The moment the door closed behind Isabella, the warmth vanished from Adrian's eyes. The gentle husband disappeared, replaced by the ruthless Alpha of the Eclipse Pack. His expression turned sharp, cold, and dangerous—like a silent storm ready to break.
He leaned forward slightly, his voice low and edged with threat."Before anything else, Alpha Diana, let me make one thing clear—I may have come here for your help, but do not mistake that for weakness. If you harm my wife in any way, I will burn this entire territory to the ground. I don't care who you are."
Diana didn't flinch. Instead, a soft laugh escaped her lips, calm yet filled with a chilling mystery.
"What a powerful way to ask for help," she said. "Threats before greetings—how charming, Alpha Adrian." Her eyes hardened. "But I don't have time for useless warnings. Come to the point. If it was not for that girl, I wouldn't have allowed you to set even a single foot in Moonveil."
Adrian's jaw tightened. "Why are you so connected to Isabella?"
Diana's expression briefly shifted—was it pain, or something else? Whatever it was, it passed so quickly that it almost seemed like an illusion.
"That," she replied, "is not important right now. I already told her—she is like a child to me. I have no intention of harming her. But I do want her to know the truth—your truth. Your real identity. The world you keep hidden from her."
Adrian's eyes darkened, glowing faintly with the storm of his wolf beneath. "My identity is none of your concern."
"Then leave," Diana said bluntly, leaning back in her chair. "I do not entertain half-truths and secrets under my roof. If you do not have anything important to ask, this conversation ends here."
For a long moment, Adrian stared at her. He wanted answers—why she cared about Isabella, why she seemed to know more than she revealed—but he swallowed his questions. He didn't have time for indirect games. His real reason for coming here was far more important.
He exhaled slowly and spoke.
"I need your help."
Diana didn't react. Her emerald eyes stayed unreadable. Waiting.
"The technology of the modern world and the power of werewolves combined—still cannot uncover the truth I seek," Adrian said, his voice turning heavy. "There is only one hope left—magic. Your magic."
That got her attention. Her gaze sharpened. "Magic is not a tool to use whenever you want answers. Why would I help you? You are not my friend. You are not family. Give me one reason I should consider helping you at all."
Adrian looked directly into her eyes and spoke with finality.
"Nineteen years ago, my father lost his life helping your pack. Helping your family. If you have any honor left—help me now. For his sake."
Silence filled the chamber.
For the first time, Diana's expression cracked—not much, but enough for Adrian to see a flicker of old grief in her eyes. Her fingers tightened slightly against the edge of her throne-like chair.
After a long moment, she spoke.
"Yes," she said quietly. "The Moonveil Pack is in debt to the Eclipse Pack. Your father… died protecting someone who mattered to me."
She lifted her head, meeting Adrian's gaze directly.
"Tell me what you want," she said. "I will help you once—to pay that debt. After that, we will be equals. No favors. No ties. No weaknesses between us."
Adrian nodded once.
"Agreed."
Diana leaned forward, shadows dancing in her eyes like silent fire.
"Then speak, Alpha Adrian," she said. "Tell me what it is you seek."
Adrian leaned back slightly, his voice steady but intense."I need answers to three questions, Alpha Diana."
Diana crossed her legs and rested her chin on her hand, giving him a bored yet intrigued look. "Go on."
Adrian continued calmly, but his eyes were razor sharp."First—there is a woman in a silver veil. She appeared at Grace Mansion and rescued Isabella that night. I have used every possible source, every network, every power to find out who she is, but she is completely untraceable. I want to know—is she a friend or a foe?"
He paused only for a breath before moving to the next.
"Second—when Lawrence Grace was admitted to the hospital, someone entered his ward. My security was tight, the guards were alert, and every corner was covered by CCTV surveillance—but still, someone walked in without being seen. There is no footage, no evidence—but I know someone was there. I want to know who entered that ward and how."
His expression darkened as he reached the last question.
"And third—today someone broke into my private penthouse. Isabella's belongings—items that she left at Grace Mansion after the scandal—were placed inside her wardrobe. But no one entered or exited the building. My security system detected no breach. Yet somehow the things appeared inside our home. How was that done? And are all three incidents connected? Are these people working together—or are they separate threats?"
Diana listened silently, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she finally spoke.
"The answer to your first question," she said slowly, "is that the woman in the silver veil is not your enemy. She is a friend—to your wife." Her gaze sharpened. "As for her identity—I will not reveal it. It is not my secret to share. If you want to know who she is, seek her yourself. Request a meeting—and if she wishes, she will reveal her face to you."
Adrian's jaw twitched, but he gave a short nod.
Diana continued."The answer to your second question—I was the one who entered Lawrence Grace's hospital ward."
A flicker of surprise shot through Adrian's eyes.
"I used magic," she added casually. "That is why your guards didn't see me. That is why your CCTV showed nothing."
"And the third answer," she said, a faint smirk forming at the corner of her lips, "is that no one entered your penthouse. The items were shifted using magic. But before you assume it was me—let me be clear." Her eyes flashed with warning. "Neither I nor anyone from my pack did that."
Adrian stared at her, searching her eyes for lies. There were none.
"Then why did you enter Lawrence's ward?" he demanded.
Diana leaned back and answered lazily, "I have already answered your three questions with complete honesty. I am not obliged to give you more."
Before Adrian could speak again, she stood from her chair.
"Our deal is complete," she said flatly. "Your father's debt is paid. We owe each other nothing now."
She lifted her hand—and in a sudden shimmer of silver light, she vanished from the chamber, leaving only a faint trace of magic in the air.
Adrian was left standing alone.