“Yeah,” she said softly. “Grandma Charlotte has been really nice to me. She takes care of me. I like her a lot.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, a small smile tugged at my lips. At least my mother was doing something right. “That’s good. Stay close to Grandma Charlotte, okay? She’ll keep you safe until I come get you.”
Mia paused, and I could almost picture her biting her lip, the way she did when she was thinking too hard about something. “Are you coming soon?” she asked.
I hesitated. “Yes,” I lied, because I didn’t know when I’d be able to see her again. “Soon. I promise.””
She seemed satisfied with that, because a moment later,
Charlotte’s voice replaced hers on the phone. “Violet,” Charlotte said gently, “I wanted you to hear Mia’s voice. She misses you terribly, and I think she was starting to worry you might not
come for her.”
Talking to Charlotte still felt strange, but this time was
different. She had saved my daughter’s life–she didn’t have to,
but she did. That wasn’t something I would forget.
“Thank you,” I said, meaning it.
“Any grandmother would have done the same,” she replied.
“Maybe. But I still appreciate it. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
There was a beat of silence before she spoke again. “If I asked you to spare my son, would you?”
Her words made my entire body tense. “He’s threatened to kill Asher. He’s threatened to send me his corpse. How am I
supposed to spare him?”
Charlotte sighed, a long, sad sound. “I know. But as a mother, I can’t help but hope there’s a way to save my son. Perhaps if we could talk to him-”
“It’s too late,” I cut in. “He made his choice. He’s not the Michael I
grew up with, not anymore.”
“I see,” Charlotte said quietly. “Then I won’t push any further. I only wish things could have been different. Maybe if I had
stayed with you all those years, none of this would have
happened.”
That was the closest thing to an apology I was ever going to get
from her.
“I don’t know why Michael is doing this, but I doubt it has
anything to do with you,” she murmured.
I might have a clue.
‘Michael’s mate was from Dark Knight. He probably blames Asher’s family for what happened to that pack.”
And just like that, everything started falling into place.
Violet’s POV
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. I leaned back in my chair, staring at the dimly lit room as Alpha Charlotte’s voice came through the line, laced with disbelief.
“That doesn’t add up,” she muttered. “How can Michael be so
sure his mate was from Dark Knight? Mates recognize each
other through proximity or direct contact. Dark Knight was
wiped out eight years ago. There’s no way he could have met
her!””
I exhaled, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Chapter106
“I don’t have all the details,” I admitted. “But one of the traitors
who helped Isaac get the flower was captured. That’s what he
told us.”
The news had come in fast, and I was still processing it myself.
Charlotte hesitated. “Did he give you anything useful?”
I clenched my jaw. The rogues we had taken in were stubborn-
loyal to the end, even when that end was near.
“Most of them refused to talk, but one mentioned something
about the Royal Council and the former Alpha King being
responsible for the destruction of Dark Knight,” I told her.
There was silence on the other end. I could practically hear
Charlotte trying to piece things together.
“That attack was a bloodbath,” I continued. “No survivors, no
leads, and no real answers. It’s like someone wanted to erase
them completely.“”
She let out a slow breath. “And yet Michael is blaming Asher for
something his uncle did?”
I shook my head, my grip tightening on the phone. “That’s what
I don’t get. Losing a mate is devastating, but this feels personal.
Chapter106
Like there’s another layer to this that we’re missing.”
“You’re probably right,” Charlotte agreed. “But for now, this is
all we have to work with.”
I hated the uncertainty in her voice. It mirrored the feeling in
my gut. There were too many unknowns.
“I have to deal with something,” I said. “I’ll call you back later.
Please take care of my daughter.”
“I will. Take care.”
I stood, stretching out my stiff body, and made my way
downstairs. The moment I reached the lower hall, I noticed a
group of unfamiliar faces standing in the dim light.
They weren’t strangers to the Pack. I could sense that much.
Simon approached first. “Queen Violet, these are Yara, Luca,
Simon, and Paul.”
