The morgue door opened again, and my father, Elder Richard Stone, entered with several other family elders. Their faces were solemn, eyes red-rimmed with grief.
My father approached the body slowly, his usualmanding presence diminished by sorrow. He ced a weathered hand on my grandmother''s forehead in a traditional gesture of respect.
"My mother," he said simply, his voice rough with emotion.
I stepped back, giving him space with his grief. "Father, I need to go to Grandmother''s vi. Victoria is still there, and I need to understand what happened."
He nodded without looking at me, his attention fixed on his mother''s face. "Go. We will prepare the ceremonial arrangements."
I turned to leave, noticing that Olivia was already heading for the door. Despite our estrangement, we were united in our need for answers.
In the corridor outside the morgue, Olivia pulled out her phone and dialed a number. I caught the name on her screen: Chief Walter Garrison.
"Chief Garrison," she said, her voice steady despite her tear-stained face. "This is Olivia Winters. I need to report a murder."
(Olivia''s POV)
The drive to Matriarch Evelyn''s vi was tense with unspoken usations. Ethan drove in silence, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. I sat beside him only because we were heading to the same destination, not because I wanted hispany.
"You really believe Victoria killed my grandmother?" he finally asked, his amber eyes briefly meeting mine before returning to the road.
"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "Just like she killed our daughter."
His jaw tightened. “Lily died from kidney failure, Olivia. Victoria had nothing to do with that."
Iughed bitterly. "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe if you repeat it enough times, it will be true."
Wepsed back into silence until we reached the imposing gates of Matriarch Evelyn''s vi. Police vehicles were already parked outside, their lights shing silently in the evening gloom.
+15 Points)
Chief Walter Garrison stood waiting, his uniform crisp despite thete hour. He was a tall man with graying hair and the confident bearing of someone ustomed to authority.
"Alpha King," he greeted Ethan with a respectful nod before turning to me. "Luna Winters, I came as soon as I received your call."
Ethan''s eyes narrowed slightly at the chief''s use of my formal title. Few in the pack still acknowledged me as Luna since our estrangement.
"Chief Garrison," Ethan said, his voice carrying the unmistakable weight of his Alpha status. "I appreciate your prompt response, but this is a pack matter."
The chief remained professional. "With respect, Alpha King, a death under suspicious circumstances falls under my jurisdiction. We will, of course, coordinate with pack authorities."
I stepped forward. "Thank you foring, Chief. I believe Victoria Frost murdered Matriarch Evelyn Stone to prevent her from revealing Victoria''s role in my daughter''s death."
Ethan''s expression darkened. "Olivia, these are serious usations without evidence."
"Then let''s find the evidence," I replied coldly.
We entered the vi, where members of the Shadow Guard stood at attention. Their faces were impassive, but I could sense their unease. These elite wolves had failed in their duty to protect the matriarch, and that knowledge weighed heavily on them.
The leader of the Shadow Guard stepped forward. He was a massive wolf with a scar running. down his left cheek, his eyes downcast with shame.
"Alpha King," he said, his deep voice resonating in the marble foyer. "We await your judgment for our failure."
Ethan raised a hand. “Later. First, tell me exactly what happened."
The guard straightened his shoulders. "Matriarch Evelyn instructed us to bring Ms. Frost here.
We bound her asmanded and brought her to the matriarch''s private study. The matriarch
then ordered us to wait outside."
"And you left them alone?" I asked incredulously.
The guard''s expression remained stoic. "We follow the matriarch''s orders without question.
That has always been our way."
"Continue," Ethan prompted.
< Chapter 107: Olivia''s Grief an
+15 Points >
"We heard raised voices, but nothing rming. Then, approximately forty minutester, we heard Ms. Frost screaming for help. When we entered, the matriarch was on the floor, unresponsive. Ms. Frost was still bound."
Chief Garrison made notes as the guard spoke. "And where is Ms. Frost now?"
"In the basement holding cell," the guard replied. "The matriarch had it constructed for interrogations. We thought it best to keep Ms. Frost there until the Alpha King arrived."
Ethan''s voice was rough with emotion when he spoke. "Take us to her."
(Ethan''s POV)
The basement of my grandmother''s vi had always been off-limits during my childhood. Now I understood why. The stone walls and reinforced door spoke of a purpose far removed from
the elegant living spaces above.
The guard unlocked the heavy door, revealing a sparse room with a single chair in the center. Victoria sat there, her wrists bound behind her back, her ankles secured to the chair legs.
Her face was still bandaged from her injury at the cemetery, but fresh tears had streaked through her makeup. When she saw me, her blue eyes widened with relief.
"Ethan!" she cried, straining against her restraints. "Thank the Moon you''re here! Is she alright? Your grandmother-she just copsed in front of me. I tried to call for help!"
I approached her slowly, aware of Olivia''s burning gaze on my back and Chief Garrison''s
watchful presence.
"Victoria," I said, my voice barely recognizable to my own ears. "My grandmother is dead."