Rowanfall Pack:

The study smelled of old wood, ink, and authority.

There was a golden chandelier just above, and the chairs present in the study were all made with gold.

Behind the heavy desk, Alpha Rowanfall sat with his back straight. He had one hand resting lazily against the golden armrest, and the other holding a sealed letter between his fingers.

The wax was already broken.

He had read it once. Then again, and now... a third time. He read the letter slowly and carefully, savouring each word.

His expression did not change as his eyes moved through the lines. His expression didn’t even change when he reached the part that should have shaken any Alpha to his core.

Instead, a slow smile stretched across his face. The smile was knowing, and dangerous. Everything he foreshadowed was working out.

"Father,

You were right to place me here...."

His thumb brushed lightly over the parchment.

"The girl is not what they believe her to be.

She is not merely cursed. She is Fae, or let’s say, she has fae blood."

Rowanfall leaned back slightly in his chair. His gaze lowered as though he could see beyond the paper... beyond the castle... and beyond the distance separating him from his wonderful daughter.

His jaw tightened faintly, not in anger, but in realization. Pieces shifted, and he connected a few dots that made sense.

The council had said she’s a tri bird but everyone simply returned to underestimating Aire as if she hadn’t killed a council member right before them all.

"I have confirmed it myself." he continued the letter.

"Of course you had." he murmured, and chuckled carelessly. His daughter was not careless, nor blind.

"No one else knows. Not even the King suspects the full truth." the letter read on.

That made his smile deepen.

"Good." he murmured. "Very good."

His eyes scanned the lines of the letter. "For now, she is still seen as harmless."

Rowanfall let out a quiet breath.

"Harmless..." he repeated under his breath, the word tasting almost amusing.

If what Mabel claimed was true, then there was nothing harmless about a fae hidden among wolves.

For all its worth, she might still have a wolf.

His gaze sharpened as he continued the letter.

"I have earned her trust. Completely."

That part... he did not doubt.

Mabel had always been good at that. Too good in fact.

"She does not see me as a threat." The letter continued. "She confides in me. She trusts me. Which makes what comes next... easier."

Rowanfall’s fingers stilled.

And for the first time since he started reading the letter, interest sparked deeper in his eyes.

"I have already begun laying the foundation."

His eyes darkened slightly.

"There was an incident. A simple push was enough. The drink reached Aire, and I didn’t even need to lift my fingers. Someone else saw it. And knew its worth. I left it with a hand note."

Rowanfall did not move. His gaze shifted into proud approval.

"No one suspects me. And they will not. In fact, the Alphas don’t even care to know who poisoned her. They do not see her worthy enough for such trouble."

Of course they wouldn’t.

Mabel never acted like someone capable of it, and that was her greatest strength.

"The girl believes it was an accident. Aire suspects nothing, and now... I have something better."

His grip on the letter tightened just slightly.

"I have a story. I will turn suspicion where it benefits us most. And when the time comes... We will not just expose her."

Rowanfall leaned forward slightly.

"We will control what happens after. Trust me, Father. Everything will benefit us soon."

The letter ended there. There was no signature, or even a name. None was needed.

Rowanfall folded the parchment slowly, precisely, as though sealing the plan back into its paper shell.

He smiled, satisfied and proud.

"A fae..." he murmured, almost thoughtfully. "And hidden right under Elijah’s nose."

A low chuckle followed.

He stood, and moved toward the window, with his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out over his lands.

Power shifted in silence. Wars did not always begin with claws. Sometimes, they began with secrets.

...

Meanwhile, back at the Castle, Mabel’s smile was perfect, polite and soft as always. Her smile was warm enough to disarm anyone, and cold enough to hide everything beneath it.

Her steps echoed lightly against the marble floor as she ascended the staircase. Her fingers grazed the railing in a slow, absent motion.

Her steps were measured, and controlled.

A maid passed by.

Mabel’s smile softened just a fraction more.

"Lady Mabel," the girl greeted with a bow.

"Mina," Mabel replied gently. "You’ve been working hard."

The maid flushed faintly, clearly pleased that someone from the royal family was kind enough to know her name. "Thank you, my lady."

