Maria sat quietly in the room that Mrs. Spencer had assigned to her. She had been awake for so ti now, lost in thought.
The room was silent, but her mind was loud with questions, uncertainties, and pieces of the past she hadn’t yet co to terms with.
A knock on the door disrupted her thoughts. She stood imdiately and walked to it, pausing just before opening it. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It’s one of the maids, ma’am. Breakfast has been served, and Mr. Frederick requests that you join him at the dining table."
Maria thanked the maid, then turned to glance at the mirror. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair to tidy it, checked her reflection, and, satisfied, left the room for the dining area.
She found Mr. Frederick already seated and waiting. They exchanged greetings warmly, and she took her place beside him.
"Hope you slept well. How are you this morning?" he asked with a soft smile.
"I did, thank you. I’m feeling good," she replied, trying to keep her tone light.
They began their al, engaging in light conversation, until Mr. Frederick suddenly set his spoon down and locked eyes with her.
Maria paused mid-bite, sensing sothing was coming.
"I hope you’re ready to play your part in the plan," he said seriously.
"Yes, sir. I’m ready," she responded without flinching.
"Good," he nodded, then gestured toward the living room. "Then et the person who will be working with you to achieve our shared goal."
Maria turned her head toward the direction he had pointed. Her heart stopped. Elijah Simons was walking toward the dining table with a smug smile plastered across his face.
Her body tensed instantly. All the mories ca rushing back—his betrayal, the night he shot her, the fear, the pain. She said nothing. She couldn’t. Her gaze froze on him as he casually pulled out a chair and sat down opposite her.
"Welco, Elijah," Mr. Frederick greeted with ease.
"Thank you, friend. Good morning, Maria," Elijah added, turning his attention to her.
Maria’s lips barely moved. "Good morning," she said curtly, unwilling to offer a smile.
"I know you’re angry," Elijah began. "You probably want to kill . And you have every right. But I’m truly sorry for what I did."
Maria stared hard at him. She wasn’t going to accept apologies without clarity. "Then explain. Why did you shoot ? What if I hadn’t survived? Would we still be sitting here today?"
Elijah held her gaze. "I fight my battles strategically. I believed you were aligned with the Gilberts. You were their strongest weapon. I saw you as a threat. I thought taking you out would level the playing field for to challenge Bernard for the Alpha seat."
He leaned forward, voice deep and firm. "I knew talking wouldn’t work. I assud you would choose Bernard over . So, I made the move I thought was necessary. The fact that you survived only proves the universe had other plans. Maybe those plans involve us working together."
Maria was quiet. His explanation was harsh, but honest. She still didn’t trust him. But she understood the necessity of their alliance.
Mr. Frederick smiled, sensing the tension softening. "I suggest you forgive him. You two could be a powerful team."
"Okay, sir. What’s the plan now?" Maria asked, shifting the conversation.
"I’ll let Elijah answer that," Mr. Frederick said, motioning to him.
Elijah nodded. "Let’s talk goals first. You want freedom, ownership of your parents’ property, and justice for their murder. Correct?"
Maria gave a small nod.
"And all I want is the Alpha seat. If I can deliver everything you desire, will you give that seat in return?" he asked, leaning closer.
Maria didn’t hesitate. "Yes. I have no interest in the Alpha seat. But tell , why do you want it so badly?"
"Because Bernard is weak. The pack needs soone strong, ruthless, capable of leading and conquering. I am that leader. He isn’t."
His confidence was intimidating, but Maria had to admit—he sounded like soone who knew exactly what he wanted.
"Then let’s do it. We work together, and we get what we want. But keep involved every step of the way," she said.
Elijah smiled for the first ti—genuinely. "I’m glad to hear that. You won’t regret this."
Mr. Frederick clapped his hands lightly. "Wonderful. I believe we’re on the right path."
A maid ca in to serve Elijah his al, and the three continued their breakfast, now with a dangerous alliance sealed at the table.
***
Beta Gilbert was in the living room, as he sat there looking very worried and dull and it could be seen on his face, that he was deep in his thoughts.
Bernard walked into the living room, alongside Luna Victoria and they both had a smile on their faces.
The mont both of them walked in and they t Beta Gilbert in the state and mood he was in, his wife walked toward him with a concerned look on her face.
"Darling, what’s the matter with you, why do you look unhappy?" Luna Victoria asked as she sounded very worried concerning the state of her husband.
"I am unhappy because I don’t know if I will ever witness the day Bernard will be fully crowned as the Alpha with the staff of office... I am not getting any younger and with Elijah Simons around mow, we don’t know what’s next!" Beta Gilbert uttered, as he sounded sad and dull.
"Do not worry dad, we have very good news for you!" Bernard said, with a smile on his face.
Imdiately Beta Gilbert heard his son’s last statent, he looked up anxiously.
With all curiosity and anxiousness, Beta Gilbert placed his focus on Bernard and Luna Victoria.
"We have found the hideout of Elijah Simons and I am very sure that Maria might be kept there!" With an exciting expression on his face, Bernard uttered those words.
Once he uttered those words with a lot of excitent, the mood of Beta Gilbert instantly lightened up.
"Are you for real about this one and how did you both find out such important information, because you only said you wanted to go get so groceries at the mall?" Beta Gilbert asked as he looked a bit astonished about the information.
"Yes, that’s true dad and we were not planning to get such information about Elijah Simons, but let’s say we were fortunate to get such priceless information about him, without any stress..."
"My mom and I arrived at the mall and the mont I parked the car in the parking lot and raised my head, I caught a glimpse of Elijah Simons’s right-hand man opening his vehicle to drive away and I believe that he also ca there to get so stuff for them!" Bernard began his explanation to his father, as Luna Victoria calmly sat down with a smile on her face.
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