Brenna
After leaving Adan, I headed to Magenta’s suite, knowing we had to hurry. All around me, everyone was scurrying about, locking down the castle, preparing for an attack. When I got to Magenta’s floor, an announcement was made to finish locking down the castle, and if Colin Perry was found, he was to be brought straight to the Alpha. I had no idea who he was or what he had done, but it must have been something serious.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door opened, and Magenta was smiling as she stood in the doorway. “Luna! I’ve been expecting you! Come in! Please!”
“What do you mean, 'you were expecting me'?”
She closed the door behind me after I walked in. “Well, the Blood Moon is tomorrow, so I knew you’d be here soon regarding your marriage.” She arched an eyebrow, giving me a sly smile. “Cutting it a bit close. Don’t you think?”
“Well, better late than never.” I lifted one shoulder as I headed toward the dining room table. It was usually where we discussed business or where I trained. “So, how have you been?”
“I should be asking you that.” She tilted her head to the side. “Are you okay after the ordeal this morning?”
I nodded. “Just fine. And you?”
She lifted one shoulder. “A bit tired but no worse for wear.” She motioned toward what had become my regular chair. “Please, sit down. So, when would you like to get married?”
“As soon as possible,” I replied. “Maybe early in the morning?”
A crease formed between Magenta’s eyes. “Maybe tonight. The morning would be cutting it a little close. The first night of the Blood Moon is tomorrow night. If you wait until the morning, it may be too late.”
I nodded. “So, what time would you like to do it?”
“How soon can you get ready?”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. When Magenta opened it, my heart pounded when I saw Adan standing there. “I’m so sorry for the intrusion, but Magenta, I need your help.”
“Come in.” She closed the door and led us into the dining area. “What’s wrong?”
Adan let out a deep breath. “A chef on the kitchen staff never showed up for work today. When I checked on him in his room, his roommate was dead.”
Magenta and I both gasped.
“Do you think Dane killed him?” Magenta asked.
“I’m not sure, but he has a lot to answer for when we find him,” Adan replied. “Magenta, I need you to read the scene and track Dane, if you don’t mind.”
She nodded. “Yes, of course. It depends upon how long it has been since his death, but I’ll try.”
Adan nodded. “Let’s go.” Then he turned to me. “Brenna, it’s a pretty gruesome scene. Why don’t you go upstairs to your suite and start getting everything ready for the wedding? I’ll be up soon.”
I shook my head. “No, if there’s anything I can do to help—”
“No, Adan’s right,” Magenta interjected. “You have a lot to do for the wedding. Let’s have it in the morning, that way you can have tonight to prepare. Adan and I can handle this.”
I nodded. “You both be careful.”
Adan nodded as he took my hands and leaned his forehead against mine. He didn’t say anything, but then again, he didn’t have to. Actions always speak louder than words.
When he released me, my guards escorted me to the elevator, leaving me to wonder what had just happened in the Pack.
Adan
“Magenta, I’m sorry to ask you to do this right now, but you’re our best tracker.” I held the elevator door open, letting her go in first.
Magenta glanced over at me. “Do you think Dane is the mole working with Darius?”
I shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not sure what to think. But we need to find Dane before we jump to any more conclusions.”
“Agreed.”
The door opened, and I led her to Dane and Colin’s room. “Magenta, what you’re about to see is gruesome, so brace yourself.”
She chuckled, looking at me as a grandmother would her grandchild, even though she didn’t look a day over twenty-five. “My dear Adan, I’ve been on this earth far too long not to have seen a few things in my time.”
“I just wanted you to be prepared.” I offered her my arm out of respect, and she took it.
Guards were posted outside the door as we approached, keeping anyone from entering.
“Has the crime scene been disturbed?” Magenta asked the guards.
“No, Mistress Magenta,” he replied. “No one has entered since the Alpha left.”
She nodded as she glanced over at me. “Adan, I’ll go in first.”
I nodded once, and followed her in.
She held her hands up in front of her as she slowly walked through the suite and stopped at the end of the hallway. “There’s residual magic here.” She walked farther inside and saw the body lying in the glass, his eyes still open.
I hated that we hadn’t removed his body yet, but I didn’t want to disturb the crime scene and any chance of finding evidence.
Magenta nearly closed her eyes, as if seeing images that weren’t there. “The victim and Dane were fighting over something, whether or not to....” She looked into my eyes. “Betray you.” She walked slowly around the table. “They argued, and Dane pushed him hard, not realizing his strength.” Her head snapped up. “He’s not a shifter. He’s a Lycan, a werewolf.”
“Which means that since the Blood Moon is so close, it probably affected his strength, which is why Colin went through the glass table.” I nodded, understanding. “Magenta, can you tell if there was anyone else here?”
Her eyes were half-mast and then she nodded. “Yes, a witch.”
My eyes grew wide. “Please tell me it wasn’t Laura.”
Magenta let out a deep breath. “I’m afraid so.”
“Thank you for your help.” I stormed out and said to the guards, “One of you, make sure Magenta gets back to her room safely. I’m calling the cleaners to come in and deal with the crime scene now. And if Dane comes back, I want to know immediately.”
“Aye!”
I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed Dominic’s number.
“Alpha?” he answered on the first ring.
“Are you with Laura, the Snow Warriors Pack Witch?”
“Yes, why?” he replied.
“Detain her,” I yelled into the phone, taking the stairs two at a time. “I’m on my way.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Alpha.”
My heart went cold as I froze. “And why not?”
“Because we’re not at the castle.”
Rage boiled in my veins. “Dominic, what have you done?”
He chuckled. “I’ll see you soon.” Then the line went dead.