Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

TESSA’S POV

A sliver of sunlight, sharp and insistent sliced through my eyes through a small hole in the roof, rousing me from my

restless sleep. I reluctantly stood up focused on the task of learning something new about the case of the death of Thomas.

Is

I stood up and went to get ready before going into the med bay where Gabe and Gia were already.

“Good morning, Gabe, Gia” I said nodding to Gabe.

Gabe looked up at me from where he sat beside a patient’s be

“You look horrible,” He said plainly

I rubbed my eyes.

bed.

“Just tired” it wasn’t a complete lie, The emotional turmoil hadn exactly allowed for restful sleep.

I sat on a high chair.

“Gabe, I have a question. You talked about Gloom being used to kill Thomas and you said it can be found on the outskirts of the pack” I said breathlessly.

He looked up at me.

“Yes”

Then it would have been easy for the killer to have gotten their hands on the flower..” I muttered.

“Describe it” I suddenly said.

“What I saw outside in the forest is a rare variety of gloom, it’s called umbra mortis which means the shadow of death,” He said, his voice low and serious.” It’s black as night with delicate five-petaled blooms that emits a sweetly sick scent”

“Sounds nasty” A voice piped from behind startling me.

I turned to look at Gia who seemed engrossed in cleaning a tray of instruments but her ears perked up at our conver

I turned back to Gabc.

“Is there any other place where the flower is grown?” I asked

He thought for a while and shook his head.

“Not that I know of. I’ve been to several places but I haven’t come across it anywhere else” he said.

Then Gia dropped the tray with a slight clatter and looked at me

How could a member of the pack have gotten their hands on the flower? How long can the flower stay after being uprooted?” she asked Gabe, her eyes wide as she stared at him

Gabe thought for a while.

“Roughly 4-6 days for such a flower, it’ll decay after, still poisonous but not as effective again. My guess is that if someone had their hands on that flower in this pack, it’s still available and how we have to find it also” Gabe said.

Gia was thinking hard and I raised a brow wondering what was happening in her head.

“No one has been allowed out of the pack for a week now, so how could someone have gotten their hands on it?” She asked.

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I frowned.

“How long has the pack been in quarantine?” I asked her, confusion clear on my face.

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“It’s been a week since no one was allowed to leave the pack and 3 days since no one was allowed to leave their houses for anything trivial” Gia noted, her arms folded as she leaned on the counter.

Something felt wrong. If no one has been allowed out of the pack then how did someone in the pack get the flower? It just didn’t make sense.

“No one at all?” I asked Gia.

Gabe was rubbing his chin in silent consternation.

Gia shook her head.

“Not even the Alpha left the pack for anything.” She said with a note of finality.

Gabe looked at me, excitement in his eyes.

“Well, I don’t think someone could have snuck out so there must be someone who left officially”, He said.

I was having a headache already, wh- wait! That’s it!.

I smirked and stood up.

“I think I know” I muttered quickly leaving before Gabe could ask who

I rushed out of the med bay, how could I not see it? I heard hurried steps behind me and stopped to turn to look at Gabe who had rushed after me.

“Wait, Tessa!” He said catching up with me.

I stopped and waited for him to reach me.

“Who..who do you think?” He asked, his eyes searching mine.

I gave another smirk.

“I know of only one person who had left the pack and we met that person, Gabe, that person went through the forest with and…” I paused when I saw him trying to remember

His eyes widened and he looked at me with shock.

“Are you saying-

Yes, Addison. The delegate sent to find us, was the only person allowed out of the pack and I hadn’t followed her to the gates of the pack, that was enough time to make a pit stop and get some flowers by the side of the trail.

I left Gabe and went in search of her in the palace. The maid quarters, They would be the ones that may have seen her recently.

The maids Lcornered and asked were hesitant to talk at first, wary of getting into trouble. But with a few gentle inquiries and assurances, they confirmed my suspicions. No one had seen Addison since the day she came back

Frustration gnawed at me. Each question yielded another dead end. Time slipped by unnoticed, the morning light slowly giving way to the afternoon sun.

I needed help so I did what I didn’t want to, I went to Adrian in his study room. Knocking quietly, I heard his gruff voice say to come in. I walked in and curtsied and his eyes widened on seeing me.

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My eyes briefly looked round his study before resting on the little boy beside him. Was that….?

“Greetings, My lady,” The little boy of no more than 10 years said bowing respectfully.

Adrian looked at the boy and then at me.

“Tessa, this is Derek, Giselle’s child” He introduced. I couldn’t believe it, how could someone so nasty produce such a sweet little boy?

Adrian waved him off and he bowed before leaving us alone.

“Is something wrong. Tessa?” Adrian asked and I could hear the worry in his voice.

