Alison’s POV
The silence of the main hall was pretty much deceptive, almost mocking. The weight of my vision still hung heavy in my chest, like a storm cloud waiting to burst. Every step echoed sharply as I approached my father’s study, my resolve strengthening with every beat of my heart.
The vision had been vividly clear, too vivid to ignore. I could still hear the voice of the messenger speaking to me, feel the power in the air as it commanded me to find the Crimson Vault. If this vault truly held the key to ending Alpha Cedric’s threats, I had no choice but to pursue it.
Still, doubt gnawed at the edges of my determination. Was I chasing shadows? Or was this the very path I was destined to tread?
I paused outside the study door, gripping the handle, my knuckles whitening. What if he denies its existence altogether? I swallowed hard, ignoring the tremor in my hand, and pushed the door open.
My father looked up from behind his mahogany desk, his piercing eyes narrowing as he saw me enter without knocking. “Darling ,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “To what do I owe this August visit, is everything alright?”
“Actually dad,” I replied, my voice firmer than I expected. “I need to know about the Crimson Vault.”
The room seemed to freeze. My father’s expression didn’t shift, but something flickered in his eyes, more like fear or hesitation. He set his pen down with a deliberate slowness. “How did you come to hear about the Crimson Vault?”
“I saw it in the ancient books down at the library,” I lied, unwilling to reveal the vision and my quest to resolve the war threat without the use of war. “I read that it was supposed to be at the Alpha’s study and u remember seeing this in here.” I pointed to the vault behind him making him turn
He let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging under a weight he had carried for far too long. “The Crimson Vault,” he began, his voice quiet but edged with regret, “is more than just a legend, Alison. But it’s not here.”
My stomach twisted. “What do you mean, it’s not here? It’s right behind you”
“That is a make shift, the real one had been missing for almost a century,” he admitted, his gaze drifting to the window. “Every Alpha swore an oath never to reveal its disappearance as it could be disastrous for us and all Allied Packs that own it. The vault used to be moved in secret to protect it from falling into the wrong hands, but somewhere along the way… it vanished or more like one of our ancestors lost it.”
I clenched my fists at my sides, my nails biting into my palms. “And you never thought to tell me? To tell anyone?”
“Like I said, It wasn’t my duty to tell” he snapped, his voice sharp now. “The oath binds us all. No one could speak of it unless absolutely necessary. And even if I wanted to, I couldn’t tell you where it is… because I don’t know.”
His words hit me like a blow to the chest. The vault I had thought was here all along had been missing, How was I supposed to follow the vision’s instructions if the very thing it demanded was lost? But even as doubt threatened to consume me, a spark of defiance ignited within.
“How can I find it,” I said, my voice steady. “No matter how long it takes, I want definitely find it.”
He looked at me, his expression softening. “Darling, I admire your determination and care towards the pack, but unfortunately this isn’t a task to take lightly. The vault’s secrets are dangerous. Whatever is inside… it could destroy as much as it saves.”
“I’ll take that risk,” I murmured inaudibly. “Because if I don’t act, Cedric will destroy us anyway.”
“Did you say something Honey?” my father asked making me shake my head
“Oh no! Just thinking out loud” I replied
He didn’t argue further, only nodding solemnly. “Anyways in whatever you are researching please be careful, Darling, okay?” he said looking worried
“Okay dad. Let me leave you to your work, I need to visit Simone” with that I dashed off before he could stop me.
Later that day, I found myself in Simone’s little hut. The usual scent of herbs and candles filled the air, the room dimly lit by flickering flames. Simone was perched on a stool, her piercing blurred green pupils fixed on me as I recounted my father’s revelation.
When I finished, she shook her head slowly, her lips pursed. “The vault being missing complicates things,” she said. “But it doesn’t make your task impossible.”
“How do I find something no one’s seen in a decade?” I asked, frustration lacing my tone.
Simone tapped her fingers against the table, thinking. “We’ll figure it out. But first, you need to stop pushing everyone away.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Xander,” she said simply. ” I have heard your phone go off about Five times today and I’m definitely sure it’s Xander and you’ve practically ignored every one.”
I bristled. “I’m trying to protect him from hitting the worst Alpha of the year. If I involve him in this and something happens… ”
“You think you’re protecting him by shutting him out?” Simone interrupted, her voice sharp. “You’re only hurting him. He deserves to know what’s going on.”
As if on cue, my phone buzzed again. I glanced at the screen and it was Xander. I sighed, hesitating.
“Answer it,” Simone urged.
Reluctantly, I picked up the call. “Xander,” I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.
“Finally,” he said, his voice a mix of relief and irritation. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? What’s going on, Alison?”
I hesitated, glancing at Simone. She nodded encouragingly. “I’ve been… busy,” I admitted. “Alpha Cedric is pushing fit the mating of me and Felix, he has thrown a way into the equation, and I’m doing everything in my powers to stop him.”
There was a pause. Then his voice came through, low and tense. “What do you mean, stop him? You can’t seriously think you can handle what ever this is on your own.”
“I’m not alone,” I said. “Simone is helping me.”
“Simone?” he repeated, disbelief coloring his tone. “Alison, this isn’t some magical problem you can solve with potions and spells. This is a war threat. And you’re the Crimson Pack’s Alpha’s daughter. You need to let us fight for you. I’m willing to fight along sides your pack”
“No,” I said firmly. “I have a solution, Xander. I just need time to figure it out. If it doesn’t work, I’ll ask for your help. But for now, please trust me.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “You’re so damn stubborn, you know that?”
“You’ve constantly repeated that to me,” I said, a small smile tugging at my lips.
“Fine,” he relented. “But if you need anything… anything at all, you call me. Got it?”
“Got it,” I said softly.
“Be careful, Alison,” he added, his voice gentler now.
“I will,” I promised before hanging up. “There, all done
“Good, so where do we start” Simone adjusted herself on the stool
As the evening deepened, Simone and I sat at her table, poring over old maps and texts. While I read out what was in them she explained that the Crimson Vault was likely hidden in a location steeped in pack history, a place sacred to the Crimson lineage.
“There are only a handful of places it could be,” Simone said, tracing her finger over the map. “The ancestral burial grounds, the oldest training grounds, the Moonlit Hollow…”
“We’ll search all of them if we have to,” I said.
Simone gave me a small smile. “You’re determined, I’ll give you that. But this won’t be easy, Alison. The vault is hidden for a reason. Whoever moved it didn’t want it to be found.”
“Then we’ll just have to be smarter than them,” I said, my jaw set.
Simone sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’re a force of nature, Alison. I just hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“So do I,” I admitted.
We spent hours planning our search, mapping out the locations we would investigate and the resources we would need. As the clock ticked past evening, fatigue began to weigh on me, but I refused to stop.
“This isn’t just about the vault,” Simone said suddenly, breaking the silence.
I looked up at her. “What do you mean?”
“You’re fighting for more than just your pack,” she said. “You’re fighting for your future. For your freedom. And that’s what makes you dangerous to someone like Cedric.”
Her words settled over me like a warm blanket, bolstering my resolve. “Then let him see how dangerous I can be.”
Simone chuckled. “I don’t doubt it for a second.”
As we finalized our plans, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead was uncertain, but I was ready to face it head-on. I would find the Crimson Vault. I would protect my pack. And I would prove to myself and to everyone else that I was more than just the Alpha’s daughter. I was a fighter. A survivor.
And I wasn’t done yet.