Chapter 97: Searching for the Truth.
Chapter 97: Searching for the Truth
(Aria’s POV)
After using the bathroom, I returned to Mrs. Quinn’s elegant sitting room. My heart was pounding as I tried to piece together the fragments of that fateful night.
I paused at the doorway when I noticed Mrs. Quinn speaking in hushed tones on her mobile phone.
“Yes, she’s still here… asking about that night… No, I haven’t told her anything.”
My wolf’s ears perked up, sensing something Important. Who was she talking to?
Mrs. Quinn glanced up, noticing me. Her face registered brief alarm before she smoothly ended her call. “T need to go. She’s back.”
She set her phone down with practiced casualness. “Did you find the restroom alright, dear?”
“Yes, thank you,” I replied, studying her face carefully. Her wolf’s scent had shifted subtly–fear mixed with
deception.
I took a deep breath and decided on directness. “Mrs. Quinn, there’s something else I wanted to ask
about.”
She gestured for me to sit down, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “Of course. What is it?”
you
“That night at the gathering.” I began, watching her reaction closely. “I believe someone slipped moonberry extract into my wolf–whiskey.”
Her eyes widened slightly. That’s a serious accusation.”
‘I’m not accusing anyone specifically,” I clarified. “But I was brought to a guest room when I became disoriented. There was a pack servant who attended to me a she–wolf with auburn hair,”
Mrs. Quinn’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around her teacup. “We have several servants with
auburn hair.”
“This one had a small birthmark near her right eye,” I pressed. “She might have cleaned the room after… after
I left the next morning.”
The older she–wolf’s composure wavered for just a moment. “I’m sorry, there are many servants… it’s difficult to recall specific ones from a month ago.”
“Please,” I leaned forward, desperation creeping into my voice. “It’s important. She might have seen who was with me that night.”
Mrs. Quinn opened her mouth to respond when the doorbell chimed. Relief flooded her features. “Excuse me, I
should get that.”
She hurried to the door before I could stop her. I sat back, frustration burning in my chest. She knew something I was certain of it.
“Mrs. Quinn,” a deep, familiar voice echoed from the entryway. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Dominic. What was he doing here?
Chapter 97. Searching for
Chapter 97: Searching for the Truth
Chapter 97: Searching for the Truth
(Aria’s POV)
After using the bathroom, I returned to Mrs. Quinn’s elegant sitting room. My heart was pounding as I tried to piece together the fragments of that fateful night.
I paused at the doorway when I noticed Mrs. Quinn speaking in hushed tones on her mobile phone.
“Yes, she’s still here… asking about that night… No, I haven’t told her anything.”
My wolf’s ears perked up, sensing something important. Who was she talking to?
Mrs. Quinn glanced up, noticing me. Her face registered brief alarm before she smoothly ended her call. “I need to go. She’s back.”
She set her phone down with practiced casualness. “Did you find the restroom alright, dear?”
“Yes, thank you,” I replied, studying her face carefully. Her wolf’s scent had shifted subtly fear mixed with
deception.
I took a deep breath and decided on directness. “Mrs. Quinn, there’s something else I wanted to ask you
about.”
She gestured for me to sit down, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “Of course. What is it?”
“That night at the gathering,” I began, watching her reaction closely. “I believe someone slipped moonberry extract into my wolf–whiskey.”
Her eyes widened slightly. “That’s a serious accusation.”
I’m not accusing anyone specifically,” I clarified. “But I was brought to a guest room when I became disoriented. There was a pack servant who attended to me a she–wolf with auburn hair.”
Mrs. Quinn’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around her teacup. “We have several servants with
auburn hair.”
This one had a small birthmark near her right eye,” I pressed. “She might have cleaned the room after… after I left the next morning.”
The older she–wolf’s composure wavered for just a moment. “I’m sorry, there are many servants… it’s difficult to recall specific ones from a month ago.”
“Please,” I leaned forward, desperation creeping into my voice. “It’s important. She might have seen who was with me that night.”
