LUCIUS
Starlette didn’t poison the crazy head, that I know for sure. Why would anyone even believe that? That girl had a pure and innocent heart. I liked her the very first time I interacted with her. And I barely like people.
I couldn’t stand watching her get accused for what she didn’t do. Seeing her desperate eyes as she pleaded not guilty, hoping she’d be believed, broke my heart.
Her mate, my brother, who was supposed to stand by her and defend her, forsook her. Instead, he ordered for her to be taken back to the dungeon. I wasn’t surprised anyway; it was who he was-a heartless and self-centred beast.
After the interrogation had ended, I marched to the hospital, with rage, to interrogate Lauren, since no one seemed to be smart enough to do so. I had to find a way to reveal her scheme. I wouldn’t let Starlette die, no matter what it took.
“Lucius.” Lauren flashed the most fake smile I had ever seen at me as I walked towards her bedside. “So kind of you to come check up on me.”
“I’m not here to check on you.” I immediately debunked her delusion.
“Then why are you here?” She asked with a raised brow.
I towered over her, my arms crossed over my chest. “You look so healthy for someone who was poisoned just yesterday.”
She immediately tried to put on a pale appearance and let out a series of coughs. “I still feel very sick.” She said. “I’m just trying to be strong.”
“You don’t have to pretend before me. I know very well that it was a set up. Starlette didn’t poison you.”
She batted her lashes as she stared at me like an innocent little girl. “Why would you say so, Lucius? Why would I lie? I would never do so. There are witnesses that Starlette gave me that lemonade to drink.”
“Is that so?” I raised a brow. “After working with the maid to specifically hand the lemonade to Starlette, and then kill the maid afterwards.”
“I was here, battling for my life. How could I have killed the maid? Starlette killed her.” She immediately denied.
My eyes narrowed. “How did you know that the maid had died? You weren’t there when Starlette was being interrogated.”
She cleared her throat. “Mind link. I was mind linked.”
Of course she would say that.
I leaned in, meeting her gaze. “I know you ordered the maid to be killed, and I know you framed Starlette up. I would find a way to expose you.”
“Why do you trust her so much?” She quickly shot at me.
“The question should be, why should I trust you over her?”
She opened her mouth to talk but closed it again, silence embracing her.
“There is your answer.” I clicked my tongue over the roof of my mouth. “No reason.”
I left her speechlessness stunned as I turned around and walked out of the room. That woman was agitating!
Maximus and his subordinates, Kade and Tom, were approaching the room when I walked out, and I took a pause, waiting for them to get closer.
“I don’t know why you would believe Lauren over Starlette, but I promise you one thing: I would never allow anything to happen to that girl!” I said once Maximus was in front of me.
His jaw clenched. “Neither would I.”
“Good.” I groaned before walking past him.
I went straight to Lauren’s room, hoping I could find something to use against her. I needed evidence.
The door was locked, but I effortlessly broke the lock and gained access to the room.
I walked in and looked around, searching everywhere that seemed like a good hiding spot. I didn’t know what I was looking for exactly, but I just had hoped that I would find something-anything that could be used against her. After about half an hour of searching and turning the room upside down, I couldn’t seem to find anything, and frustration was starting to run through me. I needed something, anything. I searched places I had searched all over again, but still, nothing!
“Damn it!” I groaned with rage as I kicked her bed frame in anger, the wood shattering at the impact.
Frustratedly, I started making my way out of the room, but as I marched over the centre carpet, a faint creaking sound echoed through the silence. I paused, my eyes scanning the floor. The carpet seemed perfectly ordinary. But suspicions arose within me, and I pushed the carpet aside, revealing a small section of the floor that was slightly out of place.
Immediately, I pried up the loose footboard, revealing a hidden void beneath. I reached in, and my hand brushed against something smooth. As I pulled it out, I realised it was a small box, which I opened without hesitation.
Within it were two amber bottles, each containing strange substances. I didn’t know what they were. However, it was clear that they were dried herbs.
