Chapter 30

I have no idea what to do with the information I just overheard. I sit at my desk until lunchtime, just staring out the window and mentally running through my options. They are few and far between.

Nobody is going to believe me. That's the start and the end of it. Who would believe me? Marcus? I ran into him once, and he definitely didn't recognize me. As far as he knows, I'm just the random witch doctor/probable charlatan who is here to exploit his father's illness for money.

What am I supposed to do, waltz up to him and say, "Hey, Marcus, I know you don't know me, but I squatted outside your father's secretary's office and overheard your brother and sister plotting to frame you for embezzlement to make your dad hate you and kick you out of the line of succession"?

That would go over well, I'm sure. He'd think I'm insane. And I can't tell him who I am – I can't. I can't possibly trust anyone in the Alpha's realm with that information. My identity is a very closely guarded secret. Only Kent, Andrea, and the upper circle boys know who I am.

If I tell Marcus who I am now, after only a few short weeks, I'll blow the whole thing. I'll blow everything I've worked for so far in terms of getting revenge on Charles, in terms of maybe even getting to clear my name, somehow.

Plus, it's not just about me anymore. It's about Ty and Kent and the rest of the gang – whatever Charles is doing, he's going after them, too. And I'm the only one in a position to find out enough to maybe stop it.

And the Alpha. I might be bluffing my way through the witch doctoring aspects of this job, but I'm not faking the very real medical care I'm providing to Emmett. I'm quickly becoming very fond of the Alpha, and I'm his doctor. It's my duty to take care of him, especially now that I suspect someone is undermining his health.

I can't risk everyone, including myself, just to warn Marcus. He might not even believe me, anyway. I faked my own death after someone planted a bunch of drugs in my car, for god's sake. That doesn't exactly scream "reliable witness."

But now I know something about Marcus, too. I have to find a way to warn him – I just don't know how.

Turning away from the window at last, I use the mansion's in-house instant messaging service to request that lunch be brought up to my office today. The last thing I feel like is trying to chat with Roger or Mrs. Potts when I'm so obviously distracted.

Aside from not being in the mood, I don't want them to get the impression that something is up. Not until I've decided what I'm going to do about it, especially.

I feel a little better after lunch, I have to admit. I eat my last bite of the white chocolate cheesecake slice that Mrs. Potts insisted on sending up to me. It was leftover from last night's party, apparently, and she said I couldn't miss it.

It was delectable, I'll give her that. The woman is a genius in the kitchen.

I set my tray on the small end table in my office, the one positioned right next to the door for this very purpose. One of the cleaners will take it away for me this evening. I have to say, I really do love working in this place.

Well, except for all the super-secret-spy stuff that evidently just won't quit, that is. I sigh, my mood turning morose again. I take a sip of my afternoon coffee and almost let myself sink into the gloom, but then I slam the cup down onto the desk and shake my head.

No. I'm sick and tired of sitting around, being all passive and just waiting for answers to come to me. It's time to show some initiative, to get out there and try to find something out for myself.

I'm going to go over to the Alpha's living quarters. I'm going to walk slowly through the hallways and see if I can overhear any more useful conversations. If anyone asks why I'm over there, I'll say that I was looking for the Alpha, to confirm that he's sticking to the new, reduced schedule I've laid out for him.

No one will be any the wiser, and I can just come straight back here with no fuss. It's a foolproof plan. I mean, I know it's incredibly unlikely that I'll overhear anything of use, but I can at least try, damn it.

I'm so fed up with being passive. I need to do something.

I turn off my monitor, drain my coffee, and stride purposefully down the hallway. Let's see what I can find out.

The Alpha's family quarters are located in the back half of the house, mainly on the first and second floors. They overlook the massive, sprawling lawn and gardens. I've never been here before, outside of the brisk tour I went on when I was first hired.

Luckily, I have a pretty good spatial memory. If I've been somewhere once, I can usually navigate it again with relative ease.

Thank god for small mercies, I think as I make my way up a back staircase to the second floor. This place is a rabbit warren; if I weren't so good at remembering the layout, there's no way I could pass myself off as running a simple errand to anybody questioning me.

As it is, I'm smooth enough that the few servants I pass barely blink at my presence. It's like I fit right in. Fat lot of good it's doing me, though.

The first floor hadn't yielded any interesting results, unfortunately. Maybe this is a bad time of day to be doing this, honestly. I know that Daisy and Joel are around here somewhere, but I'm not sure it's likely they've gone back to their quarters.

People are probably working, or shopping, or attending society meetings, or…doing whatever else rich and important people do during the day. It was probably a long shot to think that someone was going to be sitting behind a door, conveniently yapping about their evil plans for me to overhear.

Still, I have to try, so I work my way slowly down the main hallway of the second floor, practically holding my breath as I listen for anything that might be going on. I'm about to give up and turn around when I hear it.

"Honestly, can you believe he said that to me?" It's Daisy's voice, and she sounds furious. In fact, judging by the thumps coming from behind the far door at the end of the corridor, it sounds like she's storming around the room and throwing things.

A soft voice murmurs in reply, too soft for me to decipher.

"The favorite? The baby of the family? Who the hell does he think he's kidding?" Daisy shouts. It sounds like she might be crying. "Boys have always been deemed more important in this family. In all Alpha families! All that macho crap." Another crash followed by another soft murmur.

"And I get to have it in my own marriage, too," Daisy goes on, a sob catching at the end of her words. "I don't know what's happened to Charles since we got married. He used to be so sweet, so kind.

"He was so thoughtful and loving when he first asked to start courting me. We had such a wonderful time together. I didn't even think twice when he asked if we could be – you know – before the wedding.

"I knew Mother would disapprove, but I was so sure we'd get married that I didn't mind at all. I didn't even mind when I found out I was pregnant! I was so happy, and now I just feel like an idiot."

More soothing murmurs. I'm frozen in the hallway, unable to move even if I wanted to. So, Charles was lying about how he met Daisy, and why they got married. I knew it. That shady little rat.

"Now, all I hear is, 'Daisy, we're running out of time,' and 'Daisy, I don't think you're taking my position seriously,' and 'Daisy, if you want me to get ahead, you need to make a few sacrifices along the way.'

"He doesn't care about me, and I don't think he cares about my family, either. In fact, I'm starting to think he doesn't realize that he wouldn't become Alpha if I'm nominated. He's not even a wolf!

"But he doesn't care. All he wants is power power power, and I'm supposed to betray my own goddamn family, all so my husband can have it. And I'm left, shoved to the side once again, while all the men around me try to use me to get ahead.

"Goddamn it, Elsa, what am I going to do?" She breaks down into real sobs now, heartbroken, ugly sounds that wrench at my heart, despite myself.

I unstick my feet from the floor and silently glide back the way I came, down the stairs and to my own office again. I slip inside and lock the door behind me for the second time that day, leaning against it and letting out the deep breath I've been holding.

Well. I didn't exactly find out more about Marcus or Charles, but I certainly do have a lot to think about now, don't I?

And I'm even less sure than before about what to do now.