<h4>Chapter 312: Chapter 312</h4>


    ~Samantha~


    I gave up on sleep around seven. Got dressed. Sshed cold water on my face. Stared at myself in the mirror until my reflection started looking like a stranger.


    The knock on my door came at seven-thirty.


    "Come in." I was too tired to care who it was.


    L entered. She looked better than the rest of us, cleaned up, rested, focused. Like the mine hadn’t almost killed her yesterday.


    "We need to talk." She closed the door behind her. "About the shadow array."


    "Killian already told me. Threeponents. Twins, royal blood, Shadow vessel." I sat on the edge of my bed. "What else is there?"


    "He got it wrong. Or rather, iplete." L pulled out a different scroll from her bag. "I found this after he leftst night. Was going through the documents more carefully."


    She unrolled it on my desk.


    "What am I looking at?"


    "The actual requirements for the shadow array." L pointed at three circles drawn in a triangle formation. "Royal blood. That’s you. Twin keys. That’s Devon and Diana. And this," She tapped the third circle. "Shadow vessel isn’t a person. It’s an object. A relic."


    I moved closer. "What kind of relic?"


    "Specifically, a Silver w relic. Something that’s been purified and blessed by the n. It acts as a path to channel shadow power without corrupting the user." L’s finger traced lines connecting the three circles. "Without it, the array can’t activate. With it, ck Moon can open the shadow gate and merge our world with the shadow realm."


    "And you have one of these relics?"


    "I do. My father’s pendant. He wore it his entire life. It’s been purified by three generations of Silver w leaders." She pulled out a silver chain from under her shirt. "This is what ck Moon is really after. Not Killian. This."


    "Then why did Killian’s documents say Shadow vessel?"


    "Because those were older ns. Before Silver w figured out how to create a safer version using relics instead of living people." L tucked the pendant back under her shirt. "Your mother worked with my father on this. They knew ck Moon was nning something. They created a backup n."


    "What kind of backup n?"


    "The relics can be used two ways. One way activates the array like ck Moon wants. The other way destroys it permanently." L sat on my desk. "But to destroy it, we need all the Silver w relics. Not just mine. All of them."


    "How many are there?"


    "Five. One for each of the surviving n members I mentioned before. We’re scattered across different territories. Hiding. Dying slowly from corruption." L’s voice suddenly seemed to crack. "But if we gather all five relics andbine them with your royal blood and the twins’ purification power, we can end this. Destroy the shadow array before ck Moon uses it."


    "Where are the other four?"


    "That’s the problem. I know general locations but not specifics. They’re in hiding for a reason. I need help tracking them down." L looked at me directly. "I need you to help me find them."


    "Why me?"


    "Because they’ll trust royal blood. They knew your mother. Served her. If you ask them toe out of hiding, they will." L stood up. "But we need to move fast. Three days isn’t much time to find four people who’ve been sessfully hiding for ten years."


    "This could be a trap." I had to say it. "You could be leading us straight to ck Moon."


    "I could be. But I’m not." L crossed her arms. "Look, I get it. You don’t trust me. Dominic definitely doesn’t trust me. But what choice do you have? Sit here and wait for ck Moon toe take the twins? Or actually do something that might stop him?"


    Did she always have to make sense or she was just so good at manipting people?


    "I need to discuss this with Dominic."


    "He’ll say no. His constant doubt  is sabotaging this whole thing. For an Alpha, he’s supposed to take risk. We have a better shot taking Killian with us."


    “And it’sing from a good ce of heart.” I told her.


    "Then fine. Discuss it. Argue over it. Waste time. Just remember we only have three days. And ck Moon isn’t wasting his."


    She left, banging the door hard.


    I got up. Headed downstairs. Found Dominic in his office sorting through patrol reports.


    "We need to talk." I closed the door behind me.


    "About?" He didn’t look up from the papers.


    "L has a n to destroy the shadow array."


