Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 213

hapter 213

Lucian’s POV

“Why do you say that?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as I searched Garland’s face for any him of manipulation

“There’s no way these groups could have risen so suddenly and powerfully without your knowledge unless David Moreski hasn’t been giving you actges reports,” Garland replied, his tone sharp with conviction. “And if that’s the case, he’s hiding something. Think about it. Do you know how Nikolay ded

I shook my head, a flicker of discomfort rippling through me. None of us had ever asked Scarlett about her father’s death. We were too relieved to be free from his shadow to care about the details.

Garland leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Nikolay went to battle and came back poisoned with silver. That’s a wound a man like him should’ve been able to recover from-but he never healed. He died. David went to that battle with him and returned completely unscathed.”

The room grew colder as his words sank in.

“He didn’t have a Luna to tend to him,” Garland continued, “and his daughter, Scarlett, was hidden away at the time. That left David in a powerful position, likely overseeing Nikolay’s treatment. You can put the pieces together. It’s safe to say the twerp made sure Nikolay didn’t recover.” Garland sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “And that’s not all. David knows he can’t rule the South outright-although he is an Alpea werewolf, he’s not strong enough to hold it himself. So he reached out to the only people who might listen to him. You three.”

He fixed me with a sharp look, the accusation as heavy as a storm cloud. “You all had grudges against Nikolay. His actions impacted your relatives, your lives, and your plans. So what did David do? He sold Scarlett to you, handed you the South without a fight. Why? Because he knew you’d remain tied to the North, leaving him in charge of running the South without oversight. A perfect opportunity for him to consolidate power.”

Garland paused, his eyes flickering between Clay, Maxwell, and me. “I suspected you three weren’t entirely involved in his schemes. You were tools to him, not partners. But I knew that if I wanted to restore peace, the obstacles had to go-David, the three of you, and the so-called useless Vladislav line. I was wrong about some things, but I doubt I’m wrong about David.”

His words hung in the air, weaving a sinister possibility that made too much sense. I glanced at Clay and Maxwell. The grim expressions on their faces told me they were turning over the same thoughts. David’s actions-selling Scarlett to us, handing over the South so easily-suddenly seemed less like convenient fortune and more like calculated moves. Had we been played?

I felt the weight of uncertainty press against my chest. Was David the dark rider? If he was, it raised another question: how could he manipulate this chaos

when he wasn’t even Scarlett’s kin? There was something we were still missing, something just beyond our grasp.

“Very well, Alpha Garland,” I said after a long pause, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me. “I will allow you to return home and protect your

region. In the meantime, we’ll work to uncover the truth and put an end to this problem.”

Clay and Maxwell exchanged glances but said nothing. Their silence was agreement enough. For now, Garland would go free. But the shadow of David Moreski’s name lingered, leaving us with more questions than answers.

“If we share the same goal, I’d like to work with you,” Garland said, his voice steady but edged with determination. “I think you might even be able to persuade Keith to help. Too many villages have suffered already, and there are only so many battles we can fight alone. The territories I’ve gained only joined me for protection because of the chaos that’s been spreading. From where I stood, it seemed like the three of you were too distracted to notice what the North has been enduring.”

He wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t argue with the truth, as much as it stung. We had been distracted, overcome with grief and the weight of everything we’d been through. Scarlett’s absence had left us fractured and broken. But now that she was back, we were trying again-trying to rebuild and find our footing.

enter

10:26 am

pppp.

Chapter 213

4t to we with you? I said, my tour firm. “But Thave out condition. Anastasia Petrova must be delered to me.”

Comments

Michele Gremillion

stasia may think she had won

7 days ago

2

SHARE

r

10.26 am P ppp

Scarlett

hapter 214

Garland’s eyes flickered with a mits of understanding and Yesignation. “Her crimes are far beyond being your informant, Garland, 1 continued, my voice cold. “She committed treason against het Luna, and she will face justice. Her co conspirators have already paid for their crimes. She cannot escape the same fate *

He nodded solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of my demand. “May I see your Lun, please?” he asked hesitantly, firs voice softer, almost unsure. “I’d like to apologise to her.”

