Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Chapter 30

TESSA’S POV

“What?! What’s wrong?!” Zed asked in panic at my reaction.

1 struggled to calm my racing heart, Daphne had gone into the deep recesses of my consciousness out of fear at the drink.

“Nothing, just…. You should leave. It’s past your time here, get some rest” I urged Zed, my voice shaking.

He looked at me weirdly.

“Understood, you also need some rest. I’ll head off. I’ll see you tomorrow then” He said dropping his cup on the counter.

I forced my lips to curve up into a smile.

“Good idea, good night Zed” I said desperately wishing he would go.

He gave a curt nod and left the med bay, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the chilling truth. I stared at the goblet, a silent testament to the danger I just faced. I picked it up with trembling hands and carried it to my room, locking the door behind me.”The goblet, a morbid trophy became a silent guardian from where I placed it by my bedside.

Sleep however was a distant dream, I was nervous that someone would attempt to kill me again in the dead of the night. Every rustle of leaves, every creak of the floorboard sent shivers down my spine and kept me awake and alert.

Dawn arrived, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. Exhaustion gnawed at me because I was unable to sleep but that was the least of my concerns. I need answers and I needed them fast if I was going to leave this place alive and expose the mastermind behind everything.

I rushed into the med bay where Gabe and Gia were already. Muttering greetings to the both of them, I pulled Gabe aside.

“We need to talk i said, my voice a low murmur.

His brows furrowed in concern as I recounted all that happened the previous night, the chalice, the sickening scent of Gloom, my discovery of the flower in Giselle’s room which reminded me I left the flower there, da mn it! Gabe’s expression was one of solid concern.

“Are you sure, Tessa?” He muttered, his voice low with worry. “Maybe…”

“There’s no maybe, Gabe” I said frustrated with a firm voice. “It was Gloom”

The next wave of silence was unsettling, Gabe ran a hand through his hair, the weight of my words settling on him.

“Tessa,

you have to stop this” he said finally, his voice low and urgent. “This…you’re at risk, I don’t want you to get hurt. 1 know you want answers but it’s getting out of hand, i told you before we came here that when things get out of hand, you back out without a second thought

“I can’t run, Gabe. Not again, it’ll follow me wherever I go, somehow I feel my coming back to this pack was orchestrated by Will and Giselle. They’ll go after me” I countered frustrated.

He sighed, defeated but he didn’t argue

“It doesn’t matter your decision, I’m always here behind you and we’ll figure it out together”

A flicker of gratitude warmed my heart.

“Thank you Gabe, you’ve been an angel to me since the day you saved me”.

“So what’s your next move?” He asked, his voice regaining it’s usual composure.

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“There’s a briefing in the meeting hall this morning concerning Addison’s death and I’m supposed to be there, I want to expose Giselle there” I said nodding my head.

Gabe frowned

“How exactly do you intend to expose Giselle?” He asked.

I hesitated. Revealing the full extent of my suspicions, the chalice hidden in my room, felt reckless. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that a direct accusation was the only way to force a reaction, to see if Giselle’s mask would slip.

“Don’t worry, Gabe. Everything will be fine” I assured

Gabe wasn’t assured.

“Tessa, promise me something. You will not do anything reckless in an attempt to reveal the truth” He said, his eyes dark and serious.

I nodded unsure if I would be able to keep that promise.

“I promise” I said.

“You know what? I’ll come with you” He suggested.

I shook my head fervently.

“You can’t. It’s just the Medic who’s in charge that’s expected at the meeting, I don’t think the elders would be grateful for your presence like last time” I said smiling

He nodded,

“Fine”

“You should go on with your work” I said and he went away to resume work with Gia

I went back to my room and brought out the goblet as I intended to use it as proof at the briefing. I nodded to Gabe who shot a long look at the Goblet probably suspecting what was in it but I didn’t wait for him to say anything about it before 1 walked out of the med bay and made my way to the meeting hall, my heart pounding in my chest.

I could here m uffled voices as I approached the large doors. Taking a deep breath, I pushed the doors open and walked in. The air crac kled with anticipation as I walked in, the elders sat at the head of the table, their faces stoic and unreadable. Giselle perched beside Adrian shot me a venomous glare, her eyes darting nervously to the goblet in my hands.

Ignoring her hostile glare, I cleared my throat, demanding attention.

“Yes, Medic Tessa. We have been waiting for you” An elder spoke up.

1 curtsied and straightened up

“Forgive me if I delayed, I had to get some things set.” I paused and looked at everyone who was staring at me with rapt attention. “We are here to discuss what happened to Addison and after examining the body, it was figured that there was no sign of physical harm but I believe she was poisoned…”

“Gloom again?” An elder Interrupted me.

1 looked at him and shook my head.

“No, Gloom wasn’t used on her however it led me to the question of why she was killed. I had told the Alpha that Addison was the only one who could have had the chance to get her hands on the flower and now she has been silenced.” I said loudly.

“This is outrageous, this woman is clearly delusional” Giselle shrieked, her face contorting in outrage.

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Adrian simply raised a hand to silence her.

Do continue, Medic Tessa” He said, his voice neutral

Taking a deep breath, I continued.

