TESSA’S POV

My foot pounded on the cold stone floor, each step echoing my frantic heartbeat. Adrian’s words hammered in my head “Her body”, the words made me shiver with fear. Was this a warring? Was she really killed because she knew something about the flower?

Frantically, I burst through the med bay doors, my eyes searching for Gabe. Eva rushed to me, her voice etched with

concern.

“Take it easy, Medic Tessa” She cautioned taking hold of my arm “They took the body to the back room and Medic Gabe is examining it already”

“Where’s Gia and Zed?” I asked her

“Gia went to get some water and Zed…well I don’t know, he said he was going to

I took a deep breath and her grip on my hand tightened

“Are you sure you’re alright, Medic Tessa?” She asked genuinely worried.

I looked up at her.

the toilet.” She said, her eyes fixed on me.

“If I said I wasn’t, would it change anything? It wouldn’t but I don’t want you to worry about me, I’m fine” I assured.

Honestly, I felt like cr ap but be dam ned if I was going to tell that to Eva, the poor lady already had so much work and I didn’t want her to start worrying about me again.

“I should go check on Gabe,” I said.

She nodded and said nothing and I walked out, my steps fast as I made my way to the back room.

“The back room” the sterile shadowed room where dead bodies were kept and the pack mourned their deaths, it was a nerve-wracking place to be. A knot formed in my stomach. I nodded a thanks to Eva and rushed out to the back room.

The metallic scent of blood and the scent of death hit me as I neared the doorway. I entered and saw Gabe, his brow furrowed in confusion and concentration at the shrouded figure lying on the examination table. He glanced up when I entered, his face filled with silent empathy.

“Tessa…” he said softly “I wouldn’t recommend that you

It was too late, I found myself shuffling forward drawn by morbil curiosity. As I reached the table, Gabe gave a sigh an pulled the sheet down, revealing Addison’s lifeless face. I gagged Her once vibrant skin was pale and clammy. Her lips smiled were now dry and tinted with a sickly blue. But it was the calm and peaceful expression on her face that chilled m the most, there were no signs of struggles, no marks of violence. It was like she had calmly accepted her fate.

Except….

My gaze fell on a faint purple discoloration around her wrists and ankles. It was subtle but unmistakable. I nudged Gabe and pointed to the marks.

“See that?” I said my voice low “That is out of place and doesn’t look natural”

“No signs of struggle” He confirmed. “Those marks could be from restraints but there is nothing to confirm foul play”

“But that discoloration isn’t normal” I pressed on.

Gabe sighed heavily.

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15:24 Tue, Apr 16 G

Chapter 29

“It’s possible that she was poisoned but there are no signs of it being Gloom. It’s different, it’s too peaceful” He said, his voice filled with exhaustion.

Poisoned but without signs of Gloom, The whole scene felt so eerily staged to throw us off track and that it did perfectly, I was completely puzzled.

Suddenly a wave of nausea washed over me and I felt suffocated. My stomach lurched and I stumbled back from the table where Addison lay face up, gasping for air.

*I…I need some air” I said rushing out of the room leaving Gabe behind the image of Addison’s face flashing in my head. This was the second person to die in such a short amount of time and I was having a hard time wrapping my head around it.

I stumbled out of the building, it was past dark already and the cool night hair whooshed past my face. I wanted to get bottom of it all, but who could give me answers?

to the

The answer readily came to my mind, the maids. They were the ones familiar with the most intimate details of the pack’s residents. With renewed determination, I set off toward the maid quarters.

Finding the woman who had spoken to me about Addison wasn’t hard, she looked up as I approached her, she was scrubbing the floors of the hallway.

“Medic Tessa? Again?” She said her voice with apprehension at what I wanted this time. I knew that she was nervous about telling me too much and then getting into trouble.

“I apologize for disturbing your work,” I said gently “but I was hoping you could tell me something that you found out of place with Addison”

She stood up and squinted her eyes.

“Addison? I heard they found her body. It’s hot news around the pack now. I always told her that business with the Luna would get her into trouble” She said, her voice low and conspiratorial.

“The Luna?” I asked confused

The maid looked around and then back at me.

“Addison sought favor in those that held power in the pack so she was often following the Luna around. A few days before she left, she was visiting the Luna’s quarters more than normal, and now…” She paused and said no

more.

Apprehension washed over me like a wave. Giselle? It didn’t seem out of place. How could I possibly rule her out? She certainly seems like the type to do it. It suddenly felt like the villain of the story wasn’t Will but Giselle. Wow, things were getting more interesting in this. It seemed every case I tried to solve only brought about more mysteries and questions. I timing seemed just right.

“Thank you” I muttered to the maid who curtsied and continued with her work.

My blood was hot as I stormed to Giselle’s chambers in her quarters determined to confront her. The hallway seemed to stretch before me without end. As I reached the ornately carved double doors, the maid by the door stopped me.

