Chapter 3

Aaliyah POV

At the mention of Elder Alpha Griffith, Charlotte's Inner Wolf let out a visceral, instinctual whimper of terror. Her entire body began to tremble violently, the thick layer of makeup unable to hide the sheer dread consuming her features.

I leaned back against the pillows, my expression perfectly calm, though my heart was racing. It was time to deliver the final blow.

"Actually, my ten-year-old brother, Caiden, is arriving by carriage this evening," I said, keeping my voice smooth and deliberate. "Though he hasn't experienced his first Shift yet, he is fiercely protective of me. Why don't you propose this Substitute Mate idea to him? He can have his Hunter escorts use their Mind-Link to contact my uncle in the capital immediately."

The remaining color drained from Charlotte's face. The thought of Griffith Hunter discovering she intended to use his niece as a sacrificial lamb to cover up her daughter's scandal broke her completely. The wrath of the Hunter Pack would be apocalyptic.

"I... I have other pressing matters to attend to," she stammered. The once-suffocating scent of blooming peonies now reeked of sour panic and pure cowardice. She gathered her lilac skirts and practically fled the room, desperate to maintain the last shred of her Luna's dignity.

Once the heavy oak door clicked shut, the adrenaline left me. I sagged against the bedsheets, a cold sweat breaking out across my skin. I had won this battle, but the war was already marching toward us.

Elaina's flight wasn't just a family scandal; it was the catalyst for a bloodbath.

In the novel, her escape leads her straight into the dangerous borderlands, where she crosses paths with the ruthless Alpha Jaden Livingston. Driven by his feral Inner Wolf and a twisted Fated Mate bond, Jaden would eventually launch a catastrophic war against the Hayes Pack just to claim her.

I shivered, phantom pain echoing in my bones as the gruesome plot details flooded my mind. I knew exactly how this tragedy ended. Elder Luna Evelyn would die on the front lines defending the pups. Charlotte would be thrown into a dungeon until she went mad and took her own life. The golden Alpha Heir Greyson would have his legs shattered, his Inner Wolf permanently crippled. And Alpha Bradford would be forced to surrender his power before committing suicide in despair.

And me? As a Wolfless girl trapped in the crossfire, I would be tossed to Jaden's feral Rogues, torn to shreds while Elaina lived happily ever after with her blood-soaked Alpha.

I couldn't stay here. I had to find a way back to the Hunter Pack, or better yet, find a protector so terrifyingly powerful-a Lycan, perhaps-that even Jaden wouldn't dare cross them.

Pushing through the lingering weakness, I dragged myself out of bed and moved into my private sitting room. The heavy velvet drapes blocked the midday sun, casting long shadows across the carved oak table.

Before I could settle onto the sofa, the door swung open.

My bodyguard and maid, Omega Kaela, marched in. She carried a steaming porcelain bowl of the Healer's dark brew, her fresh lemongrass scent cutting through the room's staleness. The bitter concoction was meant to mask my natural White Jasmine scent, but it smelled like boiled dirt.

I turned my head away in disgust. "Take it away, Kaela. I'm not drinking sludge today."

Instead of cowering or submitting like a typical lower-ranking Omega, Kaela planted her hands on her hips. Her round, doll-like face scrunched into a fierce scowl, her lively Inner Wolf practically bristling with indignation.

"If you don't drink every last drop right now, my lady," Kaela threatened, her tone a mix of genuine concern and feisty defiance, "I am running straight to The Dowager's Estate. I will tell Elder Luna Evelyn, and she will come here to spoon-feed it to you herself!"

I blinked, surprised by the blatant insubordination, and then a genuine smile touched my lips. In this brutal world of Alphas, bloodlines, and impending slaughter, this fierce little Omega's warmth was the most grounding thing I had felt all day.

Kaela's threat also sparked a sudden realization. Charlotte was desperate, and desperate wolves did unpredictable things. I needed an immediate, impenetrable shield.

"Fine," I conceded, taking the bitter bowl from her hands and downing it in one miserable gulp. I wiped my mouth, ignoring the awful taste. "Help me get dressed, Kaela. We are going to see my grandmother."