Chapter 185: A Dangerous Secret (Scarlett’s POV)
Chapter 185: A Dangerous Secret (Scarlett’s POV)
Grace froze, her anger momentarily replaced by surprise. “She’s still watching me? Even after
banishment?”
I nodded solemnly. “She’s relentless, Grace.”
The revelation hit her hard. Her face contorted with fury and despair.
“That silver–scarred witch!” she spat, voice rising. “Four years I spent protecting you, and now I’m hunted like prey? What did I ever do to deserve-”
Panic surged through me as her voice echoed in the night air. If another pack member heard
us…
“Quiet!” I hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her deeper into the shadows.
My claws extended unconsciously in my distress, digging into her flesh. Grace winced,
recoiling from my grasp.
“You’re bleeding,” I whispered, horrified as tiny drops of crimson appeared on her arm. “I’m so
sorry.”
Guilt washed over me as I fumbled in my pocket. I pressed two moon–blessed silver coins into her palm, closing her fingers around them.
“For medical treatment,” I explained hurriedly. “And lodging. I’ll bring more when I can, I
promise.”
Grace stared at the coins in her palm, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, her demeanor changed. Her shoulders straightened, her chin lifted, and her eyes–once filled with hurt–now held something darker.
Her wolf radiated a dangerous energy that made my breath catch. This wasn’t the submissive guard who had followed me devotedly for years.
She leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. “If I fall, I won’t fall alone, Scarlett.”
Ice spread through my veins. “What do you mean?”
Grace’s lips curved into a cold smile. “I wonder what Alexander would say if he knew what we did to keep him away from Celeste? What we did to ensure you’d become his mate instead?”
My heart lurched painfully. “You promised never to speak of that!”
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Chapter 185 A Dangerous Secr
“Promises require loyalty,” she replied softly. “And loyalty must be earned.”
I stepped back, my emerald eyes wide with fear. “We didn’t do anything wrong,” I insisted, my voice trembling slightly. “Alexander would have chosen me anyway. I’m the true daughter of
the Winter Pack Alpha.”
Even as the words left my mouth, I heard how hollow they sounded. Grace’s sneer only
confirmed my fears.
Her wolf challenged mine with a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. “Keep telling
yourself that, Scarlett.”
I swallowed hard, desperately trying to regain control of the situation. “You need to leave now,
I urged, glancing nervously around. “Go back beyond the territory border. I’ll visit you again
with more resources, I promise.”
Grace studied me for a long moment, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she stepped back,
tucking the silver coins safely into her pocket.
“Don’t make promises you won’t keep,” she warned, before turning and disappearing into the
darkness.
I watched her go, conflicting emotions churning inside me. Relief that she was leaving, guilt for her suffering, resentment at being manipulated by someone who should have served me
loyally.
My wolf whined anxiously beneath my skin, sensing the danger in Grace’s threats. I needed
her silence, but I hated being controlled–especially by a beta wolf who had once been at my
command.
With a deep breath, I turned to head back to the pack house.
1 froze mid–step.
Matthew Sterling stood near the back entrance, his silver–gray eyes watching me with unmistakable suspicion. Alexander’s second–in–command was the last person I wanted to
encounter right now.
I forced a smile, smoothing my features into an expression of innocent surprise.
“Matthew! What brings you to this part of the grounds? It’s rarely patrolled.”
He shifted uncomfortably, his gaze flicking to the darkness where Grace had disappeared. “Just checking the perimeter,” he replied stiffly.
My wolf detected his lie immediately. The way his eyes darted to the side, the subtle tension
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in his shoulders–he hadn’t expected to encounter anyone here.
A sudden realization made my lips curve into a genuine smile. Lucas had mentioned. Matthew’s unusual behavior recently–his defense of Celeste, his early morning visit to her
quarters with spicy food.
“You’re here because of Celeste, aren’t you?” I asked softly, watching color rise to his cheeks.
His reaction confirmed my suspicions. Matthew Sterling, Alexander’s trusted
second–in–command, harbored feelings for Celeste.
(Matthew’s POV)
I felt heat crawl up my neck at Scarlett’s accurate assessment. How had she guessed? Was I
that transparent?
“I should go,” I muttered, turning to leave. My wolf urged me to escape this conversation
before I revealed more than I intended.
To my surprise, Scarlett’s delicate hand grasped my arm with unexpected strength, halting my
retreat.
“You shouldn’t give up on her,” she said, her voice sweet and encouraging. Her emerald eyes
gleamed in the moonlight.
