Claiming Emerald: Four Alphas At Her Feet
Chapter 86: No Antidote???

Chapter 86: No Antidote???

The message still glared at her from the phone screen.

"It’s only a matter of time before it’s all over."

Emerald’s jaw tightened.

She put on her boots, grabbed her coat, and stepped out of her room. The halls of the estate were silent, with only the occasional creak of the floorboards as she walked. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, creating shadows on the stone walls.

She didn’t stop until she reached the lower levels, descending toward the dungeons. The guards posted at the cell door straightened when they saw her.

"Alpha," one of them said with a bow.

"Open it," she ordered.

They obeyed instantly, unlocking the iron gate with a screech. Emerald stepped inside.

The room was dim, lit only by a flickering wall sconce. Quince sat in the middle of the cell, chained at the wrists, looking as though he hadn’t moved since she’d last seen him.

She didn’t waste time.

Without a word, she held out her phone, letting the screen glow illuminate his gaunt face.

"You better start talking," she said coldly.

Quince lifted his eyes slowly. He looked older, more worn than before, but not surprised. "I already said my piece."

She took a step closer. "Then let me make this clearer." She scrolled through her messages and showed him the last three, each more threatening than the last. "These came before we caught you, and this, after you were arrested."

Quince didn’t flinch, but the flicker in his eyes gave him away.

"You’re not the one sending them," Emerald said softly. "So who is?"

He looked away.

She crossed her arms. "You watched me grow up. You sat beside my father. You swore loyalty to this pack. And now what? You help tear it apart?"

Quince’s jaw worked slowly. "Your father was a great man."

"And you betrayed everything he stood for."

"I betrayed nothing," he snapped suddenly. "Your father never intended for you to lead."

Emerald froze.

"You think I turned my back on the pack? No. I turned my back on a mistake."

Her voice was a whisper now. "A mistake?"

"Women weren’t meant to lead," he spat. "You’ve stumbled every step since the coronation. Weakness follows you like a shadow. Even now, you’re here because you’re scared."

She didn’t reply right away. Her fingers flexed at her side.

Then she raised her phone again. "Who is she?"

Quince’s mouth tightened. He stared at the far wall in silence.

"I asked you a question."

He stood still, his silence speaking volumes. It felt definite, as if he had made up his mind to keep his lips shut.

Emerald clenched her jaw. Her mind went to earlier that day when Adrian questioned him. There was something about how he was able to get the information from Quince that the intended recipient of the letter was a woman.

She turned toward the door, pulled out her phone, and searched his name out.

Quince didn’t deserve mercy, but she needed the truth.

"Adrien," she said when he picked up. "I know it’s late... but I need your help."

—

A few hours later, Adrien arrived.

He looked like he hadn’t slept, but still wore that same careless smile that drove people mad. His coat was half-buttoned, and his hair was tousled, but his eyes? Sharp and alert.

"You okay?" he asked as they moved toward the dungeon.

Emerald didn’t slow. "I’m fine."

"You sure?"

She glanced sideways. "You guys need to stop babying me."

Adrien smirked. "Can’t help it. You’re too fun when you’re pretending to be fine."

She ignored that, handing her phone to him. "I’ve been getting cryptic messages for a while now. When we found Quince, I thought that was it... but I got this last one after he was already in custody."

He read the message, his expression darkening. "So he’s not acting alone."

"No. And he won’t give up anything more. Not to me, anyway. But I think he’s scared."

Adrien’s smirk faded. "Scared of who?"

"I don’t know yet. But based on what we both know, it’s a she."

"That narrows it down," Adrien said sarcastically, "to half the population." He handed the phone back to her. "Let’s go."

They reached the cell.

Quince looked up when the door opened, and his lips curled into a sneer. "So you called your mate to help you now?"

Emerald’s face didn’t change, but Adrien chuckled lowly as he stepped forward. "Funny," Adrien said, "for a man in chains."

He didn’t say anything more; he just kept staring. The silence between them grew longer and longer. Quince shifted in his seat, but Adrien remained completely still.

Emerald watched, eyebrows slowly rising. The atmosphere in the room changed; it felt colder and heavier.

She could sense Adrien’s aura growing stronger, almost pushing against the stone walls and wrapping around Quince like a tight grip.

Quince swallowed.

Finally, Adrien spoke. "Who are you working with?" he asked, still calm, still quiet.

Quince’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Adrien took one more step forward. "How many?"

A flicker of panic crossed Quince’s eyes.

"How long?" Adrien pressed. "How long have you been planning this?"

Quince swallowed.

"I killed the first one," he said suddenly. "The spy that tried to kill you in your chamber the other day, I... I contracted him. Luckily, he ended his life. Then one that escaped, I had to kill him before your men got up with him."

Emerald stiffened. "You... what?"

"I had to," Quince muttered. "It was too early. She told me it was too early."

"She?" Adrien’s voice sharpened. "Who is she?"

No response. Quince shut his eyes tightly, trying to hold himself back from whatever Adrien’s aura was doing to him.

Adrien tilted his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "We already know about the letter. We know you were the messenger. What we want to know... is who gave you the message."

Quince’s mouth twitched.

Adrien’s tone sharpened. "How long have you been working against Emerald?"

"Since when she returned to Shadow Fang," Quince hissed.

Emerald’s hand clenched.

"She wasn’t supposed to take the title. She was supposed to disappear quietly. But then she came back... and we had to move faster."

Adrien’s eyes narrowed. "We?"

Quince’s jaw worked. "Some of the council agreed. They didn’t say it out loud at first, but they knew. So I got them to agree to planning to overthrow you once we heard you’ll be Alpha. It was only later that she reached out to help."

"She contacted me later," Quince muttered. "After your coronation. Said she’d been watching."

Adrien stepped forward. "Who is she?"

Quince tried to speak, but then he stopped. His eyes grew wide with shock. He struggled to catch his breath, clutching his throat as he gasped for air.

"Quince?" Emerald stepped closer.

His body jerked, and sweat poured down his face. His skin was turning pale, then grey.

Adrien rushed to his side, grabbing him by the collar. "What’s happening?"

Emerald leaned in. "What is it, Quince? What’s wrong?"

Quince’s hands trembled violently. "What... time... is it?"

Emerald checked her watch. "Two hours past midnight. Why?"

"She... she said... every three days..." he choked out.

Adrien frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"I need the antidote," Quince rasped. "She said I had to meet her... or I’d..."

Emerald knelt beside him. "What poison?"

Quince’s lips were turning purple now. His veins bulged under the skin. "She... she said... if I failed her..."

Adrien looked at Emerald. "He’s going into shock."

Emerald gripped his shoulder. "Quince. Look at me. Give me her name."

His mouth opened.

His lips moved.

"Ah..." he whispered, breath rattling.

"Say it!" she shouted. "Give me a name!"

He coughed hard, then went still. Just like that, his chest stopped moving and his head slumped forward.

"No!" Emerald reached out, shaking him. "No, no, no... come on!"