I immediately picked myself up and rushed out of the room without bothering to return everything I had scattered to their rightful positions. I took the bottles to the pack herbarium so that the botanist could help identify the contents of the bottles.
The botanist, Sebastian, was watering some plants when I got there, but immediately dropped what he was doing and focused his attention on me, confusion masking his features.
“To whom do I owe this pleasure?” He asked, slightly bowing.
“I need your help.” I took out both bottles from my pocket and handed them to him. “Can you identify what’s inside these bottles?”
“I’ll try.” He said as he took both bottles from me.
He unscrewed the cap of one of the bottles and slowly took it to his nose, sniffing it. Immediately the smell hit his nostrils; he gasped in shock and quickly flicked his gaze at me.
A deep frown married his features. “Where did you get this from?”
“Do you know what it is?” I quickly asked.
He nodded warily as he opened the second bottle and sniffed it. But this time, he didn’t seem as shocked.
Curiosity washed over me as I asked. “What is it? What is it used for?”
“This…” He slightly raised the first bottle and sniffed it again. “Is gotten from a very rare plant. It was banned from cultivation in this pack several years ago.” He paused, raising a brow as he asked. “Where did you get it from?”
“What is it used for?” I countered.
He let out a deep breath. “It is called fool’s parsley. It is poisonous, and whoever swallows a considerable amount would fall unconscious within seconds.”
I knew it!
“What of the other bottle?” I asked.
“It’s antidote. Once used, every effect caused by the fool’s parsley would be reversed. But it must be taken within thirty minutes of consuming the toxic herb, or else.”
“Thank you.” I cut him off, as I grabbed the bottles from him and whisked out of the herbarium. I didn’t need to know any more; I already had all the information I needed.
I went straight to Lauren ward in the hospital to confront her, but fortunately, when I arrived, I realised Maximus, Kade, and Tom were still there.
“Perfect!” I groaned as I approached them. “I’m glad that you all are here.”
Maximus raised a brow, puzzled. “Why?”
“Because I just found out about what you all didn’t even attempt to.”
I settled my gaze on Lauren and flashed both bottled at her. “Recognise these?”
Perplexity slated her features, and a gasp escaped her lips. “How did you-” she trailed off, immediately regaining composure. “What’s that?”
“Don’t play dumb.” I stated firmly.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” She retorted with confidence.
“What’s that?” Maximus asked.
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
I mind-linked the pack doctor, asking for his presence. He showed up within seconds.
“You called for me.” He said, darting his gaze between everyone present in the room.
“Yes, I did.” I inched closer to him. “You treated Lauren right?”
He nodded.
“With what?” I asked.
“I didn’t really treat her per se. It was a miracle that she got well a few minutes after she was brought in.” The doctor said.
“Interesting.” My brows furrowed. “You didn’t have to administer the antidote to the said poison she was given?”
He shook his head.
“Isn’t that suspicious?” I darted my gaze between my brother and his subordinates. “As werewolves, is it possible to heal from a poison without being given the antidote? And within minutes?”
My gaze settled on Lauren. “Or Peherps, everything was planned out.”
She vigorously shook her head, fear evidently engulfing her. “No. I didn’t-”
I cut her off.
“Perhaps she intentionally poisoned the lemonade with this.” I raised the bottle and flashed it at everyone present in the room. “One of these bottles contains fool’s parsley. It induces unconsciousness within seconds of taking it. And the other is it’s antidote that nullifies its effect. And I found both bottles in her room.”
“They are not mine.” She denied, her voice breaking. She flicked her head at Maximus and spoke with desperacy. “I don’t know what he is talking about.”
“To what end, Lauren?” Maximus asked, his voice calm.
She began to sob, her lips trembling.
“Answer me. To what end!” He growled with so much rage.
Why was he suddenly angry when he should have protected his mate in the first place? Anyway-
I turned around and started walking out of the room. “I’m going to get Starlette from the dungeon right away. Mind link the guards and ask them to release her to me.”
My work there was done.