack. Maybe even here as we speak.”
My heart began to pound so loudly I feared they might hear it. I fought to keep my expression neutral, though my hands trembled slightly in my lap.
“I doubt the culprit is from this pack, and assuming it had been a common member, then how exactly had he been able to get to the Alpha King and leave without being caught?” Kalus’s skepticism was clear.
“Is not a he?” The messenger’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“So is a ‘she‘?” Kalus leaned forward, his interest sharpening
“Yes, she is a female; she had a darker shade of blonde hair.”
My mother’s hair was exactly that–o darker blonde.
Coincidence, I told myself desperately. It had to be.
“Would you recognize this woman if you saw her?” Kalus asked,
“I had only had a single glance at her backside, but there is more… she has an injury to her arm; she didn’t get away as easily as she had planned”
My blood turned to ice. My mother had been injured–she’d winced when moving her arm.
She had arrived at the Ironvale pack with the other workers sent from your pack and was gone just as fast,” the messenger
continued.
“How do you know that this woman” is a part of this pack? She might have sneaked along.” I interjected, unable to stay silent any Jonger.
1/3
Chapter 86
The messenger turned to me, his expression grave. “The assailant was injured with a silver dagger during her escape –we have blond evidence. Our soldiers followed her trail directly to your territory’s egge, where the tracks vanished once the crossed into Ravenhollow Lands. She has taken refuge here, among your people. There’s no doubt about it.”
Hust because she disappeared into mu tenitory doesn’t mean she’s one of outs, Kaius pointed out, his voice cool and measured “Many rogues and wanderers pass through these lands. If she was afile to go into your pack and poison the Alpha King, then the must be a very tactical one, I did not remember sending any of such for his service, and any injury left on her must have already been healed by now,” Kalus salil, his tone professional but will an selecurrent of anger.
The messenger shifted slightly, his posture remaining formal. “I apologize for the inconvenience, Alpha Kaius, but I must insist on fulfilling Alpha King Alatic’s demands. His orders were quite explicit
“So my father can’t resolve his own security failures and expects me to find this assassin for him?” he sneered. “I assume he wants me to deliver this mysterious woman within a day?”
“Yes, he does, the messenger confirmed, unflinching under Kalus’s harsh gaze. “He expects to see the culprit tomorrow. He would like to witness the death of the one who dared to attempt this.”
Kalus s eyes hardened, turning to chips of amber lce. “Then a death he would witness.”
His cold tone sent chills down my spine, a stark reminder of the ruthlessness that defined this pack. I couldn’t begin to understand how he could speak of death so casually, as if snuffing out a life was merely enforcing policy. If the assassin was truly my mother- and everything pointed to that terrible truth–I would be forced to choose between her and Kaius. Alaric was a monster, who deserved death a thousand times over for what he’d done to my mother. I would protect her at all costs, even if it meant betraying the man I thought I loved.
We were both in our room now, Kalus preparing to organize a search party while I sat on the edge of the bed, mind racing.
u doing this? You’re really going to search our entire pack just because of your father’s accusations?” I protested.
“Why are you doing
he said, “I’ll have to be sure; I gave no order, and this woman hadn’t just gone against my Either but against me. I will not spare,” his tone leaving no room for argument.
“How do you know that this woman‘ is a part of our pack? She might have sneaked along,” I repeated, trying to sow doubt.
Kaius looked at me, his expression softening slightly. “I’ll only be back when I have a lead on who did this.”
“Kaius, please be back quick,” I whispered, watching him leave.
When the door closed behind d him, I slumped back onto the bed, my mind spinning with horrific possibilities.
My mother had been missing for days, returning with an injury on her arm. She’d been terrified of being discovered.
Had she really tried to
ally tried to kill Alaric? After what he’d done to her, it would be understandable. But the consequences would be
unthinkable.
had to find her before Kaius did. I had to know the truth. And if she was guilty, I had to find a way to get her out of Ravenhollow before Alaric captured her.
2/3
The Alpha’s Borrowed Luna
