Pollux PoV.
I read the copy of Benedetta’s bank statement. There was a large transfer into her account on the same day she died. I looked at another piece of paper Alvise had given me to check the sender’s name, which was written as an anagram.
Alvise beamed as he showed me his phone screen. I frowned, still not understanding what was written there. My eyes shifted back and forth between him and the screen, waiting for a clear answer.
“I don’t get it. Just tell me, Al-who is Virion? I’m too tired to think.”
“Virgil Vissarion. I removed the last syllable of his first name and the first two syllables of his last name. You know I love doing this kind of thing, Pol.”
Suddenly, everything clicked in my mind. My blood began rushing through my veins at full speed. My claws nearly tore through the car seat as I heard Alvise reveal more evidence of Virgil’s involvement.
“I swear I’ll kill him when the time comes. I knew this had to be a setup. What do you think his motive is for all of this?”
“Moonstone will become powerful, unmatched even by a millennium-old vampire. You Alphas will need a Luna, and we’ll need synergy with you. Especially since Luna Godiva is a descendant of the Moon Goddess. They’ll do anything to separate you two.”
“Damn it!”
I figured Castor must have already known about this. That’s why he wanted to talk to me and asked me to meet him tomorrow. This is exhausting. Just when Castor and I are at half our strength, I have to face this truth.
“Beta Alvise, I order you to investigate everyone involved-whether they’re human, vampire, or witch. If it’s proven true, I’ll make sure they all pay.”
“Copy that, Alpha Pollux.”
Suddenly, I felt like my heart was being squeezed. The pain was bearable, but I knew it was because of Godiva. Somewhere out there, she was probably in pain or sorrow.
My thoughts grew chaotic because of this. “For the Moon Goddess, give us the strength to find your daughter.”
I didn’t care if I sounded like a grumbling man. The human side of me took over, making me more sensitive to Godiva’s absence, even more than when I rejected Benedetta. I used to think that human talk about loss was just overly dramatic, but after experiencing it firsthand, I finally understood.
I still had feelings, and these emotions were inevitable. I needed to express them and then rise up to find a solution.
When I arrived at the mansion, I was surprised to see Castor’s car parked in the garage. Had he returned? I hurried inside to see for myself. As I passed through the grand hall, I spotted Castor talking to Iride. From what I overheard, the head omega had been instructed by Castor to prepare his room.
I felt compelled to confirm and asked, “Are you staying here again?”
“Yes, I’m going to see Dad. He wants me to visit. I’m tired and need some rest. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”
Though still hesitant, I dared to ask again, “Have you forgiven me, Cas?”
“I’ve forgiven you. Now let me rest.”
“Thank you, Cas.”
He didn’t say anything more, just nodded and headed up the stairs. I felt immense relief from his forgiveness. It was more like a motivation for me to get serious about finding Godiva.
I mind-linked Alvise, who was still in the garage when I entered the mansion, asking him to join me for dinner and drinks in the backyard while we enjoyed the night breeze. The weight on my heart lifted slightly, and I wanted to celebrate with Alvise.
A few warriors passed by our table as we finished dinner and sipped wine. They carried three deer tied to a long wooden pole, loudly cheering from their successful hunt. It added a lively atmosphere to the night.
I nodded in response to their greetings. Castor, Alvise, and I rarely ate the spoils of the hunt. The warriors deserved to enjoy it, even though the omegas had already prepared meals for the pack members. I figured it was because their animal instincts were still sharper than ours.
“Aren’t you going to join them?” Alvise asked after taking a sip from his wine glass.
“No. I’m full.”
“I noticed Alpha Castor’s attitude toward you has softened. He can’t stay mad at you for long, Alpha Pollux.”
“To be honest, he’s much more forgiving than I am. If I were in his position, I would have already stormed off and left Moonstone. I’m lucky to have a brother like Castor. He’s a good guy.”
“You can say that again, Alpha. Nothing will easily disrupt the bond between you two over something like this. Just hang in there.”
“Yeah, you could say that. Now let’s talk about you. Haven’t you found your mate yet, Beta Alvise?”
There was a brief silence. I glanced at Alvise as he poured more wine into his glass, but he remained quiet. I caught a fleeting gleam in his eyes, followed by a long sigh.
I hadn’t even noticed my Beta’s own matters. Alvise had been by my side, helping with Moonstone and Blackmoon affairs all this time. I felt like I had missed something important.
As I swirled the wine glass in my hand, inhaling the calming aroma, I looked at Alvise again.
“That omega, Trisha. She’s my mate. I wanted to tell you at the start of this mating season, but things got out of control. I can tell she’s a member whose loyalty is unquestionable. Ah… if only she were here.”
“I’m surprised to hear this confession. I’m sorry you got caught up in all this.”
I felt bad for Alvise. None of us had expected this outcome. I sighed deeply and set the glass down on the table.
The moon had turned a deeper orange, marking the end of the werewolf mating season. Yet here we were, the werewolf leaders of Moonstone, consumed by a sense of loss. As the cool night air brushed my skin, I realized it was past midnight.
The voices of the warriors grew quieter, with some of them beginning to snore. The crackling embers in the air became a melody that lulled me to sleep. I let the cold air wrap around me, imagining what Godiva might be going through out there, possibly enduring the same chill.
“How are you and our child, sweet pea? Are you both safe?”
“Luna Godiva has the strength you and the others taught her, Alpha. The Moon Goddess is surely protecting her as well. She’s a blessing to the Moonstone pack.”
Alvise’s words were the last thing I heard before I closed my eyes. I could only hope to remain calm and think positively about Godiva and our child. Especially after Cian told me she was carrying twins, I could only pray to the Moon Goddess to keep them safe and give them the best.