Chapter 26
26 Chapter 26 Beneath His
Awareness
Rowan’s POV
“What exactly do you mean by someone being in your
room p>
Eileen’s voice cut through the night air, sharp with annoyance. Her features contorted with frustration as she continued, “It’s past midnight, Rowan, and we’re dealing with an assault. The only people who went inside were the servants assigned to maintain the fireplace p>
She attempted to project righteous indignation, but
Rowan’s intense examination made her heartbeat accelerate. When he’d summoned her, she’d appeared braced for a confrontation. But as he mentioned the theft from his study, he noticed the rigid line of her shoulders relax, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes before it vanished.
Rowan’s piercing stare remained fixed on Eileen. “Someone entered my private office p>
Eileen let out a dismissive laugh. “That’s absurd. Guards were stationed outside throughout the entire incident. Do you honestly believe someone simply strolled past them unnoticed p>
Before them stood the servants who had been tasked with fireplace maintenance.
One servant, positioned nearby with her gaze lowered, looked up with visible anxiety. “Alpha, we did detect something earlier. A subtle sound near the window, perhaps. However, we assumed it was merely the wind. Everything appeared normal, so we departed p>
“Leave,” Rowan commanded sharply. The servants bowed respectfully and exited the chamber.
Casper arrived just as the door was closing. “I’ve conducted inquiries with the guards. Everyone was occupied treating the injured and managing movement following the assault. Nobody was present on the upper floor except the stationed guards, the Luna, Faye, and Sally p>
Rowan’s expression grew darker.
Casper pressed on, “That level is designated for your
family members. Besides your quarters and Luna Eileen’s, there are Sally’s chambers and the guest quarters where Faye is staying. The remaining rooms
were vacant p>
His jaw tightened with tension.
Eileen folded her arms across her chest. “Faye should be completely unconscious at this point p>
Rowan’s attention snapped toward her. “What did you say p>
“She’s still recuperating from the previous poisoning,” Eileen responded with practiced smoothness.
Rowan’s brow furrowed as he signaled for Casper to depart.
“Why is she unconscious? I understood that Physician Allen had treated her successfully.” Rowan inquired after Casper had left the office.
“I administered another dose. A more gradual one. It will induce a coma shortly, but she won’t perish. Not before they arrive at the North p>
Rowan fixed his gaze on her. “You poisoned her a
second time p>
“She has fulfilled her purpose,” Eileen stated with unwavering composure. “She wed the Dread Lord. That was her only requirement. If she dies before reaching the north, everyone will believe Hardy murdered her. Then we’ll have grounds to demand reparations, additional soldiers, greater authority. Isn’t that your objective p>
He remained silent momentarily. Instead, he moved toward his desk, his eyes settling on the now-sealed paperweight. “The window was utilized,” he murmured, concentrating on the crucial details rather than Faye.
Eileen angled her head. “And p>
“Did you access my office tonight?” he asked without facing her.
“No. I spent the entire evening with Sally. We were organizing medicinal herbs for the wounded and coordinating with everyone regarding the troops’ welfare. You can verify with her.” She fabricated without hesitation.
Rowan reopened the paperweight, transforming it into
the flat metallic surface. He positioned it beneath the lantern’s illumination. It appeared that whoever had handled it failed to open it completely. They had attempted but were unsuccessful. Nevertheless, that had been dangerously close.
Extremely perilous.
He dragged a hand across his face. “There were remnants of ink on the exterior p>
Eileen’s brow creased. “Ink p>
He offered no response.
Then she straightened, her lips forming a slight curve. “It must have been Hardy. Or one of his subordinates. Who else could infiltrate without leaving evidence? His people excel at covert operations p>
Rowan turned to confront her directly, eyes
constricted. “Are you absolutely certain Faye remained unconscious?” For more chapters visit ~net
Eileen lifted her chin defiantly. “She consumed all of it. She should be succumbing by now, if she hasn’t
already p>
But for the first time, uncertainty flickered in her
expression.
Rowan detected it. And he found it disturbing.
He approached the window, examining the latch and the ledge. It had been opened. Recently.
The office wasn’t merely his private chamber. It served as a repository of confidential information. And someone had nearly accessed one of those secrets.
He looked back at Eileen. “You better hope she remains asleep. If not p>
“She will be,” Eileen interjected hastily. “The poison was prepared precisely as you requested. Gradual and painless. No evidence. I ensured it p>
Rowan said nothing more as he strode from his room and located Faye’s quarters. He studied the guards protecting the entrance.
“Has anyone entered or exited this room?” he demanded.
“No, Alpha,” one guard responded with certainty.
Rowan nodded curtly and entered the chamber.
Faye lay curled on the bed, her breathing labored and shallow. Her complexion was ghostly pale, almost gray beneath the flickering candlelight, and perspiration clung to her forehead. The blankets were loosely arranged around her, suggesting she hadn’t moved in
hours.
Her face appeared gaunt and frail, completely
defenseless.
“She lacks a wolf spirit,” Eileen commented quietly as she followed him inside. She approached the bed and gently placed her hand against Faye’s forehead. “She’s feverish again. Another bout of fever. What convinced you she could infiltrate your office like that p>
Rowan didn’t immediately reply. His eyes surveyed the room methodically. There were no signs of disturbance, no displaced furniture, no marked floorboards, no visible traces of another presence.
Because he hadn’t truly suspected Faye.
No, it had been too calculated, too flawless. Whoever it was had used Faye as a convenient diversion.
Someone had moved through the mansion and
eliminated their tracks meticulously.
He moved to the window. It remained tightly closed. The latch was properly aligned, the sill immaculate. Not a single mark or scratch.
He inhaled deeply, analyzing the scents.
Nothing.
No unfamiliar wolf presence. No indication of external
intrusion.
Too flawless.
His gaze returned to Faye. She hadn’t stirred.
Her lips were slightly parted and dry, and her brow twitched faintly as if she were caught in some troubled dream.
Eileen faced him, her voice gentle and almost triumphant. “She can barely remain upright independently. Honestly, Rowan, your suspicion is overwhelming your judgment p>
But Rowan remained unconvinced. Something had been handled. Something had been accessed.
01:43
8/11
And if it wasn’t her, then someone else had been in that office. Right beneath his awareness.
“Hmph.” He pivoted and departed the room without another statement.
Outside, the corridor was shadowy and silent. Casper was already present, matching his pace as they proceeded down the hallway.
“Tomorrow, Hardy and his people will depart,” Rowan muttered, his jaw rigid. “This cannot be coincidental. Did you examine his men p>
Casper nodded. “Yes, Alpha. I’ve verified with the scouts. Hardy and all his officers are presently in the command tent. They’ve remained there since the attack commenced. Multiple warriors observed them issuing commands and supporting the healers. They’re all documented p>
“And our forces?” Rowan asked intensely.
Casper paused. “We sustained greater casualties. Several fatalities, more in serious condition. Some patrols failed to return. We discovered one survivor who reported that the Raven Deons altered their
strategy tonight. More silent and organized. They attacked more forcefully along the southern ridge and vanished before reinforcements arrived p>
Rowan exhaled through his nostrils, eyes narrowing.
Hardy’s encampment maintained the eastern line with zero casualties.
“No one accesses that room without my knowledge,” he muttered, more to himself than to Casper. “I want everyone interrogated. From servants to guards. I don’t care how minor their responsibility was, I want identities, movements, everything. Understood p>
Casper gave a resolute nod. “Yes, Alpha p>
Morh Lucia
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.