Chapter 36

Leo’s POV

As the Morning came, I didn't felt the peace I usually did.

The sun filtered through the curtains of my room, its golden glow falling across the floor, but it felt dim to me. Nothing could brighten the heaviness pressing in my chest.

I hadn’t slept much last night, not with Nova clinging to her Mom’s bedside until she finally drifted off. Even at that time, her small fists held onto the blanket as if she would lose her forever if she didn't.

And now she was unhappy and angry. Not at the poison or maid, not even at the fate No—she was angry at Father.

I knew it before she even said it. The way she didn't look my father in the eyes, the way her little shoulders tensed whenever he entered the room. Nova is very young to understand what really happened but she definitely understood this.

My father was Alpha, he is a protector, he should have kept her mother safe. And now in her heart that failure felt like a betrayal.

I found Father outside Raven’s chamber. He didn't leave Miss Warrior’s side almost the whole night, but early morning he stepped out of the room to pace around the hall like a restless wolf. His shoulders were stiff but his expression was hard as stone.

To anyone else, he would have looked like the unshakable Alpha. But I knew there was to then that. I saw his tired, dark circled eyes, there I saw guilt which he was desperately trying to hide.

“Papa?” I said quietly yet softly.

He turned around to look at me softly, “Leo.”

I shifted awkwardly. “Nova… she’s upset. She blames you.”

My words made the atmosphere tense. I hated saying them, hated how they sounded, but I knew hiding them wouldn’t help.

I saw his jaw clenched for a moment, I can tell he was not at all surprised. But there was a flicker of hurt in his eyes, the words hurt him more than he let show.

He murmured softly yet unsurely “I will talk to her,”

I looked at him hesitantly but nodded gently. Maybe if my father tried she will see. Maybe if he explained properly, Nova will realize that he didn't meant any of this to happen.

Together, we went back into the chamber. Miss Warrior was still in deep slumber, her breaths were steady but shallow, Children's chairs were pushed close to the bed. In one of them Nova sat curled up, her knees were close to her chest as she stared at her mother’s face.

When Father approached, she stiffened. Her gaze snapped towards him as he walked towards her, her gaze was sharp and full of accusation, nothing like the warm spark I saw when she laughed at his stories or held onto him while training.

Father spoke softly. “Nova, May I speak with you?”

She looked at him with a stubborn and fierce glare. “Why?”

He just blinked, trying to hide the hurt which was caused by her question. He spoke carefully, “I know you are angry with me.”

Her lips trembled with anger, her eyes were full of blaze. “It’s your fault.” The room fell completely silent. My heart ached.

Father crouched down to her level, his towering frame folding until he was eye to eye with her. “Nova…listen.”

She snapped before he could speak, her voice was sharp and full of pain. “You're Alpha, You’re supposed to protect us. You’re supposed to protect her. And you didn’t.”

I swallowed hard not wanting to cry, I saw how Nova’s words hit him hard. His shoulders froze, his jaw clenched, he didn't defend himself at all. Not even once.

“I tried my best but..” He whispered softly finally “I failed you, and I failed her. But I promise you this, Nova–I will never stop and try to make things right.”

Her eyes filled with tears and shook her head. “I don’t want your promises. I want my mommy to be safe.”

She looked at both of us before we could speak.

She continued softly, her voice breaking “Leo, leave me alone too. Don’t try to make me forgive him.”

Her words felt like a brutal slap. I opened my mouth, then closed it again. She was not only angry with my father but she was also shutting me out, because I wasn’t as angry as she was with my father.

I was not able to say anything but I nodded and swallowed my heartache.

My father stood up slowly, his eyes were full of guilt. For once he didn't order or force, he just silently stood there as Nova buried her face on her knees again.

The room was now filled with quiet sobs, I didn't like how helpless me and father felt.

Daphne’s POV

I made sure Gideon was with the children as I continued on with my plan and went to the prison.

I walked towards the maid’s cell and saw the maid huddled in the corner of the cell, her hands were shaking, her eyes swollen due to crying the whole night. She was whispering soft prayers for forgiveness and mercy. She wanted someone to listen to her.

My heels clicked sharply on the floor and broke the silence.

Her head shot up. And when she realized it was me, her breath hitched.

I moved with a calculated grace, my eyes gleaming with malice like a sharp dagger. I didn't belong in the filth of the prison, yet I walked as if this was my throne room.

“You have disappointed me greatly,” I said, my voice was like a silken blade.

The maid stumbled towards me, her hands were pressed together desperately praying “Please, my lady—I did as you asked! I put the wolfsbane in his food, I swear!”

“But you failed,” I cut her off with my cold and merciless tone. “The boy lives. The woman lives. And worst of all… you almost exposed me.”

The maid’s eyes filled with tears. “I—I won’t say anything! I’ll keep my mouth shut, please, please—”

My lips curved into a cruel smile. “Oh, I know you won’t.”

I snapped her fingers. Two guards entered the cell, their expressions were obedient but grim. The maid looked at them with wide eyes.

“No—please—don’t! I’ll do anything!”

The guards grabbed her by the arm and dragged her to the center of the cell. The maid kicked, screamed and begged but my voice was sharp enough to cut through it.

“Hold her down firmly.”

The maid struggled and thrashed, her cries turned into screams of terror as one guard pinned her legs and one held down her shoulder. I walked close to her and pulled out a small vial from my cloak. The maid quickly realized that it was wolfsbane again.

“Please, no!” the maid sobbed. “Not that! I beg you!”

I crouched and my face was inches from the shaking woman's. I whispered venomously. “You should have died the moment you failed me. This is a late punishment.”

She forced the vial to the maid’s lips. The woman choked, gagged and struggled but guards held her firmly as I tilted the vial, pouring all the wolfsbane down her throat.

The maid let out her final scream as her body convulsed violently and her body seized. Her eyes rolled back, foam bubbled at her lips and after few moments she lay still on the ground.

Dead.

The guards released her body, letting it collapse to the cold stone floor. The stench of wolfsbane burned in the air.

I stood up gracefully and fixed my dress as if nothing happened. My gaze looked sharply at the guards.

“Not. A. Single. Word,” I said with a calm yet venomous tone “If Gideon learns of this, you will share her fate. Or worse—you’ll be cast out of the pack. And you both know what happens to wolves with no pack.”

Their faces paled, but they bowed their heads. “Yes, my lady.” I smiled with satisfaction. “Good. Then this never happened.”

I vanished back into the shadows with the echo of my heels, leaving only the corpse behind.