Chapter 184 – The Truth She Kept

Chapter 184 – The Truth She Kept
As soon as we got home, I summoned my team. I knew that Elara had now been exposed to big danger.

Every pack would want to have the white wolf with them, every Alpha would want her for himself.

The night felt too heavy. Even in silence.

Everything kept replaying in my head, Elara turning.

The way she looked at me. I sat in my wheelchair by the window, staring into the darkness, strategizing and thinking of what to do next.

“Double the security.” My voice came out firm.

The guards standing in front of me straightened immediately.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“I want more men around the mansion,” I continued. “No one gets in without being checked. No one gets out unnoticed.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

My grip tightened slightly on the armrest.

The wolves that attacked, that wasn't random.

The way they surrounded us. They must have heard of the white wolf and came for Elara.

That wasn’t a coincidence. “Call Damien,” I said after a moment. “Tell him to mobilize more betas. I want this place secured properly.”

One of the guards nodded and stepped aside to make the call.

But before he could even dial the number, Kian stopped him.

“Edward.” Kian’s voice.

I turned my head slightly. He was standing by the door. His expression was serious.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Don’t call Damien. You won't be needing his serve anymore.”

My brows pulled together.

“What?”

“You heard me,” Kian said, stepping closer. “Don’t trust him.”

Silence filled the room.

“What are you talking about?” I asked slowly.

Kian didn’t hesitate.

“From our investigation, Damien was the one running the slave trade at the warehouse. We were going to tell you after Elara's birthday.”

For a second, I thought I heard wrong.

“What?” I said.

My voice came out quieter this time.

“Everything points to him. Damien has been moving people–gifted wolves and selling them.”

My chest tightened.

“No…” I shook my head slightly. “That doesn’t make sense.”

I stared at him.

“I didn't believe it too at first, but it's the truth.” Kian said.

I had always known that Damien wasn't a saint but this was just too unbelievable.

But then again… so many things didn’t make sense lately.

So many things I ignored.

“So you’re saying…” I started slowly, “…that he’s been working against us?”

Kian didn’t answer immediately but his silence said enough.

My jaw tightened.

“And the attack tonight?” I asked.

“I’m not saying he sent them,” Kian replied. “But I’m saying we shouldn’t trust him.”

A long silence followed. “Apprehend him and bring him to me.”

The words left my mouth before I could even think twice.

Kian nodded once. “I’ll handle it.”

It was a tough and rough night, non of us slept, aside from Elara who needed all the rest she could get and Seraphina who was beside her the whole night.

The next morning everything felt different, like the mansion was trying to pretend nothing had happened.

But everyone knew, no one could forget what they saw.

Ma’am Albright stood in front of Vivian’s door.

Her hand lifted, then she knocked.

The door opened and Vivian stood there, already dressed.

Composed, like she had been waiting.

“You should be gone within the next three hours,” Ma’am Albright said calmly.

Vivian didn’t look surprised. In fact, she smiled slightly.

“I don’t need three hours,” she replied.

“I’ve already packed,” she added. “I’m just waiting for my driver to come pick me up.”

Ma’am Albright held her gaze for a moment. Then nodded. “Good.”

No more words. She turned and walked away.

Leaving Vivian standing there, watching.

A few minutes later, Ma’am Albright stood outside my door.

She knocked gently. “Come in,” I said.

The door opened and she stepped inside. Closing it behind her.

“How are you feeling?” she asked softly.

I didn’t answer immediately. I didn’t even know how to answer that.

“I’m fine,” I said finally.

The lie sat heavily in my chest. She didn’t call me out on it.

She just walked closer. “I wanted to talk to you,” she said.

I looked at her. “About what?” I asked.

She hesitated for a second.

Then she took a breath. “I know now may not be the best time but I want to talk to you about Elara.”

My chest tightened instantly. “What about her?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Ma’am Albright didn’t react. She just looked at me.

“I knew,” she said slowly. My brows pulled together.

“Knew what?”

“I knew she had healing powers.”

My heart skipped. “What?” I said.

“I knew be she even said it.” Ma’am Albright continued gently.

I stared at her. “You knew… all this time?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Yes.”

A mix of emotions rushed through me, confusion, anger, betrayal.

“And you didn’t tell me?” I asked.

My voice came out low.

“I couldn’t,” she said.

“Why not?” I demanded.

“Because it wasn’t my truth to tell,” she replied calmly.

I looked away. Frustration building in my chest.

“She made a promise to me,” Ma’am Albright added.

That made me look back at her.

“What do you mean?”

“She promised me that she would heal you,” she said softly. “As soon as she shifted and understood how to use her powers.”

My breath caught.

“She said that?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Silence filled the room.

“She has always wanted to help you,” Ma’am Albright continued. “She just didn’t know how yet.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“Then why…” I started, my voice quieter now. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

Ma’am Albright didn’t answer immediately.

She just looked at me with something in her eyes.

Something I couldn’t quite place. Then I asked the question that had been sitting in my chest.

“Why did she make that promise to you?” I asked slowly.

A small silence followed and then she said it.

Softly but clearly. “Because I’m your mother.”

Everything stopped. I stared at her.

She didn’t look away, she just stood there.

Looking at me and waiting for my reaction.