<h4>Chapter 53: He Did It</h4>


    Hailee’s POV


    "I just got a text from my boyfriend," she said slowly, her voice shaking. "He’s on border patrol duty today. He said... they found a clue about who did it."


    My stomach dropped. "What kind of clue?"


    "I don’t know yet," she whispered, eyes still glued to her screen. "He said they’re not releasing details, but the warriors and the Gamma Council are already on it. He asked me to stay inside and avoid talking to anyone."


    A cold chill crept down my spine.


    L walked closer to me and sat beside me, then she ced aforting hand on my shoulder. "You don’t have to be scared, Hailee. I believe Peter will handle it." She assured me, but it wasn’t helping.


    "What if it’s toote already?" I whispered in fear.


    Then L shrugged. "You will tell them who you are—I bet they will not dare to eveny a finger on you."


    I scoffed and frowned at L. "I don’t want the people of this pack to know who I am... I just want to remain that wolfless omega girl," I murmured.


    L sighed. "Well, if Peter iste and ites to life and death, then I will tell everyone who you are... I won’t keep silent," she argued.


    I didn’t have the energy to argue with her, so I just let it be. But the truth remains, I don’t want to reveal my identity.


    "I believe you didn’t tell your mom," she asked.


    I shook my head. "I don’t want her worrying."


    L nodded, understanding.


    Just then my phone beeped. I rushed and picked it up, but my frown deepened when I realized it was a text from Dane.


    L must have noticed the frown on my face. "What is it?"


    I sighed and tossed the phone aside. "It’s Dane. He said he is going over to the hospital to pay a visit to Nathan and that if I want toe, he cane pick me up. He has no idea that Nathan’s father has ordered me to stay away."


    L only sighed and looked away.


    Through Dane’s text, I remembered Nathan... I worry about his condition and wonder if he was out of unconsciousness.


    Suddenly, my phone began to ring, cutting through the tense silence.


    My heart skipped—Peter, I thought, grabbing it quickly. But it wasn’t him. It was Callum.


    I let the screen sh for a few seconds before pressing the side button to silence it. I didn’t have the energy to talk to him... not now.


    L raised a brow. "Who was that?"


    "Callum," I muttered without looking at her.


    L sat back on the bed beside me and gave me a long, curious look. "Okay, real question—what are you going to do about this whole situation? You’ve got Callum, Nathan, and now Dane is suddenly checking in on you..."


    I rubbed my face tiredly. "Honestly? I have no idea."


    "Like... who do you even like?"


    "L," I sighed, "I can’t think about that right now. I can’t even think about myself, let alone anyone else. Everything is spiraling. The murders. The investigation. My ability. The secret. The dream. Nathan’s condition. Peter covering for me... I just..."


    I trailed off, feeling the weight of it all press harder on my chest.


    "My love life is the least of my problems," I whispered. "Right now, I’m just trying to breathe."


    L nodded quietly. "Fair enough."


    We sat there in silence, the only sound being the faint buzz of the phone still resting on the mattress between us.


    L broke the silence with a small smile. "Wanna watch a movie or something? Just to pass time while we wait for Peter?"


    I blinked at her. "You’re so calm... how are you not panicking?"


    She shrugged, leaning back casually. "Because I trust Peter. I know what he can do—and you should too."


    I let out a shaky breath, still unsure, but her confidence gave me a strange sense offort.


    Then her phone buzzed again. She picked it up, her brows furrowing as she read. Slowly... a smile spread across her lips.


    "What is it?" I asked, sitting up straighter.


    She turned to me, eyes bright with relief. "I think Peter did it."


    My heart thumped. "Did what?"


    "The Seer just confirmed it," she said, barely able to hide the excitement in her voice. "Apparently, it wasn’t a pack member who killed them—it was a girl. But not from here. A rogue."


    My eyes widened. "A rogue?"


    She nodded quickly, then read more off her screen. "Yeah. My boyfriend said the rogue was just wandering nearby, probably looking for food or shelter. Those two idiots tried to harass her, but what they didn’t know is... she was powerful. Like really powerful."


    "And she... killed them?" I whispered.


    L nodded, her voice soft. "She fought back and ended both of them. Brutally. Just like they deserved."


    I sat in stunned silence.


    She continued, "And get this—my boyfriend says Alpha Dominic is furious... but not at the rogue. He’s angry at the Gammas."


    "What?" I asked, still processing.


    "Yeah. He said the Alpha is ming them for raising their sons to be monsters. He said he’s heard whispers before—rumors about those boys—but no one ever stepped forward, so he didn’t act. And now? He regrets it."


    I stared at her, hardly able to believe what I was hearing.


    "And the case?" I asked slowly.


    She shrugged. "Closed. Just like that. Alpha Dominic told the council that they won’t be hunting the rogue. That the Gammas should bury their sons and reflect."


    I felt the weight on my chest loosen, like I could finally breathe again.


    Peter did it.


    He really did it.


    Happily, I picked up my phone, about to call Peter and thank him for everything—when it suddenly buzzed in my hand.


    His name shed on the screen.


    I answered quickly. "Peter!"


    "You’re wee," he said before I could even speak, his voice calm and cool. "I figured you’d call."


    I smiled faintly. "How did you do it?"


    "It wasn’t me," he said simply, "it was him."


    I paused, knowing exactly who he meant by ’him’.


    "He did it," I whispered.


    "Yes," he confirmed. "He contacted the Seer and reached out to others in nearby territories. Exined the story, gave them what to say. They owed him a favor."


    A huge wave of relief washed over me.


    "So the rogue..."


    "A cover," he said. "A clean one. You’re safe now, but you still need toy low for a while."


    I exhaled slowly, like I was finally breathing for the first time in hours.


    "Why don’t you call him and thank him properly?" Peter asked, sounding serious.


    I frowned. "I don’t want to talk to him," I muttered, not bothering to hide the bitterness in my voice.


    Peter scoffed. "Suit yourself."


    "Just... tell him I said thank you," I added quietly.


    "Will do," he said. "Get some rest, Hailee."


    Then the call dropped.


    Feeling relieved, I fell back on the bed, letting out a long, shaky breath.


    For the first time sincest night... I finally felt safe enough to close my eyes.