h4Chapter 493: MURDER/h4

    How did any of this happen?" Marie demanded, her voice sharp and filled with a rage that burned beneath the surface like hot coals. Her gaze swept over everyone in the room beforending on Jasmine’s pale, lifeless body.

    She sighed heavily, realizing Jasmine was still unconscious, barely clinging to life. Her magic had stopped the bleeding—for now. But the damage had been done. With a sharp flick of her wrist, she signaled for everyone to step out.

    Loren, Ned, Nanny Nia, and the wide-eyed maids all nodded wordlessly, as if pulled by some invisible force. Silently, they moved through the room, wiping down the stained floors, disposing of the used towels, and gathering the bloodied basin.

    Nanny Nia lingered the longest. Her hands shook as she gently pulled Xaden’s thickest fur nket over Jasmine’s fragile form, tucking her in like a child. Then, with trembling lips, she kissed her forehead softly. "You were supposed to be safe," she whispered.

    Once they were all outside and the door shut firmly behind them, Marie turned on the group like a storm.

    "Now," she said, her voice icy and controlled, "I want you to tell me how any of this happened to Jasmine. From the beginning. Every single detail."

    "We... we don’t know," Nanny Nia said honestly, her voice small. "Not everything."

    "I do," came a soft, hesitant voice.

    They all turned in surprise to a maid who had lingered near the back, practically invisible until now. She was one of the youngest, often overlooked and never spoken to unlessmanded.

    "I was the one who found her," the girl said, twisting her fingers together. "I—I was going to give her breakfast. When I walked in... she was already lying there. On the floor. Covered in blood. I thought she was dead."

    "I saw her the night before," Nanny Nia added quietly. "I checked in on her in the cell. She was fine. Weak, tired... but fine."

    Marie’s eyes narrowed. "Cell?"

    "Yes," Nanny Nia said. "She was ced in one."

    Marie looked sharply between them, blinking in disbelief. "Why was Jasmine in a cell? What in the name of the goddess was she doing in a damn cell?"

    Loren, now back to his usual irritated self, scoffed. "I thought you were the all-seeing witch."

    Marie turned to him slowly. "Being a seer doesn’t mean I’m omniscient, healer. Now answer me. Why was she locked up?"

    And then they told her everything—piece by piece, voice by voice. The betrayal Jasmine had supposedlymitted. The evidence. The whispers of treason. The ims she had colluded with the enemy. That she had plotted against Xaden, her mate. Her Alpha.

    Marie listened, her expression unreadable. And then she chuckled—low and cold. A dangerous sound. Everyone froze, unsure if she wasughing or preparing to curse the entire hallway.

    "That’s it?" she asked, her voice now trembling with fury. "That’s why Xaden...?"

    She didn’t finish the sentence. Her hands balled into fists. Her jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder her teeth didn’t crack.

    "Where is Xaden?" she finally asked.

    "No one has seen him," Loren answered. "Or Erik. They’ve been gone since it happened. Most believe they’re not even in the territory."

    Marie’s gaze darkened. "Well, wherever they are, they’re about to be found. If I were any of you, I’d keep someone with Jasmine at all times. Before whoever started this... finishes it."

    She turned abruptly, her cloak sweeping behind her like a shadow.

    "Where are you going?" Nanny Nia called after her.

    "To find your so-called Alpha," Marie snapped.

    She stormed down the hallway, her presence crackling with power. The torches flickered as she passed. The walls seemed to shudder.

    She was livid. This wasn’t just betrayal—it was stupidity. She had worked too hard, protected too much, and now it had all been undone. Jasmine’s womb was empty. Her soul barely tethered to her body. And all because Xaden had believed lies whispered into his ears.

    Using her power, she reached out across the territory, searching for his energy signature.

    There.

    At the outer gate. He was just dismounting from his horse. Marie’s lips curled.

    She stepped outside, storming across the courtyard. The massive doors of the pack house opened for her as if sensing her fury. She descended the stone steps and found Xaden, tall and broad-shouldered, speaking with his men. Erik was beside him.

