Griffin’s POV
I was in the midst of a deep sleep when the faint sound of whispering pulled me from my slumber. My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the darkness of the room.
For a moment, I thought it had been part of a dream, but the murmuring continued, barely audible, drifting through the air like a ghostly presence.
I instinctively reached for Camila beside me, expecting to find her there, but my hand brushed against the cold sheets. She was gone. I sat up, scanning the room, but there was no sign of her.
My heart quickened, suspicion stirring in my gut. I got up silently, padding barefoot across the room to check the bathroom. Nothing.
It wasn’t until I reached the door that I heard her voice, hushed and conspiratorial, coming from the direction of the guest room. My blood ran cold as I crept closer, careful not to make a sound.
“…he thinks he’s so clever,” Camila’s voice said, low but clear. “But I’ve got everything planned. He’s going to challenge Rolan for the Alpha position. Griffin thinks that just because he has royal blood, he’s entitled to the throne.” She laughed softly, the sound twisted with malice.
I froze in the hallway, shock rippling through me. My suspicions about her loyalty had always been there, lurking at the edges of my mind, but hearing it now, hearing her betray me so easily was like a punch to the gut.
Camila continued, her voice cold and calculating. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep feeding you information. If anything else comes up, I’ll let you know. Just make sure you hold up your end of the deal.”
I felt my stomach churn, rage bubbling under the surface. How could I have been so blind? I had known Camila wasn’t in it for love, but I never thought she’d go this far.
And now, here she was, selling me out to someone. I didn’t know who she was speaking to, but whoever it was, they weren’t on my side.
I clenched my fists, standing frozen in the hallway as I listened to her weave a web of lies and half-truths. Every word that left her mouth felt like a dagger in my back.
My mind raced, torn between barging in and confronting her or playing it cool, waiting for the right moment. My instincts told me to be patient. If she thought she could outplay me, then I’d let her believe that. For now.
Quietly, I tiptoed back to the bedroom, my mind whirling with anger and betrayal. I slid back into bed, forcing my body to relax, even though my blood was boiling.
I needed to think. I needed to be smart about this. Camila was playing a dangerous game, and if I wasn’t careful, she could ruin everything.
A few minutes later, I heard the soft creak of the guest room door and the faint sound of her footsteps approaching. I closed my eyes, feigning sleep as she entered the room. She slipped under the covers beside me, her hands reaching out to wrap around me like nothing had happened.
I kept my breathing even, pretending to wake up groggily. “Where were you?” I asked, my voice low and casual.
She hesitated for a second before answering. “I went to get some water,” she lied, her tone smooth and practiced.
I nodded, keeping my voice neutral. “Alright. Go back to sleep.”
She nestled closer to me, her body pressing against mine, but I felt nothing but disgust. I couldn’t stand the touch of her skin, the way her arms clung to me as if she hadn’t just plotted behind my back.
But I forced myself to remain calm, to keep up the act. If she thought she had fooled me, it would work to my advantage.
As I lay there, my mind raced with plans. I couldn’t trust anyone. Not her, not even the councilmen who had been supporting me. It was all a game, and if I wanted to win, I had to be smarter than the rest of them.
Camila would think she had me in her pocket, but from now on, every move I made would be calculated, every word measured.
When morning finally came, I dressed quickly, avoiding Camila’s gaze as I got ready to leave. She mumbled something about plans for the day, but I barely heard her. My focus was already on what I needed to do next.
Once I stepped out of the house, the fresh morning air hit me like a wave of clarity. I made my way to the palace, my mind running through a dozen different scenarios.
Whoever Camila was working with, would think they had the upper hand. They would be watching my every move, waiting for me to stumble. But I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.
When I arrived at the palace, I was greeted by Rolan, his expression unreadable as always. He was polite, almost too polite, which made my skin crawl. There was always something about Rolan’s demeanor that put me on edge, but today, it felt more intense.
“I’ve got a task for you, Griffin,” he said, motioning for me to follow him.
I walked beside him, trying to read his body language, but Rolan was a master at hiding his true intentions. As we entered his office, he turned to face me, his eyes locking onto mine.
“You’ll be in charge of security for the full moon celebrations in a few days,” he said, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “I’m trusting you to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
I nodded, hiding the surprise that flickered through me. “Of course, Alpha. I’ll handle it.”
He studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering. “Good. I knew I could count on you.”
As I left his office, a sense of satisfaction settled over me. Things were moving in my favor, just as I had hoped. Being in charge of security gave me access to everything.
I could manipulate the situation however I wanted, make sure the councilmen remained on my side, and keep a close eye on Rolan.
But even as I walked away from the palace, my thoughts circled back to Camila. I had underestimated her once, and that mistake had nearly cost me everything.
Now, I wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. She thought she had outsmarted me, but I’d turn the tables on her soon enough.