Chapter 19: Elodie Knew More Than She Said

Cassian didn't speak for a long time.

Dorian looked just as shaken.

"My mother never told me she had surviving family."

"She probably didn't know," Cassian said finally.

"We were separated during the attack."

"She said her entire family was dead."

"That's what most survivors were told."

His voice became rough.

"It was safer."

Dorian reached into his jacket slowly.

Security immediately moved.

"It's just a letter."

He pulled out a folded envelope.

"My mother left this with me before she died."

Cassian stared at it.

"For who?"

"She said if Lunaris ever returned, give it to whoever carried Aurelius's mark."

Every eye turned toward me.

"That's apparently me," I muttered.

Dorian handed me the envelope.

The paper was old but carefully preserved.

My hands trembled slightly as I opened it.

Inside was a short handwritten message.

"To the child who inherits what we lost: don't trust the story of the attack. The enemy did not enter Lunaris from outside. They were invited in."

I stopped reading.

The room went silent.

Rowan's jaw tightened.

"Invited by who?"

"There's more."

I continued.

"Aurelius discovered the betrayal before he died. He hid the proof where only Selene could find it. If she lives, tell her to remember the moon beneath the cedar."

My mother's face went white.

"Mom?"

She gripped the back of a chair.

"I know what that means."

Cassian turned sharply.

"Where?"

Mom looked at him.

"The old Lunaris estate."

"The estate was burned."

"Not all of it."

Her breathing became shallow.

"There was an underground chamber beneath the cedar courtyard."

Rowan immediately asked, "Could records survive there?"

"If the seal held."

Cassian's eyes blazed gold.

"Why didn't you check?"

"Because I didn't know my father left anything there!"

"You knew the chamber existed."

"And I believed everyone who mattered was dead."

I stepped between them.

"Stop blaming each other for surviving."

Both fell silent.

I looked at Mom.

"Can we reach the estate?"

"The territory has been under Council seal for years."

Rowan answered.

"I can request access."

Cassian immediately said, "No official request."

"Why?"

"If the Council contains whoever betrayed Lunaris, announcing we're searching the estate is the fastest way to lose whatever proof remains."

He had a point.

Rowan hated that he had a point.

"There are legal ways to enter without revealing the purpose," Rowan said.

"Such as?"

"Heritage inspection."

I frowned.

"What's that?"

"An heir can request private inspection of disputed ancestral property before filing a Moon Court claim."

Cassian looked thoughtful.

"Would the request name Nessa?"

"Yes."

"Then they'll know she's interested in claiming Lunaris."

"They already know."

I sighed.

"He's right."

Cassian looked at me.

"You sure?"

"I'm tired of hiding every move because someone might react."

I folded the letter.

"We request access."

Mom looked worried.

"Nessa."

"If Grandfather left evidence, I want it."

Dorian spoke quietly.

"Then move fast."

We turned toward him.

"Why?"

"My uncle is planning to file a provisional territorial petition."

Cassian's expression turned murderous.

"When?"

"Within days."

"On what basis?"

"Abandonment."

I stared.

"The Pack was massacred and he's calling that abandonment?"

"Legally, the territory has been inactive for eighteen years."

Rowan's eyes hardened.

"The petition will fail if a legitimate heir declares intent to claim."

"Then I declare it."

Everyone looked at me.

I shrugged.

"What? That's what they want me not to do, right?"

Mireya smiled slowly.

"Very much your grandfather's granddaughter."

Rowan pulled out his phone.

"I'll have the declaration prepared tonight."

"Do I sign my soul away?"

"No."

"Any surprise marriage clauses?"

"No."

"Ancient ritual sacrifice?"

"Definitely no."

"Fine."

The next morning, Hollowcrest University woke up to another explosion.

Not literal.

Political.

News spread across PackFeed that Nessa Arden, descendant of Aurelius Lunaris, had formally declared intent to inspect and potentially reclaim Lunaris territory.

My phone became unusable within twenty minutes.

Messages.

Interview requests.

Friend requests.

Threats.

Marriage proposals.

One person offered me three vineyards if I considered a courtship.

I showed Rowan.

"Tempting."

His face went blank.

"No."

"Three vineyards."

"I'll buy you four."

I laughed.

"Jealous."

"Openly."

Then another message arrived.

Elodie.

[Can we talk privately?]

I showed Tessa.

She immediately said, "Absolutely. I want drama."

"You're not coming."

"Betrayal."

I agreed to meet Elodie in a public campus garden.

Rowan stayed nearby but out of sight.

This time, I didn't complain.

Elodie arrived wearing a cream coat and sunglasses.

She looked exhausted.

"Thanks for coming."

"What do you want?"

Her fingers tightened around her bag.

"I didn't leak your messages."

"Your aunt did."

"I know."

"Did you ask her to?"

"No."

I studied her face.

"But you knew she was investigating me."

Elodie looked away.

That was an answer.

"How long?"

"Since the party."

"Before or after my wolf shifted?"

"After."

"And you didn't think to warn me."

"Why would I?"

At least that answer was honest.

"You hated me."

"I didn't hate you."

"You invited me to the party because you thought I was ugly and wanted to watch me get humiliated."

Her cheeks flushed.

"Fine. I was petty."

"You publicly mocked me."

"So did half the freshman channel."

"That doesn't make it better."

"I know."

She inhaled slowly.

"I'm sorry."

The apology surprised me.

"For which part?"

"For treating you like a joke before I even knew you."

I said nothing.

Elodie continued.

"But that's not why I asked you here."

"Then why?"

"My father told me to keep Knox close."

"Because of Stormridge."

"Yes."

"So your relationship is arranged?"

"Not exactly."

She looked frustrated.

"I liked him first. My father simply encouraged it."

"And now?"

"Now Knox barely looks at me because he's obsessed with getting you back."

There was bitterness in her voice.

"That isn't my problem."

"I know."

"Then what do you want from me?"

"I want you to understand that my family is planning something."

My attention sharpened.

"What?"

"I don't know everything."

"Convenient."

"I'm trying to help you."

"Why?"

Her laugh was bitter.

"Because yesterday I realized I'm disposable too."

I said nothing.

"My father doesn't care if Knox loves me. He cares whether marrying me into Stormridge strengthens Silvercrest."

"And if that fails?"

"He'll find another use for me."

For the first time, I saw something familiar in Elodie.

Not kindness.

Not friendship.

But the same fury I felt whenever someone treated my life like a bargaining chip.

"What is he planning?"

She opened her bag.

"Mara gave me this."

She handed me a copied document.

At the top were the words:

MOON COURT PROVISIONAL CHALLENGE.

My stomach tightened.

"Challenge against who?"

"You."

"On what grounds?"

"Bloodline legitimacy."

I stared at her.

"My mother is Aurelius's daughter."

"They intend to claim she formally renounced Lunaris before your birth."

"Would that matter?"

"According to old law, possibly."

I flipped the page.

Near the bottom was another section.

Alternative claimant:

Elodie Snowe.

My eyes snapped up.

"You?"

Her face was pale.

"My grandmother was Lunaris."

My mind raced.

"So you're part Lunaris too."

"One-quarter."

"And your father wants you to challenge me for Alpha."

"Yes."

I stared at her.

The girl who had mocked my weight.

The girl dating Knox.

The girl whose family wanted my territory.

Now potentially my rival for Lunaris itself.

"Are you going to do it?"

Elodie looked directly into my eyes.

"I don't know."