<h4>Chapter 395: Chapter 395 Threads of Deception</h4>


    Author’s pov


    Zaria nudged Luna Regina with her elbow, drawing her attention toward Luna Dora approaching them.


    Both women tensed visibly, the awkwardness hanging thick in the air between them.


    Since Luna Dora had initiated this encounter, she broke the silence first, her voice carefully controlled.


    "We at Blood Moon Pack did wrong by Cecilia,"she admitted, swirling the wine in her ss. "That’s all in the past now. It’s... good that Luna Regina doesn’t hold her human background against her and has epted her into Silver Peak."


    Luna?Regina’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.


    "She helped me when she didn’t have to. We didn’t even know each other. If I still judged her after that, I’d be a terrible person. "


    "I admit I valued pack lineage,"Luna Regina continued, her cheeks flushing slightly. "But upon reflection, she excels in every other way. She more thanpensates for what shecks in bloodline. Besides, none of that was ever her fault."


    "Now that I’ve epted her,"Luna Regina stated firmly, "I intend to wee her fully as family."


    Luna Dora’s face reddened further, but she didn’t seem bothered.


    Her polite smile stayed in ce, the kind of smile people wear at charity gs when the cameras are still rolling.


    The Blood Moon Pack didn’t care about Cecilia anymore.


    Luna Dora knew that even if she could go back, she’d still have judged Cecilia for her background.


    Some things are just too deep to change overnight.


    "You’re more open-minded than I expected,"Luna Dora conceded.


    Luna Dora took a sip of her red wine, scanning the ballroom.


    Crystal chandeliers glimmered overhead, and the hum of conversation blended with the soft jazz from the string quartet.


    "Luna Regina, I couldn’t help noticing during our forest encounter that you and Lady Locke don’t seem to be on good terms. I’m surprised to see you here."


    Luna Regina caught the abrupt shift to discussing Maggie.


    The mention of that name was like a cold draft sweeping through the room.


    Remembering how terrified Luna Dora had been of Maggie in the mountains, she countered, "You seemed quite afraid of her yourself, yet here you are."


    Luna Dora’s grip tightened around her ss. "She invited our pack. Declining would have been... impolitic."


    Luna?Regina didn’t like Luna?Dora much, but hearing that Maggie had personally invited the Blood?Moon?Pack made her uneasy.


    "She’s bad news, "Luna Regina said quietly. "Once she picks a target, it never ends well. Be careful. She knows how to y people. "


    Fear flickered across Luna Dora’s eyes, gone almost before it appeared. Her fingers tapped once against the ss, the only sign of unease, before she masked it with another social smile.


    The orchestra swelled again, covering their silence.


    Cecilia’s pov


    The car glided through the darkness, approaching the Lawson estate.


    My phone chimed with an iing message.


    When I nced at the screen, my blood turned to ice. The air rushed from my lungs.


    "Tang, pull over. Now."My voice came out barely above a whisper.


    Tang quickly steered toward the shoulder, rmed by my ghostly pallor. "Cecilia, what’s wrong ?"


    Terror gripped my chest so tightly I could barely breathe.


    Wordlessly, I handed him my phone.


    Tang’s expression hardened the instant he saw the screen.


    The photo showed Helena and Martha huddled together in a car’s backseat, their faces frozen in fear as they stared toward the driver’s seat.


    The message hade from my grandmother’s phone—meaning someone else now controlled it.


    A minuteter, another message appeared : Grandma wants to chat with you. Come alone. If you don’t show up, you’ll never see her again.


    The threat couldn’t be more explicit.


    "Cecilia, try to stay calm,"Tang said, already dialing one of bodyguards. "Let me check with her security detail."


    He put the call on speaker. "What’s your status ? Is Mrs. Helena still in your visual ?"


    "How did you... "the bodyguard sounded startled.


    "We just received threatening messages from Mrs. Helena’s phone,"Tang cut in.


    "Damn it ! A woman approached iming her employer wanted a private meeting with Mrs. Helena. They went to sit in a car while we waited nearby. Minutes ago, that car suddenly sped off like a bat out of hell. We’re in pursuit now."


    My heart plummeted. This was worse than I’d feared.


    "I’m sending you coordinates,"Tang instructed. "Get there and assess the situation. Keep us updated. Those women’s safety is absolute priority."


    "Should I alert the Alpha ?"the bodyguard asked.


    Tang nced at me before answering. "I’ll handle that. Just focus on the pursuit."


    As Tang ended the call, I grabbed his arm. "We have to save my grandmother. Now."


    Tang looked torn. "The Alpha ordered us to return home. We should let him and Cassian handle this."


    "One’s at a g and the other’s still on the road,"I said, my voice shaking. "We don’t have time. Every second matters. They could die any minute !"


    I wasn’t just acting on impulse. Sebastian and Cassian would need time to get organized. Tang was already here, and we were closer to the scene.


    "I know it’s probably a trap,"I said, "but we still have to go."


    Tang’s knuckles whitened on the steering wheel. "You realize this could get us both killed. "


    "Cecilia, please don’t put me in this position,"he pleaded, clearly conflicted.


    I gave him my most imploring look, feeling tears well up. "They’re elderly women. Every minute we dy puts them at greater risk... "


    Finally, Tang made a sharp U-turn with a defeated sigh. "Fine. If I die, I die."


    "Thank you,"I breathed, relief washing over me. "I promise I won’t be a liability. I’ll follow your leadpletely and take care of myself."


    Tang muttered under his breath, something between a prayer and a curse.


    Then he hit the gas. The car shot forward, headlights cutting through the dark like twin des.


    We decided against calling Sebastian immediately. He’d be furious learning we’d disobeyed orders to attempt a rescue.


    While driving, Tang contacted the two bodyguards again, coordinating our approach. They would scout ahead while we followed closely behind.


    Outside, the world blurred into streaks of shadow and light.


    The only sounds were the low growl of the engine and the steady beep of my phone’s GPS. Every mile felt heavier than thest.


    As Tang navigated through the darkened streets, I scrutinized the photo for any clues about their location, while keeping an eye on my phone for further messages.


    Forty minutester, we arrived near the address, parking in a concealed spot. The bodyguards had already gone ahead to reconnoiter.


    My phone chimed again.