<h4>Chapter 403: The Remaining Three</h4>


    L sat on the hospital bench, her foot tapping impatiently against the floor in a constant, restless pace as she moaned over her decision to help Asher Nightshade.


    Boosting Adele’s power had drained her, leaving her too depleted to continue the search for Violet. They had no choice but to stay behind and deal with the aftermath the operatives left behind.


    ric and Roman had rounded up the remaining rogues who had tried escaping in the middle of themotion. Adele, nearly copsing herself, used thest of her strength to heal the injured andfort the traumatized she-wolves, most of whom had never thought they’d be rescued.


    In one word, the cleanupsted well into dawn.


    By the time the parents of the Cardinal Alphas arrived, they brought with them their usual entourage of pack members. Henry had personally arranged for Asher’s unconscious body to be transported under heavy care. Irene Hale had dered she’d be leading the mission to recover Violet and Griffin herself.


    Of course, L had insisted oning too.


    "I understand you’re Violet’s friend," Irene had said, brushing her off cooly, "but you’ve done enough. Follow the others and leave this to me. I’ll find Violet and my son."


    And that was that.


    L had wanted to argue but she didn’t have a good enough excuse. Irene likely assumed she was human and had nothing meaningful to contribute to the mission. And L couldn’t exactly reveal that she was Fae.


    It was already dangerous enough that the Cardinal Alphas knew about her identity, and even more dangerous that they suspected Violet’s roots. Their parents couldn’t know. Especially not their parents.


    At least the Cardinal Alphas had a reason to protect Violet, but their parents didn’t. Fae power was coveted and werewolves, in all their strength, were still creatures driven by want. Greed was what got them all tangled in this mess in the first ce.


    Roman, at least, had offered to go with Irene, surprising her. The green haired, slightly likeable asshole had winked at her and L understood this was his way of saying, <i>I’ve got your back.</i>


    So Roman left with Irene.


    Meanwhile, his father, Alpha Leon, took the lead in rounding up the rogues and securing the scene for formal investigation. An investigation Caspian Storm had alreadyunched into, inspecting the high-tech gear and weapons the operatives had used, even before the special werewolf-human alliance team arrived.


    In short, she was shipped off with Adele and ric. Which led her to sitting here in the sterile hallway of the hospital, posing as someone waiting patiently for Asher’s recovery when in reality, she was simply waiting for any news of Violet.


    Just then, a news segment shed across the television mounted on the wall, immediately drawing her attention.


    <strong><i>"We areing to you live from the edge of the Wildveil Rainforest, located far beyond the structured borders of Aster City and its surrounding human districts. This dense, ungoverned expanse has long been shrouded in mystery, but we havee to confirm that it is indeed the stronghold of the rogue werewolves."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"Over the past several months, attacks on werewolf packs and nearbymunities have surged, leading to rising tension between the packs and heightened security concerns. But it seems the rogues may have finally met their match following their brazen kidnapping of Cardinal Alpha Griffin Hale and Violet Purple, a well-known Lunaris Academy schrship student with ties to all four houses."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"While there has been no official confirmation on the whereabouts of Griffin or Violet, sources say a high-level search operation is already underway, led by none other than the formidable Alpha Irene of the East Pack."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"Initial reports suggest that the Cardinal Alphas were the first to respond upon learning of their friends’ disappearance. Eyewitnesses im they fought fiercely, even when heavily outnumbered. Tragically, the battle has left Asher Nightshade, son of Alpha Henry of the West Pack, hospitalized. No further updates have been given, but our thoughts are with him and his family as he recovers."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"This incident highlights the weight these young heirs already carry. With graduation just months away, many believe this is a glimpse into the future of pack leadership. The Cardinal Alphas are not just students, they are warriors, and if this is any indication, they’re already preparing to inherit the mantle of leadership from their parents."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"The alliance between humans and werewolves has never been more crucial, and many are hopeful that these next-generation leaders will usher in a new era of peace, power, and unity."</i></strong>


    <strong><i>"Now, as the search efforts continue, we turn our attention to those on the ground. Stay with us as we speak to eyewitnesses and members of the Packs who arrived at the scene shortly after the battle..."</i></strong>


    L was frowning now as she realized


    there was no mention of the operatives fromst night. Clearly, the truth was being buried. They were keeping it from the public to prevent panic. But more than that, this was politics.The Alpha King was at the center of it all, and the case had to be handled delicately.


