Chapter 53 Shadows of Warning
Elara's POV
I found Maple in the garden the next afternoon, surrounded by a cluster of children I recognized from Sophie's kindergarten class. The little corgi was wearing what appeared to be a tiny crown with a Sterling family crest embroidered on the veil, and Sophie herself was orchestrating the whole scene like a miniature tyrant.
"Stay still!" Sophie commanded, adjusting the ridiculous headpiece on Maple's head while her friends giggled around them. "You're supposed to be the princess dog, so you have to look perfect!"
I approached quietly. The moment Sophie noticed me, her entire body went rigid, her expression shifting from commanding to defensive in an instant. She turned her head away with exaggerated indifference, her small chin lifted.
"Sophie," I said calmly, keeping my voice neutral. "Give me back my dog."
Sophie's eyes flashed with something stubborn and possessive as she tightened her grip on Maple's collar. "In my house, this dog should listen to me!"
"That's not how it works," I said, taking another step closer. "Maple is mine. Give her back."
"In my house, everything is mine!" Sophie shot back, her face flushing with indignation. The other children had gone quiet, watching the confrontation with wide eyes.
Before I could respond, Maple made the decision for us. She twisted out of Sophie's grip with surprising agility and bolted straight to my side, pressing against my legs with obvious relief.
Sophie stood frozen in place, her face cycling through shock, anger, and something that looked suspiciously like hurt. She crossed her arms and turned away with a huff.
Silver light flickered across my vision for just a moment, and when I looked at Sophie and her four little friends, I saw something that made my blood run cold.
Dark red shadows clung to each child's forehead like a stain, pulsing with a sickly energy I'd learned to recognize as a death mark.
"Sophie," I said. "What are you and your friends doing the day after tomorrow? Any special plans?"
Sophie's defensive posture softened slightly at the question. "We're going to the cross-pack youth exchange camp. It's with the European noble packs. Mama says it's very important for making connections."
The other children nodded enthusiastically, chattering about all the activities they'd been promised.
"I need to see your class photo album," I said abruptly, turning toward the house. "Where does your kindergarten keep them?"
Sophie blinked at the sudden change of subject, her confusion evident. "Why do you want to see boring pictures?"
I didn't answer, already moving toward the mansion with Maple trotting at my heels. I found the head butler in the main hall and made my request, following through without question. Within minutes, I was sitting in the garden with the album spread across my lap, flipping through pages of smiling children with growing dread.
The death marks weren't limited to the five children I'd just seen. Nearly a third of Sophie's class showed signs of impending disaster, dark shadows clinging to their features in the photographs like a disease.
Some were faint, barely visible, while others were so pronounced I wondered how anyone could look at these children and not see the danger written across their faces. Sophie herself had a thin line of dark energy between her eyebrows, not a death mark but definitely a sign of approaching misfortune.
I closed the album with more force than necessary and stood. I found Sebastian in his study, reviewing what looked like pack financial reports with his usual focused intensity. He looked up when I entered without knocking.
"The cross-pack youth exchange camp," I said without preamble, closing the door behind me. "It needs to be cancelled immediately. There's going to be a fatal accident, multiple casualties among the children attending."
Sebastian's entire demeanor changed in an instant, his Alpha authority settling over him like a cloak as he rose from his desk. "You've had a vision," he said, and it wasn't a question. "How certain are you?"
"I saw death marks on multiple children, including Sophie," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "The vision showed blood, broken bones, screaming. I don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I know it will be catastrophic if those children attend that camp."
Sebastian was already reaching for his phone before I finished speaking, his movements quick and decisive. "I'm calling the kindergarten director now. We'll recommend they cancel the entire event."
I listened as he made the call, his voice carrying the weight of absolute authority as he explained the situation in carefully vague terms. When he hung up a few minutes later, his expression was grim.
"The director is concerned," he said, setting the phone down with controlled precision. "But apparently some of the parents are insisting their children attend regardless of the recommendation. They think I'm being overprotective or trying to sabotage the event for political reasons."
"Then warn the families you trust," I said immediately. "Send private messages to the packs you have good relationships with. Tell them there's credible intelligence suggesting the event is unsafe."
Sebastian nodded, already pulling up his contacts list. "I'll handle it. But Elara, you need to understand that not everyone will listen. Some parents will dismiss the warning as paranoia or manipulation."
"I know," I said quietly. "I can only do what I can do. The rest is on them."
Half an hour later, beta entered with an update. "The original enrollment was eighty children," he reported, his expression carefully neutral. "After Alpha's warnings circulated among the friendly packs, we're down to thirty-seven confirmed attendees. Sophie Sterling is still on the list."
I felt my stomach drop. "She's still going?"
"Lady Moira hasn't withdrawn her yet," the beta said carefully. "Alpha Sterling has requested her presence in his study, along with Lady Sophie."
Moira was leading a confused-looking Sophie through the door. The little girl's eyes went wide when she saw me standing there, her expression immediately shifting to defensive hostility.
"Sophie," Sebastian said, his voice gentle but firm. "I need you to listen very carefully. You cannot attend the youth exchange camp. It's not safe."
Sophie's face crumpled, tears welling up instantly in that way children have of going from zero to devastated in seconds. "But why?!" she wailed, her voice rising to a pitch that made my ears ring. "Everyone's going! You promised I could go! It's not fair!"
"Sophie, please calm down," Moira started, but Sophie wasn't having it.
"It's her fault!" Sophie shrieked, pointing an accusing finger directly at me. "She's the one who doesn't want me to go! She's trying to ruin everything because she hates me! I hate you!"
Moira stood beside her daughter, her hand resting on Sophie's shoulder but making no move to actually stop the tantrum or correct the accusation. The silence from her was almost more damning than Sophie's screaming.
I waited until Sophie paused for breath, then spoke in the same calm, matter-of-fact tone I'd use to discuss the weather. "You want to go? Fine. Go pack your bags right now. You can still make it if you leave in the next hour."
Sophie's crying stuttered to a halt, confusion replacing the tears as she stared at me. Sebastian's head snapped toward me, his expression unreadable.
I felt the silver light flicker in my eyes as I continued, my voice never rising above conversational level. "It's really not that big a deal. You might break an arm or a leg, sure. Or maybe all your hair will burn off and you'll be a little bald girl for a while. There's also a chance you'll get cursed and fall into a coma you never wake up from, but hey, at least you won't technically be dead. So if you really want to go that badly, I'm not going to stop you."
The color drained from Sophie's face so fast I thought she might actually faint. She grabbed Moira's skirt with both hands, shaking her head frantically, all traces of her earlier defiance evaporated.
"I don't want to go anymore," she whispered, her voice tiny and terrified. "Mama, don't make me go."
Moira and Sophie fell into a practiced dance, Sophie making weak protests about how she "didn't care" and "they were forcing her not to go anyway," while Moira played the role of the concerned mother "protecting" her daughter from the dangerous event. It was almost impressive how quickly they constructed a narrative that preserved Sophie's pride while getting exactly what I wanted.
"I'm not scared," Sophie insisted, her voice wobbling. "I just don't want to go because you're all being mean about it."
"Of course, darling," Moira soothed, shooting me a look I couldn't quite interpret. "No one's making you do anything you don't want to do."
I turned toward the door, satisfied that at least one child would be safe. Before I left, I glanced back at Sebastian. "I warned them. What they do with that information is their choice."
I didn't wait for a response, just walked out and headed back to my room. I'd done what I could. The rest was out of my hands, and I refused to feel guilty about the parents too stubborn or proud to listen to a legitimate warning.