Chapter 116
Elowen's POV
Drake's ragged breathing filled the room. Blood dripped from his pinned hand, pooling on the desk beneath him. Jessica huddled against the filing cabinet, her body trembling. The metallic scent of blood mixed with fear hung thick in the air.
Alaric stepped back from where he'd thrown Jessica. His chest heaved. Ronan still gripped her arms, keeping her restrained. Kade circled behind Drake, amber eyes fixed on the silver letter opener protruding from Drake's palm.
I needed to tell them. Now.
"The champagne," I said. My voice came out steadier than I felt. "Drake put something in it. Something that makes your wolf disappear. You can't feel it happening. But you all drank it."
Alaric's gaze snapped to me. "What?"
"All of you," I repeated. "Everyone at the ball."
Ronan's green eyes shifted from Jessica to me. Something uncomfortable flickered across his face. The air in the room felt heavier. Thicker.
"Bullshit," Alaric said. But his voice wavered. "I feel fine."
Jessica laughed from her corner. The sound was sharp. Cruel. "So what? You're still just a weak little bitch who—"
A scream cut through her words.
Alaric crossed the room in a flash. He grabbed Jessica's cuffed hands. Lifted them above her head. Her fingers bent at wrong angles.
"Stop!" Jessica shrieked. "Please!"
"How many times," Alaric said. His voice was ice. "How many times did you call her a bitch?"
Kade held up six fingers without looking away from Drake.
"Six times?" Alaric's grip tightened.
"Two times!" Kade's voice was calm. Mathematical. "But three of us heard it. Two times three equals six."
Jessica's scream echoed off the walls. The sound of bone cracking followed. Then another crack. And another.
"Alaric!" I stepped forward.
He didn't look at me. He broke the fifth finger. Jessica's body sagged. Her weight hung from his grip on her wrists.
"She needs one hand that can write!" Alaric dropped her. She hit the floor hard. "Otherwise I might as well kill her now!"
He kicked her toward the corner. She crawled away, cradling her mangled hand against her chest. Blood smeared the polished floor.
My throat went dry. Part of me felt satisfied. Vindicated. The other part felt sick.
"You need to look closer to home for answers, sweetheart!" Jessica's voice was venomous despite her pain.
I swallowed hard. "It's not just Austin. Ethan got hurt too. Badly. He's fighting for his life right now."
Silence fell.
"I need to know how to reverse what you gave them," I said. "So his wolf can heal him. Otherwise..." My voice cracked. "He'll die."
I thought of Cindy. My best friend. She could lose her mate.
"This could start a war," I added. "With Starfall Pack."
Ronan sighed. The sound was heavy. "Starfall Pack."
"Wait." I looked at the three Alphas. An idea formed. Desperate. "Can you use an Alpha command? Force them to tell us?"
Alaric turned to Drake. His eyes flashed. But nothing happened.
He tried again. His jaw clenched. Still nothing.
"What the fuck..." Alaric's voice dropped. Fear crept into his expression.
Ronan stepped forward. Focused on Jessica. "Tell us the antidote."
The command should have been absolute. Irresistible. But Jessica just stared back at him. Defiant. Confused.
"I... I can't." Ronan's hands started shaking. "I can't feel my wolf."
Kade grabbed a letter opener from the desk. Drew it across his wrist. Blood welled up. The cut didn't close.
The three Alphas exchanged looks. Their faces went pale.
"Neither can I," Alaric whispered.
The room felt like all the air had been sucked out. These were three of the most powerful Alphas in the region. And now... nothing.
Jessica laughed again. The sound was bitter. Broken. "What do you think the pack will say, Elowen? When they hear you tortured their Beta?"
She struggled to her knees. Her ruined hand dangled uselessly.
"They'll overthrow you!" Her eyes glittered with malice. "You and those bastard mates of yours! At least the ones who are left."
Heat crawled up my spine. I felt someone move behind me. Warm. Solid. Alaric.
I knelt in front of Jessica. "Or I let them kill you. Pay someone to take your body away. Then I tell the pack the truth."
"What truth?" she spat.
"That you and Drake are responsible for their Alpha's death."
"You can't prove it!" Jessica's voice rose. Desperate. But her eyes flickered. A hint of triumph.
"You running away like a bitch is proof enough!" I leaned closer. "Isn't it?"
Her mouth opened. Closed. No words came out.
I stood up. Looked at the three Alphas. They stood there. Powerless. Vulnerable. Raw.
Alaric pulled out his phone. Pressed it into my hand. "We'll call this number when we have news."
His fingers brushed mine. Warm. Reassuring despite everything.
It was decided. I would leave them to it.
Drake's hand shot out. Grabbed my wrist. Blood smeared across my skin from his wounded palm.
"Don't go..." His voice cracked.
A low growl came from behind him. Kade. Drake released me immediately.
"I thought we were in love, baby!" Drake's eyes were wide. Pleading. "Don't leave me with them."
I laughed. The sound felt foreign in my throat. "Drake... you wouldn't blackmail and—"
I stopped. Looked at the three Alphas. They were waiting. Watching. Wanting me to say it.
I didn't.
"I thought I loved you," I said instead. My voice was steady now. Clear. "But I was wrong. I love Casper. I love Cassian! I love this pack!"
The words felt right. True.
"So I'm going to check on Ethan. Then I'm going to find my mates and make sure they're okay!"
I turned to the three Alphas. Nodded once. Respectful but not submissive.
"But I'll leave you two in their very capable hands."
I looked back at Drake and Jessica. Blood pooled beneath them. Their pain was obvious. Physical. Visible.
"I hope your time with them is as pleasant as my time with Drake was this evening!"
I walked toward the door. Each step felt lighter. Freer.
Behind me, I heard Kade's voice. Soft. Almost gentle.
"Now then... let's have a real conversation."
The door closed behind me with a solid click.