Chapter 144

Chapter 144
Autumn's POV

The brothers did not look happy when I told them I had helped get an invitation from George. I didn't know what else I was supposed to do because it was an emergency situation. But I don't think they have to get mad just because of this although it is very insulting to them.  

According to pack rules, invitations like that were supposed to be delivered personally to them. It meant George was stepping over their pride. He was messing with them. They read it as a slight. I could see it in their faces, tight jaws and quick glances.

“He has pack festival coming up and he didn't bother to give us an invitation? Now we have to come through you?” Adonis mentioned, looking upset. 

“Why would he do that?” Dante asked, his voice low.

“Because he doesn't trust you,” I said. “Or because he wants to. Either way, stop thinking too much about it. We have bigger things to prepare for.”

They did not look convinced, but they listened. That was enough for now. I was trying to make peace and not add more problems into the already escalated situation. 

“I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation even though you've been through this so many times. We need to be fast and plan the situation well. We could not afford to be slow.”

“Also lock Agatha up for now,” I said. “If she’s free, she might do something. Keep her away until we know more.”

Knox’s hand tightened on the table. He looked at me and said, “She’s not around the house. I’ve been watching her for the past few days. She’s been busy looking for something. I pretended not to know because I wanted to see what she was up to.”

My heart skipped. That was worse than having her here. If she was moving and searching, then she had time to plan. “Be very careful,” I told him. “If she senses anything, she’ll run. Or she’ll tell whoever is behind her to strike.”

Adonis folded his arms and spoke like someone who had already done the math. “We already calculated some people who might be suspicious. We will make sure we get rid of those ones first. They won’t be able to cause trouble for us.”

He looked steady and certain. That was like an assurance and it made me feel a little lighter. They had finally learnt something from the past. They were not as reckless as before. They used to be so stupid believing everything she said but now they realized they were in grave danger. 

We spent the afternoon going over details. Knox told me where Agatha had been seen last after he asked some of the servants. Dante listed the names of those who had been unusually kind to spies in the past. Adonis spoke about the guards and which shifts were weak. I listened and added small pieces,like the places I had seen strange faces, times when a servant looked too nervous, and many other things I noticed before. 

When they were done, I felt a very tired. The plan was rough, but good enough. It meant we could fight back. We have to use all the power left to defend ourselves since they are already deep into everything. We should strike first before them. 

“I want to meet George tomorrow,” I said. “The festival is the perfect place to watch how people move. It's a good thing he's holding it now. I’ll meet him and watch for anything suspicious.”

They were not happy and I could see it. Their faces hardened in ways that were almost pleading, as if they wanted to keep me safe by keeping me away. 

“You don’t have to go,” Adonis said finally. “We can handle it. We’ll be there with you, if you want.”

“No,” I said. “I have to go on my own. I feel like you guys are just saying this because we don't want me to be with him. You're being too jealous and overthinking things. Besides, it's not going to be good for us to go together. I can't talk to him if you guys are there. It’s different when I’m there alone.”

“Nothing we say would stop you anyways.”

Knox added, “We’ll prepare the rest of the pack. We’ll make sure Agatha can’t slip away, if we can find her. We’ll tighten the patrols tonight.”

They finally respected my decisions and won't actually oppose me in every single opportunity they get? This was new for me and it felt good also.  I thought about giving them a chance. That thought surprised me. In my past life I would have believed in all their promises. 

I would have been so happy to get attention from them. That was what my past self wanted even at the moment of death but I was filled with hatred when I opened my eyes again. Something inside me has changed the past few days though. 

Maybe because I saw how regret weighed on them. Maybe I saw how they tried to fix what had been broken. Or maybe I was just tired of being alone in my anger.

Either way, I told myself I would give them a chance. I would watch them closely. I would not forget. I would not trust easily. But I would let them try.

Everything felt different from the past life. Back then, every small kindness was a great joy for me. I remembered how I was left to die and how the world had closed on me. The memory shaped everything I did. It kept me careful and hateful. 

This time though, I let myself imagine a small, simple thing: what if this time things could be different? What if I never tried to save Agatha from dying in the cold? Would life have been better? The thought was too good for me. I pushed it away and forced myself back to the plan.

I sat by my window and looked at the moon. I thought of George his voice on the phone, his steady promise. He's really a good man in deserves the best in the world. I could say the way he treated his sister with so much love and care. He's always careful with her and doesn't want to hurt her feelings despite her being a tyrant in the past. 

I tried to sleep, but sleep would not come. My mind kept running through a lot of things. Lily would leave as soon as possible. I wouldn't have to worry too much about anything else because I know the others can defend themselves well. They died in the previous life because they were ambushed and they lost everything. It was another reason for their weakness but this time around they would be able to win. I just know this. 

I closed my eyes for a moment and let my head rest against the cool glass. Then I heard a sound from hallways. I moved closer to the door and heard a soft, almost careful creak like a door opening very slowly. My breath stopped for a moment. The house was supposed to be quiet at a time like this because patrols were set.

I sat very still and listened. The creak repeated, softer this time, like someone testing the floor. I wanted to call out for help but I realized it might be too late at that time. I gently opened the door a little bit to see the person's shadow. I stayed still and watched the moonlight on the floor, waiting to see what the shadow would do next.