"No!" Erald reached out, shaking Quince desperately. "No, no, no... co on!"
But there was no response... just the dead man, lying motionless, eyes fixed on nothing, staring into space.
Erald slowly stood up, her hand falling from Quince’s now lifeless shoulder like dead weight.
Her eyes lingered on his body for a mont longer, heart still catching up to the reality before her, then she turned away and stepped back.
Adrien didn’t say anything... he didn’t need to, but she could feel his gaze on her.
A full silent minute passed. Erald was trying to process, and Adrien was giving her all the space and ti she clearly needed.
"It wasn’t always like this," Erald finally said quietly, breaking the long silence that had settled like fog.
Adrien tilted his head slightly, one eyebrow lifting in question, inviting her to continue.
"This pack..." she went on, her voice sounding steadier than she actually felt. "I used to run through these halls barefoot. Everyone knew back then. People would smile just seeing . My dad—he’d lift onto his shoulders during council etings just to make laugh."
Adrien remained quiet, allowing her the mont.
"I thought..." she paused, taking in a shaky breath that caught in her throat. "I thought when I took over, I could bring so of that joy back... so of that warmth, that light. But now..." She exhaled. "Now it’s just blood. Betrayal. And regret."
"Do you think it’s all your fault?"
Erald didn’t answer. Not right away. She just looked away, clearly lost in the mory of better days.
Adrien stepped closer. "Em? Please don’t do that. Don’t carry bla that doesn’t belong to you."
She turned to him then, and her eyes t his... red around the edges, glassy with unshed tears. "I don’t know if I’m strong enough, Adrien. My father was... everything. And I’m just..."
"You’re his daughter," Adrien cut in gently. "And you’re a damn good Alpha. A beautiful and strong-willed one, if I may add."
She let out a bitter laugh.
"I an it," he said more firmly. "You care more about this pack than anyone else I’ve ever known. You risk your life for it. You fight for it even when it breaks your heart. That... that, milady, is what makes you worthy."
Erald blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears that were pooling in her eyes. But one, just one, had a mind of its own; it slipped free anyway, carving a line down her cheek.
She looked down again at Quince’s body, and the tension in her shoulders returned, knotting tighter with every breath. "I wonder how many more are like him. Hidden in plain sight, just waiting for the right ti to strike again."
"We’ll find them," Adrien said softly but with conviction.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. We will."
"I should get the guards to... you know... tidy this place up a bit."
Erald simply nodded again, offering a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She watched Adrien leave and then turned inward, focusing on her wolf. She took a step back from the body and closed her eyes.
"You’re too quiet," she said silently to Viola.
"I’m thinking," her wolf responded in a low, tense voice.
"About what?"
"About how many others we’ve trusted that might end up like him."
Erald sighed internally. "We can’t afford to be paranoid."
"We can’t afford to be naïve either, Em."
She opened her eyes. "That’s fair."
"You’re not weak, Em. You were born for this. But you need to stop mourning people who chose to betray you."
"He raised ," she whispered in her mind. "Not directly, but... he was part of the environnt that shaped growing up."
"And he still chose to poison our ho."
She didn’t argue. She couldn’t.
Less than a minute later, Adrien returned with the guards, their faces tight and grim as they stared at the corpse on the ground.
"Get the body to the infirmary," Erald ordered, voice composed once more. "And I want the autopsy started imdiately. Find out what kind of poison he was given... and how long he’s been on it."
"Yes, Alpha," one of them replied before they moved in to lift Quince carefully onto a stretcher.
The first rays of morning sun bled through the tall windows above, casting pale golden light on the walls as they made their way upstairs.
—
"Do you mind if I stay for breakfast?" Adrien asked once they erged into the upper halls. "Could use the company. You know, for emotional support and all."
Erald arched a brow. "For or for you?"
Adrien gave a lazy grin. "Both?"
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. But you’re making your own coffee."
They walked into the dining hall, where a few staff mbers were already setting the long table, quietly moving about.
