Chapter 24

The tension in the mansion had become suffocating. Ever since Emma’s little stunt, twisting things to make me look like a threat, Alaric had been distant. He didn’t lock me up or punish me, but his trust in me was shaken. I could see it in his eyes, in the way he hesitated before speaking to me, in the way he kept his distance.

Emma was winning.

She was planting seeds of doubt in Alaric’s mind, and I knew if I didn’t do something soon, she would find a way to get rid of me entirely.

So, I decided to fight back.

Not with tricks. Not with lies. But with the truth.

If Alaric wouldn’t believe me outright, then I needed to catch Emma in her own web of deceit.

I had been watching her closely, waiting for an opportunity, and today it finally came.

I was walking through the mansion when I heard hushed voices near the grand staircase. I recognized Emma’s voice instantly, along with another—Beta Lucas.

“I just need a little more time,” Emma whispered urgently. “He’s doubting her already, but I need him to be sure. She has to be seen as a *threat*.”

Lucas hesitated. “Emma, if Alaric finds out—”

“He won’t,” she cut him off. “Not if we do this right.”

I stepped closer, keeping my breathing steady.

“You want me to set her up again?” Lucas asked warily.

“Not just set her up,” Emma said, lowering her voice even more. “This time, I need her *gone*. I need Alaric to *reject* her.”

My heart pounded.

She was planning something bigger. Something worse.

I couldn’t let it happen.

I slipped away before they could see me, my mind racing. I needed proof. Something solid that would make Alaric open his damn eyes. But how?

Then it hit me.

If Emma wanted to frame me, I could turn the tables.

That night, I stayed hidden in the hallway near Alaric’s office, waiting. If Emma was planning something, she’d have to act soon.

And sure enough, she did.

I saw her slip into Alaric’s office, a small vial in her hand. My stomach dropped.

What the hell was she doing?

I moved quietly, pressing myself against the wall as I watched through the crack in the door.

Emma approached Alaric’s desk and carefully unscrewed the vial, pouring a clear liquid into his whiskey glass.

Poison? No, that would be too extreme, even for her.

A drug, then. Something to disorient him?

I clenched my fists.

She was setting me up for *something*.

Emma took a step back, looking pleased with herself. Then she turned and left, unaware that I had seen everything.

I waited a few moments before slipping into the office, my heart pounding.

The whiskey glass sat there, tainted, waiting for Alaric to drink it.

I had two choices.

I could dump it out and pretend this never happened.

Or I could turn this against her.

I chose the latter.

I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of the glass, then picked it up carefully and carried it to my room.

If Emma wanted to frame me, I was going to make sure she got caught in her own game.

The next morning, everything was set.

I waited until breakfast, when Alaric was sitting at the head of the dining table, Emma at his side, playing the part of his loving, supportive partner. I felt sick just looking at her.

I stepped forward, clearing my throat.

“Alaric,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

His gaze flickered to me, unreadable. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it here.”

Emma smirked slightly, thinking she had already won.

Fine. Let’s do this publicly.

I pulled my phone out and held up the picture of the whiskey glass. “I caught Emma in your office last night. She put something in your drink.”

Silence.

Alaric’s eyes darkened. Emma let out a laugh. “Are you serious right now?” she scoffed.

I ignored her, keeping my eyes on Alaric. “I took the glass before you could drink it. I still have it.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on. I was in Alaric’s office because he asked me to bring him some documents. And if you have the glass, why not get it tested? Oh, wait—because there’s nothing in it.”

I smirked. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”

Her expression faltered for just a second.

Alaric leaned back, his gaze unreadable. “Emma?”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “This is ridiculous. She’s clearly desperate—”

“Enough.”

His voice was sharp, cutting through the tension.

Emma immediately stopped talking.

Alaric’s gaze flickered to me, then back to her. “Did you, or did you not, touch my drink last night?”

She hesitated. It was small, but I saw it.

And so did Alaric.

His jaw clenched. “Answer the question, Emma.”

Her fingers curled into fists. Then, suddenly, her eyes welled with tears. “Alaric, I—”

He slammed his fist on the table, making the plates rattle. “Answer me.”

Emma swallowed hard. “I… I was trying to protect you.”

My stomach twisted.She’s good.

“I overheard Vanessa talking to one of the guards,” she continued, her voice trembling. “She was planning to drug you, Alaric. I panicked! I thought if I put something mild in your drink first—something to make you tired—you wouldn’t drink her poison.”

I stared at her, stunned.

She had just twisted the entire situation in a way that almost sounded believable.

But Alaric wasn’t buying it.

His expression darkened as he slowly rose from his chair. “You lied to me.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “No, I—I was trying to—”

“You lied to me!” His voice shook the room.

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Alaric, please—”

His eyes flickered to me, then back to her. “You tried to hurt me all because you hate her after I told you and asked you to trust me”

I sucked in a breath. He said it out loud.

His mate.

Emma’s lower lip trembled. “She’s ruining everything, Alaric! We were happy before she came here! You loved me—”

Alaric’s expression hardened. “I trusted you.”

Emma reached for his arm, but he pulled away.

“Get out,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Her breath hitched. “What?”

“You heard me,” he growled. “You want me to choose? Fine. I choose her.”

My heart stopped.

Emma let out a strangled sob, backing away. “You’ll regret this,” she whispered.

Alaric’s gaze didn’t waver. “Go.”

She turned and took a few steps before fainting .Alaric quickly caught her "Emma!"

I widened my eyes as he rushed and his men followed rushing her to the hospital.