Chapter 273
ALEXANDER
Irene found me in the corridor just as the last of the tension began to settle.
“Alex,” she said, frowning slightly. “Where’s Faye?”
I stopped.
+25 Points
The question caught me off guard because, in my mind, Irene should have been the last person to see her.
“You were with her,” I said slowly. “Weren’t you?”
Irene shook her head. “No. I went to the room earlier to check on her, but she wasn’t there.”
Something cold slid down my spine.
“I didn’t think much of it at first,” Irene continued quickly, sensing the shift in me. “I assumed she stepped out. I was actually on my way to look for her around the house when I ran into… all of this.” She gestured vaguely toward the direction of the gates, where Diana’s chaos had unfolded earlier. “It distracted me.”
I didn’t say anything.
I turned and headed for our chambers.
The room looked exactly the way I had left it. Orderly. Quiet. The bed still neatly made from the morning. Faye’s scent lingered–calm, steady… not distressed.
That alone told me she hadn’t left in fear.
Then I saw the note.
It sat on the nightstand, folded once, placed carefully where I couldn’t miss it.
I picked it up and unfolded it.
I need to step out for a bit.
Please don’t search for me.
I need space. I’ll come back on my own.
I read it twice.
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+25 Points
She hadn’t asked… she hadn’t explained. She had informed me.
I closed my eyes briefly and exhaled through my nose. Faye never asked for space unless she had already decided what she needed to do.
I folded the note and slipped it into my pocket.
Behind me, Irene hovered in the doorway. “Do you want to send someone after her?”
“No,” I said immediately.
She studied my face. “Are you sure?”
“She said she needed air,” I replied evenly. “If I chase her now, I’ll only turn that into something else.”
Irene nodded slowly. “Then let her breathe.”
I stayed in the room a moment longer after she left, staring at the place where Faye had been standing only hours ago.
The unease didn’t fade… though I tried to ignore it.
FAYE
The house looked exactly the way I remembered it.
Too small. Too quiet. Too ordinary to have held the kind of violence it did just yesterday.
I stood at the door for a moment longer than necessary, grounding myself, fingers curling slowly into my palm. Then I knocked.
Footsteps approached–slow, cautious. A chain slid, metal whispering against metal, and the door opened just enough for a face to appear.
Patrick’s mother froze when she saw me.
Her eyes widened. Her mouth parted. For a second, she simply stared, as if she were waiting for me to collapse at her doorstep or fade into something unreal.
“Oh,” she breathed. “You’re… well.”
“Yes,” I said softly. “I am.”
She recovered quickly, stepping back and pulling the door open wider. “Come in. Please.”
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$25 Posts
I waited for the invitation before crossing the threshold. People trusted you more when they felt they still had control.
The house smelled the same–dried herbs, tea left too long on the stove.
She gestured toward a chair. I didn’t sit immediately.
“I won’t take much of your time,” I said, bowing my head slightly. “I just needed to come myself.”
“You shouldn’t be out yet,” she said gently. “After everything that happened…”
“I know,” I replied quickly. “That’s actually why I’m here.”
Concern softened her expression, replacing the initial shock.
“I didn’t expect to see you here, considering how Alexander ended up fighting Patrick…” She shook her head. “It was frightening.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, and meant it. “About all of it.”
She studied me more closely now… carefully.
“You don’t owe us an apology, dear,” she said.
“I think I do,” I answered quietly.
That made her pause.
I finally sat, perching on the edge of the chair rather than settling fully. Vulnerable, but not
weak.
“Patrick saved me,” I said. “When I was hurt. And instead of gratitude, he was met with violence.”
Her mouth tightened. “Alexander has always been… intense.”
“He was triggered,” I said. “He reacted instead of thinking.”
Relief flickered across her face at that.
“I wanted Patrick to know,” I continued, “that I see what he did. That I appreciate it. And that I don’t agree with how things unfolded yesterday.”
She exhaled slowly. “He was angry. Said Alpha Alexander still treated him like an enemy.”
“That wasn’t fair to him,” I said. “And I wanted to tell him myself.”
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Her fingers twisted together. “He’s not home.”
“I know,” I said softly. “I wanted to ask you something.”
She frowned. “Ask me what?”
