The tension at the table was steep. Whatever Luna Grace was about to say would in fact affect everything concerning whether the vampires would continue to be their allies or become new enemies.
"I'll start from the very beginning," Luna Grace began, Alpha Caden's shoulders tensing instantly.
"Just a year ago, we were neighbors with another pack not too far from ours. One day, their Alpha suddenly cut off all contact with us. At first, we didn't think much of it, until something strange happened..." she paused, her eyes falling to her husband's hands resting on her leg.
"One of our patrols found a strange dead body near the edge of our border. It was a woman. She was half-shifted."
"Normally, we would have investigated after first informing the other pack about the body. But when our messengers arrived there, the whole place was deserted."
"Deserted, you say?" Lucas asked, a subtle frown forming between his brows.
Luna Grace nodded. "Yes. But we did find someone. A young witch, so we brought her back here."
"Grace!" Alpha Caden snapped. "I think you've said enough."
The more Luna Grace spoke, the more tense Alpha Caden and Councilman Edgar grew, their bodies stiff and restless.
"But honey, you know we have to come clean," Luna Grace murmured, her hand rising to rub her husband's shoulder while giving him a reassuring look.
"Besides..." she cast Ian a glance. "They'll be able to help us if we tell them everything."
As she spoke, her fingers dug painfully into her husband's hand, clenching her leg. He hissed and immediately pulled his hands away.
She continued with her explanation like nothing had happened.
"Then, three months ago, the rogue attack happened. They were werewolves like us, but surprisingly stronger for mere rogues. At first, we didn't think much of it, until the second attack. This time, there were two Lycans with them." Her face fell as she paused.
"We lost our beta that day."
"Despite our best efforts, we couldn't figure out what really happened to that other pack. We believed their disappearance was related to the rogues, but the witch we rescued refused to speak about it, so we had no way of knowing for sure."
"Is that so?" Ian finally spoke, breaking his silence. "Tell me, did she lose her tongue by chance?"
At this point, Ian was beginning to grow tired of the woman's explanation. It felt like she was purposely dragging it on. But why?
"What were we supposed to do? You don't think we should have tortured her?" Luna Grace asked.
Obviously, she was trying to put words in Ian's mouth.
"That girl, the one you sent to work for us. Was it not just days ago that I saw her being flogged like an animal?" he said coldly. "So don't try acting like torture revolts you. I've already seen the kind of people who live here."
His words shattered Luna Grace's calm facade, a vein pulsing at her temple.
"That girl's situation is different," she retorted.
"In what way?" Ian pressed.
"I could explain, but it would be better if you saw it yourself," Luna Grace replied as she rose and left the room.
She returned shortly with a book in her hands and resumed her seat. Placing it on the table, she gently slid it toward Ian.
"The information in that book is supposed to be kept a secret, but as a way of reforming a proper alliance, I am lending it to you. It contains everything you need to know about her."
Ian glanced at the book briefly before lifting his gaze back to her.
"Fair enough," he shrugged.
"I would like to speak to that witch," Ian added, picking up the book, his keen eyes examining its cover. "If you don't mind."
Luna Grace flashed a smile. "Of course we don't mind. Do we, honey?" she turned to her husband.
Alpha Caden's jaw clenched tightly, but he still managed to respond. "It's fine by me."
"Splendid," Ian said, rising to his feet. "We'll take our leave now."
"Do have a nice day, Luna," he added, passing her one last glance.
The moment Lucas and Ian stepped out the door, Councilman Edgar rose from his seat, his palm striking Luna Grace across the cheek.
"Careful now. They're not gone yet. They can still hear us," Alpha Caden warned calmly, though rage burned in his eyes.
Councilman Edgar clicked his tongue in anger. "What have you done?" he whispered sharply at Luna Grace.
Holding the cheek where she had been struck, Luna Grace said nothing. Instead, her lips curved into a small smile.
It didn't matter what punishment she was about to receive. She had done her part.
She wondered if that person would be pleased with her now, after all she had done everything they asked, followed every order.
"So, what did you think? Was she telling the truth?" Lucas asked.
Ian, who had been staring blankly at the scenery outside as the car moved, remained silent for a while before responding.
"Her heart remained steady while she was speaking. It only fluttered when I brought up the torture of Camelia."
"So she was telling the truth, but I find it odd that she would just tell us everything like that."
"To be honest, I also found her behavior strange. Why would she go against her husband just to tell us the truth?"
"Maybe we can ask her another time," Ian muttered.
He hadn't sensed her lying, not even once. But he could sense that she was hiding something else.
With his ability, he could tell when someone was lying or hiding something. The heart could be controlled, making it easy to lie, but he didn't need to listen to a heartbeat to know the truth.
His gaze dropped to the book Luna Grace had given him. That piece of reading material was supposed to tell him everything he needed to know about Camelia.
"How absurd," he murmured.
If he wanted to know everything about her, he would rather ask her in person. He wondered what she was doing at the moment, but just as quickly as the thought crossed his mind, he pushed it aside.
He wasn't ready to see her yet. After what happened yesterday afternoon, he couldn't afford to be around her.
Yet his mind drifted back to the kiss. His thumb brushed his lips as he thought about it, a foolish smile forming. How delicious she had tasted. He wouldn't mind drowning in that sweetness forever.
All the while he was lost in his thoughts, Lucas occasionally cast him a glance.
'What is up with him?' Lucas wondered.
....
Camelia clenched the hem of her dress tightly after changing into her maid uniform, the dark circles under her eyes prominent.
The events of last night still had her shaken.
After Dart found her the way she was, he had taken her upstairs to her room and left, saying he was going to take care of the body downstairs.
He returned an hour later, just as the power in the house was restored. Apparently, he had spoken to the power manager himself.
He insisted on taking her to the clinic for a checkup, but Camelia declined, politely asking him to give her some space.
She had seen the look on his face before he left. He had questions, questions she didn't quite have answers to herself.
Camelia sighed weakly as she stepped out of a bedroom she had just finished cleaning, but she bumped into someone.
Her eyes widened when she saw who it was.
It was Thomas, and he didn't look pleased at seeing her.
"You," he growled, glaring at her like she was vermin.
Camelia gulped, stepping back until her back hit the door that had just closed behind her.