Chapter thirteen: Unanswered Questions
831 Words
The ride to the executive floor was silent.
Ariana stood inside the private elevator, her thoughts racing.
The image of the hooded attacker refused to leave her mind.
Neither did his words.
**The Lycan King.**
**The Moon Heir.**
None of it made sense.
She stole a glance at Alexander, who stood beside her with his hands clasped behind his back. His face was calm, almost unreadable, but she noticed the slight tension in his jaw.
He was hiding something.
The elevator doors slid open.
Marcus stepped aside, allowing them into Alexander's private office.
The room was unlike anything Ariana had ever seen.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the entire city. Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with leather-bound volumes and scientific journals. A massive wooden desk occupied the center of the room, immaculate except for a single silver wolf figurine.
Alexander gestured toward a chair.
"Please, sit."
Ariana remained standing.
"I think I'd rather have answers first."
Marcus glanced between them before quietly leaving the room, closing the door behind him.
The silence stretched.
Finally, Alexander spoke.
"I owe you an explanation."
"I'd say you do."
She folded her arms.
"Who were those people?"
Alexander walked toward the window.
"They belong to an organization that should have disappeared many years ago."
"The Eclipse Order?"
He nodded.
"They're dangerous."
"They've killed to protect their secrets."
"And tonight they tried to kill me."
Alexander turned to face her.
"Yes."
Ariana's heartbeat quickened.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Because they believe you possess something they need."
"The silver key?"
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"You still have it?"
She blinked.
"You know about the key?"
Alexander didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked quietly,
"Has anyone else seen it?"
"No."
"I've kept it hidden."
For the first time that evening, Alexander looked relieved.
"Good."
Ariana stared at him.
"You're avoiding my questions."
"I know."
"Then stop."
Her voice trembled.
"I've spent weeks trying to understand why my life fell apart."
"My fiancé betrayed me."
"My grandmother left me mysterious letters."
"Someone broke into my apartment."
"Now strangers are trying to kill me."
She took a shaky breath.
"And somehow you're connected to all of it."
Alexander looked away.
"I wish you were wrong."
---
Elsewhere, inside a luxury penthouse overlooking the city, Ethan Blackwell paced restlessly.
He hadn't been able to erase Ariana's words from his mind.
"You chose money."
"You chose to destroy me."
Each sentence struck harder than the last.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
Vanessa entered without waiting for permission.
Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor.
"So it's true."
Ethan sighed.
"What is?"
"You went to see Ariana."
He didn't deny it.
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"I knew it."
"Ethan..."
She stepped closer.
"You humiliated that woman in front of everyone."
"You chose me."
"So why are you suddenly acting like she's the love of your life?"
Ethan remained silent.
His silence answered the question.
Vanessa's eyes filled with anger.
"If you think she's taking you back..."
She smiled coldly.
"...you're going to be disappointed."
She turned and walked out.
The moment the elevator doors closed, she pulled out her phone.
"I need to speak with Lucien."
---
Deep beneath the city, inside a hidden underground chamber illuminated by torchlight, Lucien Voss sat at the head of a long stone table.
Several hooded figures stood before him.
One of them knelt.
"We failed."
Lucien swirled the red wine in his glass.
"I know."
"The Lycan King intervened."
Lucien smiled.
"That was expected."
"The important question is..."
He leaned forward.
"Did she see the dagger?"
"Yes."
"And Alexander?"
"He protected her."
Lucien chuckled softly.
"So."
"The prophecy is unfolding exactly as it should."
One of the hooded figures hesitated.
"My lord..."
"What if the Moon Heir awakens before we're ready?"
Lucien's smile disappeared.
"Then we make certain she never reaches the Blood Moon."
---
Back inside Alexander's office, Ariana finally sat down.
She was exhausted.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Physically.
Alexander poured a cup of tea and placed it before her.
She looked at it suspiciously.
"Is this part of another mystery
She looked at the steaming cup suspiciously.
"Is this part of another mystery?"
For the first time that evening, Alexander let out a quiet laugh.
"No."
"It's just tea."
Ariana stared at him for a moment before taking the cup.
"I wasn't expecting you to laugh."
"Neither was I."
The corner of her lips lifted into a small smile.
For a brief moment, the fear, confusion, and tension faded.
She took a careful sip.
The warm tea calmed her racing thoughts.
Alexander remained standing by the window.
He had spent years preparing for this day.
Years rehearsing what he would say if Ariana ever stood before him asking questions.
Yet now that the moment had arrived...
The words refused to come.
"I can tell you're hiding something," Ariana said softly.
"I am."
"Then why not tell me?"
Alexander looked into her eyes.
"Because the truth would change your life forever."
"My life has already changed forever."
- Writer
