Chapter 28

Chapter 28
|| DIEGO'S POV ||

As we made our way back from the hunt, Diana’s laughter echoed in the cool night air. She was still mocking the witch, imitating the croak in the old woman’s voice, her hands gesturing dramatically. But my mind was elsewhere, replaying the witch’s words over and over. I’d hoped Diana would take her seriously, but I should’ve known better.

“Oh, come on, Diego,” she said, catching my silence. “You don’t really believe that nonsense, do you? The future of your pack depends on Vanessa?” She laughed again, dismissive, as if the witch’s warning was a joke.

“Don’t let it bother you,” she continued, linking her arm with mine. “The witch was clearly just trying to scare us.”

I said nothing, keeping my gaze on the path ahead. My mind was consumed by the cryptic message, especially the part about doom coming to the pack if Vanessa were cast away. The witch’s words had struck something deep within me, a foreboding I couldn’t shake, even with Diana’s dismissals.

“Diego,” Diana’s tone sharpened, trying to get my attention. “Don’t tell me you’re actually considering what she said?”

I turned to her, my face unreadable. “It doesn’t matter what I believe,” I replied evenly, “but it would be foolish to ignore it altogether. There are too many things we don’t know. Besides, my responsibility is to the pack.”

Diana rolled her eyes, huffing in frustration. “Always the pack, always the duty,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “Fine. Waste your time chasing the riddles of some ancient witch if you must. But mark my words, Diego, Vanessa is not the answer to your problems.”

Her words rang with bitterness, but I let it slide. She didn’t understand, nor did I expect her to. I couldn’t let anyone—or anything—jeopardize the pack. I’d worked too hard, sacrificed too much.

Once we reached the castle, I watched Diana head to her quarters, her expression sour. I could feel her disappointment, but I didn’t have the patience to appease her. There were more important matters to attend to, and at the forefront of my mind was the mystery surrounding Cedric’s sister’s death. I’d heard rumors, bits of speculation, but I’d never dug deeply into the matter. Tonight, that would change.

I summoned my beta, Lucas, to my study. He arrived promptly, his posture rigid and respectful as he awaited my orders.

“Lucas,” I began, leaning forward, “I need you to gather every piece of information we have on the murder of Gideon’s sister. Every witness, every detail, anything that could point us in a direction.”

Lucas’s brow furrowed slightly, but he nodded. “I’ll get on it right away, Alpha. Do you have any particular leads in mind?”

“Not yet,” I admitted, “but I want to leave no stone unturned. I don’t care how small or seemingly irrelevant it may seem. I want to know every detail.”

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously. “If I may, Alpha… Are you certain about this? Digging up something this sensitive could stir things up with Gideon’s pack. They might see it as an intrusion.”

I held his gaze, my voice firm. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take. This goes beyond politics, Lucas. If there’s any truth in that witch’s words, any link between the past and the fate of our pack… I need to know.”

Lucas nodded, accepting my orders. “Understood, Alpha. I’ll start the investigation immediately.”

As he turned to leave, I called him back. “One more thing. Keep this quiet. I don’t want any rumors spreading until we have solid information. No one outside of our inner circle should know about this.”

He nodded again, understanding the weight of what I was asking. “Of course, Alpha. I’ll handle it discreetly.”

As Lucas exited, I leaned back in my chair, my thoughts swirling. The witch’s words felt like a warning, a dark shadow cast over everything I’d worked to build. It would have been easy to brush it off as superstition, to ignore it the way Diana had suggested, but I couldn’t. There was something about the way she’d spoken, her eyes piercing into mine, as if she’d seen something I hadn’t, something I needed to know.

My gaze drifted to the fireplace, the flames casting long shadows across the room. What if she was right? What if Elnora was somehow connected to the pack’s future in ways I couldn’t yet understand? She had always been loyal, committed to the pack, even when I’d given her reasons to walk away. Despite everything, she’d remained strong, resilient, even compassionate. I’d disregarded her strength, her wisdom, but maybe I’d been wrong.

I sighed, rubbing my temples as frustration gnawed at me. If this investigation uncovered anything substantial, I’d have to consider my next steps carefully. This wasn’t just about my own ambitions or pride anymore—it was about the safety and future of everyone under my care.

Lost in thought, I barely heard Diana enter the study again, her expression still carrying that shadow of annoyance. She sauntered over, her gaze studying me.

“Diego,” she began in a softer tone, “I understand you have responsibilities, but you’re chasing ghosts. Whatever happened to Cedric’s sister has nothing to do with our pack’s future. You’re wasting your energy.”

I met her gaze, forcing myself to remain calm. “Perhaps,” I conceded, “but I can’t ignore it. The pack deserves a leader who will examine every possibility, who won’t let personal biases cloud his judgment.”

Diana sighed, her frustration bubbling to the surface again. “You’re letting that witch’s nonsense get to you. She was just some old hag with a grudge. If you start questioning everything because of her, you’ll drive yourself mad.”

“Maybe,” I replied, my tone distant, “but if there’s a chance she was telling the truth, it’s my duty to investigate.”

Diana scoffed, crossing her arms as she regarded me with a mixture of impatience and disdain. “Fine, Diego. Do what you must. But don’t expect me to indulge in these delusions of destiny or some supposed connection to Elnora. She’s not worth your attention.”

Her words sparked something within me, a sudden flare of anger I hadn’t expected. “Enough, Diana,” I said firmly, my voice colder than I’d intended. “Whether or not you agree with my decision is irrelevant. This is about the pack, not personal feelings.”

Her eyes flashed with indignation, but she held her tongue, recognizing the finality in my tone. She turned on her heel, her expression tight as she exited the study without another word.

As the door clicked shut behind her, I felt a pang of guilt mixed with relief. Diana’s presence had been comforting at times, a distraction, but tonight I couldn’t afford distractions. I needed clarity, focus. I needed answers.

Sighing, I turned my gaze back to the flickering flames, my thoughts drifting once again to Elnora. Despite Diana’s insistence, the witch’s words had left a mark, and I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I’d been overlooking something crucial.

My mind wandered back to the last time I’d seen Vanessa, the quiet determination in her eyes, the strength that seemed to radiate from her even in the face of adversity. She’d endured more than I’d ever given her credit for, and yet she had remained loyal, unwavering in her commitment to the pack. Could it be that she held some key to the pack’s future, some part of our survival I’d missed?

As the hours wore on, my resolve only solidified. I would uncover the truth, no matter where it led. And if that truth somehow involved Vanessa, I would find a way to make things right. For the pack, for the legacy I had sworn to protect.

When Lucas returned later that night with the initial findings, I listened intently, every detail etching itself into my memory as I pieced together the fragments of a story that had remained buried for far too long.

“Alpha,” Lucas began cautiously, “it seems that there were indeed witnesses who might have seen something suspicious the night of Cedric’s sister’s death. A few of them mentioned figures lurking in the woods, and one of them recalls seeing someone who might match the description of a member of our own ranks.”

My eyes narrowed, my mind racing. “Are you saying there’s a possibility that someone within our pack was involved?”

“It’s too early to say for certain,” Lucas replied, his tone careful. “But the evidence is… intriguing.”

I nodded, my mind whirling with questions and possibilities. “Continue the investigation, Lucas. Dig deeper. I want names, descriptions, anything that can help us uncover the truth.”

Lucas bowed, leaving the study with a determined look on his face. As I watched him go, a sense of unease settled over me,
a feeling that this mystery would lead us down a path I hadn’t anticipated.