Chapter 72: Sacred Chamber Confrontations
Chapter 72: Sacred Chamber Confrontations
(Third–person’s POV)
Daniel sat stiffly in the Winter Pack’s council hall, his knuckles white as he gripped his phone. The veins on his temple throbbed, tension rolling off him in waves.
The moment the call connected, he spat out the words that had been gnawing at him. “Mother, Scarlett has been released.” His voice was heavy, trembling with barely suppressed frustration.
There was a pause on the other end. Then Sarah’s voice sliced through like a whip. “What do you mean, ‘released‘? By who?!” The rising anger in her tone made Daniel shift uncomfortably in his chair.
He exhaled sharply. “She left under the protection of that mysterious Alpha again. The one from the council. No one dared to stop them.”
Another loaded silence followed, but this one was quickly broken by Sarah’s furious outburst.
“Unacceptable!” she screeched. “How is this even possible? Who authorized it? Who undermined me in this cowardly, underhanded way?!” Every word dripped venomous rage as her voice escalated, making Daniel wince.
“I don’t know,” he admitted reluctantly, his free hand tapping against the table in frustration. “The enforcers–they wouldn’t even look me in the eye when I pushed them for answers. It’s like they were terrified.”
Sarah let out an incredulous laugh that held no humor, only cold disdain. “Terrified? Of her? Or that shadow Alpha?” She took a sharp breath, the kind she always did before she planned something malicious. “Fine. If they want to defy me, so be it. But this isn’t over. No one makes a mockery of me. No one.”
Daniel massaged his temple, already regretting picking up her fury. “What do you want me to do?” he asked tensely. He wasn’t sure he wanted the
answer.
“Gather information!” Sarah barked. “Every connection Scarlett has, every ally. We’ll find who signed off on this and make sure they regret it. And as for Scarlett-“Her voice dipped into a dangerous edge. “If she won’t leave by her own will, we’ll force her out.”
Meanwhile, in her hospital bed, Grace wasn’t wallowing in weakness. Her frail fingers tapped fast on her phone screen, the sharp sounds of a crafted scheme taking life. The messages she sent were ruthless, calculated.
“She thinks she can hide behind him,” she typed to a close female ally. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile as her bloodied fingers paused before continuing. “But I know the truth. Her protector? A mere Alpha she’s seduced. Let’s see how long she hides once I tell everyone what she really does.”
Another message flew out to a pack member known for stirring drama. “Scarlett’s vulnerable. Every male you envy her for? Don’t worry. I’ll claim them all before she does. Watch me. Her pale fingers hovered over the phone, hesitant only for a fraction of a second before the words sent a ripple through the pack’s grapevine.
Grace’s failing body leaned back shakily against her hospital pillow, her breathing labored but her mind sharp. Whatever physical weakness plagued her, her resolve burned brighter. Sarah’s distant yelling and the faint tremors of the pack’s current unrest emboldened her further. Though riddled with poison spreading through her veins, Grace’s pride remained vast.
Across the main house, Alexander was pacing outside under the pale moonlight. Mason, his wolf, snarled and snapped inside him, mirroring his Internal turmoil. Alexander’s fists opened and closed at his sides as his thoughts spiraled.
“As if she wasn’t irritating enough,” he growled aloud, his voice low, his breath fogging in the crisp night air. “Now we have this Alpha.” The idea of Scarlett finding power greater than his–and some faceless protector willing to cross him–only incensed him further.
“You can’t run from this forever, Scarlett,” he muttered under his breath, punching a nearby tree trunk hard enough to split its bark. His mind raced as he called Jason, his Beta, demanding constant progress updates. “Find him,” he barked. “I don’t care how. Get me everything you can on this Alpha Scarlett’s hiding behind.”
Jason’s hesitant tone only irritated him further. “But sir, a move against him could provoke a wider war with the-”
“Do it!” Alexander exploded, ending the call before Jason could argue further.
Chapter 72 Sacred Chamber Confronta…
(Scarlett’s POV)
After the council mess, all I wanted was peace. I stood under the hot shower for what felt like eternity, letting the water wash away more than the tension–it was like shedding the stench of their suffocating accusations.
After wrapping myself in a soft robe and throwing on a loose sweater, I stepped into my bedroom. Roman and Hunter had retreated into the study for one of their endless “discussions.” Their voices were low and serious, though I ignored them as I flopped onto my bed, staring out at the ocean
waves.