    That got his attention. "What kind of n?"


    I exined. The relics. The five Silver w survivors. The backup n my mother and L’s father had created.


    Dominic listened without interrupting. His expression got darker with each detail.


    "No." His answer came the second I finished. "That’s the worst n I have heard in my entire life."


    "You are indirectly insulting my mother."


    “No, I’m not. She’s dead and so is L’s father which means they cannot prove or defend anything that strange girl says. It’s very easy to lie and fool you.” He held his ground.


    "L conveniently has information about a secret backup that requires us to run all over the territory chasing ghosts? While leaving the manor vulnerable? While ck Moon could attack at any time? No. We’re staying here. Behind our defenses."


    “I’m not walking into another trap with my eyes open.”


    "Staying here means waiting for ck Moon toe to us. On his terms. His timing."


    "Staying here means controlling the battlefield. Not running across the territory on a wild goose chase."


    "It’s not a wild goose chase if the relics are real!"


    "If. That’s a big if, Sam. Based on the word of someone we barely know." Dominic stopped pacing. Looked at me. "Why are you so determined to trust her?"


    "Because doing nothing isn’t an option!"


    "Doing something stupid isn’t an option either!"


    "Then what’s your n?!" My voice rose. "Sit here and hope ck Moon just gives up? Hope the twins are safe behind walls when we know he has people inside the pack already?"


    "We’ll root out the traitors."


    "In three days? You really think we can find everyone working for ck Moon in three days?"


    "It’s better than trusting L!"


    "Why?! Why is trusting her so impossible for you?!"


    "Because anyone is capable of betrayal! The prophecy even warned us." Dominic’s control was breaking.


    “You betrayed but still, I forgave you. If anyone should have so much trust issues, it should be me.” I fired back.


    “I don’t just get you sometimes.”


    Right in the middle of our argument, the door opened without a knock. L stood there with Killian behind her. Both of them looked ready for a fight.


    "I could hear you screaming from the entrance hall." L stepped inside. "Want to discuss this like adults or keep yelling until the entire pack knows your business?"


    "Get out of my office." Dominicmanded. "You’re not wee here."


    "Too bad. I’m here anyway." L crossed her arms. "And I’m guessing from all the shouting that Sam told you my n and you said no."


    "I said no because it’s a trap. Because you’re using Sam to get what you want. Because I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you."


    "Using her?" L couldn’t believe it. "I’m trying to save everyone! Including your ungrateful self!"


    "By leading us on some mission to find relics that probably don’t exist? By separating us from our defenses? By making us vulnerable?" Dominic moved around his desk. "You’re either working for ck Moon or you’re an idiot. Haven’t decided which yet."


    "I’m neither. I’m a survivor trying to end the threat that killed my entire n!" L took a step forward. "But you’re so busy being paranoid that you can’t see help when it’s standing right in front of you!"


    "Help? You call this help? Showing up injured with tant lies? Having answers to everything? Knowing exactly where to find secret passages and hidden vaults?" Dominic’s voice rose. "You’re too good to be true. Which means you’re not true at all!"


    "I’m good at this because I was trained for it! Because Silver w taught me how to survive! How to track! How to fight!" L was yelling now too. "But apparently beingpetent makes me suspicious in your eyes!"


    "Beingpetent and conveniently appearing exactly when we need help makes you suspicious! Yes!" Dominic mmed his hand on his desk. "You want me to believe you’re just a helpful stranger? Fine! Prove it! Show me one piece of evidence that you’re not working for ck Moon!"


    "I’ve bled for you! I’ve fought beside you! I’ve given you information that’s kept you alive!" L’s hands clenched into fists. "What more proof do you need?!"


    "Proof that doesn’t involve you benefiting from helping us! Proof that shows you care about more than just finding these relics!" Dominic moved closer. "Because let’s face the facts, you need us more than we need you. And that makes every word out of your mouth suspect!"