Chapter 0101

“What now?” I whispered, still accustomed to others having the solutions.

Isabella chuckled softly. “Athena, since your arrival, I’ve watched your confidence grow day by day. You couldn’t even step into the snow back then.”

She reminded me of the man I’d killed recently.

Then she pointed out I’d journeyed alone from the pack house to here.

Her gaze held mine. “You don’t need my answers. You already know what to do.”

My shoulders slumped. “Can we really solve this?”

“My brother has never been stopped by anything.” Her voice was firm. “If your mind is set, he’ll find a way. And Julian… he’s a master of strategy. His advice could be valuable.”

I hesitated. “Alpha Alexander forbade me from being alone with him.”

She smiled, gesturing around the empty hospital. “I’ll accompany you.”

She quickly located his whereabouts and scribbled a note, instructing others to link her if needed, then stuck it to the table.

“Where is he?” I asked, recalling he’d left during our meeting at Beta Sebastian’s home with Sophia.

“On duty.”

Venturing into the forest without Alpha Alexander’s permission was definitely against the rules.

We moved silently into the woods. Isabella ensured we avoided the boundaries, guiding us deep into the darkest parts. I’d asked Nyx to block Alpha Alexander from my thoughts temporarily, just so I could think clearly.

Scents mingled among the trees, making it hard to distinguish individuals. The guards rotated constantly to stay alert and confuse any intruders.

“Does Alexander know you’re this far out?” Julian’s voice came from above as he dropped from a tree, landing before us.

“Why were you up there?” Isabella snapped.

“Taking a page from Caleb’s book, if that was even his real name.” His dark eyes fixed on me, sending a shiver down my spine. I was relieved not to be alone with him. “You wanted to speak to me?” He scanned the area quickly.

“Have you… found a way to handle them?”

“Almost. Do you have information that could help?”

Nyx whispered a warning in my mind.

“I just want this to end.” I noticed Isabella giving me a strange look, but she remained silent.

“You came all this way to ask that?” He raised an eyebrow. “My people are exhausted, working tirelessly to keep everyone safe. They’re starting to make mistakes.”

“Mistakes?” Isabella questioned.

“It’s been dealt with.” His glance at me suggested punishments had been carried out.

“I never asked for any of this.”

He placed his hands on my shoulders, and every muscle in my body tensed. “Are you seeking trouble, Athena?”

He turned me toward the direction we’d come from. “Return to the house.”

“If I accept my Alpha position, will that help?” The words spilled out.

His hands dropped, and he moved in front of me, frowning deeply. “I thought you didn’t want that?”

“I told Alpha Alexander I believe it’s what they expect.” I sighed, glancing at Isabella, who nodded encouragement. “I think it’s a trap. Caleb was supposed to persuade me to accept. I think…” I groaned. “Alpha Alexander believes I should link them one by one.”

“No.”

His immediate, firm response startled me.

“No, that’s not what they expect? Or no, Alexander is wrong?” Isabella asked.

“Both.” He winked at me.

“I don’t understand.”

“Caleb got inside your head, Athena. He was testing how far you’d go to ignore your Alpha blood. It was a game. I’ve seen it before. You’re unique. They know it, and we know it too.”

“You think she should accept her role?” Isabella pressed.

“That’s not my decision. But if she does, it could work to our advantage.”

“You want me to link them?”

“No. That would enrage Victoria. It’ll draw her and the others out. Like it or not, they’ll recognize who the true Alpha is. That’s what counts. No linking necessary.”

“Plan B,” Isabella murmured.

“Plan B,” Julian confirmed.

He’d been hoping for this all along. “What… what is Plan B?”

Julian smiled at me. “You.”