I frowned, confused by her interest in my feelings for Celeste. Weren’t they rivals? Why would
Scarlett encourage me?
“Celeste has been refusing the lamb liver with silver herbs Lucas sends,” Scarlett continued, her lips curving into a knowing smile. “Did you know that?”
I hadn’t known. The information made my wolf stir with interest despite my wariness.
“She rejects it every day,” Scarlett added. “I think it’s because she’s comparing it to your spicy food. To your thoughtfulness.”
My heart skipped a beat. Could that be true?
“Celeste is just looking for someone who truly cares for her,” Scarlett said, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “Someone who sees her worth. You should pursue her
more openly, Matthew
With those words, she glided past me
in the darkness, conflicted and confu
ck house, leaving me standing alone.
Added to the library
Why would Scarlett Morrison, Alexander’s intended mate and Celeste’s rival, encourage my
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Chapter 185: A Dangerous Secr…
+8 Poin
feelings for Celeste? It made no sense.
Unless she wanted Celeste distracted, attached to someone else.
I remained at the back entrance, my wolf pacing anxiously within me as I contemplated Scarlett’s seemingly helpful advice.
(Scarlett’s POV)
I hastened my steps as I returned to the main pack house, my mind racing. The encounter with Grace had shaken me more than I cared to admit.
Her threats lingered in my mind, making my wolf whine anxiously. If anyone discovered what
we had done to keep Celeste and Alexander apart…
I shook my head, banishing the thought. No one would believe Grace over me. She was a banished beta, while I was the Alpha’s daughter, Alexander’s future mate.
Still, a flicker of fear persisted. Celeste had always frightened me, even before I learned of her prison sentence. There was something in her violet eyes–a strength, a determination that my
wolf recognized as dangerous.
The thought of her marking with Alexander made my stomach twist with dread. He had been meant for me since birth. The pack alliance depended on our union.
I hadn’t lied to Matthew entirely. My encouragement wasn’t completely false–just selectively motivated. If Celeste formed an attachment to Matthew, she would no longer be a rival for
Alexander.
My lips curved into a satisfied smile. The exchange with Matthew had been an unexpected opportunity, one I’d seized without hesitation.
Alexander would be mine. Our marking ceremony would proceed as planned. And Celeste would find happiness with someone more suitable–someone like Matthew, who clearly
adored her.
Everyone would win. And no one would ever need to know about the steps Grace and I had
taken to ensure this outcome.
(Celeste’s POV)
I sat by the window in my private quarters, watching the silver moonlight spill across the floor. My confinement had given me ample time to think, to plan, to observe the patterns of the pack
house from afar.
A soft knock interrupted my thoughts. Nina opened the door, allowing Jacob Weber to enter.
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Chapter 185: A Dangerous Secr…
The beta wolf assigned to monitor Grace bowed respectfully, his silver–gray wolf radiating both
respect and diligence.
“Miss Celeste,” he greeted, keeping his voice low. “I’ve returned with information as requested.”
I gestured for him to speak freely. Jacob had proven his loyalty repeatedly, unlike many who
had abandoned me after Scarlett’s return.
“I observed the meeting between Lady Scarlett and the banished guard,” he reported, standing at a respectful distance. “They spoke at the back entrance to pack grounds.”
This confirmed my suspicions. Despite her public denouncement of Grace, Scarlett was maintaining contact.
“What did they discuss?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
Jacob’s brow furrowed in concentration. “I couldn’t hear everything, but the banished guard seemed displeased at receiving the silver coins. From her body language and the way she
leaned in toward Miss Scarlett, I believe she was making threats.”
My violet eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Threats? Against Scarlett?”
“It appeared so,” Jacob confirmed. “Lady Scarlett seemed quite disturbed afterward.”
This was interesting. What leverage could Grace possibly have over Scarlett? What secrets did they share?
“There’s more,” Jacob added hesitantly. “After the banished guard left, Lady Scarlett encountered Matthew Sterling near the back entrance.”
That caught me by surprise. “Alexander’s second–in–command? What was he doing there?”
Jacob shook his head. “Unclear, Miss. But Lady Scarlett spoke with him at length. She
seemed… encouraging.”
My silver–scarred wolf stirred with curiosity. What game was Scarlett playing now?
“Continue monitoring Grace’s movements beyond pack territory,” I instructed, my mind already working through potential strategies. “And find out what Matthew was doing near the back entrance tonight.”
Jacob bowed again, his wolf submitting respectfully. “Yes, Miss Celeste.”
