Chapter 54
After laughing for a bit and exchanging a few pleasantries, we finally arrived at the
restaurant.
It was a rare 24–hour, unmanned establishment that only permitted entry to those holding an Alpha’s privilege badge.
The exterior was understated, masking the opulence inside. Crystal chandeliers sparkled, casting soft rainbows across the space. Gold–framed mirrors and original paintings adorned the walls, echoing centuries of wealth..
The aroma of aged wine, roasted meats, and freshly baked bread wafted through the air. It felt like a sanctuary for power and privilege–a place that whispered secrets and wielded influence over candlelit tables.
“This is definitely the perfect place for a date,” I mused silently. However, when I turned my head, my romantic daydream came to an abrupt halt.
Keith was already wolfing down his meal, his knife clattering against his plate as he devoured his steak with barely a pause to breathe. I sighed, the regret of inviting him here pooling in my chest.
Across from him, Ethan leaned back in his chair with a smug expression, sipping a glass of deep red wine. “I told you this place is perfect for a couple,” he murmured, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
Keith slammed his glass onto the table, the sound sharp against the background hum of soft classical music. “These damn wolves, scattered everywhere like cowards! Cunning as hell, won’t talk no matter how hard we push. If Ethan hadn’t stepped in during the interrogation yesterday, they probably would’ve fought us to their last breath.”
Ethan remained composed, his face calm as ever. He swirled his wine lazily before taking another sip. “I wasn’t satisfied with their answers, so I went back to look into it myself,” he said matter–of–factly, his tone almost dismissive.
Keith scowled. “But you’re Alpha. How can you waste your time babysitting a bunch of
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lowly minions?”
Ethan’s expression remained unreadable, though a flicker of something–amusement, maybe–crossed his features. “It’s my responsibility as Alpha to oversee matters like this,” he replied.
The way Ethan carried himself–proud yet detached–reminded me of the old Ethan. The Ethan I had known years ago before the weight of leadership settled on his shoulders. I couldn’t help but smile softly at the memory, though I quickly masked it with a sip of water.
Ethan caught my glance, his gaze lingering on me for a moment before returning to his wine. “Keith,” he began, his voice calm but firm, “there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Keith paused mid–chew, raising an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”
“Yesterday, at the scene… Steven bought us time to escape. I found it strange. Why is it that, even though Steven and Carl are both trying to survive in the Fire Mirage Forest, they’re treated so differently?”
Keith chuckled darkly, setting his fork down. “That’s easy. Carl’s father controls the most vital part of the Fire Mirage Forest. He’s taken in a lot of rogue wolves over the years, giving them a place to survive. It’s built him an empire of sorts. Steven, on the other hand, has nothing–no connections, no influence. How can he compete?”
A knot tightened in my chest at Keith’s casual explanation. Steven’s struggle suddenly seemed heavier, more poignant.
“And what about Steven being gay?” Ethan pressed, his tone sharp enough to cut through the air.
Keith’s face darkened, the humor in his eyes vanishing. He leaned back, crossing his arms. “Good question,” he muttered. “Because I was in charge of his rape case a year ago.”
My breath caught in my throat. The air around me seemed to still, the faint clatter of cutlery from another table fading into the background. My hand trembled, and I dropped my fork. The sharp clang against the plate startled even Ethan, whose gaze flicked to me.
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Keith hesitated, glancing between us before continuing. “We found him in a secluded part
of the forest, near a pack of Omega wolves. They thought he was dead and called us to the
scene. I’ve seen a lot in my line of work, but… that case stuck with me.”
“What happened?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Keith sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He overdosed on Bloodbane.”
My stomach churned. Bloodbane was a potent substance, used sparingly in werewolf medicine to accelerate healing. Overdosing on it was not only rare but incredibly dangerous.
“We identified the suspect,” Keith continued, his tone flat now. “A rogue who forced Steven to ingest a massive dose of Bloodbane before dragging him into the woods. It wasn’t just physical–it was psychological torture.”
I felt a cold chill seep into my bones.
“But what’s strange,” Keith added, his voice lowering as if unwilling to disturb the quiet
atmosphere of the restaurant, “was what we found–or didn’t find.”
“What do you mean?” Ethan asked, leaning forward slightly.
Keith hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Steven’s pants and underwear were down around his
ankles. The scene was…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “But during the examination, we
found no foreign DNA on him. Nothing.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I blurted, my voice louder than intended. A passing waiter
shot me a curious glance, but I ignored him.
“It didn’t make sense to us either,” Keith admitted, fighting a cigarette. He offered one to Ethan, who took it, and then to me. I surprised myself by accepting.
Keith exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression grim. “We tried to dig deeper, but Steven wasn’t cooperative. He refused to talk about where he’d been or who he’d seen that day. After that… well, people started treating him differently. The rumors started. His life only got harder.”
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The weight of it all pressed down on me, a suffocating mix of anger and helplessness. My mind raced, sifting through fragments of knowledge, searching for answers.
Bloodbane was rare enough, but what if this wasn’t ordinary Bloodbane?
My thoughts turned to plants–ones with purifying properties but hidden toxicity. Could someone have tampered with it, created a version designed to hurt rather than heal?
The date, if I could still call it that, ended in a heavy silence. The once–charming atmosphere of the restaurant now felt oppressive, the glittering chandeliers and soft music mocking my growing unease..
When we stepped outside, the crisp night air offered little relief. Keith glanced at me, his
brows furrowed in concern. “The Fire Mirage Forest… and Carl’s connections–it’s a tangled
mess. Don’t go diving in without thinking it through,” he warned.
I offered him a wry smile, shrugging as if to say, ‘When have I ever backed down?‘
Keith sighed deeply, muttering something under his breath before walking off into the
night.
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Forsaken Mate: Aluha’s Second Chance at Love
