Chapter 188 CHAPTER 188

Chapter 188 CHAPTER 188
The following morning, Ariel stirred awake slowly, cocooned in a comforting warmth she had almost forgotten existed.

For a few peaceful seconds, she remained still, her eyes closed as she breathed in Zack's familiar scent. His arm was still wrapped securely around her waist, and she realized she hadn't moved from where she'd fallen asleep the previous night. Her head rested comfortably on his arm, their legs tangled beneath the blankets, as though neither of them had wanted to let go even in sleep.

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the room in a soft golden glow.

When Ariel finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Zack.

He was already awake.

He lay on his side, watching her with the gentlest smile she had ever seen. There was no teasing in his eyes this morning, no playful grin. Only quiet affection... and relief.

"Hi," he whispered.

Before she could answer, he leaned forward and brushed the softest kiss against her lips.

A smile tugged at Ariel's mouth.

"Good morning."

"Good morning to you too."

She searched his face before asking, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear before lingering against her cheek.

"I was happy just looking at you."

His smile softened even more.

"You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to ruin the moment."

Her heart squeezed.

After everything they had carried the previous night - the doubts, the tears, the painful truths - those simple words reached places inside her that she hadn't realized were still hurting.

She shifted closer until their foreheads rested together.

"Are you feeling better?" Zack asked quietly.

"I am."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I don't remember the last time I slept that peacefully."

She smiled as she traced absent-minded circles across his chest.

"It was nice sleeping in your arms."

His arm tightened around her instinctively.

"You always know how to make me feel better," she continued. "Whenever I'm with you... everything that isn't okay somehow fades into the background."

She looked into his eyes.

"It's strange."

"What is?"

"Being close to you."

A shy smile crossed her lips.

"It calms me. It feels like nothing in the world can hurt me as long as you're holding me."

For a moment, Zack simply looked at her.

Then he kissed her forehead.

"You do the same for me."

Ariel blinked.

He chuckled softly.

"Last night I thought I'd be awake until sunrise."

His thumb stroked the back of her hand.

"But the moment you curled up against me..." He smiled. "...I slept better than I have in days."

Neither of them spoke for a while.

They simply stayed there, holding each other while the quiet morning wrapped itself around them.

It was a rare moment of peace.

One neither of them wanted to end.

Eventually, Ariel let out a small sigh.

"There's still so much waiting for us."

"There is."

"We should brace ourselves."

Zack nodded.

"We still need to meet Dad and Beta Leonard."

His expression grew thoughtful.

"We have to figure out what we're going to do about everything Marcus said... especially the accusations against Victor."

Ariel nodded.

After another few quiet minutes together, they finally climbed out of bed, got ready, and headed downstairs.

The dining hall was already alive with the sounds of breakfast.

Andrew and Jenna were seated at one end of the long table, halfway through their meal.

"There they are," Andrew said with a grin as Zack and Ariel approached.

"You two actually look like you got some sleep."

"We did," Zack replied, pulling out Ariel's chair before taking the seat beside her. Jenna smiled knowingly but wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

Once everyone had been served, Andrew looked at Zack.

"So... how are things going with Marcus? Any closer to finding out whether what he said was true?"

Zack shook his head.

"Not yet."

He reached for his coffee.

"We're still trying to separate the truth from whatever he made up."

He glanced at Ariel before continuing.

"The plan was to meet Dad and Beta Leonard this morning. Hopefully they'll have decided how we're moving forward about everything."

Andrew nodded thoughtfully.

Then another question occurred to him.

"Speaking of Alpha Daniel..."

He looked toward the empty head of the table.

"Isn't he joining us for breakfast?"

Before Zack could answer, one of the palace attendants stepped forward.

"Alpha Daniel isn't in the palace, Alpha."

Zack looked up sharply.

"What do you mean he isn't here?"

The attendant bowed respectfully.

"I'm afraid I don't know all the details."

She hesitated before continuing.

"Alpha Daniel woke up sometime during the night. He requested Beta Leonard, and the two of them left Ashwood shortly afterward."

"They left?"

"Yes."

"Do you know where they went?"

"I'm sorry, I don’t have that information."

