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Alina's POV

The piercing scream of a maid echoed through the pack house, jolting me from my thoughts. My heart leaped into my throat, and I instinctively rushed toward the source of the commotion. The hallway was alive with murmurs, tension thick in the air as I approached Finn’s room.

“What’s happening?” I demanded, pushing past a group of maids clustered near the doorway.

The sight before me stole the breath from my lungs. Finn lay still on his bed, his chest unmoving. The monitor that had been beeping steadily earlier now emitted a deafening flatline.

“No!” I shouted, rushing to his side. My hands shook as I pressed them against his lifeless form as if my touch alone could bring him back. “Finn! Wake up!”

One of the maids stepped forward hesitantly, tears streaming down her face. “H-he’s gone, Miss Alina. We... we found him like this.”

I turned to her, my voice trembling with fury and disbelief. “Gone? What do you mean gone? He was stable just a few hours ago!”

Another maid whispered, “His oxygen machine was off. It looks like someone turned it off deliberately.”

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. Someone had done this. Someone had killed my brother.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps reached my ears. I turned to see Lia entering the room, her face pale with confusion and fear.

“You,” I spat, my voice laced with venom as I pointed an accusing finger at her. “You did this, didn’t you? You couldn’t wait to get rid of him!”

Lia’s eyes widened in shock. “What? No, I—”

“Don’t you dare deny it!” I screamed, cutting her off. “You’ve been nothing but trouble since the moment you stepped foot in this house. My brother trusted you, and you repaid him with betrayal. You’re nothing but a murderer!”

Lia’s voice cracked as she tried to defend herself. “Alina, I didn’t do this! I loved Finn—”

“Don’t you dare say his name!” I roared. “If it weren’t for you, he’d still be alive!”

The tension in the room was suffocating, the maids whispering among themselves as they watched the confrontation unfold. Before Lia could respond, a sentinel entered the room, bowing slightly before addressing me.

“The elders have summoned an emergency meeting in the council chamber,” he said gravely.

I straightened, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Good. Maybe they’ll finally do something about her,” I said, casting one last glare at Lia before storming out of the room.

The council chamber was already filled with murmuring voices when I arrived. The elders, their faces etched with concern, sat at the head of the table, their presence commanding the room’s attention.

Moments later, Lia entered, followed closely by Bianca and Jenny. The sight of them made my blood boil.

“You!” I shouted, pointing at Bianca and Jenny as they tried to slink into the room unnoticed. “What are you even doing here? Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been up to?”

Bianca raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Alina, what are you talking about?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!” I snapped. “You’ve been scheming against Lia since the beginning. And now, Finn is dead! Did you think I wouldn’t put the pieces together?”

Jenny scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment, Alina. We had nothing to do with this.”

“Liar!” I screamed, slamming my hands down on the table. “You’ve been plotting to get rid of her for weeks. Maybe you were aiming for Lia and got Finn instead, or maybe you wanted them both gone. Either way, I won’t rest until I find out the truth.”

The elders exchanged wary glances, one of them raising a hand to calm the room. “Alina, we understand your grief, but accusations without proof will not help us resolve this situation.”

“Proof?” I laughed bitterly. “You want proof? Look no further than these two snakes,” I said, pointing at Bianca and Jenny. “They’ve been meddling in everything from the start.”

Bianca glared at me, her composure slipping. “Be careful with your words, Alina. You don’t want to make enemies you can’t handle.”

“Oh, trust me,” I shot back. “You’ve been my enemy for a long time. And when I find out exactly what role you played in my brother’s death, you’ll regret ever stepping foot in this pack.”

The elders intervened, their voices firm as they called for order in the room. But my fury couldn’t be contained. I didn’t trust Lia. I didn’t trust Bianca or Jenny. And until I uncovered the truth, none of them were safe from my wrath.

As the meeting continued, I vowed to myself that I would get justice for Finn, no matter the cost. Even if it meant tearing this entire pack apart to find the person responsible.

