Chapter 145: Chapter 145

A frown settled on her face, the hold of her hand loosening around my wrist. "Why? Do you not like chicken curry?"

I let out a chuckle at her child-like pout, running my thumb across the plump of her cheek. "No, it's not that, baby. I love anything you make except for that pasta.”

A squeal escaped her lips and she slapped lightly at my arm as if recalling the incident. Even though I almost died, it’s fun to tease her that the first dish she made gave me an allergy. The omega gets truly flustered every single time.

“Don’t remind me of that ever again.”

“Alright.” I fondly rolled my eyes.

“Tell me why don’t you want to eat my dinner then?”

“Someone has to stay with Slyvie for the night, so I was hoping...."

"Oh." Rose breathed, crestfallen, taking a step back.

"It's only to make sure that she will be able to help me find the attacker. I will come back in the morning. Trust me."

Rose appeared hesitant for several moments, opening her mouth to protest but instead nodded her head.

***

"I will be staying the night."

Slyvie widened her eyes at that, sitting up in the bed while placing the book next to the table. "Uh...Are you sure? I mean, is it okay with your mate?"

My throat felt scratchy due to the chilly air outside, my knees stiff. Along with Damon and Ria, my mate left for our cabin. The beta insisted on staying with me, but I sent him away, watching those puffy eyes and lack of sleep behind them.

"I talked with her. She's fine."

"Still, I don't think it's appropriate for the Pack Alpha to stay here."

I narrowed my eyes at the shift in her behaviour, crossing my arms. Few days ago, the omega wanted me to take her back, and now she's objecting to being in the same room.

"Are you worried about something? Don't be. I won't be sleeping anyway." I coughed again, wincing.

Slyvie handed me the bottled water from the nightstand, which I accepted. Gulping the water hastily, I let out a sigh, feeling the coolness in my throat. "Thanks. Go to sleep now."

The omega hummed, pulling the sheets over her body and fluttering her eyes shut.

I didn't mean to fall asleep. I planned to stay awake and alert and watch Sylvie, make sure she was breathing and no one broke in the room. Somehow I dozed in my chair, awkwardly and uncomfortably slumping forward, half supported by my knees, head lolling back.

Suddenly I was jolted awake by the rustling of leaves, the chill making me shiver all over. My head felt heavy as I tried to open my eyes, a groan slipping past my lips. With a hand palming my temples, I slowly adjusted my vision to the darkness in the room.

There was no sight of the omega in the room. I tried to stand right up, my legs wobbling as I did, stomach in knots. Why was Sylvie not in her bed? Something was off. I blinked against blurring vision tried to sniff, dread settling in my stomach when I couldn't pick her scent.

Rose's words from the evening rushed to me. What if Ria was indeed right about Slyvie? There must be a reason she came to see me during the war. The timing was a bit interesting, and I cannot ignore it.

Shaking my head, I hurriedly slipped out of the room, stumbling and knocking into things. I frowned, eyes roaming around the dark halls of the clinic. Who turned off all the lights? My feet automatically carried me towards my mother's room. Bursting through the doors, I stilled upon noticing a stiletto. A person had a pillow in hand, raised in the air as if ready to press over my unconscious mother.

Rage coursed through my veins, feeling hot all over. If I had been a minute late, my mother would have been suffocated to death by this person. The thought caused my gut to clench painfully.

"Stop right there!" I growled, my canines digging into the corners of my mouth, claws jutting out painfully. "Take one more step, and I will rip off your throat."

The person froze in their tracks, loosening the grip around the pillow and letting it fall on the ground. I held my breath as they slowly turned around, still basked in darkness. Taking a step further, I opened the windows, letting the street lights fall into the room.

"Come forward, and I won't harm you."

There was no response and moment from the person, making my teeth grit together. I was still worried about my mother as they were standing close to her and could attack her at any time.

"Hurry up!" I yelled, my voice echoing around the room. "Stand here." With that, I pointed towards the tile that had most of the glow from the moon.

My lips parted in a gasp as I saw the feminine figure, a familiar face along with it, colour draining my features. It's Slyvie. She came to stand on the tile, her head hanging low in shame. It felt as someone tore through my chest, wrapped a hand around the heart and crusted it in pieces.

Silence settled over the room, my tongue feeling heavy in my mouth. Why did she do that? How could she think of harming my mother? So many different questions rang in my head.

"Y-You? Why?"

A sob racked through her body, still not meeting my eyes as she shook her head. "I-I had no choice. Believe me! I am so sorry, Aiden."

"Believe you?" I scoffed, shaking my head. "Are you serious right now? What did you give me?"

"It's some herbs mixture that makes you sleepy and loses all your senses for a while."

No wonder I was knocked out cold despite trying my hardest to stay awake.

"Why did you do it? Tell me!" My voice went higher, making her shrink into herself, arms coming to wrap around her body.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, the omega slowly looked up at me, parting her mouth. "Reece..." Slyvie shakily said. "He was the one who told me to kill Luna Ann, or he will end my husband."

Shock filled my features at the name, hands falling to the sides in confusion. Why would my mother's beta want to kill her? It did not make any sense. He was so protective of her when I barged into their territory and almost wanted to fight.

"Why would he ask you to do that?" I set my lips in a firm line, glaring at Slyvie. "Is this another one of your lies?"

"No!" She raised her voice, a sigh following soon after. "I am not lying this time. Please believe me. Reece...he killed my father and soon after located my husband's pack. We are not a huge pack, so it was easy for him to defeat us. His rogue guards took over us and almost killed half of my pack. He has my husband caged in the dungeons and asked me to seduce you in return for his freedom. As I was the first person you loved, he thought that it would be easy for me to do the job." Her hands folded together, body shaking. Wiping the tears with the back of her hand, she continued, her lips quivering. "I had no other choice. I love my Alpha. I came all the way here to distract you so that Reece can easily enter the pack boundaries and defeat you."

My mouth parted in shock, disbelief coursing through my body. I could not believe that Reece was capable of pulling such a heinous act behind that stoic face.

Inhaling sharply, she continued, "The plan did not work. I tried my hardest to make you fall for me, but it did not please Reece. He was not ready to let go of my husband or allow me to meet him. If I wanted my husband's freedom, he asked me to enter the pack somehow and kill Luna Ann."

My fingers tugged on my hair, pushing them back out of my habit while pacing around the room. "Why would he do all this?"

"I-I tried to ask him, but Reece did not tell me anything."

"Okay." I took a deep breath, turning to face her, hands coming to cross against my chest. A rational part of my brain told me not to involve her or believe her, but the desperation was evident on the omegas face. She had no reason to make up such a lie to get out of this. Besides, I would be sending Liam to double-check anyway.

"I have a plan to bring down Reece, and I need you to cooperate with me on this. Your husband and pack can be freed, and you can go back to your old life."

"I'm in!" She said without any hesitation.