Mrs. Quinn opened her mouth to respond when the doorbell chimed. Relief flooded her features. “Excuse me, I should get that.”
She hurried to the door before I could stop her. I sat back, frustration burning in my chest. She knew something – I was certain of it.
“Mrs. Quinn,” a deep, familiar voice echoed from the entryway. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Dominic. What was he doing here?
Chapter 7 Garching for
I stared at him in disbelief. Help me? By taking advantage of me while I was drugged?
“That’s not what I meant,” he said quickly.
“It doesn’t matter what the intention was, tonapped, anger suddenly flaring within me “Drugging someone and then. “I couldn’t finish the sentence. The very thought made me sick. No one has that night. I would have preferred no help at all”
My vehemence seemed to startle him. He pulled out of the Quinn estate driveway, his focus momentarily wavering The SUV swerved sharply, nearly clipping a passing car
Dominic recovered quickly, his hands steady once more. But I noticed the tension in his jaw, the slight pallor
beneath his tan skin.
We drove in silence for several minutes, the weight of my revelation hanging between us
“The pack servant,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “The one who attended to me that night–she’s the key. She must have seen who was with me.”
“Did Mrs. Quinn identify her?” Dominic asked, his voice carefully controlled.
my
I shook
something.”
head. “She claimed not to remember. But her scent changed when I mentioned it. She knows
“Did she confirm the servant works for the Quinn pack?”
“No,” I sighed. “She avoided answering directly. That’s why I think the servant might have been planted there possibly by Richard.”
Dominic considered this, his silver–gray eyes thoughtful. “I’ll find her”
Three simple words, spoken with such certainty that I almost believed it possible.
“How?” I asked, hope flickering despite my despair.
“I have resources,” he replied, a hint of his Alpha authority coloring his tone. “If she exists, I will find her.”
Exhaustion swept over me. The emotional toll of the day had drained what little energy I had. I leaned back against the seat, suddenly grateful for Dominic’s presence, his quiet strength.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He reached across and briefly squeezed my hand, the gesture surprisingly gentle from such a powerful Alpha. “You’re not alone in this, Aria.”
Those words, simple as they were, wrapped around me like a protective shield. For the first time since discovering Claire knew about my pregnancy, I felt a glimmer of hope.
Back at my apartment in Moon Valley Residences, I had just settled onto the couch when my mobile phone rang. Olivia’s name flashed on the screen.
“Aria? Where have you been?” Her voice was sharp with worry. “Dominic called me earlier asking if I knew where you were. He seemed really concerned.”
I sighed, too drained to fabricate a story. “I went to the Quinn estate to investigate something.” “Investigate what? Why didn’t you tell me?” The hurt in her voice made me wince.
“It was impulsive,” I admitted. “I needed answers about… that night at the territorial gathering.”
Chapter 97 Searching for
Olivia fell silent for a moment. “The night you think you were drugged?”
–
“Yes.” I proceeded to tell her everything my suspicions about Richard and Claire, my fears about the pup’s paternity, my desperate search for the mysterious pack servant.
“Those scheming, manipulative monsters!” Olivia exploded when I finished. “How dare they! When I get my hands on Claire Watson, I’ll rip those fake eyelashes right off her face and-”
Despite everything, I found myself smiling at my friend’s fierce loyalty. “Olivia, I interrupted her colorful description of Claire’s demise, “it’s okay.”
“It is NOT okay!” she insisted. “What they did is criminal. We should report them to the Territorial Enforcers!” “With what evidence?” I asked wearily. “It’s my word against theirs. And they have influence.”
Olivia huffed in frustration. After a moment of angry muttering, she asked more gently, “So what now? What’s your next step?”
I had already moved past the initial shock and rage, into cold clarity. My hand rested on my belly, feeling the small swell that housed my pup – a pup conceived in deception, possibly with a complete stranger.
“The pup can’t stay,” I said, my voice steady and calm.
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