Chapter 149: Loyal little dog

Elvira whirled around, her hand flying to her chest. For one breathless second, her mind assumed the voice belonged to Dorian, and that she had been caught red-handed.

When her eyes landed on Samantha instead, quietly standing in the dim hallway, she let out a slow exhale, forcing her posture to relax while her heart slammed against her ribs.

"What the hell is your problem?" she hissed. "Who are you to be lurking around in the dark? Are you spying on me?"

Samantha stepped out from the shadows of the stairwell where she had been waiting. She could barely believe she had actually sat in the cold for hours waiting for Elvira to return, but her gut had refused to let it go.

There was just something rotten beneath Elvira’s tearful, remorseful act from dinner the night before.

She closed the distance between them, her gaze sharp and unblinking.

"Where are you coming from at four in the morning?"

"I don’t answer to you," Elvira retorted, her upper lip curling. "You are a mere servant here. You have no right to question me."

"Mhhm," Samantha hummed softly. "Fine. Don’t tell me. Let’s see how Dorian reacts when I tell him I caught you sneaking back into the mansion at the crack of dawn."

Elvira’s eyes widened slightly as Samantha turned on her heel to walk away. She hadn’t anticipated anyone being awake, least of all a servant.

"Wait," she called out, halting Samantha. She took a quick breath, forcing the familiar, fragile distress back into her features.

Samantha turned around slowly, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, watching as Elvira gestured helplessly with open hands. She didn’t buy the pathetic act at all.

"I couldn’t sleep," Elvira murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion. "With everything crashing down since I returned, I just needed air. I needed to clear my head, so I went for a walk."

"A walk?" Samantha repeated. She glanced past Elvira toward the clock at the end of the hallway. "You were out walking for three full hours?"

The question cut through Elvira’s patience. For a split second, her piteous facade slipped, revealing the raw malice underneath before she snapped it back into place.

"What is this, an interrogation?" she demanded. "How do you even know I was out for three hours? Have you been stalking me?"

"I have better things to do than stalk you," Samantha said flatly. She didn’t even know why she cared; if Elvira had dark motives, it wasn’t her burden to carry. Yet the unsettling feeling in her chest refused to quiet down.

"Wait," Elvira said suddenly, taking a step closer as a realization dawned on her face. "I know who you are. You’re Samantha, aren’t you?"

Samantha stared back, cold and silent.

"During the few days I spent in Wintercrest before coming here, I picked up a few pieces of gossip," Elvira continued, a faint, mocking smile touching her lips. "You’re the woman Dorian cast aside to marry his new Luna. The former fiancée."

Samantha’s hands balled into tight fists, her jaw rigid.

"Such a shame," Elvira murmured, shaking her head with fake pity. "Discarded for a wolfless girl. I suppose you and I are more alike than you think."

"We are nothing alike," Samantha spat. "I didn’t betray my husband with his own cousin, nor did I play dead for years while letting everyone else believe I was actually dead."

The mock pity vanished instantly from Elvira’s face, replaced by a dark scowl as heat flushed her cheeks.

Before she could craft a retort, Samantha closed the remaining space between them, her voice dropping to a low, vicious whisper.

"I don’t know what game you’re playing, Elvira, and I don’t care. But don’t waste that innocent act on me. I see right through it."

"I suppose it takes one bitch to recognize another," Elvira shot back, her voice dropping all pretense of gentleness. "I have no quarrel with you, Samantha. But stay the fuck out of my way if you value your place here."

She stepped back, a cold grin breaking across her face. "And yes, I was out walking for three hours. Go run to Dorian like a loyal little dog and tell him what you saw. Let’s see whose word he takes."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked briskly down the hall toward the guest room, leaving Samantha standing alone in the quiet hallway.

Once inside her room, Elvira locked the door, pulled the glass vial from her cloak, and yanked out the stopper. She tilted her head back and downed the translucent red liquid in a single gulp.

It burned bitter and metallic down her throat, leaving an ash-like taste on her tongue.

She shoved the empty vial beneath her pillow, stripped off her gown, and climbed into bed. Within seconds, the potion took effect.

A wave of intense dizziness washed over her. Deep within her mind, her wolf thrashed violently against her consciousness, snarling at the oppressive weight of the blood-magic binding its nature. But the resistance was useless. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she sank into a dark, dreamless sleep.

...

"The Academy wants you to come in today, my love."

Alyssa paused, looking up from the vanity mirror where she was brushing her hair. They had both risen early to prepare for Dorian’s scheduled pack affairs, but the news took her by surprise.

"Today?" she asked, turning slightly. "Why didn’t you mention it last night?"

Dorian stepped up behind her, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. "I’m sorry, baby. Yesterday was chaotic with Elvira’s sudden arrival, and it completely slipped my mind."

He pressed his lips to the side of her neck, nuzzling soft kisses into her skin. "If it’s too sudden, I can have them reschedule."

​"No, it’s fine," Alyssa said, softening as she leaned back against him. "It’s just an initial assessment, right? Not the actual exam?"

"Yes, just an assessment," Dorian confirmed. "Once you finish, you can select the course you want to pursue, and they’ll set the official exam date."

Alyssa let out a quiet breath and nodded. "Okay. You’ll take me there?"

"Of course. And I’ll be waiting to bring you home the moment you’re done."

"What about your meeting with the neighboring Alphas? Isn’t that important?"

"Nothing is more important than you," he murmured softly, turning her in his arms until she was facing him. "Alec and Anthony will stay at the Academy with you until I finish, and Jake is coming with me. If anything feels off, tell them immediately, or call me."

She offered a small smile. "I will." Then her expression sobered, her eyes dropping slightly. "What about Elvira?"

"I’ll reject her before we leave the house," Dorian said firmly, his thumb lifting her chin so she could meet his eyes. "When you return from the Academy, you and I will decide what to do next with her."

Alyssa searched his face before giving a single nod. "Alright."

Dorian pressed a firm kiss to her forehead, his hands lingering on her waist. "Are you ready?"

"Yes."

"You look beautiful," he rasped, his eyes taking in the fitted black top and jeans that clung to her curves like second skin.

A warm flush rose to her cheeks. "You’re so sweet with your words, husband."

Chuckling softly, he laced his fingers through hers and led her out of the room to the living room.

Everyone else was already gathered around the dining table, and the atmosphere was far lighter than the previous night’s tension.

As Dorian pulled out a chair for Alyssa, the doors leading to the guest room swung open, and Elvira stepped out.

The casual conversations around the table died instantly. Every eye shifted toward her as she glided forward, her expression innocent and fragile.

Alyssa felt a familiar knot of discomfort tighten in her stomach as Elvira approached the table. She instinctively turned to look at Dorian, only to freeze.

Dorian was staring intently at Elvira, his jaw set, his eyes completely transfixed.