Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 138

Chapter 138

Clay’s POV

The simplicity of her advice was almost infuriating. It seemed impossible–to march into the West, to face the man who held our mate, and to keep our fury in check. But if Elsa’s warning held any truth, there was more at stake than just our pride. If we wanted any chance of winning Scarlett back, we’d have to swallow our rage and tread carefully.

At this point, Elsa’s advice was all we could lean on. The three of us had tangled ourselves so deeply in our own mistakes, and there was nothing left to do but hope we could somehow unravel it.

Suddenly, Gamma Luke’s voice echoed urgently in my mind. “Alpha!” I could sense he was reaching out to all three of us. I glanced at Lucian and Maxwell, feeling a weight settle over me.

“What is it, Luke?” I asked, bracing myself.

“Warriors from the East took over Iceland and Bariane last night. And the Valkin Alpha, Garland Richmond, sent a parcel with a letter addressed to the three of you.”

I stood up, a sickening feeling washing over me. This couldn’t have come at a worse time. The entire world seemed to be spinning out of control.

Garland Richmond. A name that had haunted us since we were children. His family had once ruled with terrifying force, but our parents had fought them to a bloody standstill, confining them to the East. It had taken generations, but that war had finally cooled, or so we thought. Now Garland had ignited those

old flames, bringing the fight back to our doorstep. Was this the war Elsa had warned us about?

“Bring the parcel to our apartment,” I instructed Luke, feeling the weight of uncertainty press down on me.

“Why is Garland attacking the North?” Lucian asked, frustration evident in his voice. “What could he possibly want with us?”

I had no answer. It felt like unfinished business, perhaps, the grudge he’d inherited from his parents, as we had inherited ours. But that didn’t explain why he was making his move now, after all these years of silence.

“Why he’s attacking doesn’t matter as much as what he’s capable of,” Maxwell said grimly. “We don’t stand a chance against him. We’re skilled in battle, but Garland has amassed weapons and ammunition that we can’t even dream of. It would be a massacre.”

Lucian shook his head, his frustration turning to confusion. “But why now? Why not all those years ago? What’s changed?”

Elsa sighed, her voice heavy with an understanding that we didn’t yet grasp. “Nikolay is gone. And with him, the balance of power is shattered.”

Nikolay. I hadn’t fully understood his role before, but something in Elsa’s voice made me realise we’d all underestimated him.

“I looked deeper into Nikolay’s life after the spirits spoke to me about his importance,” Elsa continued. “I reached out to Analisa, his seer, and she explained it clearly. Nikolay spent his life hunting down threats, sniffing them out before they had a chance to grow. He was ruthless and feared because he kept the chaos in check. Territories respected hum–or feared him–because he didn’t let enemies take root. Without him, those threats are now free to form albadges, and the Richmond’s are one of them.”

It struck me then just how significant Nikolay had been. Garland had probably spent years slowly embedding his influence, planting seeds in our territories. waiting for his moment. Nikolay would’ve sniffed them out long before they’d had a chance to grow. But now, Garland had moved swiftly and quietly, his forces creeping into our lands like a poison, ready to strike.

“If you want, I can take you to see Analisa, Nikolay’s seer,” Elsa offered, turning to Lucian. “She lives in Brome, in the South. She could tell you more, help

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Chapter 138

you quderstand what Garland is after and how he’s orchestrated this attack.”

Lucian shook his head. “Not now, Elsa. We have to find a way to deal with Garland before he claims the entire North.”

Just then, a knock sounded at the doox I knew it was Luke with the parcel, and I called him in. As he entered, a putrid, sour stench filled the room, and I could feel a sense of dread rising. Whatever Garland had sent, it wasn’t just a message–it was a warning. Perhaps even a declaration.

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