dreams whisper through silence by mae 257

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Chapter 257 

Dead silence. 

“The Elder Council,” Lucas went on, “takes a particular interest in war crimes of this nature. I suspect they would take an even more particular interest in these documents, along with the testimony of the scientist who created the agent under your direct orders.” He tilted his head slightly. “Or, alternatively, the agent is destroyed. Every sample, every document, every record. The scientist is released and compensated for his cooperation. And you sign a formal treaty with both of our packs today, ending this conflict permanently.” 

The Emberlight Alpha stared at him for a long moment. His jaw was so tight I could see the muscle jumping. 

“And if I refuse?” he asked. 

“Then I’ll make some calls tonight,” Lucas said simply, shrugging one shoulder. “Your choice.” 

Another silence. I stared at Lucas with my mouth open. This was exactly what Ellie said would happen. A plague. 

The Alpha looked down at the documents in his hand, then back up. He whispered to his Beta for a moment, then sighed and turned to Lucas. “Fine. We’ll agree to your terms.” 

The treaty was signed as the sun went down. 

My men were setting up camp for the night when I found Lucas standing apart from both groups, looking out over the field. He had his hands in his pockets and he looked tired. 

I walked over. He didn’t turn, but I knew he heard me coming. 

“How long have you known about the plague?” I asked without preamble. 

He was quiet for a moment. “Long enough to prepare for it.” 

“And the scientist? The documents?” 

“It took some time to arrange,” he said. “But we managed.” 

I stood beside him and looked out at the same stretch of field. The light was fading quickly, turning the mud and grass dark and shadowy. 

“Ellie told you,” I said, clenching my fists. 

Lucas glanced at me sideways. “She came to me,” he said. “After you turned her away.” 

I didn’t say anything to that. 

“She was frantic,” he said. “She asked for my help because she had already tried to talk to you, and you refused to listen to her.” 

My jaw ticked. I managed to keep my expression even, but it was no small feat. 

“So she was right,” I murmured. 

“Yeah,” Lucas said gruffly. “She was.” 

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I thought about that for a long Inoment. How did she know that this would happen? She’d said she’d read it in a book — and somehow, what she had “read” was precisely what had happened. 

Or rather, what had almost happened. If Lucas hadn’t stepped in and done what I hadn’t. 

Was that what they had been doing when I thought they were hooking up in Lucas’s car? Discussing handling the plague that I had been too blind to notice? 

Guilt suddenly washed over me at the thought. What if Ellie hadn’t been cheating at all? What if she had simply turned to her next closest ally for help when I refused to give it to her, and all this time, I had just been making her feel alone and worthless? 

As if reading my thoughts, Lucas turned to look at me fully. “Why was it so hard for you to listen to her?” he 

asked. 

I said nothing to that. Maybe because I didn’t have an answer for it. 

“She’s your wife,” Lucas said when I didn’t respond. “And she begged you to listen to her, but you didn’t. You forced her to come to me. That’s on you.” 

With that, he picked up his bag from the ground and slung it over his shoulder. “You’re more of a coward than I thought, Dominic.” 

Before I could respond, Lucas turned and strode off. I just stoodthere, mute, watching him go. 

In that moment, I wasn’t sure if I had ever felt smaller or more foolish. 

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