Erald’s brow knit together. "A stone? What kind of stone could be that important?"
Octavian finally t her gaze. His face was pale, and he spoke so softly that it was almost a whisper. "One that goes far back... into the old wolf legacy."
Erald stared down at Octavian, her brows pulled together. "The old wolf legacy?" she echoed. "What are you talking about?"
He winced, his head jerking as he tried to lift it. "A stone," he murmured again. "Quince kept it close. Always. He said it had aning... said it couldn’t fall into the wrong hands."
Erald turned slowly toward Darius.
The look on his face told her everything.
His face had turned pale, and his lips were tightly pressed together. He was staring at Octavian like the man had just confessed to digging up a god’s grave. Whatever this stone was, it wasn’t just a trinket.
"Uncle?" she said cautiously. "What is it?"
No response.
"Uncle, do you know what he’s talking about?"
Darius didn’t respond; instead, his jaw tightened, nostrils flaring. "So where is it?" he asked Octavian sharply. "Did you find it?"
Octavian shook his head weakly. "It wasn’t on him. I checked... I checked the body. I searched his robes, the inner pockets, even beneath the body bag... There was nothing there."
Darius’s hand shot forward, grabbing Octavian by the collar and yanking him upright. "Are you lying to right now?"
Octavian gasped. "No! I swear... please!"
"You’re telling it’s missing?"
"I searched everything," he whimpered. "I even went through Quince’s quarters first. But it wasn’t there. That’s why I ca to check his body. I thought maybe he died with it on him."
"You’re lying." Darius’s voice was low, furious. "You’re trying to buy ti."
"I’m not, I swear, Darius... please, please don’t..."
Erald stepped in sharply. "That’s enough."
She placed her hand on Darius’s shoulder and gently pulled him back. "You’re barely out of the healing bay, and I’m not dragging you back there because you popped a vein throwing around a half-dead traitor."
Darius didn’t resist her hold, but didn’t take his eyes off Octavian either. "He’s hiding sothing."
"I know." She led him a few steps away, lowering her voice. "But you’re not helping anyone by strangling him right now."
His breathing was uneven.
Erald pressed. "What is this stone?"
Darius was silent for a long mont.
Then, in a low voice, he whispered, "That stone... if it’s the one I think it is, it could destroy everything. Not just this pack, our whole lineage."
Just then, the door opened and two guards stepped in. One gave a respectful nod. "Alpha, we’ve co to escort the prisoner for processing. We’ll begin his full statent under oath."
Erald gave a nod. "Take him. Make sure he’s watched. No contact with anyone except I say so. And ensure his full statent is logged. Every na. Every location."
"Yes, Alpha."
They moved in and lifted Octavian to his feet. He whimpered and muttered to himself as they hauled him away.
When the door closed again, Nessa turned to Darius. "Alright. That’s enough drama for tonight. You’re coming back with and going straight to bed. Don’t argue."
"I’m fine."
"Back. To. Bed."
Darius grumbled under his breath but let his daughter steer him away.
That left Erald alone again.
She exhaled as she turned back toward the hallway. Her mind was racing with thoughts: Quince was dead, Octavian had betrayed her and the pack, and there was a mysterious stone that can end everything on the line.
She rubbed her temples.
Ares had already disappeared... again, no surprise there. He ca and went like smoke when things were done.
Lucian stepped forward from where he’d been quietly observing. "Well," he said. "I suppose that’s the end of the nightmare."
"For now," Erald muttered.
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "You don’t sound relieved."
Erald gave a humourless chuckle. "I am... kind of, but now I actually have to read their trusts and wills and figure out what the hell kind of ss they left behind, and how to fix it all. Leadership perks, right?"
Lucian gave her a sympathetic smile. "Don’t envy you. But for what it’s worth? You’re handling it better than anyone else could.
"Yeah..."
"Want to help?"
"I’d rather you shoot ."
He chuckled. "Noted."
She smiled briefly, but deep down her stomach still twisted with unease. The informants might’ve been dealt with, but Alia...
She wouldn’t go down quietly.
Erald’s thoughts returned to Rick, to the way he looked at Alia like she could do no wrong. How long would he stay blind to her?
And more importantly... how much damage would she do while he was?
Lucian gave her a small pat on the shoulder. "You need sleep."
"Yeah. I will."
He nodded and walked down the corridor.
Adrien, however, lingered by the door. "You know," he said, "now that the dust has settled a little... you might want to take a break."
Erald raised an eyebrow. "A break?"
"Yeah." He shrugged. "Co spend a few days with , like we had planned before. Think of it as a vacation."
She snorted. "My last ’vacation’ almost got killed three different tis."
Adrien chuckled. "Okay, yeah. Bad pitch. But I promise, no poison, no bodies, no drama. Just good wine and terrible card gas. There’ll be sun, a lake, and zero stabbing."
She tilted her head. "Tempting."
"Co on," he said. "You earned it. See it as a reward. At least think about it?"
"I’ll think about it," she said finally.
His grin widened. "That’s a yes in my book."
"It’s a maybe. I only said I’ll think about it."
"And that’s all I ask. And if you say yes, I’ll personally co pick you up. Just say the word."
"Goodnight, Adrien."
He gave her a wink. "Goodnight, my boss lady."
When he left, Erald finally allowed herself a deep, full breath.
The hall was empty now, quieter than it had been all night. She turned toward her room, her shoulders drooping a bit from fatigue.
Halfway there, she spotted Nessa coming from the opposite direction.
"How’s he doing?" Erald asked.
Nessa shrugged. "Physically? He’ll live. But he looked... shaken. That stuff Octavian said clearly ssed with him."
Erald nodded slowly. "It ssed with , too."
Nessa tilted her head. "What’s this about a stone? You ntioned sothing earlier..."
"I don’t know," Erald admitted. "I’ve never heard of it before. But the way your dad reacted?"
"Yeah?"
"I believe him. Whatever it is... it matters. And it’s missing."
Nessa’s expression turned wary. "That’s not good."
"No," Erald said quietly. "It’s not."
They reached her bedroom door.
"I’ll check in on Dad again," Nessa said. "You try to sleep."
Erald nodded. "You too."
Once alone in her room, she shut the door, locking it behind her. The lights were dim, soft shadows stretching across the walls.
She shrugged off her coat and dropped onto the edge of the bed, rubbing her temples.
Her phone buzzed.
She frowned and picked it up to see another ssage, from the sa number.
She opened the ssage, expecting more riddles, threats, or cryptic lines. But it wasn’t vague this ti. The text read: I have everything I need. Ga on.
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