Chapter 140 The Puppet
Mira walked alongside Lucia down the corridor, her steps measured as they left Fernando's office. Lucia glanced at her, still wiping the remnants of tears from her eyes after the remembrance.
"Mira," Lucia said, voice steady but raw, "about the coronation dates should we check the lunar calendar now? The pack needs to know soon if we're doing it under the full moon."
Mira shook her head, placing a hand on Lucia's arm to stop her. "Not yet. I need to do some things first. Go rest. I'll call you when I'm about checking the dates for the coronation day."
Lucia frowned, searching Mira's face. "You sure? I can help. After what Alberto and Fernando have been through, I want to make sure it's perfect. The pack's still unsettled whispers about Darius, about Vorn's death. A coronation would show unity."
Mira's expression remained neutral. "I know. But trust me. I have to handle this part alone. You've been through enough today with Kael's remembrance. Go. I'll mindlink you when it's time."
Lucia hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Alright. But if you need anything anything at all call me. I'm not just the gamma now. I'm family."
Mira gave a small smile. "I know. Go."
Lucia squeezed her arm once and walked away, her footsteps echoing down the hall.
Once alone, Mira closed her eyes briefly and reached out with her mindlink.
"Darius. Meet me at our meeting point. Now. Make sure no one follows you."
Darius's response came immediately, sharp and cautious. "Mira? What's this about? The council's still buzzing from Fernando's orders. If we're seen—"
"Just come. Alone. No tails."
The link cut.
Darius arrived at the secluded spot a forgotten storage room in the packhouse's lower levels minutes later. He slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind him.
"Mira," he said, voice low. "This better be important. Fernando's already suspicious of me. If he finds out we're meeting in secret—"
Mira held up a hand, pulling a folded paper from her tunic. "Read this. Then talk."
Darius took the paper, unfolding it carefully. His eyes scanned the words, widening slightly.
"What is this?" he asked, looking up. "The Samael that attacked me and Alberto was a puppet? Not the original Samael we all know? And Vorn was being used? Mira, where did you get this?"
Mira crossed her arms. "From my findings. The healers at the ancient home helped me piece it together. That Samael wasn't real. He was controlled, manipulated. Just like Vorn was a pawn in something bigger. Do you have something to do with this?"
Darius shook his head quickly, paper crumpling in his fist. "No. Absolutely not. I understand why Fernando finds me suspicious I was gone during the invasion, I killed Vorn but I would never hurt them. Never. Fernando's my kin. Alberto's his mate. The pack is my home. Why would I sabotage it?"
Mira's gaze didn't waver. "Then explain the timing. You escape prison, Vorn dies, you take control. And now these puppets, manipulations. It fits too neatly."
Darius paced two steps, then back. "I didn't plan Vorn's death. He attacked me. And Samael came at me like a beast. No recognition. Just rage. If he was a puppet, someone else pulled the strings. Not me. Mira, you have to believe me. We've cooperated before. I helped you get Fernando to the healers. Why would I turn now?"
Mira stepped closer. "Because power changes people. The day Alberto was brought back—by you and Lucia he was secretly injected with the puppet potion. I found traces in his blood when I examined him. I kept it secret because Alberto's enigma blood detoxified it naturally. But it wiped parts of his memory. Clean. Gone. Do you have something to do with that?"
Darius's eyes widened. "Injected? No gods, no. I swear on the pack, on Fernando's blood, I had nothing to do with it. Lucia found me with Alberto's body. He was already like that. If someone dosed him, it was before we got him back. Mira, please I've never used that potion. I don't even know where to get it. Vorn, maybe? Or someone else pulling strings. But not me. You have to believe me."
Mira studied him for a long moment. "I don't know what to believe yet. But I'll do my findings. Dig deeper. Until then, our cooperation is on hold. No more secret meetings. No more alliances between us. Stay out of my way."
Darius reached out. "Mira, wait. We need each other. The pack's still fragile. If Fernando finds out about the potion—"
"He won't," Mira said. "Not from me. Not until I have proof. But if I find out you lied about any of this you're done. The pack will know everything."
Darius lowered his hand. "I didn't lie. I swear."
Mira turned to leave. "We'll see."
She slipped out the door, leaving Darius alone in the dim room.
He stared at the paper in his hand, then crumpled it. "Fuck," he muttered. "Who the hell is pulling these strings?"
But no answer came.
The silence stretched, heavy with unanswered questions.
In the shadows of a hidden alcove, a cloaked man leaned against the wall, his voice low and edged with impatience.
“How is Alberto?” he asked, eyes fixed on the lady standing opposite him.
The lady adjusted her hood, her tone calm and confident. “I disguised the puppet poison perfectly. It looked as though Alberto’s blood detoxified it naturally. Mira took the bait she believes the memory loss was a side effect of his enigma blood fighting it off. She suspects nothing.”
The man gave a short nod. “Good. And Darius? Have you brought him to our side yet?”
The lady shook her head slowly. “Not yet. He has his own plans. He thinks he’s playing everyone Fernando, Vorn’s remnants, even us. But we’ve sabotaged every move he’s made so far. He’s isolated now. Soon we’ll corner him. Once he’s desperate enough, he’ll bend. We’ll make him do our bidding.”
The man exhaled, a faint smile curling beneath his hood. “Keep him dangling. The longer he resists, the harder he’ll fall when we pull the strings.”
The lady inclined her head. “He will fall. They all will.”
The alcove fell silent again, the shadows swallowing their words.