Chapter Forty Three
Chloe couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found Aiden. As they spent more time together, she felt her heart grow fonder and fonder of him.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
One day, as they were walking through the gardens, Chloe turned to Aiden and said, “You know, I never thought I would find someone like you. You’re kind, strong, and always there for me.”
Aiden smiled at her and replied, “I feel the same way about you, Chloe. You’re smart, beautiful, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
Chloe blushed and looked down at her feet, feeling a warmth spreading through her body. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about anyone before,” she admitted.
Aiden reached out and took her hand, pulling her close to him. “Neither have I,” he said, his voice low and husky.
They stood there for a moment, lost in their own thoughts and feelings, before Aiden leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Chloe’s heart raced as she kissed him back, feeling like she was on top of the world.
As they pulled away from each other, Aiden grinned at her. “I have a surprise for you,” he said.
Chloe raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of surprise?”
Aiden chuckled. “You’ll see. Just follow me.”
He took her hand and led her down a winding path, until they came to a clearing in the woods. There, in the center of the clearing, was a beautiful waterfall cascading down into a crystal-clear pool.
Chloe gasped at the sight, feeling her breath catch in her throat. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Aiden grinned at her. “I thought you would like it. And, I have another surprise.”
He pulled out a picnic basket from behind a nearby tree and spread out a blanket on the grass. As they ate, they talked and laughed, feeling completely at ease with each other.
Chloe couldn’t remember the last time she had felt this happy, this content. As the sun began to set, Aiden pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Chloe. You’re everything to me.”
Chloe felt tears welling up in her eyes as she looked up at him. “I love you too, Aiden. You’re my soulmate.”
They kissed again, lost in their own world, as the stars began to twinkle above them. For Chloe, there was nowhere else she would rather be than in Aiden’s arms, surrounded by love and happiness.
The Lycan King called for a meeting, he was furious as he knew that at this wouldn’t go down well. When the Lycan king heard about all that happened, he decided to call for a meeting between the creakstone pack. Members of the pack were invited including Emily and her family. During the meeting, the Lycan king announced that an attempt to murder Chloe was made by Emily.
The atmosphere in the meeting was tense as the Lycan king addressed the pack. “I have received some disturbing news about a failed attempt on Chloe’s life,” he began. “And our investigation has led us to one of our own, Emily.”
Emily’s face went pale, and she sat frozen in her seat. “That’s ridiculous,” she protested. “I would never harm Chloe.”
The Lycan king turned to her, his eyes piercing. “The evidence we have suggests otherwise. We found traces of your scent at the scene of the crime.”
Emily shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “I swear, I didn’t do it. I don’t know how my scent got there.”
Chloe watched in silence as the accusations and denials flew back and forth. She knew that Emily had always been a good friend, but the evidence against her was damning.
“Enough!” Aiden’s voice boomed across the room, silencing everyone. “We can’t afford to let this situation tear us apart. We need to work together to find out the truth.”
The room fell silent, and the tension eased slightly. “Aiden is right,” the Lycan king said. “We need to investigate this matter thoroughly and find out who is responsible. Until then, Emily will be placed under house arrest.”
Emily’s family protested, but the Lycan king was firm. “I’m sorry, but this is necessary to ensure everyone’s safety.”
As the meeting adjourned, Chloe couldn’t help but feel sorry for Emily. She had been a loyal friend, but the evidence against her was strong. She hoped that the truth would come out soon so that everyone could move on from this difficult situation.
Chloe sat in her room, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. Her mind was swirling with thoughts, and she couldn’t seem to make sense of anything. Did Emily really try to poison her? Was it all just a dream?
As she mulled over these questions, a wave of confusion and anxiety washed over her. She couldn’t believe that someone she once considered a friend would try to harm her. It all seemed so surreal.
But as she thought back on their interactions, she realized that there were subtle signs that Emily was not who she seemed. The way she would look at her with envy, or the way she would make backhanded compliments. Chloe had just brushed it all off as harmless jealousy, but now she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to it.
As she sat there lost in thought, Aiden entered the room. He could tell something was bothering her, and he sat down next to her, placing a comforting arm around her shoulder.
“Hey, what’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Chloe sighed, unsure of where to begin. “I don’t know, Aiden. It’s just… everything feels so confusing right now. I don’t know who I can trust anymore.”
Aiden gave her a reassuring squeeze. “You can always trust me, Chloe. I’ll always be here for you.”
Chloe smiled weakly, grateful for his unwavering support. “I know. It’s just that… I keep thinking about what happened with Emily. Was it real? Or was it all just in my head?”
Aiden frowned, his eyes filled with worry. “What do you mean? Are you saying that Emily didn’t try to poison you?”
Chloe shook her head. “No, I’m not saying that. It’s just that… it all seems so unbelievable. Like it was just a nightmare that I can’t shake.”
Aiden nodded, understanding her confusion. “I get it. But you have to remember that we have evidence that proves she tried to harm you. And even if it was just a dream, it’s important to take it seriously.”
Chloe nodded slowly, taking in his words. He was right, of course. She couldn’t afford to dismiss something so serious, even if it felt like a surreal nightmare.
As she sat there, lost in thought, Aiden pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him, feeling a sense of comfort in his embrace. For now, she would try to push her doubts aside and focus on the present. With Aiden by her side, she knew that she could face anything that came her way.
Chloe walked into the room where Emily was being held and sat down across from her. “Why did you do it?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emily looked up at her with a mixture of anger and defiance. “Do what?”
“Poison me,” Chloe replied, her eyes narrowing.
“I didn’t poison you!” Emily exclaimed, her voice rising. “You’re just saying that because you want Liam and you think I’m in your way!”
“I don’t want Liam!” Chloe exclaimed, frustrated. “I never have! I only want Aiden!”
Emily snorted. “Right. Aiden. The one you met like five minutes ago and now you’re suddenly in love with him? Give me a break.”
Chloe felt a surge of anger. “I don’t have to justify my feelings to you. And even if I did, it wouldn’t change the fact that you tried to kill me!”
“I didn’t try to kill you!” Emily yelled. “Why won’t you believe me?”
“Because I have evidence!” Chloe retorted, pulling out the vial that she had found in her room. “This was found in my room with your fingerprints all over it.”
Emily’s eyes widened as she looked at the vial. “I… I don’t know how that got there,” she stammered.
“You expect me to believe that?” Chloe asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve been jealous of me from the moment I arrived here. You couldn’t stand the fact that Liam was paying attention to me instead of you.”
“That’s not true!” Emily protested, but Chloe could see the guilt in her eyes.
“I don’t want to hear your lies anymore,” Chloe said, standing up. “I came here hoping we could talk this out, but clearly that’s not going to happen. Goodbye, Emily.”
As she walked out of the room, Chloe couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness. She had thought that she and Emily were friends, but now she realized that it was all just a façade. She made a mental note to be more cautious in the future, and to never let her guard down again.