Chapter 79

**ADAM**

It had only been a few days since Austin left, but in that time, we had made real progress.
We split the workload to move faster—Leila and Cassius focused on vampires, Rosalie reached out to witches, and Aria and I handled werewolves and humans. It was a daunting task, but Alessandro Scava had left us a foundation.

And what a foundation it was.

The more I read, the more I understood just how brilliant and resourceful this man had been. Over two centuries ago, without modern technology, without the vast networks we had now, he had managed to gather detailed intelligence on werewolves, vampires, and humans alike. Their hierarchies, customs, alliances, weaknesses—everything.

It was astounding.

Each parchment, each record, was a testament to his dedication. He had infiltrated circles where no human should have been welcome, earned the trust of creatures who should have seen him as prey. And yet, his words spoke of careful negotiations, secret alliances, and a deep understanding of the supernatural world.

I glanced at Aria, who was flipping through another document, her brows drawn together in concentration. This was her bloodline. I could only imagine what it felt like to discover that one of her ancestors had played such a crucial role in supernatural history.

"We’re getting close," she murmured, running a hand through her hair. “If we cross-reference this with what Cassius and Leila found…” She trailed off, already lost in thought.

I smirked. "You’re enjoying this."

She shot me a look. "Of course I am. Aren’t you?"

I leaned back, stretching my arms. "I am. But more than that, I’m impressed.”

She tilted her head, waiting.

I gestured to the pages scattered across the table. "Alessandro didn’t just observe—he understood. He documented everything with remarkable accuracy, with an insight most people today wouldn’t even have. And the way he built connections—he must have been extremely charismatic or dangerously persuasive."

Aria smiled slightly. "Or both."

I chuckled. "Yeah, probably both."

We weren’t just uncovering the past; we were uncovering a network that still existed today. Piece by piece, name by name, we were tracing the connections that led to Riley—and beyond.

And that was why, later that evening, I met with Alex and Fares.

***

The meeting was held in one of the smaller rooms in the community’s main building. Alex was already at the table, typing away on his laptop, while Fares stood near the window, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit street outside.

I sat down, glancing between them. "We’ve made progress."

Alex didn’t look up, his fingers still moving. "I know. I’ve been tracking names. Cross-referencing known associates, financial records, anything that leaves a digital footprint. But if these people are careful, we’ll need more than that."

Fares turned toward us. "And that’s where I come in."

I nodded. "Exactly. We need to anticipate their next move. Figure out where they might be hiding, who they answer to, what leverage we can use."

Fares rubbed his jaw, considering. "They operated in secrecy, which means they had discipline. Structure. But Riley wasn’t at the top. She followed orders."

"And those orders came from someone above her," I finished.

Alex sighed, finally looking up from his screen. "You’re going to need boots on the ground for this. Digital trails only tell you so much. If we really want to get information, someone’s going to have to get close."

Fares smirked. "That’s the fun part."

I exhaled, my mind already spinning with possibilities. We had names. Now we needed a plan.

And I wasn’t stopping until we got to the truth.

**ARIA**

The crisp autumn air wrapped around me as I strolled along the tree-lined path outside the main building. The leaves crunched under my boots, their fiery reds and oranges painting the ground in warm hues. For the first time in days, I let myself breathe.

Researching Alessandro Scava’s work had been fascinating, but overwhelming. The weight of the past pressed on my shoulders, the responsibility of what we were uncovering settling deep in my chest.

I stopped near a bench, rubbing my hands together to fight the chill. It smelled like fall—earthy, rich, tinged with the scent of wood smoke drifting from nearby chimneys. For a moment, I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the stillness.

Then, I heard footsteps behind me.

I turned just as Cassius approached, two coffee cups in his hands.

“I figured you could use this,” he said, holding one out to me.

I smiled, taking the cup, the warmth seeping into my fingers. “A latte? You do know me.”

He smirked. “I try.”

We stood in comfortable silence for a few moments, sipping our drinks, watching the leaves dance in the breeze. Cassius shifted his weight, glancing at me before looking away.

I knew that look.

“What’s on your mind?” I asked, arching a brow.

He hesitated, his fingers tightening slightly around his cup. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “Leila is pregnant.”

I blinked, the words settling slowly, like leaves drifting to the ground.

Pregnant.

A rush of emotion swelled inside me—joy for him, for them… and a quiet ache that curled around my ribs like a ghost.

Cassius must have noticed the flicker of emotion on my face, because he immediately spoke again, voice cautious. “Aria, I—I wasn’t sure how to tell you. I didn’t want to upset you.”

I swallowed, forcing down the lump in my throat. It hurt, but not because I wasn’t happy for him.

Because it reminded me.

Of what I’d lost.

Of what could have been.

But this wasn’t about me.

I took a deep breath and met his eyes, offering a genuine smile. “Cass, that’s amazing. Really. I’m so happy for you both.”

His shoulders loosened slightly, but he was still watching me carefully. “Are you sure? I just—I know how much you went through, and I didn’t want this to—”

I reached out, squeezing his arm. “Cassius. It’s okay. It’s normal for it to bring up memories, but that doesn’t take away from how happy I am for you. You’re going to be a dad.”

His lips parted slightly, like the words had only now truly hit him. A slow, stunned smile spread across his face, and for the first time, I saw it—the excitement, the quiet awe, the love he already had for his unborn child.

That was enough to overshadow my own sorrow.

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tight. “Congratulations, big brother.”

He held me close, his voice quiet but full of emotion. “Thank you.”

As we stood there, autumn swirling around us, I let myself feel it all—the joy, the ache, the hope.

And for the first time in a long time, I thought that maybe, just maybe, the future could still hold something beautiful for me, too.