Chapter 26
Kael’s POV
$25 Points
Roxanne’s mother answered the door. She smiled warmly when she saw us. “Oh, what a surprise. Come in.
My mom stepped forward politely. “Hello, we just came by quickly. There is nothing serious. Is Roxanne
home?”
“Yes, she is upstairs. I’ll call her.”
A moment later, Roxanne came down the staircase. Her heels were tapping lightly on the wood. She
looked surprised to see us but masked it with a sweet smile. “Kael? Alpha? Luna? Is everything okay?”
My mom offered a tight-lipped smile. “We just needed to ask you something, dear. It’ll only take a minute.”
Roxanne nodded slowly. She was eyeing me curiously. “Sure. What is it?”
My mom pulled out her phone and brought up a photo. “This necklace,” she said, showing the screen. It was a photo of her wearing the diamond necklace at last month’s fundraiser gala. “Have you seen it anywhere? I seem to have misplaced it.”
Roxanne leaned in. She was squinting slightly. “No, I don’t think so. I haven’t seen it before.”
“Are you sure?” my mom pressed. Her tone was firmer now. “It’s extremely important to me. It’s not just jewelry…..it has sentimental value.”
Roxanne tilted her head. “I really haven’t seen it. I would’ve remembered something like that.”
My dad sighed and gave a small shake of his head. “It seems she hasn’t seen it. Let’s go now, Grace. We’re
already late for the party.”
But my mom wouldn’t let it go. “Please try to remember, Roxanne. Maybe you saw it lying around the house? Somewhere in Kael’s room or while walking past ours? Even if it didn’t seem important at the
time?”
Roxanne frowned. She was clearly a little uncomfortable now. “No, Luna Grace. I haven’t seen it. I promise.
”
My dad checked his watch. His brows were furrowed with worry. “She said no. Let’s not press her too much. We really should get going.”
Damn it, dad. He was going to ruin everything.
I stepped forward, forcing a light laugh. “Oh, mom! Roxanne bought a bunch of dresses already for the engagement ceremony and the reception. Since we’re here, why don’t we take a look?”
Mom raised an eyebrow. “Kael, another time, maybe. We’re already…”
“It’ll be quick,” I insisted and grabbed her hand gently. “Just a peek, please? I need to get a suit that
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Chapter 26
matches. It’ll only take a minute, I swear.”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Alright, fine. But just a minute.”
Roxanne blinked at me, then gave a small nod. “Sure. Come on upstairs.”
+25 Points
We all trailed behind her. My dad followed reluctantly. He was clearly annoyed. Roxanne’s mom trailed
behind. She was murmuring something about the time.
Roxanne opened the door to her room and stepped in first. She was humming softly, clearly unaware of the trap that had been set. My mom followed close behind, her sharp eyes already scanning the space like a hawk. My father came next. He was still checking his watch like the party’s timing was the biggest crisis of the day.
I stayed close to my mother’s side, pretending to be interested in the dresses while my heart thudded in
my chest like a drum. This was it. The moment everything hinged on.
Roxanne walked to the far side of the room and opened her closet doors, revealing a collection of gowns
in shades of red, gold, and ivory. “I picked three options,” she said while pulling out the first one. “I was
going to try them on and see which one you like best, Kael.”
“Let’s see them all,” I said and forced a smile. “We’ll help you pick the best one.”
While she turned to grab another hanger, my mother’s eyes drifted around the room. I could sense her
sharp mind already piecing things together, even without realizing it yet. She was the kind of woman who
noticed the smallest misplacement in a flower arrangement, let alone her prized necklace.
“Your room is lovely,” she murmured while running a hand lightly across the dresser. “So neat.”
“Thank you, Luna Grace,” Roxanne replied sweetly. “I try to keep it tidy.”
As she walked back toward us with two more dresses, my eyes flicked toward the thick rug near the foot
of her bed. I could feel Valric’s anticipation surging within me. He was prowling just under the surface,
urging me to act.
Now, Kael, he growled. Do it now.
I took a step toward Roxanne, pretending to admire the dress she held up. “Actually, babe, I wanted to get a closer look at that one,” I said, my voice casual.
She turned slightly to face me and lifted the hanger higher. “This one? It’s my favorite…”
I deliberately shifted my foot toward the corner of the rug and let myself stumble forward. “Whoa!” I faked a slip, letting my boot catch on the edge of the fabric. My body pitched forward, and I dropped to one knee with a grunt.
