Darius reread the message aloud. "’You may have survived, but I’ll collect what is owed to me in blood.’"
The chill in his voice mirrored the one crawling down her spine.
Emerald quickly locked the screen and shoved the phone in her pocket. "Probably just a prank, or someone pissed I didn’t ally with them."
"No," Darius said flatly. "This is different. This feels personal."
"Everything’s personal these days."
"Emerald..." he paused. "Have you told your mates?"
She looked out the window as the car began to move. "And admit I’ve got another shadow lurking over my head?"
Darius let out a sigh. "How long have you been getting these?"
"You don’t have to worry about it, uncle."
"Emerald," he said firmly. "How long?"
She shifted in her seat, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. "A while."
"That’s not an answer." His jaw clenched. "You’ve been getting death threats and didn’t think to mention it?"
"I didn’t want to make a scene."
"You think this is about drama?" Darius snapped. "You’re being hunted. That accident on the way to the summit... it wasn’t an accident, was it?"
Emerald looked down at her hands. "No."
Darius sat back, running a hand through his hair. "I can’t believe you’ve been keeping this to yourself."
She shrugged one shoulder. "What was I supposed to do? Start a panic? I had the summit, the rogues, my mates, and now this bond with Ares hanging over me like a curse."
"If someone’s trying to kill you, it’s not just your problem. It’s mine too."
"You’re not alone, Emerald," Darius said in a gentler voice now. "You never were. I promised your father I’d protect you. And I know you hate asking for help, but now’s not the time to be stubborn."
Her features softened at the mention of her father. "I didn’t want to involve anyone until I had something solid."
"Well, now we do." His tone sharpened again. "We’ll start digging into this the moment we land. Whoever killed the spy, whoever’s behind the threats... they’re likely the same person. And I’ll find them."
Emerald nodded, tension easing just slightly. "Thanks, Darius."
He gave her a sideways look. "Anytime, kid."
They arrived back at the estate before dusk. As soon as Emerald stepped out of the car, the familiar scent of pine and night jasmine greeted her, along with an even more familiar voice.
Nessa lunged at her with excitement, her wild curls bouncing around her as she moved. "You’re back! Finally! Tell me everything."
Emerald laughed despite herself. "Give me five minutes to breathe..."
"Nope." Nessa grabbed her arm and tugged her inside the house. "You’ve been gone for days, and I’ve had to survive on cryptic news reports, a few scandalous updates from your security staff, and my own spiralling imagination. Spill it."
Fifteen minutes later, they collapsed onto the velvet couch in Emerald’s room, windows cracked open to let the night breeze in.
"So... how bad was it?" Nessa asked, legs tucked under her.
Emerald groaned as she kicked off her boots. "The worst. My mates found out about each other."
Nessa blinked. "All of them?"
"Yep... all in one place. No way to sugarcoat that kind of chaos."
"Details. I need every petty fight, every death stare."
Emerald smirked. "Adrien was surprisingly civil. Lucien tried to play peacekeeper while Kieran and Ares got into a duel."
"The Rogue King... his name is Ares."
"Finally, a name. Calling him the Rogue King was becoming a mouthful."
"You said there was a duel. Tell me Kieran didn’t..."
She blinked again. "You’re joking."
Emerald shook her head.
"Okay, wow. I need to sit... wait, I’m already sitting. I need to scream."
Emerald chuckled, leaning back. "It’s been a lot."
"So..." Nessa’s voice lowered, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What about Ares?"
Emerald froze for a beat, her voice quieter when she spoke. "I don’t know."
"I thought I hated him. I was sure. He showed up out of nowhere, tried to dominate everything, tried to stake a claim like I was some piece of land. But..."
Emerald exhaled. "After the duel, I saw a side of him that didn’t make sense. Vulnerability. Confusion. Like... he wasn’t used to losing."
Nessa leaned forward. "You’re curious about him."
"Curious is dangerous."
Emerald nodded slowly. "And I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something else going on. He wasn’t healing like he should after the duel; I had to patch him up. His power reacts strangely around me. There’s something off."
"Is this somehow related to the curse?"
"I haven’t figured it out. But whatever it is, it’s tied to me."
Nessa gave a thoughtful nod, then brightened. "So... is this the part where I finally say I told you so?"
"No really. You once said you’d never look at him without imagining punching him. Look at you now, nursing his wounds."
Emerald raised a brow. "Speaking of, he disappeared... left me a note that said, ’I’ll be seeing you soon.’"
"And somehow still better than Rick’s midnight groping."
Emerald waved a hand. "Long story. Not worth the mental trauma."
Nessa made a face. "Okay, noted."
Emerald rubbed her temples. "Lucien made a suggestion, though... Said I should spend a week at each of their packs, one-on-one."
Nessa perked up. "Ooooh. That sounds... spicy."
"It seems impractical, reckless, and could lead to a public relations nightmare."
"Only if you care what other people think."
"I have to care. I’m an Alpha."
"You’re also a woman, and you deserve to make decisions for yourself. You’ve been fighting everyone else’s battles. When’s the last time you fought for your own peace?"
"I think it’s a good idea," Nessa said softly.
"That’s what Darius said."
"Well, they’re not wrong. Especially with Ares."
"I’m not sure I want to go down that road."
"Maybe don’t think of it as a road. See it as... as a window. One you’re allowed to look through without guilt."
"Here’s how it looks. If I start with the others and then visit Ares too, it’ll look like I’m playing favourites. Or worse, like I’m taking him seriously."
Nessa tilted her head. "Are you?"
Emerald didn’t answer at first. Her gaze drifted to the dark outside. "I can’t lie to you, Nessa. I am."
Nessa leaned forward. "About what?"
"Who he really is. What’s happening to him. Why he thinks I’m the thing that’s weakening him. I want to know. But if I give him that time, Lucien will think it’s more."
"Who cares what Lucien thinks?"
Emerald raised an eyebrow.
"I’m serious," Nessa said. "You keep worrying about how it’ll look, how you’ll be perceived. But what do you want, Em? You never make a decision for yourself. It’s always about duty, about image."
Emerald stared at the teacup in her hands. "If I’m going to die... I might as well live."
Nessa’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?! What the hell does that mean?"
Emerald sighed, too tired to backtrack. "I’ve been getting messages. Threats. Someone wants me dead."
Nessa sat up straighter. "Do you have any suspects?"
"Not yet. But I think it’s someone on the inside. Darius is on it."
"Damn," Nessa whispered. "That’s heavy."
Emerald scrolled through her phone. "Yeah. But maybe time away will help clear my head."
She paused, then tapped Lucien’s name and hit call.
He picked up on the second ring. "Emerald?"
"I’ve thought about your offer," she said. "I’m in. But it has to include all of you."
His pause was brief, but telling. "Including him."
"I’ll send a car in the morning."
Nessa stared at her. "So... are you excited?"
Emerald looked at her phone again, the glow of the cryptic message still etched into her mind. "I don’t know what I am."