100. Busted
100. Busted
I closed my eyes after reading the contents of the records while clutching them to my chest. There was
nothing extraordinary about how the recordkeeper recorded it. In fact, the words used were simple, Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
nothing extravagant. Nothing fancy. But despite that, I could see a glimpse of how Melissa and Robert’s
life were back then.
They were fated mates.
Tristan's words and information coincide with what was written in the record. Melissa Dove was Robert
Dove's fated mate and was sold at the auction house and bought by the alpha king as a married couple
and brought to the kingdom. They were twenty years old back then. Melissa worked as a chambermaid
while Robert sometimes acted as the alpha king’s guard in addition to the royal’s warriors.
Robert was also known as a healer, sometimes asked by the pack doctor to assist him. Just like me.
Melissa and Robert both stayed at the palace for almost thirty years, and the last of their records said
the woman was heavily pregnant when the two ran away together with Tristan Camp.
I flipped the last page, and a portrait of the two of them came into view.
I sucked in a breath while my knees went weak.
Melissa and I had the same wild curly hair.
Were they really my long-lost parents?
A tear fell from my eyes as realization knocked me off.
There was a ninety-percent chance that Tristan was telling the truth, and the next one that I should talk
to was Zenith. To verify everything. Actually, the portrait was enough to say to me that there was a
ninety-nine percent that these were my parents.
"You alright?" Dawn asked, putting one of her hands on my shoulder.
I did not notice she was already beside me.
I sniffed and wiped my tears. Now was not the time to cry and wallow in pain.
"What did you find out?" I asked instead.
I asked her to look for Tristan's record.
"Same with what I heard. Tristan Camp. An orphan. Parents died because of a rogue attack and were
sold to an auction house at an early age. When he arrived at the palace, he was unusually close to the
Dove couple, as if they were his family. Went missing when the married couple was nowhere to be
seen in the palace." She sighed. "Maybe that bastard was telling the truth. How about you?"
I let her see the portrait. Dawn inspected it. “Melissa looked like you.”
I drew a shaky breath. "I know. And maybe I was the daughter of the two rogue leaders who constantly
wanted to bring the kingdom down. Perhaps I was the daughter of the leader who always revolted and
uprising against the kingdom.”
The alpha king’s enemies. The kingdom’s enemies.
Most likely, after their death, the leadership was transferred to Tristan after being with them for a long
time.
Zenith.
What was that woman thinking after knowing the previous alpha king killed her parents?
“I can't accept it. I can't accept that they killed and tortured innocents to prove their beliefs."
There were rumors, some of which were already proven true, about the brutality of the rogues.
The rogues continued to become the alpha king’s thorns on his kingdom and must be eradicated.
"River. We cannot choose our parents. And now that we know the truth, what will be your decision?"
I inhaled deeply and put the records back but pocketed the portrait. "Not yet. I have to talk to Zenith
and force her to tell the truth whether we are siblings or not."
"Do you have to? The resemblance between you two is uncanny. Without a doubt, you are sisters. Only
someone with bad eyesight would tell you two are not."
"I want to hear it straight from her mouth.” I want to know her true motives for returning here.
“Will she tell you the truth? That woman treated you as her biggest competitor regarding the alpha king.
I doubt if she will open her mouth.”
“I have to do everything to make her talk. Come on, Dawn. We have to get out of here."
I no longer knew how long we were here. I lost count of the time.
Leading the way and pushing the door sideward. It creaked and parted, and together we stepped out of
the secret door.
The fresh air was a pause for us. Looking over my shoulder, I saw the secret door was again closed as
if we did not enter it.
My chest was still heavy.
Dawn nudged me.
"Please explain why the two of you came out from the secret door.” I forgot how to breathe. “As far as I
know, no one is allowed to enter the record room without the alpha king's presence and the record
keeper, and no one hasn't been able to enter the room since last year."
Dawn and I both stiffened at Beta Valentine's voice. He was casually leaning on the doorframe with his
arms folded on his chest.
Dawn and I looked at each other.
My mind went black as my heart pounded against my chest wildly.
I tried to act calmly to no avail. I tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace.
“Beta Valentine.”
"Please also explain why the servants told me that Sir Elijah was never here since yesterday and how
come you told me he was looking for me? You better explain to me right now, River and Luna Dawn.
Before I will tell the alpha king about how you fooled me."
I heard the clock ticking in the background as if there was a bomb waiting to explode.
Dawn's fierceness earlier retreated.
Realizing I could not rely on her this time, I said, "The alpha king asked me."
Beta Valentine raised his brows. "He did?" His face was suddenly void of any emotion.
"Yes. He did," I affirmed.
“How about you, Luna Dawn? You were the one who looked like you would kill me earlier.”
“Ahm, my mind refuses to think, especially if I’m in the presence of the mutt,” she replied sheepishly.
Beta Valentine’s face flushed with red. "River. What kind of bullshit lie will you continue saying?" he
asked coldly.
I faked a surprise and covered my mouth. Looking at him in disbelief, I said, "I am not lying. I assure
you, Beta Valentine. You can ask the alpha king if you want."
Dawn whipped her head in my direction. And that was when I realized what I had just said. It was
already too late to take back my words.
"Ask the alpha king, you say?"
Come what may. I had to push through this lie. There was no turning back now.
"Y-yes!" I answered. I just hoped the alpha king was sleeping soundly right now and busy with Zenith.
Something tugged at my heart at the thought, but I set them aside.
"I will give you the benefit of the doubt, River. Let's go to the alpha king's chamber and ask himself.
Let's go, shall we? And before that. You have to think again of the lies you will tell me."
And he stepped outside first.
Dawn and I looked at each other and followed Beta Valentine.
May the Moon Goddess be in our favor.