Chapter 56: My Decision Has Been Made - Callista's POV

I didn’t hear what Mr. Cross said to Riven, but from the way his entire body tensed behind me, it was something unexpected. He caught up to me in the hallway a moment later, his expression grim.

“What happened? Did he say something on the way out?” I asked quietly, pulling him aside near an empty space in the hallway.

“Good luck and that everything isn’t what it seems,” Riven said, glancing back toward the classroom. “He knows, Callista. I don’t know how much, but he knows something about what’s happening with the Alpha King and purposely chose this lesson.”

My heart raced. “Do you think the Alpha King knows that Mr. Cross knows?”

“If he didn’t before now, I’d say the Alpha King will pay him a visit soon. This wasn’t on the syllabus and we’ve never covered this part of the territory expansions like this.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It’s like Mr. Cross changed the lesson plan specifically to warn us.”

"He's trying to help us without directly telling us anything. Giving us the tools to figure it out ourselves."

"But why? Why would he risk it? If the Alpha Kings have always covered up this information, then…saying something could get him killed,” Riven said, glancing over his shoulder again.

I thought about Mr. Cross’s ancestor, the advisor to Alpha King Dami and how those journals survived through his family. “Either he knows or…he suspects something is going on. I don’t know why he’d risk being executed, though.”

The warning bell for the next class rang, but neither of us moved. We hadn’t even made it to our lockers to get our books or anything.

“We need to talk to him,” Riven said quietly. “Maybe we can after school and find out what he really meant. “

“We can’t, remember? Our parents expect us to come straight home.”

His eyes locked with mine and for a moment, I didn’t understand why he was looking so softly at me. “Did you just call my house home?”

I thought about my words, then sighed as I fought back a laugh. “Yes, but don’t read too much into it yet. Right now, we need to focus on finding out what Mr. Cross knows and how. It’s just dangerous.”

“Everything we’re doing is dangerous,” Riven murmured. “But if Mr. Cross has information that could help us, then we need it. We only have two days left.”

He was right. The countdown was ticking in my head constantly now. Seventy-two hours had become forty-eight.

"Okay," I agreed. "After school. But we have to be careful about it and make it quick. If we’re late, our parents will never let us hear the end of us.”

We made it to second period just as the final bell rang. The rest of morning dragged on as I constantly turned over Mr. Cross’s lesson.

How many wolves like Riven had there been over the centuries? How many had been executed before anyone tried to help them? How many families had lost their children to a secret that the Alpha Kings refused to acknowledge publicly?

By the time lunch arrived, I was wound so tight I could barely think straight.

"Are you okay?" Kalley asked as we sat down at our usual table. "You've been distracted all morning."

"Just stressed about the Alpha King's offer," I said, which wasn't a lie. "It's a lot to process."

"I bet." She lowered her voice. "Have you decided what you're going to do?"

I glanced at Riven across the cafeteria. He was staring at his hamburger, but wasn’t the least bit interested.

“Not yet. We have two days to figure it out.” I picked at my food, not really hungry. “Did your family say anything about the Alpha King? Any rumors or information you can spare us?”

Kalley hesitated. "Why are you so interested in rumors? I thought you'd be focused on the actual offer."

“I am, but I’d like to know what the packs are saying and what they think,” I said, meeting her gaze. “We want to understand the bigger picture.”

When she said nothing, I resorted to begging.

“Please, Kalley. Anything you have heard could help us and… you should know that he wants to train my seerer abilities. It’s not just Riven. He’s taking both of us under his wing if we accept.”

She glanced around, making sure no one was listening too closely, then huffed. “My dad mentioned something about the Alpha King’s mansion and about how there are certain wings no one is allowed to access. Not even high-ranking visitors. They are turned away from specific areas. Some of the packs suspect he’s hiding something, since this has never happened before in our history.”

My pulse quickened. "Like the east wing?"

“He didn’t mention which wing, just that there are parts of the mansion that are off limits. Anyone who asks about them gets shut down immediately.” She paused, checking our surroundings. “My dad thinks that the Alpha King is hiding something big. But none of the packs are ever going to go up against him.”

I thought about the Alpha King's son, locked away in the east wing, possessed by a demon that no one was supposed to know about.

"Thanks," I said. "That's actually really helpful."

It wasn’t really, because I knew the secrets he was hiding. However, this confirmed that his son being locked up in the east wing could be the truth. It also confirmed what Riven and I had discussed earlier. The packs would not take a stand behind our two packs if my parents challenged the Alpha King over this offer.

Everything would fall apart.

“I know you and Riven are mated now and you have to make this decision together, but please be careful,” Kalley warned, her expression serious. “My dad’s instincts are usually right, and if he thinks something is off about the Alpha King’s offer, it probably is.”

"I will. I promise."

Across the cafeteria, Riven was chatting with Adrian finally and a few other guys. They were deep in conversation. Adrian’s expression was…intense as he spoke. I wished I could hear what they were talking about, but I’d have to wait until after lunch to find out.

When the lunch bell finally rang, I grabbed my tray and headed to dump it. Riven was waiting near the exit, and we fell into step together as we headed toward our lockers.

"Adrian knows something," he said quietly. "One of his great grandfathers was there when the last Alpha King had to choose another successor. He said that the Blackwoods used to be in power, then their son mysteriously died.”

“Do you think—”

“Demon,” he whispered. “Yes. There is a chance that demons are entwined with the Alpha King line. Apparently, that wasn’t the first time an Alpha King Heir has mysteriously ended up dead and another line of succession has had to be chosen.”

My stomach dropped. “If the Alpha King’s bloodline keeps producing…demon-possessed heirs, then how do you have one?”

“Look, I don’t know how accurate Adrian’s information is, but he said that every time an Alpha King heir mysteriously dies, there’s an uptick in pack disturbances.” He glanced away. “Apparently, no one talks about it, though.”

“Why did he tell you?”

Riven glanced behind me and took a deep breath. “Because he saw my eyes change and with his the Alpha King’s interest, he wanted to warn me. He said he wouldn’t normally do that and I can never say a word about it to anyone.”

“Except me.”

“You won’t say anything to endanger anyone,” he whispered before glancing down at our feet. “I think I’ve made my decision, though.”

“You won’t take it,” I said hopefully.

“Callista, I’m taking his offer.”