Chapter 25: Shadows of Deception
The weight of the past week's events bore heavily on Rowan's shoulders. The rogue attacks had ceased since Giselle and her family were detained, but unease lingered. The Elders' insistence on removing Giselle from the pack and marking Rhea as his mate gnawed at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.
Determined to uncover the truth of what happened on the night of the attack, Rowan summoned Sylah to his office. If Kalen’s reports are accurate, then she should be able to shed some light on what went down, or at least point him in a better direction.
The soft knock at his office door came precisely two minutes after he sent for Sylah.
“Enter,” Rowan called, standing behind his desk with arms folded, his jaw tight with anticipation.
Sylah stepped in, her usually fierce demeanor muted under the weight of whatever she had to say. Her hair was pulled back in a tight braid, and her uniform was crisp—no sign of the restless pacing she’d likely done before answering his summons.
“You wanted to see me, Alpha?” she said, tone neutral but eyes sharp.
Rowan gestured for her to sit. “Close the door.”
Once she was settled, he didn’t waste time. "Sylah," Rowan began, "your patrol was reassigned on the day of the attack. Care to explain why the sudden change? I need the truth about the night of the rogue attack. All of it.”
She nodded slowly. "I was surprised by the change myself when I was notified about it. It isn’t often that my patrols are changed last minute like that. I was intended to patrol near the ridge, but Elder Malric reassigned me without warning to an area far away. I found it suspicious and went to investigate once my shift was completed."
Rowan's eyes narrowed. "The reports indicate you were reassigned to the ridge, not away from it."
Sylah scoffed. "Of course they do. It's convenient to paint me as the scapegoat, especially given my past skepticism about Giselle. But I've come to respect her resilience. I wouldn't jeopardize our pack's safety just to get rid of some competition."
Rowan studied her, the pieces of the puzzle starting to align. "You believe Elder Malric is orchestrating this?" Rowan asked the question even though he already knew the answer himself, all signs pointed to the Elder being behind something shady.
She met his gaze. "I can't prove it, but the signs point that way.” Sylah hesitated momentarily before continuing on. “But that’s not the only reason I think he’s up to something.”
Rowan’s brow arched. “Go on.”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I’ve noticed him sneaking off for meetings with Elia.”
“Elia?” Rowan repeated, frowning. “The third candidate for Luna?”
“The very one,” Sylah nodded. “They’ve been meeting late at night, always in low-traffic areas. Once, I followed them—not too close, but enough to hear a few words.” She glanced at the door, as if checking for eavesdroppers, before lowering her voice. “They mentioned Rhea. Just in passing, but enough that I knew it wasn’t a casual conversation.”
Rowan’s heart kicked in his chest. “You’re sure?”
“As sure as I am that you’re probably regretting not choosing me,” she quipped, giving him a teasing smile to soften the tension.
He didn’t rise to it, still too focused on what she’d said. “What did they say about her?”
Sylah sighed, running a hand through her braid. “Something about her being ‘almost too perfect.’ Malric said it like... like it was a problem, not a compliment. Elia didn’t reply, just nodded. It wasn’t much, but it set off alarms. I started watching Rhea more closely after that, but I haven’t caught anything directly suspicious from her.”
Rowan sat down slowly, the leather of his chair creaking beneath him. “And you didn’t come to me sooner?”
“Because I had nothing concrete. Just... a feeling. And I know how it sounds—me of all people warning you about the other Luna candidates? I figured you’d think I was being petty or jealous.” Her smile faded. “But I’m not. I’ve come to terms with the fact that Giselle is your mate. And I respect that bond—even if I don’t always understand it.”
Rowan glanced at Sylah with surprise, not sure how to react to her dropping that Giselle was his mate so casually in their conversation. She could just be fishing for him to confirm it before acting against her, but for some reason he didn’t believe it.
Sylah rolled her eyes at the lull in conversation, a teasing smile on her lips. “I have seen the way you look at her when you think no one is watching, it is clear to anyone with eyes what she is to you.”
Rowan’s expression softened just a touch, enough for Sylah to notice.
“I know I haven’t given you a lot of reasons to trust me,” she continued, her voice steadier now. “But I love this pack, Rowan. I’d never endanger our people. Not for a title and certainly not for some kind of petty revenge over not being chosen. And especially not for an Alpha I barely even like.” She winked.
Rowan snorted despite himself. “You’ve always had a way with flattery.”
“I try.” She gave him her first real smile since entering his office, setting his mind at ease. “I never wanted to be Luna,” she tells him, her hands resting in her lap. “I have felt relieved that you didn’t choose me.”
What Sylah admitted surprised Rowan, but he could understand why she wouldn’t want the Luna position. As one of our top warriors, she would have to give up everything she worked hard for if she accepted a spot by his side.
He leaned forward now, fingers steepled on the desk. “What you’ve told me… it changes things. I need you to keep watching them. Discreetly. If there’s something to uncover, we’ll bring it into the light. But if Malric and Elia are working together against the pack—or trying to manipulate Rhea—I want to know.”
Sylah nodded. “I’ll keep my eyes open. And Rowan…” She hesitated. “Be careful. If Malric is willing to move pieces behind your back, who knows what his endgame is.”
He gave a grim nod. “I intend to find out. And thank you, Sylah.”
She stood and gave him a small, respectful bow before heading to the door. “Any time, Alpha. I'm willing to help uncover the truth, whatever it takes.”
Rowan nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then we find the truth, together."
The door shut behind her, leaving Rowan alone with a storm brewing behind his eyes.
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