Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Finally, we arrived at the Forest Administration Bureau. The tension between us dissipated slightly as we stepped out of the car, each retreating into our respective roles. Ethan headed to meet with the leaders, his stride confident and purposeful. Meanwhile, I made my way to the office, my mind swirling with the challenges ahead.
The Bureau was a hive of activity. Last night, the leaders had visited the hospital to console the injured werewolves, promising justice for the atrocities committed. But promises were just words. The reality was far messier. My investigation team had turned up nothing, and instead of progress, we’d only ended up with more injuries.
In the lab, whispers followed me like shadows. Doubts about my leadership had begun to spread. The Fire Phantom Forest case was a thorny issue, and some believed it needed fresh eyes–a new leader. But the director had my back.
This morning, he had come to the lab and publicly supported me, even going so far as to shut down Carl’s lawyer, who had been relentless in his attempts to discredit me. It was a
small victory, but it bolstered me nonetheless.
Zoe was the only one in the lab when I arrived. She sat at her desk, sipping tea, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. “Too many injured,” she remarked, setting her cup down. “Are you coming with me?”
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. “With your old bones, can you even handle the
equipment?”
She smirked, unbothered by the jab. “Old bones, huh? I’ll have you know these ‘old bones‘ are still sharper than most.”
The Fire Phantom Forest case demanded a trusted partner, and Zoe fit the bill perfectly. At 45, she was experienced, dependable, and sharp as a tack. Together, we could navigate the dangers ahead far better than if I took someone like Kai, who was eager but reckless.
Still, the risk loomed large. “You’ll be a grandmother soon,” I teased, though my tone was
tinged with genuine concern. “What if I can’t take care of you properly? Sorry to your
husband and niece…”
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“Stoja” Zoe said with a laugh. “I’m still for from being a grandmother. And fiske/d/ going to take care of whom?”
Her words made me pause, my mind drifting to someone else. My chest tightened, a fleating, pang of emotion I quickly buried. Taking a deep breath, I stood up. “If we’re doing, this together, let’s go. Sitting here just makes me overthink”
As we prepared, Zoe asked, “Aren’t you going to say goodbye to the Alphar
I flicked my hair nonchalantly, “Why bother?”
We passed by an office buzzing with chatter. A group of female Gammas sat inside, their laughter and whispers spilling into the hallway. As I walked by, their voices hushed momentarily, only to pick up again once i was out of sight. My werewolf hearing caught snippets of their conversation,
“I told you, they came in the same car. The Alpha’s clothes aren’t even changed! They must’ve spent the night together!”
Another voice chimed in, “This Omega doctor is really something. She helped the guy the Alpha’s daughter couldn’t even handle in no time!”
The laughter that followed was like nails on a chalkboard. My cheeks burned, though I kept my pace steady. Whistling softly to myself, I pushed their words to the back of my mind. I had bigger problems to deal with.
Our next stop was Fire Phantom Forest, Sixth Alley. The area was eerily quiet during the day, a stark contrast to its lively nights. I knocked on the door of Steven’s salon, calling out
his name, but there was no response.
Leaning against the car, I sighed. “I should’ve checked on him last night,” I muttered, regret curling around my words like smoke.
The memory of Steven kneeling before me, his face twisted in pain and humiliation, was a dagger to my heart. He had endured so much–the loss of his parents, the collapse of his family business, the horrors of assault. For a teenager, it was more than anyone should
bear.
I clenched my fists, vowing to make things right. The road ahead was fraught with
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Chapter 57
challenges, but I wouldn’t let Steven’s suffering go unanswered. The Fire Phantom Forest case demanded justice, and I intended to see it through–fo matter the cost.
Zoe held her iced Americano, her eyes narrowing slightly as she raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, clearly impatient. “Didn’t you ask Ethan what happened with Steven back then?” She asked, her voice laced with curiosity, but also the kind of frustration that comes from a long investigation without much progress.
I did,” I replied truthfully. “But there’s not much info. What we know doesn’t really change.”
“Then, what about going to Max’s place?” Zoe suggested, clearly growing impatient with the Fire Phantom Forest case piling up. “We still haven’t found the owner of that severed limb.
It’s like they vanished into thin air.”
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