Chapter 28(The Lone wolf)

Chapter 28(The Lone wolf)
Roman’s pov

The night was still, my fingers pressed against the balcony, as I stood outside admiring nature. Since the hunt I have been restless. I know this is connected to whoever was behind Gareth. I have sent Joshua to go interrogate Gareth’s family in the holding cell, I'm sure they will know something.

The moon was bright but cold, a pale eye that seemed to watch every shadow. I stayed there, leaning against the railing, the scent of pine and damp stone filled the air.

The hunt played over and over in my head. The snap of a twig, the sudden whistle of the arrow. The glint of silver flashing through the trees. I could almost feel the burn of it slicing past my fur. My chest tightened each time I replayed it.

What do I do, how do I solve this issue. The chief priest keeps saying he sees nothing…This is more than the eyes meet.

I rubbed my forehead with the back of my hand. If I don't act fast, I may fall into their trap. I exhaled slowly, but the air in my chest still felt trapped.

My eyes moved from one end to the next, suddenly, I saw a figure approaching towards my direction.

It was a young girl walking through the courtyard below me, with a small bag hanging from her arm. Even in the moonlight, I knew it was Elena. Even with my eyes close, I could easily recognize her.

My heart skipped, sharp and sudden. I stood straighter without thinking.
She moved closer, her head bowed as she reached the steps. “Alpha,” she said softly, giving a small bow.

I just stared for a moment, lost in a haze of surprise. Her hair caught the moonlight like a ribbon of dark water. My throat tightened before I could speak. “What are you doing here?” My voice sounded rougher than I meant.

She lifted the bag slightly. “My mother sent me to drop some things for the Luna,” she said. “She said it couldn’t wait till morning.”

My eyes swept over her, and then I nodded once. “Okay.”

Silence stretched between us, the only sound we heard was that of the night insects.
She looked up at me, her eyes calm but curious. “I heard what happened during the hunt,” she said. “Are you… are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” I answered quickly. My chest still ached from the memory, but I forced a small nod. “It was nothing.”

Her eyes searched mine for a second, as if she didn’t believe me. Something in the way she looked at me…quiet, steady…made my stomach twist. For a heartbeat I wanted to tell her everything. The arrow. The shadow in the trees. The name that haunted me. But I held my tongue.

Before either of us could speak again, another set of steps came from the hallway.
Joshua appeared at the far door, moving fast. His eyes flicked to Elena, then back to me. He came close and bowed his head.

“Alpha,” he said, his voice low. He leaned in and whispered near my ear.

I felt the words more than I heard them, a quick sting of sound: I have questioned them.
I gave Elena a brief nod. “I have to leave,” I said, my voice tighter than before.

She lowered her head. “Of course, Alpha.”
I watched her walk away, the soft swing of the bag against her side. My heart gave a strange pull that I forced back down. There was no room in me for that now. Not with danger in every shadow.

I turned and walked into my chambers, Joshua followed close behind me. The door closed with a soft thud, shutting out the night.

Joshua waited until we were alone before he spoke again. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes dark. “I questioned Gareth’s family,” he said. “All of them. They swear they know nothing about the poisoning or the person behind it.”

I paced across the room, the floor cold beneath my feet. “Everyone says they know nothing,” I said. “Someone always knows nothing, until blood is spilled.”

“They did tell me one thing,” Joshua continued carefully. “They said Gareth was always receiving messages. They never saw the sender. Just that the messages was always signed with a particular name…” Joshua paused, eyes narrowing. “The Lone Wolf.”

The name landed like a stone in my chest.The Lone Wolf.

I stopped pacing and stared at him. The room felt smaller, the air heavier. I had heard never heard of such name before.

“Who the hell is the lone wolf? Did they say anything else?” I asked, my voice low.

Joshua shook his head. “Nothing. Only that the messages were hidden, and Gareth burned most of them after reading.”

I pressed my fingers into the edge of the table. My nails bit into the wood. “Then this Lone Wolf is still out there,” I said. “We must find him.”

Joshua lowered his head. “Yes, Alpha.”
I turned away from him and stared at the empty space. The moonlight spilled across the floor. My reflection in the glass looked like a stranger…jaw tight, eyes darker than I remembered.

Who is this enemy? Someone inside my walls? Someone who knows every path through the forest.

I thought of the arrow again, the way it hissed past my body. Whoever shot it wanted me dead, not frightened. And if they missed once, they would not miss again.

A sudden chill ran through me. I could almost feel eyes on my back. I forced a deep breath and turned toward Joshua.

“Double the guards tonight,” I said. “No one leaves the grounds without my word. And find out everything you can about this Lone Wolf. Every rumor, every story. I don’t care how old.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Joshua bowed and left, his footsteps fading down the hall.

Silence returned, thick and alive. I stayed where I was, staring at the moon through the glass.

Elena’s face came to mind again…the quiet concern in her eyes, the way she stood without fear. For a moment I let myself imagine a life without poison, without arrows, without enemies hiding in the dark. A life where I could look at her and not think of danger.

But the thought passed quickly. I was Alpha. My life was war. And somewhere out there, the Lone Wolf was waiting.

I tightened my fists and whispered into the empty room, “Come for me if you dare. I will be ready.”

The night gave no answer, only the low howl of a wolf far in the forest.