Emma's POV

　　"Good night, Charlotte," I whisper, and gently close the book. Placing the book on her nightstand, I step down from the bed and walk out of the room. Matthews follows behind me, and turns off the lights in her room before closing the door shut.

　　A sigh leaves my lips. I never thought telling a bedtime story would feel so good.

　　"I allowed this only because Lotte wanted you to tell her a bedtime story," Matthew's sharp voice ruins my peace. I turn to find the rigidness back on his face. "Next time, I won't allow it."

　　I frown. "And why is that?"

　　His gaze darkens, "I don't want you close to my sister. She is precious to me, and I won't let anyone harm her."

　　I scoff, and cross my arms, "Look who's talking. Charlotte was in her enemy pack, and literally seconds away from danger on that beach. Where were you then?" His jaw clenches at my words. "For a grown up man who can't watch where his little sister is going, you are all talk." I retort sarcastically.

　　He growls, "Don't tell me what I have to do. I don't need lessons from someone like you."

　　"Of course you do. You know what I think? You need to get some tutoring on a course named ‘good manners'. That will be a major improvement for you."

　　He walks towards me, and gets dangerously close. I gasp as I take a step back. His eyes look down at me while he towers over me, his shadow caging my figure, "I am the Alpha of this pack, and you are in no position to argue with me. You are under my mercy."

　　I clench my fist, "Your mercy? I don't give two shits about your mercy. I didn't have to bring Charlotte to you after knowing which pack she belongs from. But I still did. So if you can't get a clue from that, then let me get this clear," I take a step forward and match his gaze, "I am not scared of you, and I have no reason to be, Alpha Matthew"

　　No matter what I have gone through, I am still the daughter of the Beta of Moonshade Pack. I hold a powerful rank because I am not banished yet, and I will cling onto that identity as long as I can. So if he thinks he can pull rank on me then he is gravely mistaken.

　　Rather than being pissed, I see a flash of amusement in Matthews's dark green eyes. But it goes as soon as it comes, and he is back to his rigid, alphahole self, "You have no reason to be scared of me, huh? We'll see about that." There is a challenge in his voice, and giving me a smirk, he walks away.

　　I grit my teeth, "What a jerk! I hate him." Groaning, I stomp back to my room.

　　Three hours later, I lie in the bed, and stare at the rotating blades of the ceiling fan. I never thought I would ever tell a child a bedtime story. But it was fun, and relaxing. More than I thought.

　　I don't know why but Charlotte makes me feel good, and warm. Maybe it's because I felt like a–a mother when I told her the bedtime story. If people actually believed my truth, Michael and I would have married in the future and got a lovely child, just like Charlotte. My heart squeezes painfully at the thought. But they don't believe me, and I have no evidence to prove myself.

　　Suddenly, Charlotte's words echo in my head, "Fate never stays the same. Whatever you have gone through, it will get better. Everything will be okay,"

　　My eyes flash with resolve. I had lost hope when I was at the beach, but somehow Charlotte's words had restored faith in me. Everything will be okay. Even if it does not, I can't give up.

　　My best friend is dead. She was murdered brutally, which means there is someone out there who is lurking in the shadows. I have to find her killer, punish whoever he or she is and prove my innocence. Only then things will get better.

　　"Ava, I will find whoever the fuck killed you. I promise." I whisper to myself under the silence of the night.

　　"Man, this is boring," I groan as I walk around the garden, the sounds of the warriors training a few miles ahead on the training field buzzing in the air. Matthews must be with them.

　　It has been two days, and so far I have done nothing except rake my brain with Ava's case while being cooped up in my room. Sorry, my guestroom. Sometimes I forget that I am not in my pack.

　　I wonder how dad and James are doing. Are they missing me? Or are they relieved that I am gone?

　　The thoughts make my heart squeeze painfully. I wish there was a way I can solve Ava's case, and prove to them that I am not the culprit. But how do I do that? The only way I can find a lead is go back to my pack, and run a search over the forest where it all happened.

　　A chill runs down my spine as the image of my best friend's dead body crosses my mind. Ava was a sweet girl, and never got involved in any mess. Then who would want to have a motive to kill her?

　　"What are you doing here?" A deep voice makes me jolt, and I turn around to find Matthews standing before me with his arms crossed.

　　"Good morning to you too," I reply, and press my lips in a flat line. We hadn't seen each other after that night when I read Charlotte a bedtime story. I can hear the energetic yelling of the warriors from a distance. "Are you not training?" I ask.

　　"I asked first," he says while he stares at me with a calculative gaze.