Chapter 320: _So Will She...
Marcellus’ POV
*****
"Excuse me?" He cleared his throat, trying to breathe past the drink stuck in his throat as Caroline took a couple of steps forward.
Her smile was oddly confident but there was something within that Marcellus couldn’t wrap his fingers around.
HE couldn’t understand someone’s emotions?
Hell no...
"To expose how much of a good Beta you are, of course." Caroline continued, clasping her hands calmly in front of her. She glanced at Cullen from over her shoulder, her smile never disappearing. "May I sit?"
Marcellus blinked at her like she’d lost her damn mind. Heck, maybe she has.
People in this pack seem to be on some divine crack more and more these days.
"Caroline, I don’t know if you’ve noticed but it’s an apocalypse out there." Marcellus set his drink aside, adjusting his sitting position. "Now’s not the right time to—"
"You didn’t let me finish, Beta Marcellus." Caroline chuckled, sitting on the sofa across from him. "Why the rush? I mean, it’s not like it’s raining comets or something."
Marcellus’ jaw tightened as he stared at her coldly. She was playing something and he knew it.
He’s always been suspicious of this girl ever since she resisted a mind control spell from him months ago. Back then, he brushed it off as someone interrupting right on time, but now...
"Layla. Her death..." Caroline suddenly remarked, her tone dropping for just a beat. There was a flicker of sadness behind her eyes but it soon disappeared. "... Her death was sudden but suspicious."
Now she’s mentioning the obvious.
Marcellus wore his best smile, tilting his head slightly. "Caroline, I really appreciate having someone to talk to but again... Now is not the time to—"
"You killed Layla." Caroline suddenly said casually, the words rolling out like venom coated in silk. She raised her chin, her eyes glinting with an unreadable light. "You killed her. And Elder Davina. And the poor guard, Alaric, whom you used as a scapegoat to make everyone think the culprit was dead. Just to name a few."
Marcellus’s fingers twitched on his lap, his eyes narrowing. His muscles froze as his mind reeled, going through all possible scenarios.
He never imagined that someone like Caroline would have the balls to drop such an accusation.
"Those accusations are grave, Caroline." He finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "Layla’s death was tragic but you have to know she was a troubled mind after Elder Davina’s death."
Caroline sniggered, shaking her head. "Of course, you’ll know she’s a troubled mind. After controlling her mind."
"No, I know because she came to me for advice. Guidance." Marcellus’ voice and his poker face were without anything suspicious, although he occasionally glanced at Cullen, who still stood by the door.
’Should I kill her?’ Cullen questioned after establishing a mind link.
’Don’t be dumb.’ Marcellus snapped mentally, although his expression was stoic. ’She’s too important to Odessa. If she comes back—’
’What do you mean IF Odessa comes back?’ Cullen shot back. ’The Lord of the North has her. We’re winning, Marcellus. One more death tonight, especially a feeble maid wouldn’t—’
"You boys done talking behind my back?" Caroline suddenly queried with a snigger, shaking her head.
It’s been a long while since Marcellus felt a shiver run down his spine.
"What are you—"
"I can... Read vibes." She said casually, parting strands of her ginger curls. "That’s the easier way of saying it, anyway. I could always tell when ma’am Odessa was communicating with the Alpha King through their mate bond without hearing what was being discussed..."
She paused, her voice and expression becoming ice cold as she slowly rose from the sofa. "... Or, in this case, two artificial hybrids probably planning on how to get rid of me."
Marcellus’ hands clenched into fists as he locked his gaze on Caroline’s face. She was unyielding, her eyes without any trace of fear despite everything she was revealing about them.
And that usually meant one thing.
Either she had enough leverage to ensure her safety through a bargain, which was unlikely. Or... She was simply powerful enough.
"Caroline, you’re being irrational." Marcellus slowly got up as well but Caroline pointed a warning finger.
"The only reason I haven’t confronted you all these months or reported you to the Alpha King is because I was waiting to gather enough evidence." She revealed with a dry laugh. "But after everything tonight. After you hurt ma’am Odessa so bad—"
"You think I’m behind her miscarriage?" Marcellus scoffed, genuinely taken aback.
He would have to give credit to someone else for that.
The Alpha Kings currently suspected Layla, but there was a problem with that... He never instructed her to do that. So did she perhaps begin acting on her own before his mind control spell caused her death?
"Does it even matter if you’re behind her miscarriage?" Caroline snorted. "You’re behind all the rotten things happening in this pack for months and possibly years. Who knows what you were up to before Odessa’s arrival?"
Marcellus’ fingers twitched the more she spoke. She was really making it hard for him not to kill her.
’If you’re scared of getting your hands dirty, let me do it.’ Cullen insisted but Marcellus ignored him, straightening his spine.
"So what now?" Marcellus asked, raising an eyebrow at Caroline. "What else are you going to blame me for? Arson? Treason? Because it looks to me that you’re grasping at straws here."
Silence.
Caroline remained silent, her jaw clenching. But then, her gaze landed on Marcellus’ chest, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Why, of course not." She shook her head, sighing heavily. "I’ve said enough. Good night, Beta."
There was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she turned away from him, walking toward the door.
Marcellus watched her with gritted teeth, the lights in the living room flickering faintly in sync with his agitation.
Even if no one believes her, her words might increase suspicions about him.
’I’m not going down, Marcellus.’ Cullen said firmly in the mind link when Caroline got in front of the door. ’Let me kill her. If she—’
Suddenly, Marcellus raised his right index finger, sending a beam of destructive dark green energy at Caroline’s back. But just before it could hit her, she spun on her feet, drawing out an object that made Marcellus freeze with dread.
A moon stone.
She positioned the stone to tank the blast, her hair blowing around her when it did. But then the stone glowed with a bright silver light, illuminating the room.
At that moment, under the light of the moonstone, Marcellus remembered Elder Davina’s final words to him before he killed her:
"The moon sees all, Beta... and so will she."
At first, he thought that was a metaphor to say the moon goddess would expose him.
But no. The ’she’ wasn’t the moon goddess. It wasn’t even Odessa. It was...
Caroline!
Before he could wrap his head around it all, the moon stone exploded with a burst of silver light and energy, mirroring the moment after he killed Elder Davina.
Marcellus dimmed his eyes, trying to focus on Caroline, but the blast sent him backwards, causing him to fall on his back.