Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 138

"I" Elise hesitated, her voice faltering. She glanced behind her as if expecting Fiona to suddenly appear and end her life. "I meant "

"Now, why would Lady Fiona hurt the next leader of the Rosenthal Clan?" the Queen asked, her voice laced with feigned concern. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for, and she wasn't about to let it slip away. She stepped closer to Elise, her movements deliberate. Seeing this, Elise quickly stepped back, but the Queen didn't seem to care. She pressed on, her tone almost soothing. "You are the next generation, the one who will lead the Rosenthal Clan soon. I believe Lady Fiona wouldn't dare hurt you. So, please... tell us what happened so we can help." "She is right, Lady Elise," the King added, his voice steady and commanding. "What exactly happened?"

"Go on, sister..." Fiona's voice rang out, making Elise jump. She instinctively moved behind her father's back, her breathing quickening. "Tell them everything."

"Why are you here?" Elise demanded, clutching the scarf covering her arm. Her fingers pressed against the fabric, searching for any sensation, but there was nothing. That absence only deepened her dread-she didn't know what was happening, and that uncertainty terrified her. She needed her father's help, and she needed it quickly. "Aren't you scared that the King, the Queen, and everyone here will see just how evil you are?"

"Dear sister..." Fiona said with a soft sigh, her tone almost pitying. "I really don't understand what you're talking about. Earlier, you came into the resting quarters to ask why the Envoys wanted to see me. When I told you I didn't know, you started shouting, insisting that you're going to become the next Clan Head and that it is my responsibility to tell you what I know. And now?" Fiona snorted, her gaze sharp and cutting. "You're actually trying to frame me in front of everyone?"

"You may be the next heir of the family, but let's not forget-this isn't the pack house anymore. This is the palace, where the King and Queen of the werewolves preside. You may have your way with me there, but here? This is not the place for such behavior." "You"

"Fiona! How dare you speak to your sister like that?" Thomas barked, his finger stabbing the air toward her. "Accusing the next clan head of something as vile as bullying her own sister? Have you no shame?"

Fiona tilted her head, her gaze sharp as it flicked between Elise and her father. "And what about Elise?" she countered, her voice steady. "Is she not trying to frame me right now? Are you saying it's acceptable for her to accuse me falsely, but I'm forbidden from defending myself?" She met her father's glare head-on, her calm demeanor an unspoken challenge.

Thomas's face darkened as he stepped closer to Fiona, his hand gesturing sharply toward her. "You have no right to speak about your sister this way," he said, his voice cold. "Elise is the future of the Rosenthal Family. She doesn't need to frame anyone-especially not you."

I poisoned her.

into a faint smile as she stepped forward. "That is an excellent question, Lady Fiona," she said. "Lady Elise, why would you believe your sister would poison you? What motive could she

darted to the assembled crowd, their eyes sharp with curiosity and judgment. "Because..." she began, her voice faltering for a moment. "Because Fiona knows curses." A murmur rippled through the room. The council members exchanged looks, their expressions ranging

slightly, though her curiosity only seemed to deepen. "That is quite the

poison but a curse! There are things even our healing abilities

face. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Carissa,

arms as her sharp gaze settled on Fiona. "Curses like that come at a cost. They're not something an ordinary healer could

those who use it are often consumed by their own power. If Lady Fiona truly knows such things, then her very presence

of witches would resort to curses. Such practices are... unnatural. Dangerous." "Lady Elise," the King interjected. "You have made a serious accusation. If you claim that this is a curse created by your sister, then you must provide proof. Words alone are not

Elise faltered, her confidence

didn't

raised an eyebrow, her fan flicking open with a practiced motion. "Lady Elise... please" she asked. "Without further evidence, how can we be certain

show us how I, a healer who has been training for mere months, could create something so... sophisticated." Elise's face burned with frustration. She glanced around

as she studied Elise's arm. "If this is truly a curse," she said, "then it should respond to magical detection. Shall we

her chest. "I... I just need my

"Elise," he said, his voice low, "if this truly is a curse, then why did you wait until now to speak of it? Why didn't