CHAPTER 115: DINING WITH THE ENEMY

FIA

I stood there frozen. The weight of what we’d just uncovered pressed down on my chest like a stone.

Thorne’s jaw worked. He looked at Maren, then back at me. His hands gripped the edge of the counter.

I lifted my chin. "I told you what happened to the grand Luna wasn’t my fault."

Maren’s expression flickered. Something uncertain passed behind her eyes.

"Someone else did this," I continued. My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Alpha Aldric did this."

The words hung in the air. They sounded insane even as I spoke them. But they were true. They had to be true.

Maren’s mouth opened. Just as it opened, it closed. She seemed in awe as she shook her head slowly. "Accountability cannot be that—"

Thorne straightened. "She’s not lying."

Maren turned to him. Her eyes widened. "Elder Thorne—"

"I don’t know if Alpha Aldric is responsible for this." He paused. The silence stretched between us. "But the cure we created. It worked."

The statement landed like a blow.

Maren went completely still. "What?"

"It’s true," I said. My hands curled into fists at my sides. "The reason why Luna Morrigan had a reaction was because she was given Silver Thorn Draft. And probably poisoned again to prevent the cure we made from working. To prevent her from waking up. To prevent ending this."

Maren’s hand flew to her mouth. Her face drained of color. "Oh my Goddess."

She took a step back. Her shoulders hit the door.

"If that’s true then..." She trailed off. Her gaze darted between Thorne and me. "No. No no no."

Her breathing picked up. I could see the panic rising in her chest.

"Why would Alpha Aldric do this?" Her voice cracked on his name.

"I intend to find out."

"I don’t think that’s a good idea." Maren’s words came out rushed. Almost desperate. "If he’s really the one, wouldn’t he realize you’re on to him?"

"I don’t think so."

"Fia." She moved toward me. Her expression hardened with something that looked like fear. "Alpha Aldric can do no wrong in the eyes of Alpha Cian. This will be a difficult route for you to take. We have no definite proof. The Silver Thorn Draft situation can be explained away."

She wasn’t wrong. I knew that. The reality of it sat like ice in my stomach.

"Something concrete would be needed," she finished.

I swallowed. My throat felt tight. "I’ll find a way."

Thorne shifted beside me but didn’t speak.

"And even if I don’t, it wouldn’t even matter." I looked at both of them. "If we indeed made the cure, we can make it again."

Maren’s eyes widened. Understanding dawned across her face.

"I’m going for breakfast right now," I said. "You guys have to make another and give it to her."

"Is that smart?" Maren’s voice dropped low. She glanced at Thorne. "Thorne already has a strike on his back because he covered for you. If we got this all wrong and we hurt the grand Luna again, we’re done for."

The words struck hard. She was right. The risk was enormous. If we were wrong, if somehow we’d misread the evidence, then we were condemning ourselves. And worse, we’d be hurting Luna Morrigan all over again.

But if we were right...

Thorne spoke before I could. "It’s a risk I’m willing to make." His voice was firm. Resolute. "Alone. If necessary."

"Elder Thorne!" Maren turned to him fully.

"I swore an oath to this pack and I intend to keep it." His gaze didn’t waver. "Regardless of what happens to me."

Something in my chest tightened. I nodded once. "I’ll be on my way."

I moved toward the door. My hand reached for the handle.

"Wait." Maren said.

I stopped and turned.

Maren stood there with her arms wrapped around herself. Her expression had shifted. The hardness was gone. In its place was something softer. Something that looked almost like regret.

"I..." She took a breath. "I’m sorry I didn’t believe you."

The apology caught me off guard. I stared at her for a moment. Then I managed a small smile. "It’s alright."

She nodded. Her lips pressed together.

I left the room and pulled the door shut behind me. The Omega straightened immediately when she saw me. Her hands folded in front of her.

"Let us go."

She bowed and fell into step beside me.

We walked through the hallways. My mind raced with everything we’d just discussed. The Silver Thorn Draft. The relapse. Alpha Aldric’s access. It all pointed to him. But proving it would be another matter entirely.

And telling Cian...

My stomach twisted at the thought.

The dining room doors came into view. Tall and imposing. Light spilled through the gap beneath them.

I slowed my steps. My heart picked up its pace.

The Omega reached for the handle and pulled the door open.

I stepped inside.

The room was bright. Morning sun streamed through the windows and painted everything in gold. The long table stretched before me. Three figures sat at the far end.

Cian. Alpha Aldric and his daughter, Elara.

My feet stopped moving.

All the air left my lungs. My body went cold.

Alpha Aldric sat there like nothing was wrong. Like he hadn’t possibly drugged his own sister-in-law. Like he wasn’t the reason she was still trapped in that coma.

He lifted his cup to his lips. Took a sip. Set it down with a soft clink.

Elara laughed at something. The sound carried across the room.

And Cian...

He turned.

His eyes found mine immediately. The bond flared between us. Warm and insistent. It pulled at something deep in my chest.

I slammed my mental shields up. Hard and fast. Before he could sense anything. Before he could feel the churning mess of emotions threatening to spill over.

His expression shifted. Just slightly. A flicker of confusion passed across his face.

But then he smiled. "Good morning."

The greeting was casual. Easy. Like this was just another normal breakfast. Probably to him. But he didn’t know what I now knew.

I forced my lips to curve upward. My face felt stiff. "Good morning."

My voice came out steadier than I expected. That was something at least.

Cian’s gaze lingered on me. He was searching for something. Trying to read what I wouldn’t let him see.

I kept the shields firmly in place.

Alpha Aldric turned in his seat. His smile was warm. Fatherly almost. "Luna Fia. Please, join us."

The sound of his voice made my skin crawl. I wanted to scream. To demand answers. To tell Cian everything Thorne and I had discovered.

But Maren’s words echoed in my head. We had no concrete proof. Not yet.

I walked forward. Each step felt mechanical. My body moved on autopilot while my mind screamed.

The Omega pulled out a chair for me. I sat down slowly. My hands gripped the edge of the table.

"You look well rested," Elara said. Her tone was light but her eyes were sharp. Calculating.

"I am." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue.

"Hmmm." She replied. "I’m sure you are. The rooms are not exactly sound proof."

"Elara!" Aldric’s tone turned authoritarian as he put his daughter in her place.

She looked back at her father and Cian while managing a curt smile. "I swear I wasn’t being rude. It is just girl talk."

A servant appeared at my elbow. They placed a plate in front of me. Food I couldn’t even identify through the haze of my thoughts.

Cian leaned back in his chair. His attention stayed fixed on me. "Are you alright?"

It wasn’t a question. More like an observation.

"I’m fine." I managed. "I also went to check on things at the Infirmary before I came here." I looked at Aldric as I picked up my fork. My fingers felt numb as I watched it gauge his reaction.

"Dedicated as always," Alpha Aldric said. He cut into his food with careful precision. "Your commitment to your mother-in-law is admirable. I can promise you I am getting a witch to fix this madness either today or tomorrow."

I looked at him. Really looked at him.

He met my gaze without hesitation. His expression was open. Kind even. There was nothing there that suggested guilt. Nothing that hinted at the monster he might be.

How could someone hide it so well?

"Thank you," I managed.

The bond tugged at me again. Cian’s confusion bled through despite my shields. He could tell something was off. Of course he could.

I needed to get better at hiding. At pretending everything was fine.

I took a bite of food. It turned to ash in my mouth. But I chewed anyway. I even forced myself to swallow.