The cheerful atmosphere vanished.

Andrew slowly lowered his fork.

Whatever had happened...

It had been serious enough to pull both the Alpha and the Beta out of Ashwood before dawn.

Zack exchanged a glance with Ariel.

Neither of them felt like eating anymore.

He pushed his chair back.

"Let's go to Beta Leonard's house."

Andrew frowned.

"You think they'll be back already?"

"If they're not, maybe Cassian or Evelyn knows where they went."

The others immediately stood.

Within minutes, the four of them were crossing the palace gardens toward the Beta's residence.

Halfway there, they spotted two familiar figures approaching from the opposite direction.

Evelyn and Cassian.

"Good morning," Evelyn greeted with a warm smile.

"Morning," the four replied almost in unison.

Her smile faded slightly as she noticed the concern on their faces.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, not really," Ariel answered. "Actually, we were on our way to your house."

Evelyn exchanged a curious look with Cassian.

“How can we help, should we go back?"

Zack stepped forward.

"No, here is fine. We just found out Dad and Beta Leonard left Ashwood during the night."

He frowned.

"We were hoping you might know where they went."

Evelyn looked genuinely surprised.

"I had no idea they left."

She folded her arms as she thought back to the previous night.

"I know the palace guards came for my husband sometime after midnight."

She shrugged lightly.

"He left with them, but I assumed it was ordinary kingdom business. I didn't realize Alpha Daniel had gone with him."

Beside her, Cassian suddenly snapped his fingers.

"Oh."

Everyone turned toward him.

"Dad actually woke me before he left."

"He did?"

Cassian nodded.

"He didn't want to wake Mom, so he asked me to tell her he'd be away if she asked."

"What else did he say?" Zack asked.

Cassian thought for a moment.

"They were going to Maplewood."

"Maplewood?" Andrew repeated.

Cassian nodded.

"Did he say why?"

"He mentioned something about Maplewood's Beta being attacked by rogues."

The words had barely left his mouth when Evelyn stiffened.

"You mean Beta Victor?" she asked, her voice unusually sharp.

Cassian looked at her, surprised by the urgency in her tone.

"Yes."

He frowned.

"I didn't get all the details. Dad only said there'd been an attack during the night."

For the briefest moment, something flashed across Evelyn's face.

Shock.

Then fear.

Just as quickly, it disappeared.

"Well now we know where   they went. If you excuse me, I need to be somewhere." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and hurried away.

The five of them watched her leave.

Ariel glanced toward the path Evelyn had taken. Something about her reaction didn't feel right.

A few minutes later, the sound of approaching engines echoed across the palace grounds. A convoy rolled through the main gates. Before the lead vehicle had even come to a complete stop, the passenger door flew open.

Beta Leonard stepped out.

His usually immaculate clothes were wrinkled. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and the exhaustion etched across his face made him look years older.

He didn't even acknowledge the guards rushing to open the doors.

Instead, he strode straight toward them.

"Cassian!"

His voice was tight with urgency.

Cassian instinctively stepped forward.

"Where's your mother?"

Leonard's breathing was uneven.

"I need to speak to your mother."

Cassian didn't answer. He simply raised his hand and pointed in the direction his mother had hurried only moments earlier. Leonard didn't hesitate. He turned on his heel and strode toward the residence, disappearing through the garden path without another word.

The others remained rooted where they stood, exchanging bewildered glances.

Before anyone could make sense of what had just happened, the rest of the convoy finally rolled to a complete stop behind them. Another vehicle door opened. Alpha Daniel stepped out first. His expression was grim, his shoulders tense. Then another figure emerged from the back seat.

Ariel's breath caught.

"Beta Victor..."

Victor climbed out slowly, his clothes stained with dried blood from the previous night's attack. Heavy silver shackles bound his wrists together, their chains clinking softly with every step.

Two royal guards immediately took their positions on either side of him.

Zack stared in disbelief.

"What...?"

Andrew and Jenna exchanged stunned looks, neither of them able to speak.

Ariel's eyes darted between Daniel and Victor, her heart pounding.

Whatever Marcus had started in the dungeons was about to change lives forever.