The peace lasted mere minutes before my phone buzzed relentlessly on the nightstand. Emma’s name lit up the screen, and I clicked it without
hesitation.
“Scarlett, we need to talk,” she said immediately. I could hear the urgency in her tone.
“Go on,” I replied, sitting up straight. My momentary calm vanished.
Her next words hit hard but not unexpectedly. “Sarah isn’t backing down,” Emma said, her voice firm. “She’s pulling every string she can, Scarlett. No healer in the Northern territories will touch your center. She’s even convinced some council members to intervene.”
I clenched my jaw. They were trying to isolate me, strangle my work like cutting the wings from a bird. “Desperate fools,” I muttered when Emma paused. “Do they really think that’s enough?”
Emma’s voice softened slightly, but her resolve strengthened. “They’re overestimating their influence. My family doesn’t answer to Sarah or her pawns. You’ll still have our support, Scarlett. Supplies, rare crystals–whatever you need.”
I felt a genuine surge of gratitude at Emma’s defiance. “Thank you, Emma,” I said firmly. “But honestly? We both know they’ll fail. They always do.”
Emma laughed lightly but didn’t drop the seriousness. “By the way, Grace-” her tone turned sharper now, sharper and more contemptuous-“she’s paying, Scarlett. That poisoning? I heard her condition deteriorated all evening. And you know what I thought? She’s finally getting what she’s owed.”
I leaned back into the pillows, the smallest smirk tugging at my lips. “Karma catches up to everyone, Emma.”
But the peace didn’t last. My phone rang again–and when the name “Alexander” flashed on the screen–I sighed louder than I anticipated.
When I finally picked up on the fourth ring, his voice carried more rage than control.
“Scarlett,” he growled, his anger spilling over. “We need to talk.”
I laughed coldly. “Why?” I asked bluntly. “You suddenly care about my opinion?”
His voice strained further, dipping into a growl. “Cut the act. Who is he? This mysterious Alpha? What do you gain by hiding behind him?”
The question only amused me. “Still chasing shadows, huh, Alexander? Tell me something: how’s your arm? Do you feel it every time you think about
crossing me?”
The growl that followed was animalistic. “Enough! Stop dodging questions. Who is he?” He slammed the demand at me like it could force answers.
I smiled smugly, though he couldn’t see it through the phone. “Shouldn’t you focus on what matters, like keeping Grace alive? Oh wait–has she stopped crying enough to ask for you yet?”
The silence held–brief but meaningful–before Alexander’s temper exploded.
“You’ve crossed the line, Scarlett!” he snarled. But I had already chuckled softly and ended the call before he could say another word.
left!
Minutes later, the phone buzzed again, the name this time: Daniel.
I groaned audibly before answering with an obnoxious cheerfulness. “Daniel, how lovely to hear from you.”
“Enough sarcasm, he bit out, his usual hesitantly aggressive tone teetering closer to angry. “You’re ruining what little dignity the Winter Pack has
I rolled my eyes so hard it practically hurt. “Oh, here we go. You’ve been practicing this speech, haven’t you?”
“Your association with that Alpha is shameful!” he declared, his voice full of righteous anger. “You’re embarrassing our family, Scarlett.”
I couldn’t even hold it in. My bark of unrestrained laughter filled the room.
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Chapter 7: Sacred Chamber Confronta
“Shameful? You’re lecturing me, Daniel?” My tone sharpened, venom practically dripping from every word. “Let’s talk about shame, shall we?”
I heard him faiter, the anger evaporating into hesitation.
You think you’re in a place to lecture me about dignity?” I hissed. “I embrace who I am. You? You hide behind lies and secrets, thinking no one’s watching.”
I let the silence stretch thin as I hit him where it hurt. “How’s that human lover of yours, Daniel?” I asked coldly. “What about Sophie? The whispers around your special relationships are loud enough to reach from here to the council.”
It was in that moment Roman appeared in the doorway. His piercing, ice–blue eyes locked on mine as he caught the tail end of my biting retort to Daniel.
I didn’t break stride. If anything, his presence spurred me on.
“Don’t think for a second, Daniel,” I said, finality ringing in every syllable, “that your hypocrisy gives you power over me.”
Roman’s gaze lingered, a flicker of something warm in his expression. Then, without a word, he disappeared through the door, closing it quietly behind him.
The weight of his presence emboldened me further as I leaned into the phone, my voice frigid.
“You want to talk about shame, Daniel? Clean your own house before you come knocking on mine.”
