Chapter 70: It All Points To Erica

Erica’s POV

My stomach dropped. Of course he did.

“I’m coming with her,” Elijah said.

“Me too,” Edward added.

Caroline shook her head. “Just Erica. His orders.”

“No way,” Elijah said flatly. “She’s not going alone—”

“She won’t be alone. I’ll be with her.” Her tone softened. “Trust me. Both of you charging in there will only make it worse.”

They looked ready to fight, so I cut in. “It’s fine. I’ll go.”

Elijah’s jaw locked. Edward looked like he was swallowing fire.

“I’ll find you after,” I said.

Caroline was already pulling me toward the side exit before they could stop me.

We walked through back corridors I’d never seen before, narrow, cold, quiet. Caroline’s heels clicked like clock hands counting down. She was still clutching that journal.

“What’s in it?” I asked.

She blinked, like she’d forgotten she was holding it. “Research. Omegas with witch powers. There aren’t many cases.”

“And?”

“And they all ended badly.” She didn’t sugarcoat it. “Most were killed. One went into hiding and never used her powers again.”

“Great,” I muttered.

“I’m not trying to scare you, Erica. I just need you to be prepared.” She stopped at a big wooden door. “He’s going to ask questions, about Marcus, about the message. Make him believe you.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“I know. But if he doesn’t… there’s nothing anyone can do.”

She knocked three times.

“Enter,” came his voice.

Caroline opened the door, pushed me inside, and closed it.

The Alpha King’s study was smaller than I imagined. Firelight. Books everywhere. Maps. He stood by the window, back to me.

“Your Majesty,” I said, trying not to shake.

“Sit.”

I sat.

He turned, finally. Same jaw as Elijah, but colder. No warmth in his eyes, just calculation.

“Professor Marcus is dead,” he said. “And someone left a message about you.”

“I didn’t do it.”

“I know.”

That threw me. “You do?”

“You were under guard when he died. Wards confirmed it. You have an alibi.” He leaned back. “But you’re still connected. Somehow.”

“I don’t know how.”

“Don’t you?” His tone sharpened. “A vampire says you’re the reincarnation of someone he loved. You’ve got a mate bond with my son. You’re an omega and a witch. And people keep dying with your name written beside them. You tell me what that looks like.”

“I’m not—”

“I said I know you didn’t kill him,” he cut in. “But someone’s killing because of you. Using you. So tell me, who wants you dead?”

“Lucien,” I said. “The Former head professor of the academy—”

“Yes. I know Lucien. The bastard actually thought he could kill me.” He pulled a file, flipping through it. “He’s supposed to be contained. Clearly, he’s not.”

“I think someone inside is helping him.”

His eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

“Lena,” I said. “She’s been targeting me since I got mated to your son. Sabotaging things. Tonight, I confronted her, and she…she panicked. It felt like I hit something real.”

“That’s not proof.”

“I know, but—”

“However,” he interrupted, pulling another file, “we’ve already received reports about her. Suspicious activity. Restricted areas. Deleted messages. Enough to merit attention.”

I blinked. “So you believe me?”

“I believe there’s enough to investigate. She is my niece and we had to keep it hush hush,” he said. “But now you’ve confronted her, you’ve made yourself a bigger target. She’ll need to discredit you, or kill you, before we can act.”

I clenched my fists. “So what do I do?”

“Stay alive.”

It sounded like a joke, but he wasn’t joking.

“Stay close to people who can protect you. Control your powers. And let me deal with Lena.”

“But—”

“This isn’t a request,” he said, voice turning to steel. “You do nothing without permission. Am I clear?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He studied me. “You remind me of someone,” he said finally. “An omega who thought she could control what she was. She died trying.”

The warning landed. Don’t be like her.

“I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Because if another body shows up with your name on it, everyone will demand you be monitored day and night, or worse be executed. And I won’t be able to stop them.”

I stood. My knees almost gave out. “Thank you… for believing me.”

“I don’t believe you,” he said. “I’m following the evidence. If you’re wrong, there’ll be consequences. If you’re right—” he opened the door— “then we’ll have a traitor to execute.”

Caroline was waiting for me outside.

“How’d it go?” she asked.

“He’s investigating Lena.”

“That’s better than nothing.”

“If I’m wrong, I’m dead.”

“Then don’t be wrong,” she said, like it was simple.

We turned a corner, almost ran into Lena.

She looked perfect, like she’d just come from a photo shoot, not a lockdown.

“Erica,” she said, smiling too wide. “Professor Caroline. What are you ladies doing this late?”

“Move,” Caroline snapped.

Lena’s eyes flicked to me. “Of course. Wouldn’t want to be accused of threatening anyone. Not with all these wild stories going around.”

“Walk away,” I said.

She leaned close, her perfume choking me. “Whatever you think you know, you don’t. When the truth comes out, everyone will see you for what you are, a scared little girl pretending to be powerful.”

“Enough,” Caroline warned, hand lighting up with magic.

“It’s fine,” I said. “She’s leaving.”

Lena smiled again. “Sweet dreams, Erica. Try not to burn down the building.”

She walked off.

“That was a threat,” Caroline said.

“I know.”

“Report it.”

“It’ll just sound paranoid.”

She didn’t argue.

Back in my room, she strengthened the wards until I could feel them pressing on the walls.

“Try to sleep,” she said softly. “I’ll be close.”

After she left, I sat on the bed, staring at the door. My pulse wouldn’t slow.

Another death. Another message. Lena smiling in the dark. The King half-believing. Lucien out there somewhere, waiting.

My phone buzzed. Two messages.

Elijah: You okay? I’m outside if you need me.

Edward: It wasn’t random. Found something. Let's talk about it tomorrow.

I texted back: I’m fine. Ok see you tomorrow.

That was a lie.

I lay down fully dressed, staring at the ceiling. The wards hummed softly, like a lullaby made of electric waves.

And just as my eyes started to close, I heard it, a soft scratching at my window, nails against glass, and a voice I knew too well whispering:

"Come out and play, little omega."