Many possibilities ran through his mind, each more ominous than the last.
His eyes locked on Nelly, his gaze dark and penetrating. “Nelly, something is amiss,” he growled.
Confusion and concern filled her voice as she asked, “What do you mean?”
A sinister glimmer danced in his eyes, his voice laced with suspicion. “Tony knows his way around computers, doesn’t he?” Nelly hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
He continued to stare at her, a foreboding presence. After a silence that seemed to stretch on forever, he dared to voice the unthinkable. “Don’t tell me… Tony is Anonymous?”
Nelly remained silent, the weight of the truth weighing heavily on her.
I knew this secret could not stay buried forever. Tony will have to answer for himself.
Alpha Kilian studied Nelly’s reaction, his eyes narrowing. “Your silence speaks volumes. I am right, aren’t I?” She shook her head desperately, her denial only confirming his suspicions. “I didn’t say anything.”
But her reaction only deepened his suspicion.
Tony was undeniably intelligent. Alpha Kilian had always wondered how and why Tony had joined the secretive Darknetz. He had planned to ask Tony about it when the time was right, but circumstances had conspired against him. If Tony truly was Anonymous, then everything would fall into place. The pieces of the puzzle would finally connect.
Why did Tony arrive so quickly at the hospital when Nelly was in trouble? Why did Thalia go to such lengths to protect him? How did Tony obtain the confidential information Nelly had sent? Why did he take action when no one else responded to my plea for Anonymous’ help in dealing with the Midnight Fang Pack? And whenever I mentioned Anonymous, Tony’s reaction was peculiar.
Alpha Kilian finally saw the truth, connecting the dots.
While he had considered the possibility before, he could never have fathomed that a skilled hacker would be a mere child, despite Tony’s extraordinary intellect.
The absurdity of it all was beyond his imagination.
A knowing smile crept upon Alpha Kilian’s face as he thought, Should I be relieved or furious? That is my son, my beloved son!
No words could adequately capture the expression that graced Alpha Kilian’s countenance.
Observing his unwavering conviction, it was clear that Nelly would struggle to convince him otherwise.
After a moment’s contemplation, she proposed, “Why don’t I bring Tony in here? You can talk to him directly.”
“No need,” Alpha Kilian responded dismissively, leaving Nelly dumbfounded.
His eyes narrowed, his tone turning cold. “Since he kept this from me, he will receive no mercy.” The glint in his eyes foretold an unforgiving fate.
Just as Nelly attempted to free herself from his grasp, he tightened his hold, his voice laced with warning. “Nelly, are you planning to warn him?”
“Of course not. This is between you and him. I won’t intervene,” she assured him.
Satisfied with her response, he nodded. But then he seemed to notice something and inquired, “Where are you going then?”
“I… My stomach feels off,” she confessed.
“Is it painful?” he asked, his brows furrowing. She nodded silently.
A look of concern clouded his features as he gently laid Nelly on the bed, tucking her in. “Rest and wait for me,” he instructed before swiftly leaving the room.
As she watched him depart, she furrowed her brows, feeling a growing ache in her stomach.
Ten minutes later, Alpha Kilian returned, holding a mug in his hand. He approached the bedside and softly said, “Here, Nelly. Drink this.”
Sitting up, Nelly eyed the mug cautiously. “Is this hot chocolate?”
He nodded, his voice low and filled with purpose. “It will ease your discomfort.”
She studied him for a moment before accepting the mug and taking a few sips. “The temperature is just right. It may be best to finish it in one go,” he suggested. With a lingering glance at him, she complied and drank the remainder of the hot chocolate.
It was strange. As soon as she finished the drink, the ache in her stomach began to fade, replaced by a comforting warmth.
Noting her eased expression, Alpha Kilian inquired, “How do you feel now?” “The pain is gone,” Nelly replied.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Alpha Kilian’s lips. He reached out and placed his hand on her stomach.
“What are you doing?” her voice trembled.