Scarlett (Second Edition) by Karima Saad Usman novel Chapter 82

Chapter 82

Lucian’s POV

When Bianca finally appeared, her face held a hint of anxiety that made my gut tighten further. “Alpha,” she greeted softly, her eyes darting around as if she sensed something was wrong.

“What was put in the wine?” I demanded, cutting to the chase. Bianca shook her head quickly, looking alarmed.

“Nothing, Alpha. It’s the usual batch from the cellar. Luna Scarlett selected it herself,” she replied, but her words didn’t sit right with me. I could feel something was off. This wasn’t just wine. There was a thickness, a darkness to it, as if something had been mixed in–wolfsbane, perhaps. The thought chilled me. Wolfsbane was designed to dull our senses, to make us weak, unable to link, unable to feel or think clearly. Someone was trying to ensure we weren’t at our best tonight.

I held onto my cup tightly, fighting off the haziness that was slowly settling over my mind. I called for my Beta, William, needing him to run a test on the wine, to confirm what I was already certain of. The last thing we could afford was to be caught off guard. The entire situation felt like a trap, and I wasn’t willing to be anyone’s pawn.

“You may go, Bianca,” I told her, and though she obeyed, I could see the worry etched in her features. There was something more she wasn’t saying, but I would have to confront her when the effects of this wine had worn off. For now, I had to keep my wits as sharp as possible.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stasia approaching, draped in the most revealing outfit I’d ever seen her wear. The sight of her sent a rush of

irritation through me. She stopped in front of me, bowing with an exaggerated smile.

“Alpha,” she greeted, her voice dripping with a sweetness that grated on my nerves.

Stasia looked at me with a glint in her eye and spoke in a voice that was both soft and firm.

“I’ve prepared a special dance, just for you, Alpha. Even though what we had as over, I’m still allowed to entertain you, right?” Before I could even form a response, the music started, and she moved into the center of the room, graceful and determined.

Her eyes never left mine as she danced, her movements both captivating and provocative. Around us, the warriors and guests cheered, but I barely heard them. My mind was foggy, weighed down by the effects of whatever was in that wine, and the need for rest was overwhelming. Yet I forced myself to stay alert, to wait for William to arrive. Lucian and Clay were barely holding on, their eyes heavy, and I could tell that soon enough, we might all fall asleep right

there.

We had each ordered our Betas to watch over the hall since we couldn’t rely on ourselves tonight. Pulling William away from his post was a risk, but I had to know if someone had tampered with the wine, and I couldn’t let this suspicion fester without answers.

When Stasia’s performance came to an end, she approached me, eyes expectant, seeking my approval.

I managed a nod and forced a polite smile, acknowledging her efforts. She looked disappointed, her eyes flickering with a hurt she tried to hide. She had wanted more-a compliment, perhaps, or some sign that there was still warmth between us. But that part of my life was over.

I had already decided that Stasia’s time in Redcape was nearing its end. I couldn’t let her presence create tension between Scarlett and me: Humous hurt reached me that she had been disrespectful to Scarlett on more than one occasion, and though i wanted to be angry with her, I knew the house was mine. had let her think it was acceptable, failing to make it clear from the start that Scarlett was my mate and deserved respect.

Finally, William appeared, his face serious as he approached I pushed through the grogginess, managing to give him the instinctions to test the wine. I needed answers, some assurance that my suspicions were real and not some paranoid illusion. He took the drunk from on hand, and I noted in Clay and Maxwell, who were barely managing to stay awake.

10:07 am P ppp.

Chapter 82

“Go to hod,” Hold them, my voice a faint slur They nodded, too tired to argue, and we all made our way toward our quarters, our steps unsteady and minds fugged.

When we reached our apartment, exhaustion won out. We barely made it inside, stumbling through the door before collapsing onto the floor, too drained to make it to our separate rooms. The cold stone beneath us was a stark contrast to the warmth clouding qur minds, but none of us had the strength to move another inch. I drifted off, hoping that when I woke, William would have the answers we needed and that I could confront whoever had dared to pull such a trick on us.

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10:07 am pppp

Scarlett