CHAPTER 116: ROULETTE 1

FIA

I needed to start scoping him out. The thought settled in my mind as I chewed another tasteless bite of food. But how? I couldn’t just ask him outright if he’d poisoned his own sister-in-law. That would be idiotic.

My gaze drifted across the table. Elara picked at her breakfast with delicate movements. She hadn’t looked at me since her comment about soundproof walls.

Maybe I could start there.

"Elara."

Her head snapped up. Her fork paused midway to her mouth. "Yes?"

"Would you like to check out dresses with me?"

She blinked. "I’m confused."

"I bought a lot." I kept my tone light. Casual. "And while I had someone with an infinitely better fashion sense than mine help me out, it can’t hurt to have two people look at them." I paused. Let a small smile touch my lips. "I remember you tooted your horn a little bit when we first met."

Her eyes narrowed. Just for a second. Then her expression smoothed into a smile. "Of course. Anything for you."

"It’s nice that you two are growing close," Cian said.

Elara turned to him. "You make it sound like I’m someone difficult to befriend." She lifted her chin. "I have friends. Tons of them. I would need them, considering Father is always busy."

There it was. The opening I needed.

I turned to Alpha Aldric. My heart hammered against my ribs but I kept my face neutral. "Oh, what do you do, Alpha Aldric?"

He set down his knife. His smile was easy. Relaxed. "I like to build stuff." He gestured vaguely with one hand. "I wish I have a more concrete role in the pack, but I disliked the idea of entering the court of elders. Like damn, I’m still in my youth." He chuckled. "So I just focus on mundane businesses. Like giving my daughter a comfortable life."

"That seems interesting." I took another bite. Forced it down. "A simple life. So you get bored? Do you wish for something bigger?"

Aldric lifted his drink. The liquid caught the morning light as he brought it to his lips. He took a slow sip before answering. "I think everybody does." His smile widened. "It’s the nature of mortals, is it not? To never be satisfied."

The words landed heavier than they should have. I nodded. "Right."

I continued eating. The silence stretched. My mind raced with ways to push further. To dig deeper. But then Aldric spoke again.

"What about you?"

I looked up. "What about me?"

His smile hadn’t changed. It was still warm and very much friendly. "Rising ranks must have been hard. Do you find being Luna of such a huge pack difficult?"

"Oh, no." I shook my head and kept my voice light. "It’s not like there’s plenty for me to do. Lunas are mostly just pretty figureheads, aren’t they?" I turned slightly toward Elara when I said it. Watched for a reaction.

Her expression remained smooth. Too smooth. She’d gotten better at controlling herself. Or maybe it was because her father sat right there. That thought made something cold settle in my stomach.

"I believe you make the reality you want," Aldric said. His fingers tapped against his cup. "Luna Morrigan was anything but a pretty figurehead. She was very involved in the political state of Skollrend." His voice held something I couldn’t quite place. Pride? Hidden disgust? "She was a force to be reckoned with."

I smiled and looked at Cian. "Well, if I’m given an inch, I’ll probably run a mile. What do you say, Cian? Should I be involved in the political state of this pack and more? Would you let me?"

Cian’s eyebrows rose. "Well, I don’t see why not. If politics is your strong suit."

"To be honest, no." I turned back to Alpha Aldric. "But I can learn." I paused and let the words sink in as usual. "You seem like you would be great in politics though."

Aldric chuckled. The sound was low. Genuine. "I wish."

"No, no. I mean it." I leaned forward slightly. "You’re very charismatic." My next words came out carefully measured. "You would probably be able to run a cult well, and I say that as someone who barely knows you."

His eyes flickered. Just for a heartbeat. Then he gave a mock bow from his seat. "Wow. Thank you." He laughed again. "I don’t know if that’s a compliment."

"Why wouldn’t it be?" I kept my gaze steady on his. "I really am just praising what I see."

Aldric nodded. "Well, thank you. But you should see Cian. He might not look it, but just like his father, he understands how the politics of a pack should work."

I smiled and continued eating. The food still tasted like nothing. "I never met my father-in-law. But I bet he was a force to be reckoned with."

"He was." Aldric’s voice softened. "He will forever be missed."

I looked back at him. That ghost of a smile he wore seemed to be cracking at the edges. The corners of his mouth trembled. Just slightly. Just enough.

I took a sip of my juice. The taste hit my tongue. Sweet and tangy with something else underneath. Something familiar.

"Oh." I stared at the cup. "This tastes so unique."

The Omega behind me shifted closer. "It’s a blend of fruit and herbs. Do you like it?"

I nodded slowly. "There’s almost a hint of silverthorn I believe."