Ignoring the internal turmoil stirred by his words, I bowed slightly

“Alpha Adrian. I’m aware that investigations are being carried out in regard to Sentinel Thomas’ s death but I am also doing research of my own and I got Informed that no one has been allowed to leave the pack for a week except Addison, the delegate sent to find us.” I said carefully choosing my words while he stared at me.

“Why yes. Addison seemed quite eager to go in search of you. Is something wrong?” He asked, not getting my point.

“I have reason to believe that Addison may know something about how Gloom got into the pack. She was the only person who had access to the Gloom that grows on the outskirts of the pack..” I said hesitating. Adrian was silent, dead silent as he

listened.

“Addison hasn’t been spotted since she came back and I advise that she be found and questioned.” I said nodding curtly

“Lex!” Adrian thundered, the sentinel at the door rushed in and bowed.

“Find Addison Ilgoth, the young delegate who was sent to get the medics. Inform the guards, that she is to be found today. Dead or alive, I want to see her before sunset” he boomed, his voice dripping with authority.

“Yes sir!” The sentinel shouted before rushing off.

Adrian looked at me..

“Get some rest, Medic Tessa. News about her will be communicated to you” He said nodding to me.

I curtsied and left feeling content that she would be found.

As I reached the med bay, I heard voices from inside, familiar voices so I entered to see who was there and I imme wished I hadn’t

It was the Triplets and Ria. Kai threw himself at me immediately

“Mum!!!” He whined. Oh go d, no.

I pried Kai off me and went to sit while they crowded around me.

“They got here a few minutes ago and were bawling to see you,” Gia said as she passed us.

I looked at Kia pleadingly and she shrugged

* I did my best but Kai would have torn me to pieces if I hadn’t bought him here,” she said defending herself.

I ruffled Kai’s hair and kissed Ty and Sky’s forehead.

“Ok, my little kings. I’m really busy right now. Why don’t you go find something fun to do and drop by later?” I urged, a fake smile to mask my exhaustion, played on my lips.

It took me 10 long agonizing minutes and pleas from Eva, Zed, Ca, and Ria to persuade them to leave but they left soon

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enough.

“Finally” I breathed out as they left.

Eva looked at me.

“You should get some rest.” She said.

I frowned.

“I’m waiting for something” I murmured.

The door pushed open and Gabe walked in.

“Gabe? Where did you go?” I asked as he entered and sat down

“I escorted Pamela back home,” he said

Oh right, she was to go home today.

“Any news?” Gabe asked to which I shrugged.

“Let’s wait,” I said more of an assurance to myself than to him.

And we did wait, we went about our jobs waiting but we didn’t hear anything and it was already dusk. I had left for food earlier and I hadn’t seen Adrian when I went to look for him.

“Will they really find her?” I asked back in the med bay, chewing on a piece of bread.

Gabe was watching me expressionlessly.

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some

“Don’t worry”

“Find who?” Eva chirped in.

I was about to answer when the door was opened and a sentinel walked in alone.

“Medic Tessa, Alpha Adrian requests your presence in his study now,” he said.

I felt my mouth go sour, had they found her? I stood up and hurriedly followed the sentinel, my heart pounding i

chest.

As I entered his study with urgency, I saw Adrian sitting with a grave look on his face.

“What’s wrong?” I quickly asked fearing the worst.

He looked up at me with gloomy eyes.

“The sentinels have searched far and wide for her, her family had said she told them she had business in the palace but she never came home neither did she come to the palace so I ordered a search be conducted Outside the pack and… wwe found her body on the outskirts of the palace,” He said gravely.

My breath caught in my throat and I felt my stomach churn. Body? Was she dead? The thought scared me. What did that mean? Had she taken her own life or had someone silenced her before she could reveal anything?.

“Her body is being transported to the med bay as we speak and her family has been informed. I just wanted to inform you before it gets to you, you should have a look at the body to try to ascertain what killed her…” He paused and looked at my pale face.

“Tessa?” He said worried. I didn’t answer, a tear formed at the comer of my eyes. Was this what Elder William meant by things will happen upon my arrival?

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I felt Adrian’s arms envelop me in a silent comforting hug and this time, I didn’t push him away.

“It’s alright Tessa, He said sofily patting my head.

1 gently pushed him away and wiped my face.

“I’ll go see her now. Thank you for your help, Alpha Adrian” I said bowing as far as my aching head would allow.

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I could feel Adrian’s eyes on me as I walked out. I was walking fast back to the med bay where I would be greeted by a grave sight. I was left with another mystery.

My heart pounded a frantic rhythm in my ribs. A double murder, a missing flower, a delegate found dead on the outskirts shortly after we found that she had a hand in Thoma s’s death. The secrets in the pack were multiplying faster than I could

reveal them.

As I neared the med bay, a chilling thought crossed my mind. Was I next?

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