“Kael!” Roxanne cried out and rushed toward me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I said, brushing my hand over the rug like I was steadying myself. “Damn thing’s bunched up.”
As I moved my palm along the fabric, I curled my fingers beneath it and pulled the edge back just enough
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Chapter 26
128 Points
to reveal what I needed to.
My heart skipped a beat as the glittering diamonds of my mother’s stolen necklace sparkled up at me from beneath the rug, tucked almost perfectly out of sight.
I blinked and let out a low, shocked breath.
“What the hell…?” I muttered, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. “What is this?”
Roxanne paused mid-step. “What do you mean?”
I pushed the rug back farther, exposing the entire necklace.
Everyone’s eyes locked on the sparkling piece as the room fell into stunned silence.
There it was.
The evidence.
Exactly where it should be.
My mother was beside me in a heartbeat. Her eyes fell on the necklace, and I saw her entire expression
shift. There was confusion, then recognition, then shock.
“My necklace,” she whispered. She dropped to her knees and snatched it up with trembling hands. “This is
mine. This is my necklace.”
Roxanne gasped. “Wait..what? That can’t be…what’s it doing here?”
Her mother stepped forward. “Are you sure that’s the one, Luna Grace?”
“Yes,” Mom snapped and rose to her feet. “I would recognize it anywhere. This is the necklace Alexis gave me on our tenth anniversary. I locked it in my drawer two nights ago!”
Roxanne stared at the rug like it had betrayed her. “I don’t understand. I’ve never seen it before, I swear!”
“I told you,” I said gently, my voice heavy with false disappointment. “I thought maybe you saw it lying somewhere when you visited. But this… Roxanne, this was under your rug.”
“I didn’t put it there!” she said quickly, panic creeping into her voice. “I…I would never take something like
that! Why would I even want it?!”
“That’s exactly what we want to understand,” my mother said coolly. Her tone wasn’t accusing yet but it was dangerously close.
My father stepped in and raised his hands. “Hold on. Let’s not jump to conclusions here. Maybe someone else came in and planted it…maybe this is a misunderstanding.”
Roxanne looked at him desperately. “Yes! Yes, that has to be it! I didn’t steal anything!”
But my mother wasn’t listening. Her fingers clenched tightly around the necklace. “You’re the only person outside our household who has been near my room in days.”
“No! That’s not true!” Roxanne cried. “The maids come and go all the time…maybe one of them…”
+25 Points/
“They don’t have access to my room!” my mother snapped. “Only family. And you. And now this turns up in
your room?”
“I didn’t take it!” Roxanne shouted, her voice cracking. “Kael, tell them I wouldn’t do this. Tell them!”
I stared at her. I was trying hard to maintain a neutral expression. I could see her crumbling in real time; the confusion, the desperation, the fear.
“I want to believe you,” I said slowly. “But I don’t know what to think right now.”
Roxanne’s face paled like I had slapped her.
“Kael…” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “You don’t believe me?”
My mother was still staring at the necklace in her palm like it had whispered betrayal in her ear. My father
looked uncomfortable and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
“We should talk about this later,” he muttered. “The party…”
“Screw the party,” my mother barked. “Someone stole from me. I want to know who.”
Roxanne backed away a step. Her breathing was ragged. “I didn’t. I swear on the Moon Goddess…I would
never….”
“I think we should go,” I said softly and placed a hand on my mother’s shoulder. “Let’s not argue here. We’ll
talk about it at home.”
My mother didn’t answer, but she didn’t protest either. She slipped the necklace into her purse and turned to Roxanne with a cold and disappointed look.
“I trusted you,” she said. “That’s what hurts the most.”
Then she walked out.
My father gave Roxanne a tight nod and followed her. Her mother was still frozen in place, watching the whole thing unravel with wide eyes.
Roxanne turned to me. “Kael, please….don’t leave like this. I didn’t do it. You know I didn’t.”
I stared at her for a long second, then leaned in, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “Maybe next time, don’t push so hard to take what doesn’t belong to you.”
Then I turned on my heel and left.
Valric purred in satisfaction.

 
	 
 
		 
		 
		 
		