Thomas POV
I moved through the palace gates before the moon reached its peak. The Alpha had given his order. I had to find the royal physician.
My job as a man of secrets is to find what stays hidden. I ran toward the physician's residence on the edge of the palace grounds.
I reached the small stone house. The door stood open. This was the first sign of guilt. I stepped inside. The air smelled of panic.
I saw her trunk open. Her clothes lay scattered on the floor. I touched the wick of a candle on the table. It was still warm. She had left less than an hour ago.
I stepped back outside. I knelt on the soft earth near the door. I saw the trail immediately. Her footsteps were deep in the mud. She was carrying a heavy load. She was running toward the northern forest.
I followed the trail into the trees. I did not use a lantern. I used my eyes and the moonlight. I am a predator. I do not need fire to see my prey.
The forest grew thick. The ground became rocky. I lost the footprints for a moment. I stopped. I closed my eyes. I listened.
I breathed through my mouth to stay silent. I watched two figures in a small clearing. One was the physician. The other was Morgana.
Morgana is the trusted maid of Lady Elara.
"Thank you for coming." Morgana said.
She held a dark cloak.
"Thank you for agreeing to flee the palace. It is the only way you can be safe."
"I will do anything to save my family." The physician said.
She was crying. Her voice shook.
"I understand." Morgana said.
She stepped closer. She reached into her hair.
"But the master does not like loose ends."
I saw the flash of metal. Morgana pulled a long silver hairpin from her head. It was sharp. She aimed for the neck of the physician.
I picked up a stone from the ground. I threw it with all my strength. The stone hit the hand of Morgana. She cried out. The pin fell into the grass.
I stepped out from behind the tree.
"The Alpha wants a word with both of you." I said.
Morgana did not run. She turned toward me. She reached for a dagger hidden in her belt. She lunged. She was fast. She moved like a snake.
I stepped to the left. I blocked her arm. We fought in the dirt. She tried to claw at my eyes. I grabbed her wrist. I twisted it. She kicked my shin. I did not let go. I saw an opening. I hit her on the side of the neck with the edge of my hand.
Morgana went limp. She fainted. I did not waste time. I took a rope from my waist. I tied her to the tree.
I turned to the physician. The woman sat on the floor. She was hyperventilating.
"Who is behind all this?" I asked.
I stood over her.
"I did not do it!" The physician cried.
"They made me do it. They threatened my family."
"Who?" I asked again.
I leaned down.
"Give me a name."
"They were many." She whispered.
"Not just one person. It's a circle. It goes deep into the court."
"Mention their names." I commanded.
She opened her mouth. She was about to speak.
A sharp sound sliced through the air.
Twhip!
It was the whistle of an arrow. The physician jerked.
A black arrow buried itself in her neck. Her eyes went wide. She slumped to the ground. She died before she could say a single word.
I stood up. I looked into the dark trees. I saw a shadow move. I ran after the killer. I jumped over logs. I pushed through thorns.
The person was fast. The person knew the forest than I do. I reached a rocky place. I stopped. The trail was cold. I lost the killer.
I walked back to where Morgana is tied.
My heart felt heavy. I looked at the dead physician. I looked at Morgana. She was still tied to the tree.
Since she was here to kill the witness, she must know the names.
I untied her from the tree. Tied her hands behind her back. I dragged her toward the palace. She woke up halfway there. She struggled. I did not stop. I pulled her through the mud.
We reached the palace gates. Cassian was waiting with a squad of guards. He held a torch. He saw me dragging Morgana.
"Is this not the trusted maid of Elara?" Cassian asked.
"Yes." I said.
"What does she have to do with this?" Cassian asked.
"I would not know until the suspect tells us who sent her." I replied.
I took Morgana to the palace prison. The walls were cold. I threw her into a cell. I locked the iron door.
I went to the Alpha chamber. Alaric sat by the fire. He looked at me. He saw the blood on my tunic.
He stood up slowly. His golden eyes glowed. The air became heavy.
"Thomas." Alaric said.
His voice a low growl.
"Tell me you have the physician."
"I have bad news, Alpha." I said. I bowed low.
"The physician is dead."
Alaric slammed his fist into the stone mantel. The rock cracked under his strength.
"How?" He roared.
"I found her in the forest." I said.
"Morgana was there. She was trying to kill the physician with a silver pin. I intervened. I fought Morgana. I knocked her out. I tried to question the physician."
"And the names?" Alaric asked.
He stepped closer. I could feel the heat in his rage.
"She said there were many." I replied.
"I told her to give me names. Just as she opened her mouth, an arrow came from the dark. It hit her in the throat. She died instantly. I chased the archer, but they were too fast."
Alaric turned away. He grabbed a glass decanter. He shattered it against the wall.
He was shaking with fury.
"They are killing my witnesses!" Alaric screamed.
"They are trying to cover their tracks because they know I am close! They touched the woman I love. They tried to frame Sophie for a murder they planned. They thought they could execute her while I was weak!"
"I have Morgana in the cell, Alpha." I said.
Alaric turned back to me. His face was a mask of cold death.
"Morgana is Elara's shadow." He said.
"If Morgana is there, Elara is behind the curtain. They targeted Sophie because she brings me peace. They targeted my brother to destroy me."
"What shall I do with Morgana tonight?" I asked.
Alaric gripped the edge of his table. The wood groaned.
"Torture her." He commanded.
"Torture her! Until she says the truth. I do not care if she screams. We must get the names. If she refuses to speak by morning, prepare the execution square. I will execute her tomorrow in front of everyone."
"She is a high servant, Alpha." I reminded him.
"The court will watch."
"Good." Alaric said.
His voice was a terrifying calm.
"Let them watch. I want every person in that circle to see her die. I will make her speak, Thomas. If she does not give me the names of those who frameed Sophie, she will be the first of many to fall. Prepare the square. Tomorrow, the blood will flow until the truth is washed clean."
I bowed. I left the room.
The Alpha was no longer just a King. He was a monster hunting for justice.
