Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet Chapter 56: Tell Me Everything

Darius reread the ssage aloud. "’You may have survived, but I’ll collect what is owed to in blood.’"

The chill in his voice mirrored the one crawling down her spine.

Erald quickly locked the screen and shoved the phone in her pocket. "Probably just a prank, or soone pissed I didn’t ally with them."

"No," Darius said flatly. "This is different. This feels personal."

"Everything’s personal these days."

"Erald..." he paused. "Have you told your mates?"

She looked out the window as the car began to move. "And admit I’ve got another shadow lurking over my head?"

Darius let out a sigh. "How long have you been getting these?"

"You don’t have to worry about it, uncle."

"Erald," he said firmly. "How long?"

She shifted in her seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. "A while."

"That’s not an answer." His jaw clenched. "You’ve been getting death threats and didn’t think to ntion it?"

"I didn’t want to make a scene."

"You think this is about drama?" Darius snapped. "You’re being hunted. That accident on the way to the summit... it wasn’t an accident, was it?"

Erald looked down at her hands. "No."

Darius sat back, running a hand through his hair. "I can’t believe you’ve been keeping this to yourself."

She shrugged one shoulder. "What was I supposed to do? Start a panic? I had the summit, the rogues, my mates, and now this bond with Ares hanging over like a curse."

"If soone’s trying to kill you, it’s not just your problem. It’s mine too."

She glanced at him.

"You’re not alone, Erald," Darius said in a gentler voice now. "You never were. I promised your father I’d protect you. And I know you hate asking for help, but now’s not the ti to be stubborn."

Her features softened at the ntion of her father. "I didn’t want to involve anyone until I had sothing solid."

"Well, now we do." His tone sharpened again. "We’ll start digging into this the mont we land. Whoever killed the spy, whoever’s behind the threats... they’re likely the sa person. And I’ll find them."

Erald nodded, tension easing just slightly. "Thanks, Darius."

He gave her a sideways look. "Anyti, kid."

—

They arrived back at the estate before dusk. As soon as Erald stepped out of the car, the familiar scent of pine and night jasmine greeted her, along with an even more familiar voice.

"Erald!"

Nessa lunged at her with excitent, her wild curls bouncing around her as she moved. "You’re back! Finally! Tell everything."

Erald laughed despite herself. "Give five minutes to breathe..."

"Nope." Nessa grabbed her arm and tugged her inside the house. "You’ve been gone for days, and I’ve had to survive on cryptic news reports, a few scandalous updates from your security staff, and my own spiralling imagination. Spill it."

—

Fifteen minutes later, they collapsed onto the velvet couch in Erald’s room, windows cracked open to let the night breeze in.

"So... how bad was it?" Nessa asked, legs tucked under her.

Erald groaned as she kicked off her boots. "The worst. My mates found out about each other."

Nessa blinked. "All of them?"

"Yep... all in one place. No way to sugarcoat that kind of chaos."

"Details. I need every petty fight, every death stare."

Erald smirked. "Adrien was surprisingly civil. Lucien tried to play peacekeeper while Kieran and Ares got into a duel."

"Ares?"

"The Rogue King... his na is Ares."

"Finally, a na. Calling him the Rogue King was becoming a mouthful."

"I know, right?"

"You said there was a duel. Tell Kieran didn’t..."

"He won."

She blinked again. "You’re joking."

Erald shook her head.

"Okay, wow. I need to sit... wait, I’m already sitting. I need to scream."

Erald chuckled, leaning back. "It’s been a lot."

"So..." Nessa’s voice lowered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What about Ares?"

Erald froze for a beat, her voice quieter when she spoke. "I don’t know."

"You always know."

"I thought I hated him. I was sure. He showed up out of nowhere, tried to dominate everything, tried to stake a claim like I was so piece of land. But..."

"But?"

Erald exhaled. "After the duel, I saw a side of him that didn’t make sense. Vulnerability. Confusion. Like... he wasn’t used to losing."

Nessa leaned forward. "You’re curious about him."

"I am."

"Curious is dangerous."

Erald nodded slowly. "And I can’t shake the feeling that there’s sothing else going on. He wasn’t healing like he should after the duel; I had to patch him up. His power reacts strangely around . There’s sothing off."

"Is this sohow related to the curse?"

"I haven’t figured it out. But whatever it is, it’s tied to ."

Nessa gave a thoughtful nod, then brightened. "So... is this the part where I finally say I told you so?"

Erald groaned.

"No really. You once said you’d never look at him without imagining punching him. Look at you now, nursing his wounds."

Erald raised a brow. "Speaking of, he disappeared... left a note that said, ’I’ll be seeing you soon.’"

"That’s so ominous."

"And sohow still better than Rick’s midnight groping."

"Wait, what?"

Erald waved a hand. "Long story. Not worth the ntal trauma."

Nessa made a face. "Okay, noted."

Erald rubbed her temples. "Lucien made a suggestion, though... Said I should spend a week at each of their packs, one-on-one."

Nessa perked up. "Ooooh. That sounds... spicy."

"It seems impractical, reckless, and could lead to a public relations nightmare."

"Only if you care what other people think."

"I have to care. I’m an Alpha."

"You’re also a woman, and you deserve to make decisions for yourself. You’ve been fighting everyone else’s battles. When’s the last ti you fought for your own peace?"

Erald fell silent.

"I think it’s a good idea," Nessa said softly.

"That’s what Darius said."

"Well, they’re not wrong. Especially with Ares."

"I’m not sure I want to go down that road."

"Maybe don’t think of it as a road. See it as... as a window. One you’re allowed to look through without guilt."

"Here’s how it looks. If I start with the others and then visit Ares too, it’ll look like I’m playing favourites. Or worse, like I’m taking him seriously."

Nessa tilted her head. "Are you?"

Erald didn’t answer at first. Her gaze drifted to the dark outside. "I can’t lie to you, Nessa. I am."

Nessa leaned forward. "About what?"

"Who he really is. What’s happening to him. Why he thinks I’m the thing that’s weakening him. I want to know. But if I give him that ti, Lucien will think it’s more."

"Who cares what Lucien thinks?"

Erald raised an eyebrow.

"I’m serious," Nessa said. "You keep worrying about how it’ll look, how you’ll be perceived. But what do you want, Em? You never make a decision for yourself. It’s always about duty, about image."

Erald stared at the teacup in her hands. "If I’m going to die... I might as well live."

Nessa’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse ?! What the hell does that an?"

Erald sighed, too tired to backtrack. "I’ve been getting ssages. Threats. Soone wants dead."

Nessa sat up straighter. "Do you have any suspects?"

"Not yet. But I think it’s soone on the inside. Darius is on it."

"Damn," Nessa whispered. "That’s heavy."

Erald scrolled through her phone. "Yeah. But maybe ti away will help clear my head."

She paused, then tapped Lucien’s na and hit call.

He picked up on the second ring. "Erald?"

"I’ve thought about your offer," she said. "I’m in. But it has to include all of you."

His pause was brief, but telling. "Including him."

"Yes."

"I’ll send a car in the morning."

They hung up.

Nessa stared at her. "So... are you excited?"

Erald looked at her phone again, the glow of the cryptic ssage still etched into her mind. "I don’t know what I am."