"I don’t know if that was added to this blend, but I’m glad you enjoy it." Her voice brightened. "I’ll ask the kitchen to keep note."

I turned back to Aldric. He looked just as composed as before. His posture remained relaxed. His smile stayed in place. But that was the tell, wasn’t it? The fact that nothing changed. The fact that he didn’t react at all.

The door opened.

Ronan walked in. The Beta moved quickly across the room toward Cian. He leaned down and whispered something low enough that I couldn’t hear.

Cian nodded. He looked around the table. His eyes landed on each of us in turn. But they lingered on me. Searching again for something behind my shields.

"I have to go."

I nodded,watching as he stood. His movements were fluid. Confident. He gave one last look in my direction before he left. The door closed behind him with a soft click.

The room felt different now. Smaller somehow. More confined.

It was just Elara, Aldric, the Omega, and me.

I took another sip of juice as the silence continued to build. My eyes flicked toward Aldric.

He was already looking at me.

The expression on his face made my blood run cold. Something dark flickered in his eyes. Something that hadn’t been there before. Or maybe it had been there all along, and I was only now seeing it clearly.

Then it vanished. Quick as it came. His face smoothed back into that warm, fatherly smile.

"Silverthorn?" His voice was light. Almost amused. "You sure know your herbs."

My throat felt tight. I forced myself to smile back. "I know my poisons too."

The words hung in the air between us. Heavy and loaded.

I set down my cup. The glass clicked against the table. "What about you, Alpha Aldric?" I kept my tone conversational. Like we were discussing the weather. "Are you good with herbs and poison?"

Elara’s fork clattered against her plate. The sound echoed through the quiet room.

But I didn’t look at her. I kept my gaze locked on Aldric.

His smile didn’t waver. Not even a fraction. "I know enough." He leaned back in his chair. The movement was casual. Too casual. "One has to, in our world. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"I would." My heart thundered in my chest. "It’s important to know what can hurt you. What can kill you." I paused. "What can save you."

His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair. A slow, steady rhythm. "Indeed. Knowledge is power, after all."

"And what kind of knowledge do you have?" The question came out sharper than I intended.

Aldric tilted his head. Studied me with those dark eyes. "Enough to survive. Enough to protect what’s mine." His voice dropped lower. "Enough to know when someone is fishing for something."

The air between us crackled with tension. My hands clenched in my lap under the table. Every instinct screamed at me to back down. To laugh it off. To pretend this was all just innocent conversation.

But I couldn’t. Not when Luna Morrigan lay in that bed. Not when Thorne was risking everything to create another cure. Not when the truth sat right across from me wearing a kind smile.

"I’m not fishing." The lie tasted bitter. "I’m just curious."

"Curiosity." Aldric’s smile widened. "Such a dangerous thing, don’t you think?" He picked up his cup. Swirled the liquid inside. "It can lead people down paths they shouldn’t walk. Make them see things that aren’t there." He took a sip. "Or make them blind to what is."

My pulse pounded in my ears. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." He set the cup down gently. "Just an observation." His gaze never left mine. "You seem tense, Luna Fia. Is something troubling you?"

Everything about him was wrong. The way he sat. The way he spoke. The way he looked at me like he knew exactly what I was thinking and found it amusing.

"I’m fine." My voice came out steadier than I felt. "I must just be tired."

"Of course." He nodded slowly. "It must be exhausting. All this worry about Luna Morrigan." Something flickered across his face. "All this searching for answers."

The emphasis on those last words made my stomach drop.

He knew. Or at least he suspected.

I picked up my fork. Forced myself to take another bite. The food turned to sawdust in my mouth but I chewed anyway. I swallowed and made sure to smile.

"You’re right," I said. "I am worried about Luna Morrigan. Anyone would be."

"Anyone with a conscience." Aldric agreed. "It’s admirable. Though I wonder..." He trailed off. Let the sentence hang.

"Wonder what?"

"If all this dedication comes from genuine care." His eyes gleamed. "Or from something else entirely."

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. "What else would it come from?"

"Guilt, perhaps." He shrugged. "The need to prove oneself. Fear of what others might think." He leaned forward slightly. "Or maybe the desire to uncover something that would change everything."

Each word felt like a blade. Precise and cutting.

I set down my fork. Looked him dead in the eye. "I care about her because she’s family. Because she deserves to wake up. Because whoever did this to her deserves to be found."

"Noble sentiments." Aldric’s smile never wavered. "I’m sure the person responsible will be found. Eventually. Truth has a way of coming to light." He paused. "One way or another. I will make sure of it."

The threat was clear. Wrapped in pleasant words and a warm smile, but clear nonetheless.

"You think so?"

"Do you not?"