Chapter 153

My heart pounded as I tried to process what Icarus had just said. “What?” I muttered, as if hoping I had misheard him.

“His head was severed, and his body was dumped in the trash,” Icarus described, his clenched fist turning his knuckles ghostly white.

Kenzo’s voice carried the sharp edge of barely restrained fury. “Do you think the spy planted in my pack is responsible for this?”

“Who else?” Icarus replied, a cold smirk tugging at his lips.

“It doesn’t add up…” I murmured under my breath. But it was still loud enough for both Icarus and Kenzo to hear.

“What doesn’t add up?” they asked in unison.

My gaze darted between the two of them, my stomach twisting uneasily. “Last night, I saw a woman fleeing from my room. I chased her, but she lost me in one of the ground-floor corridors. When I returned, I found the note…”

Icarus leaned forward in his chair, his eyes locking onto mine. “Did you get a good look at her?”

I glanced at Kenzo, catching the way his body stiffened at my words. His unease was unmistakable as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

“No,” I admitted to Icarus. “I only caught her scent—she was a wolf. She had dark hair, and she was thin, small… but incredibly fast.”

Icarus exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his short hair before letting out a frustrated growl. “Ivar was skilled. Strong. Whoever took him down had to be an exceptional fighter.”

Kenzo remained silent, his lips pressing into a tight line. I studied him, wondering if he had someone in mind.

“I just don’t see how the woman I saw could have taken out a Royal Army specialist,” I said, shaking my head.

Icarus sighed. “Too bad you don’t have more details on her.”

I shot him a wry smile, but a sudden thought flashed through my mind. Caspian had once told me that my body absorbed what it needed—that I could develop new abilities based on what I took in…

What if I could still use the skill I’d gained from Hadrian’s blood?

“Maybe I did see more,” I muttered.

Kenzo’s head snapped toward me. “What do you mean?”

“Give me a second,” I said, smirking slightly before drawing in a deep breath.

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes, forcing myself to relive the chase in my mind. A gasp escaped my lips as the memory unfolded, replaying in slow motion, every lost detail resurfacing. This wasn’t like when Hadrian had forced me to recall the casino—it was stronger, sharper. This time, I had control. It was as if Hadrian’s ability had truly become mine.

I saw the hallway as it had been that night—every crack in the walls, the sliver of light escaping from my room. I smelled the she-wolf inside, her scent sharp and distinct. I focused on the sounds… Her breath was ragged, uneven. Her heartbeat pounded wildly, erratic. Her footfalls whispered against the floor, slightly off-balance. She was rushing. She shoved something or shut something inside my room before throwing the door open and fleeing.

What had she been doing? A note wouldn’t require her to open or close anything…

The memory played on. She sprinted down the corridor, heading for the stairs. And then—I caught it. A brief reflection in the wall mirror as she passed.

Under the dim light filtering through a distant window, her complexion appeared dark, tanned. Thick, nearly black eyebrows framed deep-set almond eyes. Long lashes cast shadows against her skin. Full lips. A strong, angular jawline.

I was certain—I had never seen her among Kenzo’s warriors.

The problem was, there were five other groups, filled with people I barely knew. And beyond that, the entire Moon Valley Pack.

But one thing was certain…

“She’s not EH’s spy,” I declared firmly.

Kenzo narrowed his eyes. “How can you be so sure?”

I met his gaze. “Her movements were off—clumsy. She was scared, nervous. Not the kind of precision you’d expect from someone capable of taking down a Royal Army soldier.”

Icarus nodded, seemingly agreeing, but then he asked, “If she wasn’t the one who left the note, then what was she after? Did you notice anything missing?”

I let out a sigh, spreading my hands in surrender. “No. Everything was exactly where I left it.”

I glanced at Kenzo, who had remained mostly silent, observing Icarus and me as we pieced the mystery together. His jaw was tense, muscles flexing as though something was gnawing at him. But when he caught me watching, he forced a small, warm smile.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

He let out a slow breath, his grip tightening around my hand. “It’s just… there was a spy in my pack. A killer. And I had no idea.”

