Alison’s POV
The corridors seemed darker today, as if the very walls were conspiring to keep their secrets hidden. My breath echoed in the stillness, shallow and uneven, as my mind replayed the memory of that awful night for the hundredth time. Something was off. had always been off, but now after speaking with Luke hours ago, the pieces were beginning to form a picture I could no longer ignore. Someone had set me up. I wasn’t crazy, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to let Caitlyn ruin me without a fight.
I had no plan, no road map yet, just a simmering determination burning hotter with every passing moment. The truth was out there, waiting to be uncovered, and I wasn’t stopping until I found it.
The castle’s halls were busy with the quiet hum of staff going about their day, but as I walked, the air still seemed to shift. Whispers followed me like a shadow, low and malicious, punctuated by stolen glances. I clenched my fists at my sides, refusing to let their judgment get to me. Not today.
My steps led me to the staff’s quarters, a place I hadn’t ventured into since the day of the incident I wasn’t sure what I was looking for, but my instinct told me to start here. The familiar creak of the wooden floor and the faint scent of lavender laundry detergent brought back memories of when I’d first been shown around.. a simpler time before everything had spiraled into chaos.
As I rounded the corner, a small figure caught my eye. There she was, the young girl who’d been my guide on that first day into the pack, her arms loaded with freshly folded linens. She glanced up and froze, her wide brown eyes flickering with recognition and nervousness.
“Clara,” I said, softening my tone to hide the desperation clawing at my chest.
She hesitated, glancing around as if expecting someone to swoop in and scold her for even acknowledging me.
“I need to talk to you,” I continued, stepping closer. “Please.”
Her shoulders tensed, but she gave a small nod, setting the linens down on a nearby table. “What is it, miss?”
I lowered my voice, aware of the curious ears that might be lurking nearby. “Have you seen anything suspicious of late?”
I knew these staffs knew the secrets of the castle more than anyone and if I needed answers there was no place to go other than here.
“No ma” she lied, I knew she was lying because she had refused to meet my gaze
“I don’t believe you, please tell me what you know”
“I found something in the trash the other day and I kept it” she said more of in a murmur
“You… you found what? ”
” A capsule” Her face paled, and she looked around again, her hands clutching the hem of her top. “I… I shouldn’t have said that ,” she stammered. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
“You wouldn’t be causing any troubles, if for one you would be saving a life,” I assured her. “But this is important. Can you show me what you found?”
Clara hesitated, biting her lip. “It’s risky,” she whispered. “If anyone finds out…”
“I’ll make sure no one knows it came from you,” I promised, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. “Please, Clara. I desperately need your help.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded and motioned for me to follow her. We navigated through the maze of corridors until we reached a small storage room. Emily pushed the door open and slipped inside, emerging a moment later with a small, clear bag. Inside was a tiny vial, its label worn and faded, but still legible.
My heart raced as I took it from her, holding the empty capsule between my fingers. “This was in the trash?”
She nodded. “Near the east wing. I thought it was strange, but I didn’t know what it was for.”
I stared at the vial, my mind spinning. The name of the drug was unfamiliar, but the implications were clear. This was it, the missing piece of the puzzle. Someone had drugged me, and now I had proof.
“Thank you, Clara,” I said, my voice thick with emotion.
She looked at me with a mixture of fear and pity. “I saw one of the maids dispose it, you need to be careful, miss. There are people who don’t want you here.”
“Who did you see?”
“I saw Miss Freya, please do not tell them I told you”
I gave her a small smile, tucking the vial into my pocket. “I know. I’m not going to tell them. Thanks for your help so far.”
With that I made my way back toward the main hall, the weight of the tiny capsule in my pocket felt like both a burden and a lifeline. The proof was there, but the question remained, what was I going to do with it?
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter drifting from a nearby room. I paused, my ears straining to catch the conversation.
“You really outdid yourself,” a familiar voice said, dripping with smug satisfaction. Caitlyn.
“It wasn’t hard,” another voice replied. I didn’t recognized but as I drew closer I peeped and saw it was one of the maids who had always gone out of her way to avoid me. “She practically walked into it.”
My blood ran cold.
“Good,” Caitlyn said. “The more pathetic she looks, the easier it’ll be for Xander to forget she ever existed.”
I clenched my fists, anger and humiliation swirling in my chest. For a moment, I considered walking away, retreating to the safety of my room. But then I remembered Luke’s words: You’re stronger than you think.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the room.
The laughter stopped abruptly as Caitlyn and the maid turned to see me standing in the doorway. Caitlyn’s smile faded, replaced by an expression of mild annoyance.
“Well, well,” she said, crossing her arms. “Look who decided to grow a spine.”
I held up the vial, my hand trembling but my voice steady. “You did this.”
Caitlyn’s eyes flicked to the capsule before settling back on me. She smirked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play dumb,” I snapped, my voice rising. “You both drugged me and set me up to look like a fool. Why? Because you couldn’t stand the thought of me being happy with Xander?”
The maid shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting between us. Caitlyn, however, remained calm, her smirk widening.
“Even if I did,” she said, her tone laced with mockery, “who’s going to believe you? Xander? The pack? They’ve already made up their minds about you, darling, not even your tiny evidence would change their minds.”
Her words stung, but I refused to let her see how much. “I don’t care if it takes me days, weeks, or months. I’ll find a way to prove the truth. You won’t get away with this.”
Caitlyn laughed, the sound cold and hollow. “Oh, Alison. You’re wasting your time. But by all means, go ahead and try. It’ll only make your failure that much sweeter.”
Her words were like poison, seeping into my resolve. But instead of breaking me, they fueled my determination. I met her gaze, my voice steady and unwavering.
“I’m not doing this for you,” I said. “I’m doing this for me. And when the truth comes out, you’ll be the one who’s humiliated.”
Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out of the room. Behind me, I could hear Caitlyn and the maid laughing, their voices a cruel reminder of the battle ahead. But I didn’t look back.
The weight in my pocket felt heavier now, but it wasn’t just the vial, it was the burden of proving my innocence, of reclaiming my dignity. Caitlyn thought she’d won, but she didn’t know me. Not really.
As I stepped into the cool evening air, the first stars appearing in the darkening sky, I made a silent vow. I would uncover the truth, no matter what it took. Caitlyn had underestimated me, and that was her first mistake.
This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.