    Xaden turned slowly, sensing her rage. His brows drew together.

    "Where have you been?" he barked. "I sent for you for nearly two weeks! You ignored every summons—"

    Marie didn’t answer. She lifted her hand and traced a wide circle through the air. A swirling ck vortex burst into life.

    In the next blink, Xaden, Erik, and Marie vanished.

    They reappeared inside a sealed room within the pack house. A private study, empty and locked.

    "What the hell are you doing?" Xaden growled. "Why bring us here?"

    "What is wrong with you, Xaden?" Marie snapped.

    "What is wrong with me? You kidnap us, and then ask—?"

    "We’re still in your pack," Marie hissed. "So don’t tter yourself. Now tell me—how could you lock Jasmine up like that? She was pregnant. Carrying your child."

    Xaden blinked, stunned. "So that’s what this is about? You brought me here to talk about her? After everything she did?"

    "Everything she allegedly did," Marie bit out.

    "She lied to me," Xaden barked. "She tried to kill me. She worked with the man who murdered my soldiers. She tried to take my pack—"

    Marie rubbed her temples. The headache pounding behind her eyes was unbearable.

    "And who told you that?" she asked softly. "Who fed you this story?"

    "My sources don’t lie," Xaden said.

    "Your sister does," Marie snapped. "Your ego does. Your guilt does."

    She turned to Erik, her gaze sharp. "I expected blind anger from him. But not you."

    Erik looked away, his jaw tight.

    "You locked up the mother of your child," Marie hissed. "Because of what? A rumor? A lie that wouldn’t even hold up under a truth-binding spell? How long did you even think it over before throwing her into a cell?"

    "She was carrying the child of my enemy," Xaden yelled. "You think I didn’t consider everything?! You think I didn’t break inside watching her lie to me with that belly—?"

    "Your child," Marie whispered.

    The words hit like thunder. The room fell deathly silent.

    Xaden froze.

    "You murdered your own child," Marie said coldly. "That bloodline you were so sure you’d never have? The legacy you’ve spent years chasing? Died. Today. In a pool of blood. In your own bed."

    She walked up to him slowly, her voice quiet but devastating.

    "You didn’t just betray her. You destroyed her. And now? You don’t even know what you’ve lost."

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    With those words being dropped on Xaden like a bomb, Marie turned away from him and faced Erik.

    "She deserved better." Marie said facing the now guilt stricken Erik. "A devil’s advocate is worse than the devil himself."

    "I hope you’re proud of yourselves now. You went the lowest any wolf has ever done." She stated bluntly.

    And with that, she turned her beautiful locks away from them and headed out of the door.

    She finally sprung the door open and the guards who had been struggling to open it since she had disappeared with them from the steps, stood in shock.

    With that she stormed out of the pce.

    Erik turned to Xaden.

    "I told you." Erik pointed out. "I warned you."

    Xaden turned his face away reluctant to listen to Erik’s reprimands.

    "It made no sense." Erik continued. "She left because she was searching for you. Hell it was a stupid thing to do and we all agree. But was it worth losing her for? Was it?"

    "Losing her?" Xaden rose a brow.

    Erik scoffed. "What? You think she would want to be with you? You think she will stand you again? You locked her up and abandoned her. You murdered her child."

    "I didn’t." Xaden said his eyes zing a sh of hot furry.

    "Not directly. But this has happened all because of you." Erik pointed out clearly. "She was far gone. She had barely had any chance to have her usual pregnancy treatments and yet you discarded her like she was no one. The least you could have done was have Loren check on her. But look. She would have died in the process. What if Marie hadn’t made it in time? Who would have used magic? Jasmine would be dead."

    Xaden strolled to the window and Erik followed him refusing to be ignored.

    "There are consequences to actions Xaden. And you’re going to face them." Erik said. "Jasmine lost her child. A pregnant woman went out of the pack and risked her life to find you. And you paid her back by murdering her."

    "ENOUGH!" Xaden said silencing Erik instantly as he pushed down objects on a table in rage.

    Erik shook his head and walked away.