___

Lia’s POV

My hands trembled as I dialed Luca’s number, pacing back and forth in my room. The packed house was in chaos, and I could feel the weight of the accusations hurled at me earlier by Alina. Finn’s death had turned everything upside down, and now I was the target of everyone’s anger and suspicion.

“Luca, thank God you picked up,” I said the moment he answered, my voice quivering with urgency.

“What happened, Lia?” he asked, his tone steady but concerned.

I quickly recounted everything—the maid’s scream, Finn’s death, Alina’s accusations, and the looming meeting with the elders. My voice cracked as I reached the part where Alina had called me a murderer.

“She’s blaming me, Luca. She thinks I killed Finn,” I said, struggling to hold back my tears.

“Lia, listen to me,” Luca said firmly, his voice a calming presence amid the chaos. “I need you to stay put. Don’t confront anyone or make any rash decisions. This isn’t the time to act on emotion. I’ll handle this.”

“But, Luca—”

“Trust me, Lia,” he interrupted. “I’ll get to the bottom of this. For now, just stay where you are, and don’t let anyone provoke you. You’re not alone in this.”

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. “Okay. Please, just hurry.”

“I will,” he promised before the line went dead.

I turned to find Benedicta sitting on the edge of my bed, her expression one of quiet determination. She had been with me since the chaos erupted, a steadfast presence that kept me from completely unraveling.

“Luca’s right,” she said softly, taking my hand. “You need to stay calm. Alina’s grief is clouding her judgment, but the truth will come out eventually. You’re innocent, Lia.”

Her words were meant to comfort me, but they barely made a dent in the storm of emotions raging inside me. Before I could respond, the door to my room slammed open, and Bianca and Jenny stormed in, their faces twisted with anger.

“How dare you?” Bianca seethed, her voice loud and grating. “How dare you come into this pack and destroy everything?”

“You’ve been nothing but trouble since the moment you arrived,” Jenny added, her tone dripping with disdain. “And now Finn is dead. Do you think we’re going to let you get away with this?”

I stepped back, the venom in their words hitting me like a slap. “I didn’t do anything!” I snapped, my voice rising.

Bianca scoffed, stepping closer. “Don’t play innocent, Lia. We know what you’re capable of. You’ve been a thorn in everyone’s side, and now you’ve gone too far.”

Their accusations ignited a fire inside me, and I clenched my fists at my sides. “You want to talk about going too far?” I said, my voice shaking with fury. “I know what you’ve been up to. I know you planned to kill me.”

Both women froze, their eyes widening in shock. “What are you talking about?” Jenny asked, her voice quieter now.

“Don’t play dumb,” I spat. “I overheard you two talking. You wanted me out of the way, and now Finn is dead because of your schemes. I’ve kept quiet for too long, but not anymore. I’m going to the elders, and I’m telling them everything.”

Panic flashed across Bianca’s face, but she quickly masked it with anger. “You don’t have any proof,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“I don’t need proof,” I shot back. “The elders will investigate, and when they find out the truth, you’ll pay for what you’ve done.”

Benedicta stepped forward, placing a steadying hand on my arm. “That’s enough, Lia,” she said gently. “Don’t let them bait you.”

I took a deep breath, realizing she was right. Bianca and Jenny weren’t worth losing my composure over.

“I’ve said what I needed to say,” I told them, my voice calmer now but no less resolute. “You can leave.”

For a moment, neither of them moved their faces a mixture of anger and fear. Then, without another word, they turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind them.

Benedicta sighed, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You did the right thing, standing up to them. But now you need to be prepared for whatever comes next.”

I nodded, my resolve hardening. “I won’t let them pin this on me, Benedicta. I didn’t kill Finn, and I won’t let them ruin my life.”

With her by my side, I felt a flicker of hope amid the chaos. The road ahead would be treacherous, but I was determined to fight for the truth.