I could tell from his tone that he expected us to refuse. Before I could respond, Maxwell stood up, his expression resolute.

“I’m sure Scarlett would want to hear you out,” he said. “She respects anyone who holds her father in high regard.” Maxwell wasn’t wrong, and though I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea, I knew Scarlett would want to hear what Garland had to say.

Maxwell left to fetch her, leaving the rest of us in a strange silence. I reflected on how far we’d come in the last hour. It was almost surreal to see things settling amicably after everything we had endured. While I was lost in thought, Garland suddenly chuckled, breaking the stillness.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“My szer told me an amicable settlement would be preferable,” Garland said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “I suppose ! misinterpreted it. Maybe I should’ve come to the three of you and talked this out from the start instead of attacking. But you know how seers are-they often leave you more confused than you were before.”

Clay laughed, shaking his head. “We know that all too well,” he said, his voice tinged with exasperated humor. “We’ve had our share of agonizing consultations with Elsa. Half the time, we left those meetings with more questions than answers.”

Garland grinned, nodding knowingly. There was an odd camaraderie forming, a fragile sense of understanding that hadn’t existed moments ago.

When Maxwell returned, Scarlett was with him. She looked radiant, her presence commanding yet soothing. She wore the clothes we had recently bought for her, and it was a sight that made my heart swell. She was more than beautiful; she was luminous, her strength radiating from within. For a moment, I was

lost in her, grateful for her return, her resilience, and the hope she carried for all of us.

It warmed my heart to see Scarlett wearing something we had chosen for her. It wasn’t just about the clothes; it was the gesture, the unspoken

acknowledgment that she accepted a piece of us. I silently promised myself to buy her more-luxurious garments like the ones she had brought from the West, delicate and exquisitely crafted. She deserved nothing but the best, a queen draped in the finest things the world could offer.

She leaned in to kiss me, and I didn’t hesitate to deepen it, savoring the softness of her lips and the taste of her presence. There was a faint trace of Maxwell on her, a telltale sign he’d had his kiss before they arrived. The realization didn’t bother me-it was just how we were, tied together in ways that

transcended conventional bonds.

When the kiss broke, I pulled her onto my lap, not ready to let her go. Her scent surrounded me, soothing the restless growl of Tiger, my wolf, who stirred with desire and protectiveness. My thoughts wandered briefly, conjuring images of what I could do to her, but I pushed them aside, focusing on her calming

presence.

“So, what am I here for?” she asked, her voice light but curious.

I turned to Garland, giving him the floor. He straightened, his tone hurried but earnest. “I want to apologize for what I did and said to you. You truly are your father’s daughter, and I know he would be proud.”

Scarlett tilted her head, studying him for a moment before nodding. “We’ll need all the help we can get for what’s coming. There’s no point in killing ourselves and weakening our defenses. I hope you’ve given up your need for conquest,” she said, her words measured but carrying a weight that spoke of wisdom beyond her years.

1/2

10:26 am P ppp

Chapter 214

farlane winced; the movement subtle but telling “Give me your hand,” he said, her voice soft yet commanding

He hesitated, concern flashing in his eyes, bot Maxwell stepped forward, removing the silver from Garland’s cuffs. Scarlett’s gaze didn’t waver.

“You’re important in the fight ahead, she explained. “But right now, you and your wolf are buried, lost beneath what’s happened to you. You need to be at your best to protect the East and defend the peace we’re trying to preserve.”

Tiger growled, low and possessive, his/jealousy flaring at the touch. Scarlett chuckled, the sound soft and amused. “Some things never change,” she

murmured, casting a knowing glance at me. I wondered how Clay and Maxwell managed to keep their wolves in check in moments like these.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify