"Erald!"
She turned to see Adrien jogging towards her. Even though he moved casually, the worry in his eyes was clear. His coat fluttered a bit in the breeze, and his reddish-gold hair was ssy.
And despite the chaos of her day, he still looked like soone who had just walked out of a beautiful painting.
"Hey," he said, slightly breathless as he stopped in front of her. "I’ve been trying to reach you. Is everything okay?"
Erald blinked, montarily unsure how to start. "Yeah... no. Kind of."
He gave her a tilted smile. "That’s not a helpful answer."
"I know," she muttered. "I’m sorry."
"For ignoring or for giving half a sentence?"
"For... both." She looked away for a second, exhaling deeply. "Adrien, I... I wanted to say this in person. I’m not going forward with the arrangents."
He blinked, his smile faltering. "Oh."
"I’m sorry," she added quickly. "It’s not you. Really. It’s just... everything going on at the mont. My pack, the attack, Darius... It’s not the ti."
"Attack?" he asked slowly, and to his credit, he didn’t look angry, just thoughtful. "You’ll have to enlighten ."
Erald hesitated, then lowered her phone. "Walk with ?"
He nodded, and they walked down the garden path behind the council hall, surrounded by low hedges and winding vines. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows among the rose bushes, and for a mont, everything felt almost calm and peaceful.
Almost.
"Soo..." Adrien broke the silence.
"So..." Erald went on to summarise all that had happened in her absence. "I wasn’t here when it happened," she said in a quiet voice. "They attacked while I was gone. Soone nearly killed Darius. The wards were down. Guards died. And I wasn’t here."
Adrien glanced at her. "You can’t bla yourself for that."
"Can’t I?" Her jaw tightened. "They were my people. This is my ho. My duty. I should have sensed sothing was wrong; I should’ve been here. I thought I could step away, just for a while, and everything would hold."
"Still, Em... still, it’s not your fault."
She stopped walking, turning to face him. "But it’s my responsibility."
He watched her for a long mont. "Okay," he said softly. "Then let help."
She blinked, caught off guard.
He smiled faintly. "If you’re staying here, if you’re hunting for whoever betrayed you, then let help. I’m not just here to make you smile, or say sothing funny or annoying at tis, or hold your hand when you’re in a mood. I’m your ally."
"You’re also supposed to be my mate... pending," she said dryly.
"Which makes even more useful," he replied with a grin. "I’ve got reason to stick around."
Erald stared at him. "Adrien, you don’t have to..."
"I want to," he said simply. "You said no to the arrangents. Fine. I can wait. But I’m still here. You can’t visit as planned, fine. But you don’t need to handle this alone."
She opened her mouth to respond when her phone buzzed.
Ares.
Her brows rose, and she answered imdiately. "Yes?"
"I have a na," ca his low voice. "Elder Quince."
Erald didn’t hesitate. "I’m on it."
She hung up and turned to Adrien. "I need to go. Now."
"Then I’m coming with you."
—
Quince’s quarter was at the west wing of the estate... more isolated, more private. She didn’t bother knocking.
The door slamd open with one push of her boot, and inside, she found the old man hunched over a desk, scribbling furiously on a piece of parchnt.
He looked up in shock.
"Alpha," he said, startled. "You..."
"Don’t bother." Erald stepped into the room. "Put the pen down."
The letter wasn’t sealed yet. Erald moved forward quickly, snatched the page from under his hand. The top was blank, no na, no address, but the ssage was damning.
"...I did my part. The pack is fractured, and she’s uncertain. We only need to strike once more."
Erald’s blood turned to ice in just a second.
She turned toward the hallway. "Guards!"
They arrived seconds later, and Quince stood, puffing up his chest. "This is ridiculous..."
"Bind him," she ordered. "Take him to the cells and make sure no one enters till I co question him myself."
As they restrained him, Adrien stepped beside her. "You want there?"
"No," Erald said. "I’ll question him myself."
But Adrien raised a brow. "You sure? You’re too close to this. You’re angry."
"I’m always angry."
"That’s not the sa as being clear-headed."
She glared at him... then sighed. "Fine. You help. But I’m leading the questions."
"Deal."
—
The dungeon slled of stone and tal.
Quince sat bound in the middle of the cell, hands secured with wolfsbane-laced cuffs. He was quiet, his lips pressed together. Erald leaned against the bars while Adrien paced a slow circle around him.
"Let’s make this simple," Erald began. "Who were you writing to?"
Quince smiled without humour. "I don’t answer to you."
"Yes," Erald said softly, "you do."
"I serve this pack, I don’t serve you."
Adrien crouched beside him. "You served soone when you wrote that letter. Who was it?"
Quince didn’t respond.
Adrien’s tone changed, sounding softer, friendlier and curious. "You know, I’ve read a lot of correspondence in my life. It always starts the sa. Sotis to ’Dear Alpha’... sotis ’Dearest sister.’ But yours... yours didn’t even have a greeting. Why’s that?"
Quince’s eyes flicked to him. Just a glance.
Adrien smiled. "Because you know her well. You don’t need to use a title. It’s personal."
Erald straightened. "Her?"
Adrien tilted his head. "He was writing to a woman. Look at his handwriting... It’s neat, asured. n write like this to impress won."
"You know nothing," Quince spat.
"Oh, I know enough," Adrien said lightly. "You paused before sealing the letter because you were afraid. Not afraid of us, but afraid she might not get it. You still want her approval. Whoever she is."
Quince’s jaw tensed. He wanted to say sothing, but instead, he stuttered. "I... I... You’re w-wrong."
Erald stepped forward. "Prove it. Who were you writing to?"
He looked at her, eyes hard. "You are not my Alpha. Not now. Not ever."
She stared at him, pulse drumming. "Then rot here. Guards, I want three outside this door at all tis. If anyone enters without clearance, kill them first, ask later."
"Yes, Alpha."
Adrien and Erald stepped out.
She stood in the hall, exhaling slowly.
Adrien leaned against the stone. "You okay?"
"No," she admitted. "But thank you."
He gave her a small smile. "Anyti. I ant what I said... you don’t have to do this alone."
She nodded. "Still... I needed that."
"I’ll check in on you later," he said, brushing a hand gently against her arm. "Text if you need anything."
She watched him walk away before finally turning toward the stairs. Her chest felt lighter, but just barely.
She had one na, one suspect. It wasn’t everything... but it was a start.
—
That night, Erald sat on her bed, rubbing her temples. The moon was high, casting pale light across her floor. She finally allowed herself to lie back, just for a mont of peace.
Then her phone buzzed, breaking the stillness. She felt a slight tremble in her fingers as she picked it up.
There was one new ssage, and to her surprise, it was from that sa number. "The fvck???"
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