Chapter 32 Chapter thirty -two
~Claus~
No. That’s impossible.
“What is the meaning of this?” I rose sharply from the throne.
My stomach twisted, and a bitter taste lingered in my throat.
Since the day I became ruler of this pack, I had never received a letter like this.
Something isn’t right. This message wasn’t sent to me by accident.
I glanced at the letter again, murmuring under my breath, “Don’t believe it… it’s a setup.”
Why now? Why send me something like this? And who would dare? Could there be any truth to it?
“Soldier!” I barked.
The guard who had brought the letter hurried forward and bowed deeply.
“Your Majesty,” he replied.
I waved the letter in his face, my voice thundering through the hall. “Where did this come from? Who gave it to you?”
The veins in my neck strained, my eyes burned red with fury, and I crushed the paper in my hand.
The soldier trembled, his words stuck in his throat before he forced them out. “Your Majesty, I don’t know. I swear, I have no idea.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? This letter just appeared out of nowhere?”
“I found it lying on the ground near the front gate, so I brought it to you,” he stammered.
A sharp pain pulsed through my head. I sank back onto the throne, rubbing my temples as nausea rose in my stomach.
My mind was blank. I couldn’t think of anyone who might have sent such a message or why.
I felt betrayed. And betrayal is the one thing I despise most in this life.
~Ellie~
I sat before the dresser, slowly and gently running the brush through my hair. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror, and for a moment, I reached out to touch it but withdrew my hand.
My eyes drifted to the door for what felt like the hundredth time. Claus was taking longer than usual to return.
I picked up a few strands of hair, straightening them between my fingers as my thoughts wandered to everything that had happened today, Sylvia’s new mate, Roger nearly revealing my secret to Claus, and most of all, Sylvia’s cold indifference. He hadn’t smiled at me once; all his warmth was directed toward Julian. I felt utterly unseen.
Thank the moon Claus didn’t push further when he noticed my strange behavior at dinner, otherwise, he might have grown suspicious. Speaking of him, he’s been gone too long. Perhaps I should go find him in the courtroom.
I rose from the chair and walked to the wardrobe, taking out a robe. Slipping it over my slender frame, I wrapped my arms around myself before leaving the chamber. The maids bowed as I passed, greeting me respectfully; I responded with a brief nod.
At the entrance to the courtroom, the guard bowed and opened the door for me. I stepped inside, my robe trailing across the floor. The dim candlelight was the only source of illumination.
My eyes found Claus seated on the throne, his head lowered. As I drew closer, I noticed a sheet of paper in his hands. His gaze was fixed on it, his lips trembling, his expression tense, something was clearly troubling him.
“Claus,” I called softly, stopping in front of him.
He lifted his head suddenly, flinching as if he’d seen a ghost. It was only then I realized he hadn’t noticed me enter until that moment.
He swallowed hard. “Ellie, love… what are you doing here?” he asked, taking my hands.
“You were taking too long, and I got worried. I just came to check on you,” I explained. “And you—what’s wrong? You look troubled. Is everything okay?” I asked.
He sighed wearily. “A letter, love. A soldier found it lying on the ground at the entrance gate and brought it to me.”
I frowned. “A letter? What does it say?”
He shook his head. “I can’t make any sense of it.”
“Let me see.” I took the piece of paper from his hand.
Everything around me seemed to blur, except for the handwriting on the page. The air suddenly felt thin, and the saliva I tried to swallow caught in my throat.
“Ellie, love, are you alright?” Claus asked when he noticed how distant I’d become after reading the letter.
Snapping back to the moment, I forced a smile. “Yes… yes, Claus. Did the soldier say anything else?”
"No, even after I pressed further," Claus replied.
Why was I even asking him more questions when deep down, I already knew who had the guts to send that letter?
Roger. That cunning snake.
He’s the only one who knows my secret so well and now he’s using it against me. First, he use me to tell Claus to convince Sylvia to marry his mate, and now he’s sending letters to Claus.
I have to act fast. I must put an end to Roger’s threats once and for all. He won’t stop now or ever unless I make him.
“Love…” Claus’s voice pulled me back to reality as he gently shook me.
That’s when I realized I had drifted off, lost in thought.
“Yes, Claus,” I answered, panting slightly like someone who had just run a race.
“Are you alright? You seem off, you’ve been spacing out for quite a while,” he asked, his expression growing suspicious as he studied me.
“It’s nothing, love,” I forced a smile, doing my best to avoid his eyes.