The sight of my grandmother''s body hit me like a physical blow. After losing Lily, this second


    death felt like the universe was determined to strip away everyone I loved.


    My legs carried me forward automatically, my mind struggling to process the reality before


    1. me. Grandmother looked peaceful, as if she might wake at any moment to scold me for some


    transgression.


    Olivia stood beside the body, her slender frame shaking with silent sobs. I reached out


    instinctively tofort her, but she flinched away from my touch, her emerald eyes hardening


    as they met mine.


    "Don''t," she said, her voice barely audible.


    Bernard Sheppard stepped forward from where he''d been waiting by the wall. My family''s loyal butler looked decades older today, his usually impable posture now stooped with grief.


    "Alpha King," he said formally, though we''d known each other since my childhood. "I feel I


    must inform you of the circumstances preceding Matriarch Evelyn''s passing."


    I nodded for him to continue, noticing how his hands trembled slightly.


    "After this morning''s... incident at the cemetery, the matriarch checked herself out


    of the medical den against Dr. Fletcher''s advice," Bernard exined. "She instructed the Shadow


    Guard to take her to Rosewood Haven."


    My blood ran cold. "Victoria''s residence?"


    Bernard nodded gravely. "Yes, sir. The Shadow Guard brought Ms. Frost to Matriarch Evelyn''s


    vi. I wasn''t present for what transpired, but I understand the matriarch had Ms. Frost


    restrained."


    Olivia''s head snapped up, her grief momentarily eclipsed by fierce attention. "Victoria," she said, her voice hardening with suspicion. "She''s behind this."


    I turned to her, seeing the usation zing in her eyes. "Olivia, we don''t know what


    happened yet."


    "Don''t we?" she challenged, her voice rising. "Your grandmother confronts Victoria about Lily''s


    death, and hourster she''s dead? You can''t possibly be that blind!"


    Bernard cleared his throat ufortably. "If I may continue, Alpha King. The Shadow Guard


    reported that Matriarch Evelyn instructed them to wait outside while she spoke privately with


    Ms. Frost. Some timeter, they heard Ms. Frost screaming that the matriarch had copsed."


    I ran a hand through my hair, trying to make sense of the situation. "And Victoria? Where is


    < Chapter 107: Olivia''s Grief an


    she now?"


    +15 Points>


    "Still at the matriarch''s vi, I believe," Bernard replied. "The Shadow Guard has kept her there, awaiting your instructions."