Erald had just taken a seat when footsteps echoed in the corridor outside.
She turned her head toward the entrance just as Lucian stepped inside, his black coat still damp with morning dew. "I know things are already being handled," he said, "but I couldn’t just stay ho and wait for updates. Thought I’d check in..." he dragged his last few words as he noticed Adrien, "... myself."
Erald’s eyes lit up in surprise. "You didn’t have to co."
"I knew you’d say that," he said with a small smile, still subtly eyeing Adrien. "But I wanted to. Thought maybe I could help. If there’s anything I can do..."
Her smile was small but sincere. "Thanks, Lucian. You hungry? I’m sure you didn’t eat before leaving; why don’t you join us for breakfast?"
Before he could answer, another voice rang out.
"Well, well, well... I didn’t realise we were having a party." Kieran strolled into the room, his dark hair dishevelled and his smile cocky as ever.
Adrien leaned back in his chair. "Let guess, you sensed we were all having a mont and ca to ruin it."
Kieran snorted. "I sensed sothing, all right."
Erald sighed, her eyes flicking nervously between the two of them.
"This just keeps getting interesting by the minute," Viola sighed with satisfaction at the comforting presence of their mate.
’Interesting?’ Erald fired back, exasperated. ’All of them in one place is just a breath away from World War III.’
She could already feel a headache forming. There was always this strange, electric chaos whenever they were all together.
At least Ares isn’t here, she thought with so relief.
The words had barely ford in her mind when a voice echoed sharply in her head. "Think again."
Her entire body froze. She didn’t even have to look.
The chill that ran down her spine confird it.
She turned slowly toward the door, and sure enough, there stood Ares. Arms crossed tightly over his broad chest, expression unreadable.
"I didn’t realise you were a team player," she thought bitterly.
"I’m not," Ares replied coolly through the mind link. "I’m here to observe."
Of course, he was.
He entered the room, moving slowly, and leaned against the far wall with practised indifference, dark eyes sweeping over everyone at the table.
The tension in the room practically buzzed with pressure.
Maids entered with trays of warm bread, eggs, fruits, and tea. The comforting scent cut through so of the stiffness, though Erald barely had the appetite for any of it.
Lucian sat across from her first, followed closely by Kieran. Adrien remained beside her. Ares, as expected, didn’t move from the wall.
Kieran grabbed a slice of toast and glanced up at her. "So... what happened last night?"
Erald’s shoulders tensed. "Quince is dead."
Lucian’s brows shot up. "Uhn?"
"He’d been poisoned," she said. "Said he needed an antidote every three days, and... she was the one who gave it to him."
"She?" Kieran asked, mid-chew.
Erald nodded. "He never said her na. He tried... but died before he could finish it."
Adrien added, "We’re waiting for the autopsy report. We might be able to trace the compound back."
Lucian leaned forward. "Do you think she’s from this pack?"
"I don’t know," Erald admitted, gaze falling to her untouched plate. "But I do know Quince wasn’t working alone."
"Obviously," Kieran muttered. "We always knew soone had to be backing him."
Ares finally spoke, voice low. "How do you plan to find the rest?"
Everyone turned toward her.
Erald hesitated. "I don’t know."
Lucian folded his arms. "There has to be a way. If Quince had allies, they’ll be worried now. Maybe even panicking."
"Which could make them sloppy," Adrien pointed out helpfully.
"Or more dangerous," Ares said flatly.
Erald rubbed her temples, already exhausted. "Either way, I need to start questioning the Council. One by one. See who slips."
"I can help with that," Ares offered, surprisingly.
"I’ll assist too," Lucian said. "We’ll cover more ground that way."
Kieran rolled his eyes. "So we’re forming a little investigation unit now?"
"You got sothing better to do?" Adrien asked dryly.
Kieran grinned. "Not really. Just enjoying the chaos."
Before anyone could respond, a guard appeared in the doorway, bowing slightly. "Alpha. We’ve identified the poison."
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