Mabel inclined her head, continuing upward without breaking her pace.

She saw a guard. He bowed at her, and she returned the bow politely with a perfect little smile.

She stopped in front of a door that was secured and guarded. Her gaze lingered on it for a second longer than necessary, then she lifted her chin slightly.

"I would like to see the girl."

The guards exchanged a brief glance before one of them nodded and opened the door for her.

No one denied Mabel.

The door creaked open and Mabel stepped inside at once.

The room was quiet.

Sunlight filtered through the window, pale and soft, casting a gentle glow over the figure seated beside it.

The human girl.

She looked so fragile, small, and breakable.

A maid knelt beside her, carefully applying ointment to her arm, where Nate claws had left a bruise.

And standing just a few steps away, stood Beta Rhys.

This was the first time she had seen him up close. She had no idea he had even been in the castle.

Alaric’s shadow. Unlike other Betas, he operated in the shadows, and stayed completely laid back like his Alpha.

His posture straightened the moment he noticed her. Then he bowed, respectful and measured.

"My lady."

Mabel inclined her head slightly in return. "Beta Rhys."

His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. He was assessing. He was not suspicious, but not careless either.

Mabel noticed, and she preferred it that way. It made this more interesting.

He stepped aside, giving her space.

Mabel moved forward toward the girl.

The child looked up, and then, she smiled, bright and genuine.

"Lady Mabel!" There was recognition and trust in her voice.

Mabel’s fingers lifted slightly, as if to reach for her. She stopped abruptly. She tried to touch the girl, but couldn’t as disgust curled sharp and sudden in her chest.

Her fingers stilled midair.

Then slowly and gracefully, she withdrew her hand as though nothing had happened. She caught herself immediately as though she had never intended to touch the girl at all.

Her smile did not falter. She bent slightly, lowering herself to the girl’s level.

"How do you feel today?" she asked gently.

"Fine," the girl replied. Then her eyes shifted, looking around, and searching.

Mabel noticed. "What is it?" she asked, her tone still soft.

The girl hesitated. Then, she said, "You said the kind silver-haired lady would be here today."

Her eyes moved again, toward the door. Toward the empty space. "Where is she?"

Mabel’s smile remained perfect and unbroken. Her head tilted slightly, as if considering innocently what to tell the little girl before her.

"Oh..." she said softly. "A lot happened while you were resting."

The girl blinked, confused.

"In a way... yes," Mabel continued, her voice light, almost conversational. "You see... not everyone is as kind as they seem."

The maid beside the girl shifted slightly, but said nothing.

Rhys did not move, but he was listening.

The girl frowned faintly. "I don’t understand..."

Mabel let out a soft, almost sympathetic chuckle. "That’s alright," she said. "You’re not supposed to."

Then, she leaned just a little closer, placed her mouth an inch away from the girl ear, and whispered.

"That silver-haired lady you like so much..." she paused. Her eyes softened, but not with kindness.

The girl stilled.

Mabel smiled. "She isn’t what you think she is." She added.

Mabel shook her head gently, as if she regretted the next words to say. "I tried to believe she was good too."

"So did everyone else."

She smiled, and went on, still whispering. "But some people..." she continued softly, "are very good at pretending."

The girl’s fingers curled slightly in her lap. "I just want to apologise," the girl said suddenly, her voice small.

Her gaze dropped to her fingers. "I didn’t know the drink would harm her."

That caught Rhy’s attention. His head turned towards them.

Mabel noticed the shift. She did not look at him. Instead, she laughed softly.

"A lot happened while you were away," she said smoothly, referring to him.

She straightened slightly, and finally, she glanced at Rhys. "And things are not as simple as they seem anymore."

Her gaze returned to the girl.

Her smile softened again. "And we have a bad Luna now." she paused, just enough for the words to settle. "To the point..." she added lightly, "She might have this girl killed any day from now."

The girl’s eyes widened. Fear flooded her expression.

Rhys didn’t move but his gaze had hardened.

Mabel smiled softly. "I have something to attend to. I’ll be back."

The girl nodded softly, but her lips quivered in fear.