    The door opened and Adele stepped out of the room, looking around only for her gaze to fall on L. Her expression immediately brightened.


    "Hey," Adele said.


    L ignored her.


    Which was fine by her. She was quickly getting used to the girl’s unique attitude.


    Adele sat down beside her, then nced at the news screen before shifting her attention back to L. "So... Asher is stable now. We had to keep him sedated so his body could use the time to recover." She looked at L again hopefully, but there was still no reaction from her.


    Awkwardly, she added, "I just wanted you to know. Just in case."


    Still no response.


    Yep. She was going to keep her mouth shut from this point forward.


    Silence stretched for over a minute before Adele finally snapped.


    "Okay, I don’t want to make it seem like I’m bothering you, but I just can’t help it anymore." She scooted closer, squinting at L. "Usually, I see these kids as just kids. But something tells me you’re not. How old are you, exactly?"


    This time, L turned to her.


    Adele raised both palms quickly. "I just need to know how to address you. That’s all."


    Finally, L replied. "Yes, I’m much older than you think. But don’t worry about that. Just pretend I’m one of those kids and nothing has changed because it won’t. Once I have Violet back and safe, I’ll erase your memory and—"


    "Whoa, wait a minute?!" Adele’s eyes widened. "Did you just say you’d erase my memory?"


    "Violet’s secret has to be kept safe," L said firmly.


    "All you have to do is say a word and I’ll carry it to my grave."


    "Unfortunately, I don’t trust you," L said bluntly and Adele flinched as if pped.


    For a moment, she was speechless. Then sheposed herself, schooling her face into a neutral expression before she said tightly, "You are one cold bitch, you know that?"


    "I don’t care what you think about me," L said without missing a beat. "My role here is to protect Violet. That is what matters, nothing else."


    Adele shook her head in disbelief, then looked past her. "Well, if that’s the case, speak of the devil."


    L, confused, turned to follow her gaze, only to see Roman approaching. Finally!


    However, there was something different about Roman. His expression was like stone, his eyes dark, and the energy from him radiating menace as he walked down the hallway with silent fury.


    But L didn’t care.She needed answers now.


    She stood, cutting off his path. "How did it go? Where is—"


    Roman brushed past her without a nce, as if she were air.


    L’s jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing into ice. She wasn’t taking this bullshit.


    Roman was still striding ahead when, without warning, he was mmed into the wall with enough force to crack the paint. Before he could recover, the petite-sized Fae was in his face, snarling, "Where is Violet?"


    Roman’s Alpha instincts red and he moved with lightning speed, grabbing her and flipping the position, mming her against the opposite wall.


    His voice was low, and feral, his wolf rising to the surface.


    "Don’t you darey a hand on me again unless you want to lose it."


    But the defiance in her eyes burned and


    Roman could tell she was about to challenge him again.


    But before either could strike, Adele’s voice rang out.


    "Stop it, both of you! Stop it right now!" She rushed between them, turning on L. "You want your secret exposed here, in front of everyone? Huh?"


    That did the trick. They both stepped back.


    However the tension didn’t fade and just thickened in the air around them.


    "Where is Violet?" L demanded. "Why is she not with you? You promised to bring her back."


    Roman snarled.


    "Your Violet isn’t with me because she’s fucking wonderful and probably living her best life in the East Pack right now."


    "What are you talking about?" L blinked in confusion, thrown off-bnce.


    Roman gave a bitter smile. "Violet has been fate-mated to Griffin Hale. So congrattions..." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "You don’t have to worry about the remaining three anymore."