Chapter 35: Investigation
Chapter 35: Investigation
(Scarlett’s POV)
The sea breeze poured through the open windows, carrying with it the faint crash of waves and the salty tang of the ocean. Standing on the balcony. let the peacefulness of the moment wrap around me. Cora purred softly in my mind, content for the first time in what felt like forever.
Yet, the sudden, mouthwatering aroma drifting up from below snagged my attention. A moment later, my stomach grumbled loudly, betraying me. glanced down at the navy sweater Romuh had given me. It still carried his scent, comforting but distracting, Frowning, I wrapped it tighter around myself and headed downstairs to investigate.
The kitchen was alive with activity. I stopped at the doorway, blinking in surprise. There were three chefs–actual chefs–moving around with precise efficiency. Pots bubbled, pans sizzled, and the smell was overwhelming. It reminded me of the parties Roman used to orchestrate when we were younger. The scents, the laughter, the indulgence–it all came rushing back.
Hunter leaned against the counter, a satisfied smirk stretching his lips as he sipped what I assumed was coffee.
“Hunter,” I started, folding my arms. “What is all this?”
“Ah Little Wolf,” he said, setting his mug down with an exaggerated bow. “Welcome to Roman’s gift of extravagance. Your moon–blessed feast, prepared by only the finest
I raised an eyebrow. “Feast? This looks excessive.
Hunter shrugged, his grin widening as he motioned toward the dining table, which was already packed with plates of steaming food. “You’ve been running yourself ragged for years. Roman told us to make sure you eat. And eat you will
Before I could protest, one of the chefs approached, carrying a platter of something that looked far too decadent for breakfast. “Miss Scarlett,” he said, his tone unnecessarily formal. “This is your favorite, I believe?
My stomach betrayed me again with another loud growl. I swallowed hard, trying to remember the last proper meal I’d had. Shoving aside the lingering guilt of indulgence, I stepped forward cautiously
“Maybe just a little, i murmured, reaching for the plate.
I devoured more than just a little
In no time, I found myself seated at the table, surrounded by empty plates. I couldn’t stop. The flavors were rich, vibrant, and nostalgic all at once. Each bite was a reminder of better times, of the warmth of family – sensation I hadn’t felt in too long.
Hunter, of course, took great pleasure in watching me.
“You’re putting those pups at the pack feast to shame,” he drawled, his brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Shut it, Hunter,” I muttered, but a smile tugged at my lips despite myself,
Cora hummed with a rare contentment. Between the food and the safe atmosphere of the seaside mansion, she felt at ease–a far cry from the tension that defined most of our days.
her
Hunter’s wrist buzzed with his comm feedback device, and he chuckled before holding his hand up. “Incoming” he warned.
Right on cue, Roman’s deep voice slid into my mind through our mate bond, rich with amusement. “Still eating. Little Wolf?”
I froze mid–bite, narrowing my eyes. “How do you know what I’m doing?”
Hunter burst into laughter, holding up his phone to display the text message from Roman himself: “How much has she eaten already? Keep an eye on
I shot Hunter a glare as Roman chimed into my mind again, his tone laced with the same teasing warmth that made me both fume and melt.
“Tell her to stop before she regrets it,” Roman said, his mental voice carrying a faint chuckle.
“Bossy,” I muttered, setting the fork down reluctantly.
1/3
Chapter 35 Investigation
Through our bond, I felt his smug satisfaction. “You thank me later”
Sure enough, I realized just how full I was. A small smile crept onto my face as I pushed the plate away. The warmth, the calm–it was all intoxicating. For the first time in years, I gave myself permission to simply feel at ease.
(Alexander’s POV)
Grace’s cries haunted me even as I sat in my office. Every anquished sound that echoed through our mate bond was like a knife twisting deeper into my chest. But beyond the pain of her suffering was the gnawing anger that simmered just beneath the surface.
“Jason” barked, my patience dangerously thin.
My Beta straightened in the comer, his steadfast loyalty evident even as he shifted uncomfortably under my glare.
“Tell me again. What happened at the mansion?” My fingers tapped relentlessly against the polished wood of my desk, a reflection of the storm
brewing within me.
Jason cleared his throat, clearly trying to find the right words. The estate is an even tougher target than we anticipated. The guards.” He hesitated,
scratching the back of his neck. “They were almost mocking. Alpha. When I offered to negotiate…
“Mocking?” I repeated, leaning forward slightly, my amber eyes narrowing. “Explain”
Jason nodded stiffly. “They made it perfectly clear. No amount of resources, no deals, no negotiations–nothing will sway the ownership of that
mansion. The guards wouldn’t even let me close enough to examine the property properly.”
“And Scarlett?”
Her name rolled off my tongue with a sharp edge, the word itself sparking another wave of restless fury.
Jason grimaced slightly. “She was there, Alpha.”
The room fell deathly silent
“What?” The single word was laced with barely controlled rage.
Jason held up his hands quickly, as if to ward off the brunt of my anger. “I wasn’t expecting her. She walked out onto the balcony while I was speaking to the guards. She looked.. relaxed. Comfortable”
Everything inside me snapped taut, Mason snarling violently beneath my skin, “Comfortable?”
Jason nodded grimly. “When I addressed her directly, she didn’t deny anything. She just smirked.” He hesitated again before adding, “She didn’t feel the need to explain herself, Alpha. She didn’t see me as a threat at all.”
The vision of her, standing triumphant and untouchable, burned itself into my mind. How could she–how dare she-
Jason cleared his throat again, snapping me out of my internal tirade. “Also, Alpha,” he added cautiously. “That mysterious. Alpha wasn’t visible at the time. But his presence was still obvious. The guards the way they stood, their unwavering confidence… they’re either directly under him or fanatically
loyal.”
I turned away, the view from my office window doing little to cool my boiling rage. Scarlett, unbothered, unshaken, living in the lap of luxury while
Grace suffered.
The image of her smirk mocked me relentlessly.
The silence of the room was shattered by a loud, frustrated growl.
Daniel Winter appeared at the fringe of my peripheral vision, his agitation radiating in waves. He’d overheard more of the conversation than he should
have, his sister’s name clearly striking a nerve.
“She’s doing this on purpose,” Daniel hissed, his fists clenched tightly. “Grace is dying, and Scarlett’s off playing queen with her new Alpha lapdog!”
“Shut it, Daniel,” I snarled, turning to face him sharply
But the younger Winter didn’t back down. “You haven’t seen her like this before, Alexander. She doesn’t care! Everything she does–it’s calculated.
Grace could die, and Scarlett wouldn’t so much as blink”
Mason stirred restlessly inside me, his own anger building. The truth was, I couldn’t completely dismiss Daniel’s words. Scarlett’s indifference to
Chapter 15 Investigation
Grace’s condition, her choices that undermined every attempt I made–each action felt deliberate
Jason stepped in smoothly, his calm demeanor cutting through the tension “Alpha, what are your orders?”
“My orders?” My voice was low, measured, and deadly
Mason growled softly as the words left my lips, filled with venomous intent.
Tind everything there is to know about that mansion and ficarlett’s connection to it. Find out where he came from”
Jason nodded, but I wasn’t finished.
“And this time,” I added, my tone icy, “do not fail”
Grace’s soft cries pulsed faintly at the edge of my mind, blending with the burning image of Scarlett’s smirk. The weight of it pressed down on me
Failing wasn’t an option anymore. And Scarlett wouldn’t walk away from this unscathed.