“Medic Tessa, what brings you by the Luna’s chambers?” She asked curtseying.

I rolled my eyes:

“I need to speak to the Luna,” I said firmly.

Afrozen smile played on her lips.

“I’m afraid you can’t do that. The Luna has requested that no one is to disturb her this night” she said.”

“Rules in the palace don’t apply to me” id pushing past her into the chambers. The maid sputtered something but didn’t try to stop me. She couldn’t either way, if Giselle hadn’t heard, I had permission from the Alpha to go wherever I wanted in the pack and I wasn’t going to be stopped by anyone.

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15:24 Tue, Apr 16 G

Chapter 29

S DU

Giselle’s chamber was opulent, a stark contrast to how modest I left it years ago. Thick velvet drapes shrouded the windows casting a dim and sensual glow around the room along with the scent of candles lit across the room. A faint scent of lavender and something else, something cloyingly sweet hung in the air but I couldn’t place it.

But Giselle was nowhere to be seen. Da mn it! Frustration gnawed at me. I scanned the room, moving closer to the bedside table, my gaze on a silver chalice. It had a ruby-red liquid in it. What was it? I picked it up and sniffed it then grimaced at the sickly sweet scent coming from it. But that wasn’t all, my eyes fell on something behind the small mirror. I put down the chalice and pulled it out, it was a flower. I looked the petal over

Dark as night with petals, three petals were missing, and a sickly sweet scent. The realization hit me like a physical blow-it was Gloom!. I dropped the flower with urgency and my hands flew to my mouth to stifle a scream that was threatening to erupt. Fury and fear raged a war inside me. She was the one! She had used Gloom on Thomas and she had a hand in Addison’s death. But how?

Where was she???

Suddenly the sound of approaching footsteps in the hallway sounded in my ear. I heard someone speak to the maid outside Adrian. Just great!. Heart pounding, I grabbed the chalice and rushed to the window, Sliding open the heavy window, I felt the cool night air on my face. I gripped the chalice tighter as I looked down at the height from the window to the ground below.

Just as the door was being pushed open, I hurled the chalice down. It shattered on the cobblestones below, the crimson liquid splashing all over the ground like spilled blood. The person at the door froze gasping.

Turning, I came face to face with Adrian, his face was a mask of disbelief and his eyes were wide with shock and surprise.

He rushed to me.

“Tessa. What are you doing here?” he mumbled, his eyes darting from me to the shattered pieces of the chalice lying sca t tered below.

I felt the urge to explain, to tell him my suspicions and what happened but the words wouldn’t form. Could I trust him? I couldn’t trust anyone.

“1. I stammered. “I just wanted to see Giselle and uhh..she wasn’t here so I picked the cup of wine and was waiting for her while looking out the window when it fell I lied, the lie tasted bitter on my tongue.

Adrian wasn’t convinced by the look on his face, his gaze went back to the shattered chalice fragments and I pushed him gently away from the window and closed the windows back.

“Tessa, are you okay?. Please tell me if something is wrong with you. Tessa” he said, his voice strained with concern.

I felt beads of perspiration form on my brow

“Please, don’t worry, I’m fine,” I said, my smile faltering as I stared at him.

He looked at me for a while and I avoided his gaze,

“So, have you checked on the body?” He asked.

I felt bile rush up again at the mention of Addison.

“Yes but I’m not really in the mood to go into details now, you’ll be briefed tomorrow.” I said bowing slightly to avoid his

piercing gaze.

“If you say so, Tessa. Why don’t you get some rest? It’s late” he said then with a last lingering look at me, he walked out.

I equally left her chambers, the maid curtsied as I left but I knew she was probably wondering what happened in the

chambers.

I walked back to the med bay, the silence offering little solace. Zed was the only one left. Gabe Eva and Gia had retired for the night. Zed watched me closely from where he stood a cup of water in his hands.

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15:24 Tue, Apr 16

Chapter 29

“Are you alright?” He asked.

I collapsed on the nearest chair.

“Yes,” I said. No.

*The Alpha sent you something.” Zed said nodding towards a cup of wine on the counter.

“Did the Alpha come to deliver it himself?” I asked exhausted.

“No, a maid brought it and said it was from the Alpha” He shrugged.

50%

Leyed the cup warily. The last thing I wanted was more alcohol. I stood up and went to the cup, something about the sickly sweet scent emanating from it triggered a memory. The scent…it was the same one from Giselle’s chambers, the same one in the chalice, and the same scent the flower had. There was Gloom in it.

My stomach took a lurch, sniffing the cups cautiously, my stomach turned as I confirmed my suspicions. It was indeed Gloom

Panic and fear surged through me. Had Adrian really sent this? He wouldn’t, would he? But the evidence was undeniable, someone was trying to kill me.

Fear replaced fury as something dawned on me. I was next on the list and somehow I knew the person would do whatever it took to get rid of me.

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SEND GIFT

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