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“Last night, someone attempted to kill me. A goblet of wine laced with Gloom was sent to the med bay to me supposedly from the Alpha”

Ripples of murmurs rose amongst the elders. Giselle’s face however remained a practiced mask of innocence.

“An outlandish lie” She shrieked this woman is clearly trying to divulge our attention from the matter at hand,”

Ignoring her incessant outburst, I turned to look at Adrian who was staring at me with worry and concern in his eyes.

“Alpha Adrian… did you send a drink to the med bay yesterday?” I asked, my voice loud.

Adrian hesitated, his eyes flickering from me to the elders. The silence stretched thick with tension. Finally he spoke.

“No, no, I did not, Medic Tessa” he said.

A flicker of satisfaction and relief warmed my heart. It was a small victory but it confirmed my suspicions.

“Then, who is responsible for this attempt on my life and who is responsible for the deaths of Thomas and Addison?” I continued, my voice gaining strength.

The elders leaned forward on their seats in open curiousity while Giselle seemed to shrink back into her seat, a flicker of fear momentarily replacing the disdain in her eyes.

“Perhaps, you’re simply distraught and grasping at straws. After all, you were the one who couldn’t save Thomas” She said, her voice regaining it’s usual sharpness.

My blood ran cold. Her words were a calculated jab at me to remind me of my failure but I wouldn’t be cowed.

“Whether I succeeded or failed is irrelevant at this point” I said to her, my voice hard like steel. “what matters is someone is using gloom to eliminate people who know things and I think I know who that person is”.

Anticipation was hanging heavily in the air and I met Giselle’s gaze head on..

“Please tell us of your suspicions, Medic Tessa” an elder said, his voice gruff with age.

This was it.

“I believe Luna Giselle has a hand in everything” I said with conviction

A collective gasp filled the room and Giselle’s face contorted into a pure mask of fury as she stared at me.

“This is outrageous! This woman is clearly unhinged!” She shouted, her voice dripping with venom

“Is it, Luna Giselle?” I asked with new found resolve and confidence. “Then perhaps you can explain why gloom was in my drink?”

She scoffed

“How am I expected to know that?” She countered.

Adrian was silent, his eyes distant but burning with a flame I had never seen.

The room was dead silent. All eyes darted between me and Giselle. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple and I smirked. It was the first sign of vulnerability I had witnessed on her face.

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Chapter 30

Then perhaps you would like to explain why I found a gloom flower in your room last night and a cup of wine laced with Gloom also?” I asked, my voice with a dangerous calm.

The air cra ckled with tension. The elders exchanged glances. Their faces etched with concern. Giselle’s facade seemed to be crumbling.

at mean

“I’m being framed, why would I have a cup of wine with Gloom in my room if I was responsible for it? Doesn’t that that someone is also after my life?” she said breathing heavily.

1 shrugged, what she said made a little sense but the seed of doubt had been sown. I knew I wouldn’t get a confession here.. not now but I had achieved my goal, to put Giselle on the defensive and expose her to scrutiny.

I had the upper hand and I Intended to make full use of it.

“I made my research, please explain why Addison visited you frequently days before she was sent in search of me” I said.

Giselle’s eyes widened, a flicker of panic replacing her anger. She was about to say something when Adrian cut in.

“That’s enough” he said firmly.

Ignoring him, I looked at Giselle..

“The truth will come out, Luna Giselle ” I said curtseying.

Giselle swallowed heavily and scoffed.

Gloom? You’ve been speaking about gloom yet there is no evidence to prove that the wine in your hand is truly poisoned.” She said, a smile tugging at her lips.

My heart sk ipped a beat.

“Is there anyone here who doubts that this is Gloom?” I said raising the goblet high.

There were murmurs,

“Well, it wouldn’t hurt to prove that it is gloom” an elder spoke up.

1 scoffed inwardly, how did they want me to prove it?.

“Alpha Adrian, do you also doubt me?” I asked, my eyes boring into Adrian’s.

Adrian bit his lip

“Well, Medic Tessa. I’m not a medic so I can’t confirm what is truly in that goblet. I’m also curious to know if it’s truly gloo but I know you have no reason to lie to us so I believe you” He said softly.

I blew out a deep breath and looked at the Giselle.

“C’mon prove it, Tessa” Giselle said.

My heart hammered in my chest. I knew my accusations were bold and reckless and I had to do something

“Proof

justice.

you say?” I said. I wanted to play my last card, a desperate gamble and a reckless act fueled by a burning need for

Silence descended upon the room. The Elders exchanged worried glances, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and morbid curiosity. Adrian’s eyes widened in alarm, his hand reaching out as if to stop me.

But I was past reason. The accusations, the doubt, the simmering anger within me it all boiled over in that moment. Raising the goblet to my lips, I met Giselle’s gaze, a silent challenge passing between us.

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“Cheers!” I said in a hard tone and in a swift movement, I drained the content into my mouth.

A gasp echoed through the room. Adrian lunged forward, his face a mask of horror. But it was too late. The sickly sweet taste of Gloom flooded my senses, a burning sensation spreading through my throat.

The world began to spin. My vision blurred. Coughing. I fell to my knees, a metallic taste coating my mouth. Fear, cold and sharp, gripped my heart.

I had broken the promise I made to Gabe. Had I just condemned myself in my pursuit of justice?

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