The next day was Christmas. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

A day meant for packs to gather, for elders to sit at the head of the table, for mates to stand side by side and show unity.

That evening, I was supposed to return to the Hale estate for dinner. But early in the morning, my mother called and asked me to visit the Morrigans at noon.

News of the car accident had already spread through every circle. Nothing stays hidden for long among powerful packs.

As Lewis’s chosen mate, representing the Hale name, I went to pay them a visit.

When I arrived, most of the Morrigans looked fine physically. No visible injuries. No broken limbs.

But Vivian...

Her scent was wrong.

Unstable. Sharp. Fear clinging to her like smoke.

One tragedy after another had crushed her spirit. Nolan’s death. The accident. The near brush with death. Her mind had cracked under the weight.

When I pushed open the door, a nurse was chasing her with a syringe.

Vivian was standing barefoot on the hospital bed, her hair disheveled, eyes wide and wild. She kept scanning the room as if enemies were hiding in every corner.

"Mrs. Morrigan, please come down."

"Honey, it’s safe here. No one will hurt you."

The moment she saw me, she jumped off the bed and rushed forward. She grabbed my hand so tightly her nails dug into my skin.

"Elena!" she whispered urgently. "We have to leave. There are ghosts here. They’re watching us!"

Her eyes were unfocused. Fractured.

I understood immediately.

Her mind had slipped.

"Mr. Morrigan," I asked calmly, "what happened? I heard the car only had a minor issue. Why is she like this?"

Malcom looked older than usual. The lines on his face seemed deeper.

"I apologize, Mrs. Hale," he said stiffly. "My wife is still shaken from the accident. She needs rest. And because you resemble our late daughter... she mistook you for her."

Late daughter.

The irony almost made me laugh.

"I see," I said softly.

I gently pried Vivian’s fingers loose and gestured toward Camilla, who stood quietly nearby.

"Mrs. Morrigan, you’re mistaken. I’m not your daughter. She is."

The moment Vivian’s eyes landed on Camilla, her entire body recoiled.

It was instinctive.

Like prey recognizing a predator.

She scrambled behind me, clutching my coat.

"Elena, it’s her!" Vivian cried. "She’s the devil! She’s the one who tore this family apart! She made that call to get Nolan killed! And last night’s accident it was her too!"

The room went still.

I almost smiled.

When Vivian was sane, she had danced in Camilla’s shadow, defending her at every turn.

Now that her mind had shattered, she finally saw clearly.

But what did that change?

No one believed her.

Just like they hadn’t believed me.

"Mom," Camilla said softly, her voice smooth and steady. "We’re family. How could I ever hurt you?"

Her expression was perfect. Concerned. Gentle. A good daughter.

Malcom snapped impatiently. "Enough nonsense! Mrs. Hale, please ignore her rambling."

"Of course," I replied with a faint smile.

But I tilted my head slightly.

"Still... I think Mrs. Morrigan’s condition is quite serious. Mr. Morrigan, you should watch her closely."

Camilla stepped forward, her tone thoughtful.

"Dad, Mom isn’t physically sick. Maybe we should consult a psychiatrist."

Malcom nodded slowly. "That might be best. She can’t keep acting like this."

That was when it struck me.

Camilla didn’t just want Vivian treated.

She wanted her labeled.

Declared unstable.

Once that happened, Vivian’s words would mean nothing.

A diagnosis would silence her.

And if Elena pushed harder...

She could have Vivian institutionalized.

Locked away.

Out of sight.

Out of the way.

I watched Camilla’s face carefully.

There was no fear there.

No guilt.

Only calculation.

Her mask was flawless.

But beneath it, I could almost feel the cold satisfaction rising from her.

What a cruel, calculating woman.

Camilla had no mercy. Not even for the pack that raised her.

Last night’s car accident had failed, but I could feel it she wasn’t finished. A failed strike only made predators more careful, not less dangerous.

If Vivian were declared unstable and locked away, the Morrigans pack would be left with only Malcom and the two brothers. Fewer voices. Fewer obstacles. Easier to control.

I was still turning this over in my mind when a knock came at the door.

Nelson stepped in.

The moment Malcom saw him, his composure cracked. "Captain Harris, is there progress on my daughter’s case?"

Before Nelson could answer, Vivian rushed forward and grabbed his arm.

"Captain Harris!" she cried. "Arrest her! It’s her! She’s the killer!"

The room froze.

Not long ago, this same woman had defended Camilla like a lioness guarding her cub. Nelson had seen that with his own eyes.

Now she was pointing at her daughter with terror.

"Mrs. Morrigan," Nelson said carefully, "do you have any evidence?"

His voice was calm, but I could sense the tension in him. He had been circling this case for months, watching, waiting. His men had followed Camilla more than once, yet nothing solid had surfaced.

If Vivian had proof, it would change everything.

But before Vivian could speak, Camilla stepped forward smoothly.

"Captain Harris, please don’t take her words seriously," she said with a gentle smile. "She hasn’t rested properly since the accident. She’s still in shock. She’s not thinking clearly."

Her tone was soft. Concerned. The perfect daughter.

"By the way," she added lightly, "what brings you here today?"

Nelson’s expression hardened.

"I’m here about last night’s accident," he said. "Our inspection shows the car was tampered with."

The air shifted.

Malcom’s face darkened immediately. "I knew it! I spend a fortune maintaining that car every year. It couldn’t have failed like that. Captain Harris, you have to find who did this. My entire family was inside. If something had gone wrong, we’d all be dead!"

He wasn’t shouting like Vivian.

But fear was there.

Raw. Real.

Nelson nodded once. "After leaving the hospital, you all went separate ways. Except for Camilla."

His gaze turned sharp.

"So during the accident, Ms. Morrigan was the only one not present?"

The question hung heavy in the room.

Camilla didn’t flinch.

Her composure was impressive. Too impressive.

"Captain Harris," she replied evenly, "it almost sounds like you’re disappointed I wasn’t in the car."

"Not disappointed," Nelson said as he stepped closer. "Just surprised at how Ms. Morrigan’s luck always pulls her away from danger at the perfect moment."

Camilla’s expression softened with practiced concern.

"It’s not something anyone would want," she said. "I was worried sick about my parents and brother."

Nelson closed the distance further. His presence carried weight, like an Alpha pressing forward without raising his voice.

"Ms. Morrigan," he said slowly, "are you aware that last night, on the same stretch of road where Nolan died, there was a major crash?"

Malcom stiffened. "What?"

"Yes," Nelson replied. "A three-car collision. Severe casualties. It happened about ten minutes after your accident."

The room went silent.

Malcom’s face drained of color.

"So you’re saying..." His voice trembled. "If we hadn’t changed routes at the last minute... the ones who died might have been us?"

No one answered.

They didn’t need to.

The truth settled over the room like a heavy fog.

I glanced at Camilla.

For just a second just one I thought I saw something flicker in her eyes.

Calculation.

And beneath it, something colder.

My instincts tightened inside me.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.