Chapter 220

Agnes

Richard’s estate was exactly what I expected from an Alpha who valued tradition above all else—grand, stately, and dripping with old money. The long driveway was lined with ancient oak trees, and the house itself was a sprawling stone mansion that looked like it belonged on the cover of some magazine or another.

“Good evening,” the butler said with a slight bow as he greeted us at the door. “Alpha Richard is expecting you.”

I handed him my coat, suddenly glad I’d chosen to wear one of my better dresses for the occasion—a delicate blush pink silk that nipped in at the waist and fell to my ankles, just barely showing off my strappy heels. I’d left my hair down, the waves falling past my shoulders. Elijah wore a crisp button-down tucked into the trousers I’d made for him for the feast.

The butler led us through the entrance hall, past paintings of stern-looking ancestors and mounted animal heads.

Richard was waiting for us in the sitting room. A fire crackled in a massive stone fireplace, and leather-bound books lined the walls.

“Ah, there you are,” Richard said, rising from his chair. “Please, come in. What can I get you to drink? Scotch? Wine?”

I glanced around the room, noticing that we were the only ones there. “Wine would be lovely, thank you,” I said, taking a seat on one of the plush sofas.

Elijah requested scotch, and Richard busied himself at a drink cart in the corner. As he handed me my glass, I couldn’t help but look around and note that even Richard’s wife wasn’t in attendance—it was just the three of us.

“Will your wife be joining us for dinner?” I asked.

Richard stiffened slightly, his smile faltering. “Ah, no,” he said after a brief pause. “Elise isn’t… feeling well lately.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, immediately feeling bad for bringing it up. The way he said lately made it sound like it was more than just a cold. “Nothing serious, I hope?”

“Just a touch of something,” Richard said vaguely, quickly changing the subject. “I must say, I was quite impressed with your input at the meeting today, Luna Agnes. You have a unique perspective.”

I smiled. “Thank you. I think the best decisions are made when all voices are heard.”

Richard nodded, although I could tell he wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea. “Indeed. Well, shall we head to the dining room? The chef has prepared something special.”

The dining room was as grand as the rest of the house, with a table long enough to seat twenty people. The three of us looked almost comical sitting at one end of it, like children playing at being adults.

The food, however, was spectacular—a five-course meal featuring locally sourced game and produce. As we ate, Richard kept the conversation flowing, asking questions about our pack and sharing stories about his own.

“I’ve been watching your progress with great interest, you know,” he said as the dessert was served—some kind of berry tart that was almost too pretty to eat. “You’ve made remarkable strides recently. Both of you.”

Elijah nodded and took my hand, shooting me an award-winning smile. “I think we make a great team. Agnes keeps me on my toes.”

“I can tell,” Richard agreed, and it wasn’t an insult. “You two seem to complete each other. I’m particularly taken with that foundation of yours.” He turned to me. “The Isabella Foundation, correct? Named after your daughter?”

I swallowed a gulp of wine, keeping my expression neutral. I yearned for the day when I could proudly announce that Thea was my biological daughter. “Yes,” I said with a small smile. “It’s in her honor.” And even though the baby was Olivia’s and not mine, I had no intentions of changing the name.

“Fascinating initiative,” Richard continued. “Search and rescue for missing persons, isn’t it? Very noble. Those bags you produced are quite the hit, too. I’ve seen people wearing them even around here.”

“It’s personal to me,” I said. “After spending years searching for my daughter, I know what those families are going through.”

Richard nodded solemnly. “We have similar issues in our territory. Being as rugged and wooded as it is, we get a fair number of hikers who wander off the trails. Some are never found.” He hesitated, then added in a rough voice, “And some come back… changed.”

“Changed?” Elijah tilted his head.

Richard glanced at him, mouth opening and closing a couple of times before he smiled thinly. “You know how the wilderness is. It affects people, being stranded out there.”

I nodded slowly, but before I could say anything, Richard went on, “Which is why I’d like to propose a partnership. I believe our packs could benefit from working together, specifically on expanding your foundation’s reach into our territory.”

Elijah looked at me, clearly wanting my input before responding.

“I’d love to discuss expansion,” I said. “The foundation has been growing rapidly, and we’ve been looking for new areas to serve.”

Richard smiled, clearly pleased. “Excellent. We can work out the details in the coming weeks. For now, let’s enjoy the rest of our meal.”

After dinner, the men moved to a study for whiskey and cigars. Surprisingly, I was invited to join them, but the rich food and wine had left me restless. Instead, I asked if I could explore the house a bit.

“By all means,” Richard said. “The art collection is quite impressive, if you’re interested.”

It was, as it turned out. The hallways were lined with paintings and sculptures, some clearly ancient and valuable. I wandered from room to room, admiring the pieces and occasionally stopping to read the small placards beside them.

As I turned a corner, I heard a sound—a muffled cough coming from behind a door at the end of the hall. I hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but the coughing continued, growing more severe. It sounded like someone was choking.

I approached the door and knocked gently. “Hello? Are you alright in there?”

There was no response, just more coughing. Concerned, I turned the handle and pushed the door open slightly.

The room was dimly lit, with heavy curtains drawn across the windows. In the center, on a chaise lounge, sat a woman. She was thin, almost gaunt, with pale skin that seemed to glow in the low light. Her long blonde hair hung limply around her shoulders, and her blue eyes were sunken.

“Oh!” I said, immediately stepping back. “I’m so sorry. I heard coughing and was concerned.”

The woman waved a hand weakly. “It’s quite alright,” she said in a raspy voice. “I don’t get many visitors these days. Please, come in.”

I hesitated, but my curiosity got the better of me. I stepped into the room and closed the door partially behind me.

“I’m Agnes,” I said. “Alpha Elijah’s mate.”

“Elise,” the woman replied with a small smile. “Richard’s wife. I heard we had guests for dinner. I’m very sorry I couldn’t join you.”

So this was Richard’s wife. I moved closer, noticing how frail she looked. Whatever illness she had, it was clearly more than just “a touch of something” as Richard had implied.

“I’m sorry to intrude,” I said again. “Your husband mentioned you weren’t feeling well.”

“Did he?” Elise’s smile turned sad. “Well, I suppose that’s one way of putting it.”

Before I could respond, she was seized by another coughing fit. I rushed to her side, instinctively reaching for her hand to offer comfort.

The moment our skin touched, Elise froze. Her eyes widened as she stared at my hand, then up at my face.

“You... You have the gift?” she whispered.

I quickly pulled my hand away, hiding it behind my back as if that could somehow conceal whatever she had seen. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Elise leaned forward, her eyes suddenly intense. “Be careful,” she whispered. “They’re always watching. Always. The shadows have eyes, you know. And they’ll come for you, just like they came for—”

She broke off into another coughing fit, this one more violent than before. When she looked up again, her eyes were unfocused, and she began muttering incoherently, shaking her head and dragging her withered hands through her hair.

“The trees remember,” she said, her gaze darting around the room. “They were there when it happened. Ask them. They’ll tell you...”

I backed away, unnerved by her sudden shift. Whatever was wrong with her, it was clearly affecting her mind as well as her body.

“I… I should let you rest,” I said, turning toward the door. “I hope you feel better soon.”

As I hurried out into the hall, I suddenly slammed into a sturdy form. I jumped back, startled, only to find Richard standing there. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Ah, Agnes,” he said, stepping forward. The move almost forced me back against the wall as he reached past me and pulled the door closed with a soft click. “I see you’ve met my wife.”