Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet
Chapter 85: No Text???

Chapter 85: No Text???

Rick sat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands held together under his chin.

He should be reading the Council reports or responding to the letter from Alpha Jack. But all he could think about... was Emerald.

He couldn’t stop thinking about her... her face, her smile, her voice, her eyes... everything about her.

"Damn it..." he muttered under his breath, raking his hands through his hair. "Why can’t I get her out of my head?"

The summit had been weeks ago, but it haunted him like a ghost that refused to leave. She looked different and carried herself differently, not like the Luna he had punished and cast out, but like something... untouchable.

He recalled how she confidently walked into the council room, holding her head high, as if she owned every inch of the place. And in many ways, she did.

That was the hardest part to accept.

But the worst part was the others: Adrien, Lucian, Kieran, and the mysterious one. Each of them had looked at her like she was theirs... like he didn’t matter... like he wasn’t the first.

She had no right looking so radiant and happy, as if she had moved on. It was as if she wasn’t haunted by their bond like he was.

’No. It wasn’t over... It would never be over,’ he said to himself.

"You’re in a mood," came a voice from the doorway.

He looked up slowly to see Alia leaning against the frame, her hair pinned back in its usual perfect twist and a silk robe cinched tightly around her waist.

Rick didn’t reply.

Alia walked in, heels tapping against the floor softly. "You’ve been in here for over an hour. What’s got you zoning out like that?" she asked, sitting beside him.

He shrugged, his jaw tightening in frustration.

Alia stared at him for a moment, then tilted her head. "I hope I’m wrong, but... you’re thinking about her again, right?"

Rick didn’t answer; he just remained silent.

Her smile was bitter. "I thought as much."

"Don’t start, Alia."

"Why not?" she snapped, suddenly more animated. "She’s everywhere, Rick. Even when she’s not. You think I don’t notice the way you tense whenever her name’s brought up? The way you flinch when someone mentions the Western Pack?"

Rick stood up, turning his back to her. "Drop it."

"No," she said, rising as well. "You don’t get to tell me to drop it. I lost a baby. I lost our baby, Rick. And you’re standing here... haunted by someone who walked away from you."

"She didn’t walk," Rick muttered. "She had no choice but to."

Alia blinked. "What?"

Rick turned, expression flat. "She never would’ve left if I hadn’t... if things had gone differently."

ALia let out a deep breath, calming herself slightly. She took a few steps towards him, speaking softly. "I think about him, you know."

He turned slightly. "What?"

"My baby," she whispered. "Every day. Every night. I wonder who he’d look like, whether he would’ve had your eyes or my temper. I still wish all of these were still one bad dream and I can wake up from it."

Rick swallowed. "Alia..."

"I just... needed you to know that. I lost a child, Rick. Our child. And it’s like no one even cares anymore."

"I care," he said, his voice low.

"Do you?" she asked sharply, eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Because ever since that damn summit, all you’ve done is walk around like someone died. You look at nothing, say nothing. I know that look, Rick. I know where your mind is."

Rick stood abruptly. "It doesn’t change anything."

Alia’s tone darkened. "Doesn’t it?"

"I’m not going back to her, if that’s what you’re afraid of."

She laughed dryly. "You can lie to me, Rick, but you can’t lie to yourself."

He turned to her, annoyed. "What do you want from me, Alia?"

"I want you to admit it!" she snapped. "Seeing her again... being near her changed something in you. You’ve been off ever since."

He clenched his fists. "No. It didn’t."

Alia stood, matching his height. "Liar."

Rick glared. "Watch it."

"Or what? You’ll hit me, too?" she challenged. "Like you hit her?"

He flinched, jaw tightening. Emerald wouldn’t talk back to him this way. She was always calm and knew how to calm him when he was angry. But Alia???

"Exactly," she said bitterly. "Because deep down, you regret everything. You miss her."

He snapped. "Stop it, Alia. Just stop."

She blinked, startled at the venom in his voice.

"I don’t need you reading my thoughts or questioning my loyalty. What’s done is done."

Silence followed. She didn’t speak. Her hands trembled slightly, but she crossed her arms to hide it.

Rick sighed, the edge of his fury cooling. "Look... I didn’t mean to raise my voice."

"Of course you didn’t," she said coolly, turning her back on him.

He hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I’m sorry for yelling. I didn’t intend to hurt you."

She remained silent, still facing away.

Feeling the weight of the tension, Rick grabbed his jacket from the chair. "I need some air."

He left the room without another word.

—

As soon as Rick left, Alia’s gaze fell to her phone, and her mind began to race with dark thoughts. Emerald had messed everything up once more. First, she lost her child, and now her opportunity to succeed, ruling alongside Rick, was shaky.

She reached for her phone, biting her bottom lip.

Her accomplice should have sent an update by now. The last message promised results by nightfall. But her inbox remained quiet.

Alia scrolled, frowning. "No text?" she whispered.

Her heart stuttered for just a second. Had something gone wrong? Had he been... caught?

Her fingers moved quickly across the screen as she typed out a message. She felt a slight tremble as she pressed send.

She stared at the screen for just a moment longer before leaning back, a tight, unsettling smile forming on her lips.

Let them think she was finished; let Emerald feel like she had the upper hand. Soon enough, everything would change. Emerald would end up losing it all. Everything.

—

Meanwhile, in the Western Shadow Fang pack, Emerald stared at her phone, a chill running down her spine as she read the short message from the unknown number: "It’s only a matter of time before it’s all over."

There was no name, no sender, and no way to trace the number... just one chilling sentence staring back at her from the screen.

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Quince had been caught earlier that day. She still had the letter he was trying to send. So, if he was in custody, who was sending these messages?