As I met his gaze, frustration and helplessness burned in his eyes. With his pride and towering ambitions, I doubted he was accustomed to feeling powerless. I placed my other hand over his, a small gesture of comfort for a man who always carried the weight of strength on his shoulders. This wasn’t his fault. EH was an elusive enemy, operating from the shadows, always one step ahead.

The most infuriating part? No one knew who EH truly was—except Selene. And she would never talk. More times than I cared to admit, I had imagined Penrose wrapping her enchanted fingers around Selene’s arrogant little head, forcing the truth from her. But reality wasn’t so simple. She was still the queen, shielded by nobles and powerful vampires alike. No one would dare put her on trial—not unless EH himself appeared to accuse her. And we all knew that wouldn’t happen.

"We have to stay vigilant," I said firmly. "Whoever EH is, his plans are tied to Crimsonville. We need to be extra cautious when we cross into the Southern Moon territory."

“I agree with Thalassa,” Icarus nodded. “General Larkspur reported that the degenerates’ army has moved dangerously close to the Southern Moon Pack’s borders. We don’t know if they plan to join the battle, but if they do, I doubt they’ll be on our side.”

“Fuck.” Kenzo’s fist slammed against the chair’s armrest. His voice was strained as he turned to Icarus. “Do we have any idea how many degenerates we’re talking about?”

“Thousands,” Icarus replied grimly. “The Royal Army keeps taking them down, but it’s like fighting Hydra—every time one falls, more take its place.”

A dull, insistent throb settled at my temples, warning of an impending headache. As if the situation wasn’t already impossible. I was barely holding myself together at the thought of facing my father—the man I had loathed my entire life—but that confrontation now felt like the least of my concerns. I needed something, anything, to hold on to.

"If the degenerates are closing in, doesn’t that mean the rest of the Royal Army will be reaching the Southern Moon Pack’s territory soon?" I asked, grasping for reassurance.

Icarus’s expression darkened. "I don’t know. From what I’ve heard, they’ve been advancing one step forward, only to retreat two steps back for the past few days…"

A hollow laugh escaped me, sharp and bitter. Without thinking, I pushed myself up from my seat and walked toward the window.

Kenzo was at my side in an instant. He stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, his breath warm against my ear. “Don’t worry,” he murmured. “With the warriors from the old Blood Moon Pack, we have nearly eight thousand fighters on our side. That’s an army to be reckoned with.”

I could feel Icarus’s gaze on us, his expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he cleared his throat. “I hate to admit it, but I have to agree with Alpha Kenzo on this one. Together, we’re strong enough to crush the degenerates—no matter how many of them there are.”

I forced a smile, letting it settle on my face like a mask. But inside, my nerves remained frayed, my body still trembling long after they had left my room.

I needed a distraction, something to pull me from the weight pressing down on my chest.

Then, as if answering my silent plea, my phone rang.

Freya’s name flashed across the screen.

A spark of hope flickered through me, and I hurried to answer.

"You will not believe what just happened!" Freya burst out, skipping any form of greeting.

The hope inside me vanished in an instant. Nothing good ever followed that tone.

"What happened?" I asked, my pulse accelerating.

"That fucking bitch is pregnant!" she spat.

My breath caught. “W-what?” The words felt foreign, impossible to piece together.

"I told you she gathered all the nobles… Turns out, it was to announce that she’s expecting a child!" Freya’s voice was thick with fury.

"But… is it… Hadrian’s?" My throat tightened around the question.

"After the little show of affection he put on for Selene just a week ago, no one dares to believe otherwise," she replied, the venom in her voice unmistakable.

“This can’t be true,” I whispered, shaking my head. “Hadrian doesn’t love her. She’s under suspicion for countless crimes—”

"It doesn’t matter," Freya cut in with a sharp exhale. “If she’s carrying his child, that baby will have the purest bloodline. And as its mother, she’ll become untouchable.”

My fingers clenched around the phone. “But they didn’t even sleep together!” I snapped, hot tears spilling down my cheeks.

Freya went silent for a moment before asking the one question I wasn’t ready to hear.

"Are you sure about that?"

No. I wasn’t.

But admitting it would destroy me.

My grip on the phone slackened, my arm falling limply to my side.

And then, without another word, I disconnected the call.