bChapter /bb129 /b

    Thorne’s POV

    I kept my hands shoved deep into my pockets, trying my best to lookpletely uninterested.

    “Danton’s dead?” I asked, my voice t, like it was no big deal.

    “Yeah, Alpha Thorne. Happenedst night,” the soldier replied, shifting nervously from foot to foot.

    I raised an eyebrow. “And that’s why you’re banging down my door at this ungodly hour?”

    His voice faltered. “The King… he wants you at the Counseling Hall. Says it’s urgent.”

    “The King demands?” Iughed darkly. “Who does he think he is?” My eyes narrowed as I sized up the soldier. “I don’t take demands from anyone. Not even him.”

    I turned to close the door, already done with this conversation, when the soldier blocked me, his hand bracing against the frame. “P–Please, Alpha

    Thorne! He said it’s urgent. You’re needed there, now.”

    I red at him, but before I could shut him out, a soft but authoritative voice cut through the tension.

    “What’s all this, then?” Kimberly.

    I couldn’t help the annoyed sigh that escaped my lips. Kimberly strolled down the hall like she owned the ce, the soldier practically ready to kiss the floor in relief. He stepped aside, muttering something about saving them all from this mess. Kimberly shed him a quick smile before focusing on me.

    “The King has invited both of you to the Counseling Hall. Come on, stop being difficult.” She gave me a look that was equal parts teasing band /bchallenging

    I shot her a sharp look, crossing my arms. “Not interested. We’re staying put.”

    Kimberly smirked, clearly not fazed. “You sure? I thought you might want to know who killed that arrogant prick, Danton. Or… you already know, don’t you?” Her voice wasced with curiosity, a little too much amusement in her tone.

    I didn’t budge. “No clue. Not my problem.”

    “Come on, just show up. It’ll be fun to watch the me game unfold.” She shrugged. “Unless, of course, you want me to beg?”

    I met her gaze, unfazed.

    Before t could answer, ra stepped out from behind the door, a quiet smirk tugging at her lips. “Fine. We’ll go. But we need a minute to get changed.”

    She grabbed my arm and dragged me back into the room, closing the door behind us with a soft thud.

    I turned to her as she tossed a hoodie over her head, her ponytail swinging to one side. “You really want to go? This could turn ugly.”

    She shot me a nced, raising an eyebrow. “Kimberly’s right. It’ll be interesting to watch things spiral. Besides, if Lance is getting suspicious, we need to know what he knows.”

    I bit my lip, but didn’t argue. She was right.

    After a few moments, we emerged, finding Kimberly standing patiently in the hallway, the soldiers nowhere bin /bsight.

    “Where’d they go?” ra’s tone was slightly sarcastic.

    Kimberly chuckled, guiding us toward the elevator. “Sent them off. No need for a big spectacle.”

    bAs /bwe stepped inside, Kimberly’s eyes flicked bto /bus, and her voice dropped to a murmur. “So, where were you twost bnight/bb?/b”

    b1/3 /b

    ra turned her head, eyebrow raised. “In our room. Why?”

    Kimberly smiled a little too sweetly. “Just checking. Thought we could be honest with each other if we’re really going to work together, don’t you think

    ra’s silence lingered for a beat before she asked her own question, voice even, “If Lance uses us of killing Danton, would you defend us? Are you willing to go against the King?”

    Kimberly’s eyes flickered with a dark glint. “At least for now, I’m still his Cab Minister. Her smile turned colder. “But you’re not off the hook just yet

    ra nodded, unaffected by her words. “Well, then, as I said… we were in our room. Sleeping.”

    Kimberly didn’t press further, but the way she watched us, like she was trying to read our every move, made me uneasy.

    We reached the Counseling Hall. Kimberly motioned toward the grand doors, how standing wide open.

    The hall was enormous, ornate with marble and gilded chandeliers. The center of the room held a long mahogany table, a few figures already seated around it. But it was the massive wolf’s head that caught my attention–the centerpiece that seemed to stare straight through us with its mouth agape.

    sharp fangs bared.

    Kimberly stepped forward with an amused expression, gesturing us to ifollow /iher. “The King is waiting.”

    As we entered, Lance stood, his ever–present smile stretched across his face. “Ah, wee, Alpha Thorne, ra. Never thought I’d see you here. What do you think of the ce?”

    Thorne just gave him a half–hearted nod. “Nice,” he said with a bored tone.

    Lance motioned toward the wolf’s head. “That belonged to an Alpha I killed. Took his head as a reminder of my victory. Don’t you think it makes a fitting piece for my hall?”

    ra’s lips tightened into a thin line.

    “It’s… something,” Thorne said, his ivoice /icold as ice. “Maybe I should get one too… A reminder for you. Your head might make a nice addition to my

    decor.”

    A gasp rippled around the table. One man mmed his hand against the table in fury but quickly fell silent when Thorne turned to look at him.

    Lance, unfazed, waved it off. “Rx, everyone. Alpha Thorne and I were just joking.” His tone shifted, bing smaller. “But I do have something important to discuss. A tragedy, iyou /isee.”

    “Danton.” ra’s voice was icy. “What does that have to do with us?”

    Lance grinned darkly. “Well, maybe, just maybe, you know something about his death?” His words oozed suspicion.

    “How should we know?” ra scoffed. “If he drowned in a bathtub, that’s hardly our issue.”

    iOne /iof the men at the table spoke up, voice shaky, “We found strange marks on Danton’s body. Cuts on his neck, half his tongue missing… Looks like someone held a de to his throat before he died.”

    “Then maybe you ishould /istart questioning those who were with himst night,” ra shot back, irritation shing across her features.

    Lance’s eyes narrowed, his gaze now fixed on Thorhe. “Where were youst night, Alpha?”

    Thorne’s lips curled into a sneer. He stood abruptly, shoving his chair back. “This is starting to feel like an interrogation. Let’s get out of here, ra.”

    She nodded, moving toward the door with him.

    But before we could leave, Lance’s voice stopped us. “Not so fast.”

    His expression darkened. “I thought we could work together, but you’re making me regret that.”

    Thorne’s gaze never wavered. “My position hasn’t changed. If anyone’s head’s going on my table, it’ll be yours.”

    Lance’s nostrils red, but then his lips curled into a twistedugh. “So, you’re saying you weren’t with Danfonst nightb?/bb” /b

    Thorne didn’t respond, rolling his eyes as if he’d had enough of this nonsense.

    “Fine!” Lance snapped, clearly frustrated. “Bring him in!”

    The door opened, and two soldiers pushed in a scruffy man, throwing him

    “Who are you?” Lance demanded, voice dripping with menace.

    10

    ithe /i

    ground before Lancei. /i

    The man trembled, barely able to speak. “M–My name’s Gorden… I’m a peasant.” His gaze darted nervously between us. “It wasn’t me… it was my fiancée… she was at Danton’s party… She came back this morning, and-”

    His eyes locked on us, face going pale. “These two… they killed Danton!”