Chapter 33
932 Words
_Dorian's POV_
Later that afternoon, I sent for Marcus, my Beta. He was the one person I trusted above all others, and if anyone could help me figure out what this green liquid was, it was him.
As I sat in my study, the vial hidden in my pocket, my mind kept circling back to Camilla’s reaction. She had been startled—no, more than that. She had been nervous, almost afraid. Why? If it was just medicine, why did she react that way?
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called.
Marcus entered, his sharp eyes immediately scanning my face. He knew me too well. “You wanted to see me?”
I nodded. “Lock the door behind you.”
He arched a brow but did as I asked, the click of the lock echoing through the quiet room. He took a seat across from me, leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees. “This seems to be serious.”
“It is.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small vial, setting it on the desk between us. The green liquid inside glowed faintly under the afternoon light. Marcus studied it with a frown.
“What is this?” he asked.
I exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, but I want to find out.”
He picked up the vial, rolling it between his fingers. “Where did you get it?”
I hesitated for a second before answering. “Camilla had it. I walked into her room this morning and caught her pouring this into a bottle. When she saw me, she jumped, and some of it spilled on the floor. She looked… uneasy. Almost scared.”
Marcus’s gaze sharpened. “And what did she say it was?”
I leaned back in my chair, arms crossed. “She told me it was medicine. Said that she hasn’t been feeling well.”
Marcus let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “Do you believe her?”
I ran a hand through my hair, frustration building in my chest. “No. Something feels wrong. I just don’t know what. That is why I need you to find out what this is.”
Marcus turned the vial in his hand, examining the liquid inside. “I can take this to the pack’s healer. He knows more about potions and herbs than anyone else. If it’s something harmless, he will tell me.”
I nodded. “Good. But Marcus—” I met his eyes, my expression serious. “Camilla can’t know about this. She can’t know that the vial is with you.”
His expression mirrored mine. “You think she would try to stop us from investigating?”
“I don’t know what to think,” I admitted. “But I do know that she was acting suspicious. If this is just medicine, she wouldn’t have been so on edge.”
Marcus leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger against the vial. “It could be something harmless. Maybe she really isn’t feeling well.”
I let out a humorless chuckle. “You and I both know Camilla. If she was sick, she would’ve made sure the entire pack knew about it. No, Marcus. This is something else.”
He studied me for a moment before nodding. “Alright. I’ll find out what this is. But if it turns out to be something dangerous—”
“Then I need to know as soon as possible,” I finished for him.
Marcus sighed. “And if it is something dangerous? What then?”
I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into a fist on the desk. “Then I’ll deal with it.”
He nodded, slipping the vial into his pocket. “I’ll take this to the healer tonight. I’ll be discreet.”
“Good,” I said. “Do it quickly.”
We sat in silence for a moment before Marcus spoke again. “Alpha Dorian… be careful.”
I met his gaze, seeing the concern in his eyes. “I will.”
He nodded but didn’t look convinced. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”
I sighed. “Camilla and I… things haven’t been the same lately. I don’t know if it’s just me, but something feels off. She’s been acting different. Distant, but also… strange.”
Marcus frowned. “Strange?”
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache forming. “She has been talking to someone on the phone. She has been saying bad things about me. And now this.” I gestured to his pocket. “I don’t like not knowing what’s going on.”
Marcus was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “You think she’s hiding something.”
“I know she is,” I muttered. “I just don’t know what.”
Marcus stood. “I’ll handle this. And in the meantime, keep an eye on her. If she realizes this vial is missing, she might do something reckless.”
I exhaled sharply, nodding. “I will.”
Marcus gave me one last look before heading for the door. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something.”
As he left, I sat back in my chair, staring at the empty space where the vial had been. My gut told me that this was just the beginning.
Something was very wrong. Camilla was planning something big. And I was going to find out what it was and with whom she was plotting.
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