Pandora’s POV
By mid-day, I could see the tension in Rolan’s face, the way his shoulders tensed and his brow furrowed as if he were carrying the weight of the world.
It was subtle at first, just the occasional glance out the window, the fingers tapping against his arm, but by the time the sun had climbed to its zenith, his unease was palpable.
“Rolan,” I said gently, sitting across from him. “What’s bothering you? You’ve been on edge all morning.”
He hesitated, eyes flicking toward the door as if someone might be listening. “It’s the pack,” he finally admitted, rubbing a hand over his face. “Caleb’s been suspecting Griffin of foul play with the DNA results.”
I blinked, confused. “Didn’t you order the test yourself? Why would Caleb think something’s wrong?”
Rolan sighed heavily, his fingers still tapping a restless beat. “I did, but… Caleb’s thorough. He tracked down the woman Griffin claimed was his mother. The woman said she found Griffin starving on the streets when he was a kid, but when he turned eight, he ran away from her home. She hasn’t seen him since.”
I felt a cold chill snake down my spine. “So, Griffin lied about his background?”
“Looks like it,” Rolan muttered, his gaze distant. “And it’s not just that. The more I think about it, the more I realize how little we know about him. He came into our lives suddenly, and it all felt so… planned.”
A heavy silence settled between us as I digested this new information. “Did your father ever mention anything about him?” I asked, my voice quiet. “Any reason why he might have trusted Griffin?”
Rolan shook his head. “No. Dad didn’t talk much about Griffin. But my mom… she hated him from the start. She always said there was something off about him.”
“What did Griffin say about that?” I pressed, feeling the web of secrets tightening around us.
Rolan’s expression darkened, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “He told me once that my father had been drugged by one of his associates, and in his confusion, my mom offered herself to him, thinking it would calm him down. When Griffin showed up, he blamed that moment of betrayal for why my mom hated him. But…” His voice faltered, and he stared into the distance, lost in thought.
“But it doesn’t add up, does it?” I said softly.
“No,” he admitted, shaking his head. “It never did. And now with this new information, it’s like everything I thought I knew about him is crumbling.”
I reached out, placing a hand on his arm, feeling the tension rippling through his muscles. “Don’t worry, Rolan,” I said, trying to sound reassuring even as my own mind raced. “Griffin’s lies will catch up with him. He won’t be able to hurt you.”
His eyes met mine, and there was a deep weariness in them that broke my heart. “I’m not scared for myself,” he said. “I just… I don’t want Griffin to hurt anyone else. Camila… She’s been feeding us information about him, and now I’m worried that he’s figured it out. Her life’s in danger, Pandora.”
The weight of his words hung in the air, and I felt my pulse quicken. Camila had been playing a dangerous game, one I hadn’t fully realized until now. If Griffin knew, if he even suspected, she was as good as dead.
“I’ll send someone,” I said quickly, already forming a plan in my mind. “I’ll get her out of there. I’ll tell her I need her help with the festival preparations. That’ll give us an excuse to bring her here.”
Rolan nodded, but his jaw tightened. “Don’t send just one person, Pandora. Griffin’s dangerous. If he suspects anything, we’ll need to move quickly.”
“I’ll be careful,” I promised. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”
He nodded again, but the worry didn’t leave his face. Leaning forward, I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Go get some lunch,” I told him softly.
“The day’s about to get even busier, and you’ll need your strength. You’ve got members arriving for the festival soon, and we can’t afford for you to be distracted.”
He gave a small, tired smile, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m glad you’re here, Pandora. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“You won’t have to find out,” I whispered, watching as he stood and made his way out of the room, his shoulders still carrying the weight of his fears.
As soon as the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath, the knot in my stomach tightening. Griffin’s web of lies was unraveling, and I could feel the danger looming over us like a storm cloud ready to break. Camila was in real trouble, and we didn’t have much time.
I grabbed the nearest comm and dialed quickly, speaking in hushed tones as I arranged for Camila’s extraction. “Make it look casual,” I instructed the guards. “Tell her it’s about the festival. Bring her here, now. And don’t let Griffin get wind of it.”
As I ended the call, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking a razor’s edge. Griffin had manipulated all of us for so long, weaving himself into our lives, into Rolan’s trust. Now, with his lies exposed, I feared what a cornered animal like him might do. Especially to Camila.
I paced the room, trying to suppress the growing sense of unease. Rolan had said it himself, Griffin was dangerous. How far would he go to protect his secrets? To keep his grip on the power he had so carefully cultivated?
I glanced at the door, half expecting Griffin to burst in, demanding answers, already knowing we were trying to take Camila from him. The house remained silent, save for the ticking of the clock on the wall.
A knock at the door startled me, and I jumped to my feet, heart racing.
When the door opened, one of the guards stood there, his face grim. “Camila’s not reachable,” he said quietly. “But there’s been movement at Griffin’s house. He might be onto us.”
I nodded, my mind spinning. “Keep an eye on him,” I instructed. “If he makes a move, let me know. I’m on my way.”