CHAPTER 111: NOT IN HIS NATURE...

Emerald put her phone back in her pocket, still thinking about Ares’ cryptic message.

Adrien sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, lost in his thoughts. The news she had just shared with him felt like a heavy weight in the room, heavier than the bright morning sun pouring in through the windows.

She bit her lip, then stepped closer. "I’ll give you some space," she said softly. "I know that was... a lot."

Adrien didn’t look up right away, but he nodded once. "Yeah. It was."

"I might be getting more information soon," she added, brushing a hand gently against his shoulder. "I’ll keep you updated."

"Thanks."

Emerald nodded and then turned to leave the room, stepping back into the hallway. Her heartbeat was loud in her ears.

As she walked through the corridors, her thoughts changed direction. She wasn’t just thinking about Adrien’s grief anymore, she was also thinking about Ares and the message she had received.

"I hope you’re ready to fulfil my wish."

That usually meant one of two things: trouble... or teasing. With Ares, those were often the same thing.

By the time she reached her room, she didn’t even have to open the door to know he was already inside. She could feel the faint chill in the air, which was like his aura’s signature.

She opened the door, and there he was.

Ares sat upright on her bed, legs casually crossed, wearing black as usual and lounging like the entire world belonged to him. His sharp gaze flicked to hers as she stepped in.

"I was beginning to wonder if you’d forgotten about me," he said in a cool and dry voice.

"You sent me a cryptic text and then broke into my room again," she replied, dropping her coat onto the back of the chair. "What, no welcome gift this time?"

He stood in one fluid motion. "You still haven’t replied."

"I’m standing in front of you."

"Yes, but you didn’t reply," he said with mock offence. "I put effort into my texts."

She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"

He walked toward her slowly. "You really want to know?"

"I asked, didn’t I?"

He tilted his head. "Are you sure? It might be something you can’t give... or something you wouldn’t want to."

Emerald crossed her arms. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No," Ares replied smoothly.

"See, that’s all I needed to know."

He gave a slow smile, like a shadow curling at the edge of his mouth. "You didn’t ask if I’d break you, though."

She rolled her eyes. "If I had a coin for every time you threatened to ruin me..."

"You’d be very rich," he said, stepping even closer.

She held her ground. "Are you ever going to tell me?"

He stopped just before her. "Not yet. The time isn’t right. I’ll remind you when it’s my turn."

Emerald raised a brow. "I thought you didn’t believe in taking turns."

"I don’t," he said, brushing a knuckle along her jaw. "But I’ve decided to be a good sport. Let the others have their fill. You’ll be mine in the end anyway."

She swallowed hard but didn’t step back. "News. What did you find out?"

Ares turned and walked toward the window, fingers sliding into his pockets as his tone shifted. "Other than the fact that Darian was not the paragon of purity you all thought he was? Not much."

He paused. "But I didn’t dig into him that deeply."

Emerald blinked. "Why not?"

"Because I don’t give a damn about the others," Ares said flatly. "I only care about threats to you. And right now, that means Seraphina."

Emerald’s heart stuttered. "What about her?"

Ares turned back around, his eyes sharp. "She’s been having private meetings with several members of Adrien’s council. Before and after Darian died."

Emerald frowned. "That’s... okay, that’s weird. She wasn’t even Luna."

"Exactly," Ares said. "She had no standing, no political role. Yet somehow, she had access."

"And nobody noticed?"

"People notice plenty of things. They just don’t talk when the right face is smiling at them."

Emerald’s mind raced. "She left the pack, though. She rejected Adrien. Why would she be involved in anything to do with the Alpha line?"

"That’s not even the best part," Ares continued, folding his arms. "She was in rogue territory during the months leading up to Darian’s death."

Her blood ran cold. "You mean your territory."

He gave a small shrug. "I’m no Alpha... and I don’t own land. The rogues follow me because they choose to. But I don’t control every shadow. I only prohibit a few things."

"Like what?"

"Selling innocents. Using children. But conspiring with pretty little traitors to push agendas?" He lifted a brow. "I never said they couldn’t do that."

Emerald turned away, pacing. "If she was in rogue territory, she could’ve been making deals with anyone. Maybe she wanted Adrien to be Alpha."

"That doesn’t make sense," Ares said. "She rejected him."

"Exactly. If she wanted him to be Alpha, why reject him and leave?"

She bit her lip, then shook her head. "Something doesn’t add up. If she wanted the crown, why give it up the second she had it in reach?"

"Maybe she didn’t expect him to rise so fast," Ares offered. "Or maybe she didn’t plan on falling out of favour."

"She vanished. No warning. And now she’s back, stirring the pot."

"And now you’re wondering if she had Darian killed," Ares said casually.

Emerald didn’t respond.

Ares walked closer again. "You think she conspired to remove Darian so Adrien would automatically be named Alpha... and then changed her mind?"

"It doesn’t make sense," Emerald whispered. "Unless..."

She trailed off.

Ares watched her with quiet interest.

"She could’ve done it... hoping Adrien would chase after her. Make her Luna. Prove himself. Maybe she thought she could run, and he’d follow."

"But he didn’t."

Emerald nodded slowly. "And that’s why she came back."

"People hate losing the game they rigged."

Emerald rubbed her temples. "It still doesn’t explain everything. We’re missing something."

"I’m sure you’ll figure it out," Ares said, heading for the door.

She glanced up. "Keep me updated if you learn anything else."

She half expected him to scoff, or say "I’m not your errand boy."

But instead, he nodded. "Of course."

She blinked. "Wait. You’re agreeing? Just like that?"

He gave her a half-smile. "What can I say? You’re more fun when you’re bossy, feisty and not dead"

Then he vanished into the shadows.

Emerald stood in the middle of the room, her brows knitted together, anxiety swirling in her mind as she wondered what Ares had planned for her.

It wasn’t like him to just agree to something... It wasn’t in his nature to be obedient.