“If you
could call him,” I said. “Ask him to come here. Tell him you need him.”
Her gaze sharpened slightly. “He’ll ask why.”
“Then tell him it’s urgent,” I said. “Anything. I just need to see him, please.”
She hesitated.
+20 Points
“He might not come if he thinks this has anything to do with you and your Alpha,” she said carefully.
I lowered my eyes–just a little.
“That’s exactly why I don’t want him to know,” I said. “I don’t want him to think I’m trying to cause trouble… or smooth things over on Alexander’s behalf. This is personal for me.”
Silence stretched.
“I don’t want to leave things wrong,” I added quietly.
That did it.
She sighed, already reaching for her phone. “I’ll call him.”
I stepped back, giving her space as she spoke in low tones.
“Yes… I need you here. Now… No, don’t argue. Just come. It’s important.”
When she ended the call, she looked at me. “He’s coming.”
“Thank you,” I said.
She offered me tea. I declined politely, saying I had already eaten breakfast. She spoke about nothing important–the weather, the market, how quiet the neighborhood had been.
I listened. I smiled when appropriate.
And waited.
Patrick arrived less than an hour later.
I heard him before I saw him. The door opened, and he stopped short when his eyes landed
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on me.
Surprise flickered across his face.
“Well,” he said slowly. “This is unexpected.”
I stood.
+25 Points
“I’m sorry for luring you here like this,” I said immediately. “I didn’t know how else to speak to you. I had to ask your mother for help.”
He glanced at his mother. “You didn’t say she’d be here.”
“It’s not her fault,” said quickly. “I begged her not to tell you. I was afraid you might not come if she did.”
That amused him.
He laughed softly. “After yesterday? Of course.”
He stepped further inside, confidence rolling off him like armor. Then, casually, he turned to his mother.
“Why don’t you get the Luna something special to drink?” he said. “She’s been through a lot.”
The words were light. Thoughtful.
Too thoughtful.
Something sharp slid into place inside my chest.
Something special.
The memory came instantly–too fast to ignore. Yesterday… his certainty that Alexander would bend. And that things would change in his favor. Failed.
This wasn’t kindness… it was something else.
I smiled.
“That’s not necessary,” I said gently. “Really.”
But his mother was already nodding. “I’ll be right back,” she said, heading toward the kitchen.
The moment she disappeared down the hallway, the air shifted.
Patrick turned back to me. “What do you want exactly?”
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“I brought you something,” I said, reaching into my bag and handing him the envelope.
He took it, weighing it in his hand. “Documents?”
“A gesture,” I replied. “Of gratitude.”
Interest sparked in his eyes.
Before he opened it, I spoke again.
“There’s something you need to understand first.”
He sighed. “Go on.”
“I know you were surprised Alexander survived,” I said calmly. “After you stabbed him.”
He scoffed. “I still don’t know how he did.”
How could he sound so casual about it? I tried not to react.
“He didn’t,” I said.
That stopped him.
“He died,” I continued. “I brought him back.”
Patrick stared at me, then laughed. “You’re serious?”
“I altered his fate,” I said evenly. “And fate demanded payment.”
His smile thinned. “And where is this story headed?”
“When I lost the child,” I said softly, “I understood.”
His expression darkened. “What is this about?” He was getting impatient.
“Nothing, just… never mind.” I nodded toward the envelope. “You can open it.”
He hesitated for a moment, then opened it.
The paper slid free. Written on it were the words: now we’re done.
He looked confused. “What is this supposed to-‘
I moved before he realized what was happening.
”
The syringe slid into his arm smoothly–practiced, precise.
+25 Points
He reacted instantly, striking me hard enough that I staggered back, my shoulder slamming
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into the wall.
I laughed… relieved.
“What did you do to me?” he shouted.
I smirked. “Relax. It’s a taste of your own recipe.”
Sweat broke across his skin almost immediately.
“Silver and wolfsbane,” I added. “One drop would’ve been enough.”
His eyes widened in horror. “You poisoned me.”
+25 Pointe
“I returned the favor,” I said. “I had to lose my child because I saved my mate from your poison. I think it’s fair you pay the price too.”
He collapsed to his knees, gasping, clawing at his chest.
I didn’t stay to watch him die.
The moment the poison took hold, I turned towards the door.
