CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED & FOUR
Talia’s POV
Half an hour later, we went to Father’s office. Solon, Leslie, Derek, Marco, and two Elders were waiting for
- As soon as Solon saw us, he stood up and said, “Before we have this conversation, I want you to know that Father told Nolan to do it. He didn’t want to, but father made him promise. He-”
“It’s okay, Solon. I know.”
Relief immediately softened his expression. “You read Father’s letter, didn’t you?”
“I did.” I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. “So don’t worry about me. And I’m not upset that you kept it from me.”
Solon was left speechless. I could see the emotions warring behind his eyes: relief, confusion, and embarrassment. Finally, he just sat back down.
I sat down at the head of the table with Solon sitting next to me. “I’ll get straight to the point. I brought you all here to decide what to do next. But first, what happened after I left with Jason? How did my father go insane like that?”
No one spoke first. All eyes were on Leslie, who was staring down at the table. She looked up at me and said, “I didn’t know he had taken the wrong potion.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Both potions were real,” she said. “Both vials were exactly what Jason said they were, except the labels had been switched. The dormant potion was labeled the awakening potion.”
“How could you be so careless?” One of the Elders scolded. “You didn’t think to check the vials before giving them to the Alpha King?”
“I did check them. I was sure they were real, but… the difference was so slight I missed it. I’m sorry,” Leslie said quickly, trying to explain, but the Elder cut her off.
“Your hubris is what killed the Alpha King. You think you are the best healer, but you make amateur mistakes because of your arrogance!” the Elder countered.
“I’m sorry…” Leslie’s voice shook. “I should’ve checked more thoroughly. I never thought Jason would dare switch the labels. By the time I realized it, it was already too late.”
“How can you sit here and say that? You knew he…”
“Enough!” I snapped, interrupting the Elders. They quickly closed their mouths. One looked annoyed, but I dared him to speak again.
“It is not your fault,” I told Leslie while glaring at the elder who wouldn’t meet my eye. “If it wasn’t for Leslie, my father would have been dead long ago.”
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“I gave it to him, Talia. I held the vial to his mouth. He drank it because I told him it was safe,” Leslie sobbed as she covered her face.
“This is not on you, Leslie. Jason and Michael are responsible for all of this,” I said firmly. Part of me wanted to let myself break down alongside her, to admit how overwhelmed I felt. But leadership meant hiding that, at least for now. I could only hope that my words were enough for her, even if they barely reassured me.
Leslie did not answer. Tears streamed down her face as her shoulders shook, and she made no attempt to wipe them away. Solon rubbed her back gently, glancing between her and me as he struggled with his own helplessness.
“The thing that I don’t understand is how the awakening potion would cause that reaction,” Solon said. “It
doesn’t make sense.”
Solon was right.
The potion shouldn’t have triggered such a violent reaction unless his system had already been poisoned by mad rogue blood toxin.
“The toxin… they’re the same!” Nolan growled.
His words snapped everything into place.
“Leslie,” I called, cutting through her sobs. “Are you saying the chronic poison Michael used on Father actually originated from the mad rogues’ blood toxin?”
She wiped her tears quickly, regaining focus. “Yes. I only just confirmed it. That’s why Jason said there’s no cure. The toxin had already built up in the Alpha King’s body for months-so when he took the awakening potion, it only triggered a violent reaction.”
Solon’s jaw tightened. “That son of a bitch!”
His fist slammed into the table. The water glasses rattled. Leslie flinched, and Nolan instinctively reached out, steadying her arm.
“That bastard sat in our guest room last night, ate our food, and mocked us for begging for the potion. He planned all along to kill our father, and we let him walk free,” Solon said.
“I know,” I said bitterly.
“I want him dragged back here,” Solon snapped. “I want his head on a spike. I-”
“Solon, sit down.”
He did not sit down. Instead, he stood there gripping the back of his chair, his entire body trembling with suppressed rage and frustration, his knuckles turning white.
“He will answer for it,” I said. “I am not letting him run free. We are going to make him pay for everything he has done. Sit down.”
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“We need to track him down now,” Solon growled.
“No, we need to do damage control right now. It is what father would have wanted,” I countered.
Solon finally released a long, unsteady breath and sank into his chair, anger simmering beneath the surface but replaced by a grim acceptance.
“Father’s funeral will be tomorrow. Every pack that can send a representative in time, we want them here,” I said.
Solon nodded.
“After the funeral, you will be sworn in as the Alpha King.” Solon opened his mouth to argue, but I continued. “Father already announced it at the Harvest Gathering. You need to take the title sooner rather
than later.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”
“You don’t have a choice.” I held his gaze. “Tomorrow, we need to stand united. Jason will expect weakness, and Kent will take advantage of the situation. We need to show them that we are strong and
undivided.”
Solon gave a firm nod.
“Then we tell every pack the truth,” I said. “We tell them Jason and Michael poisoned the Alpha King with mad rogue blood toxin. That they’ve been working with the Rogue King for years.”
I paused, letting the weight of it settle.
“Every pack needs to understand one thing-Jason and the Rogue King aren’t just enemies.” My voice cooled. “They’re the greatest threat our world has ever faced!”
P
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