Alpha Rolan’s POV
As I walked out of Wilson and Ashley’s house, a strange mix of clarity and dread settled over me. Ms. Edna, their mother, had been behind Pandora’s kidnapping.
I clenched my fists, feeling the old scar on my side throb, my chest ached with the weight of the decision that I was about to make. This wasn’t just about Pandora anymore; it was personal.
Edna had to be stopped, but the last thing I wanted was to hurt Wilson or Ashley in the process.
By the time I reached the palace, the sun had dipped behind the horizon, casting an orange glow over the towering walls. The guards saluted as I made my way through the gates, but my mind was miles away, running over the conversation I’d just had with Wilson and his sister.
It all made sense now, Edna’s eerie laughter, Wilson’s hesitance to tell me, the long minutes of silence and secrets. She had orchestrated Pandora’s kidnapping, and God knows what she was planning next.
Caleb was waiting for me at the palace steps, his broad frame silhouetted in the fading light. He was a man I could trust, one of the few people who had been by my side through thick and thin.
I nodded to him, and we walked silently toward my study, the sound of our footsteps echoing down the marble halls.
Once inside, I closed the heavy wooden doors behind us and leaned against the desk, staring out the window at the darkening sky. I needed a plan. A solid one.
“Caleb, I know who’s behind Pandora’s kidnapping,” I said, breaking the silence.
His eyes narrowed. “Who?”
“Ms. Edna,” I said, watching his face for a reaction. “Ashley’s mother. She’s the one who shot you on that day, and now she’s taken Pandora.”
For a moment, Caleb said nothing, his face a mix of shock and rage. Then, with a sharp exhale, he ran a hand through his hair. “That woman… She’s been a menace for as long as I can remember. Why didn’t we deal with her when we had the chance?”
“Because we didn’t know she was capable of this,” I muttered. “Or maybe we didn’t want to know. Also, you are with her daughter and there’s an appropriate way to treat your in-laws.”
Caleb shook his head. “Rolan, she’s taken it too far. We need to deal with her, and we need to do it now. No more waiting.”
I sighed, pushing off the desk. “I know. But Wilson and Ashley… She’s still their mother. As much as I want to take her down, I have to think about them.”
“Wilson and Ashley know what kind of woman she is,” Caleb said firmly. “If you leave Edna to her own devices, there’s no telling what she’ll do next. You have to stop her.”
I nodded, the weight of his words sinking in. He was right. Edna had to be stopped, but there was a right way and a wrong way to do this. If I acted impulsively, if I let my anger take over, I could destroy whatever fragile relationship I had with Wilson and Ashley.
“We’ll talk to them,” I said finally. “We’ll call a meeting. But first, there’s something else I need you to do.”
Caleb raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“I want you to release Griffin from the dungeon.”
Caleb’s eyes widened. “Griffin? Why? You think he’ll help us?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “But he doesn’t know we’ve figured out where Pandora is. For now, I want him out. Let him think we’re still in the dark. We’ll use him if we have to, but we can’t let him know what we’ve uncovered.”
Caleb hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright, I’ll let him out. But if he tries anything…”
“I know,” I said grimly. “We’ll deal with him if it comes to that.”
Caleb left the study, and I was alone with my thoughts once again. The room felt too quiet, the air too thick. I stared down at the map spread out on the desk, marking all the places we’d searched for Pandora, all the dead ends. And now I had a new lead, a new hope, but it came with a price.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the tension. My mind wandered back to Pandora. I hadn’t seen her in weeks, hadn’t heard her voice or held her hand.
The thought of her locked away somewhere, terrified, made my blood boil. Edna had taken everything from me once, but this time, I wouldn’t let her win.
A knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts. Caleb re-entered, looking serious. “Griffin’s been released,” he said. “He’s back in his quarters. Didn’t ask too many questions, but I’m sure he’s suspicious.”
I nodded. “Good. Let him stew. We’ll keep him close for now.”
Caleb crossed his arms, his expression hardening. “What’s the next move?”
I stared at the map again, tracing the lines with my finger. “Ashley said she knew a place where her mother might be keeping Pandora. Tomorrow, we’ll go there. But tonight, I want to talk to Wilson and Ashley. They need to know what we’re planning.”
Caleb nodded. “I’ll arrange it.”
As he turned to leave, I called after him. “And Caleb…”
He paused, looking back at me.
“Thank you. For everything.”
He gave me a small, grim smile. “You know I’ve got your back, Alpha. Always.”
Once Caleb was gone, I sat down at the desk, resting my head in my hands. My thoughts were racing, but one thing was clear, I was going to bring Pandora home. And if Ms. Edna thought she could get away with this, she had another thing coming.
The palace was quiet as the night deepened, the flicker of candlelight casting shadows on the walls. I pulled a piece of parchment toward me, grabbing a quill.
If we were going to confront Edna, we needed to be prepared. I started sketching out plans, and strategies. Every possible outcome.
There was no turning back now.
I would bring Pandora back, no matter the cost.