Chapter 342


    Drafting


    ~Josephine~


    I wasn’t particrly enthusiastic about going to Mountain at first, until my father informed us that one of


    us would be assisting Justin in investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding Mike Maguire. I


    had briefly met the man during a visit to Lady Stephanie and her husband in Grizlo, but I hadn’t paid


    much attention to him. Apart from his daughter’s close rtionship with Liam, he was just an ordinary


    person to me. However, upon discovering that he hadmitted Familicide and disappeared, I


    wouldn’t be honest if I said I wasn’t intrigued.


    A few months had passed since our graduation, and we hadn’t encountered any significant challenges.


    I was certain that this opportunity would be enjoyable. Moreover, I eagerly anticipated working


    alongside Justin on this case. He was a fun and cool person to be around. Unlike others, he didn’t


    be ufortable in my presence, which made our interactions much smoother. He disyed a


    protective nature, akin to that of a brother, despite us not being rted. I hoped they would choose me


    to assist Justin in the investigation in Grizlo, as working with him promised to be an enjoyable


    experience.


    During the dinner held at Albert’s mansion, I couldn’t help but notice Liam’s difort as he


    continuously nced in my direction. I was aware that the situation involving Sophia had affected him,


    but I never anticipated it would make him lose control the way he did. Throughout the meal, he seemed


    almost entranced, drifting off during conversations with Luis and stealing asional nces at me. It


    was as if he didn’t want me to interact with his cousin. Regardless of Justin’s rtion to him, I believed


    I had the right to engage with anyone. I hadn’t done anything to warrant his behaviour, making it


    completely unwarranted.


    Interestingly enough, Liam even forgot that we had graduated until Luis reminded him, despite being


    supposedly close family friends. It made me question whether the Volkovs truly believed the world


    revolved around them. I couldn’t help but wonder what challengesy ahead when Liam ascended to


    the throne. While Sebastien, Noah, and Ethan might not face any issues since their father is Liam’s


    uncle, and they are technically his cousins, I doubted that I would be warmly embraced within that


    circle, particrly as the one he hadbelled as the “weirdo.”


    After dinner, I made an attempt to talk to Liam about the mission. I knew he was the one who had


    caught the King’s interest in the matter. It was evident that Sophia yed a significant role, and


    although I found it biased, I understood her importance as the crown prince’s friend.


    To my surprise, I discovered that Liam and Sophia weren’t dating yet. I had nothing against Sophia


    personally, but their potential romantic pairing didn’t quite feel right to me. In my opinion, Liam and


    Sophia were better off as friends, but who was I to judge?


    “It still isn’t,” Onyx, my wolf, remarked within my thoughts. She had been acting strangely since we


    entered the dining room, and even she couldn’t exin why.


    I settled onto the couch, observing everyone’sughter and enjoyment. Marvin and Miles were


    engaged in conversation with the Corrigan sisters, while ine seemed engrossed in her discussion


    with Oliver. Luis, on the other hand, was talking to Harper and Lilly, and I suspected Eleanor Sidorov


    was the topic of conversation. My brother had an infatuation with her. Just because our parents were


    close didn’t mean we had to be together, but it seemed like fate might have different ns in store.


    Charlotte, as usual, was chatting with her sisters, while Justin kept thempany. I should have been


    part of that circle, but I couldn’t shake off the tingling sensation that lingered after Liam’s hand briefly


    touched mine as we made our way to the living room. Moreover, he had asked me a peculiar question


    about dill, which struck me as odd.


    Despite Liam being eighteen, I was not yet of the same age, which meant there couldn’t be any mate


    pull between us. In fact, I highly doubted that the moon would ever connect us. We had absolutely


    nothing inmon, and Liam’s intense focus on Sophia made it clear that they were destined to be


    mates in the future. Furthermore, I knew deep down that I wasn’t his type. I learned that in a rather


    harsh way, and it stung a bit because I used to have a crush on him.


    To be honest, that crush hadn’tpletely faded away. Liam was undeniably handsome, gentle,


    driven, and physically strong. However, he had never spared me a second nce. ine used to


    believe that sparks would fly between us, but it never materialised. As things grew more serious


    between Liam and Sophia, I chose to step back and let their rtionship take its course.


    Sitting on the couch, observing the lively atmosphere around me, I couldn’t help but chuckle at my past


    self and the near-miss from two years ago. It was a memory that brought a mixture of pain and relief.


    I had been just fifteen years old at the time, foolishly contemting asking Liam out. Looking back, it


    was an embarrassing and naive notion. It had only been two years, but it felt like a lifetime ago.


    We were all gathered at the Volkov estate, and it was ine who had encouraged me to approach


    Liam and confess my feelings. Reflecting on it now, I realised how foolish I had been. Liam was in the


    company of Marvin, Oliver, and Miles that day, and I wanted to seize the opportunity to approach him


    and request a private conversation. Even though Sophia was present as well, I stubbornly believed that


    I could somehowpete for his attention.


    I pondered on the source of my courage back then, and I attributed it to Onyx, my newfound


    companion, as it was around that time that I had just acquired my wolf.


    As I neared their conversation, I overheard Liam voicing his grievances about me. He had taken issue


    with my attitude, my choice of clothing, and evenbeled me as arrogant. The sound of theirughter


    only intensified the negative emotions welling up inside me.


    Miles even made a joke about my hair and eyeliner, and it stung deeply. I couldn’t help but feel self-


    conscious about my eyes, which often appeared almost blind. Though they didn’t explicitly mention it, I


    had a sinking feeling that I had missed a significant portion of their conversation. I had never realised


    they saw me in such a light until that moment.


    In that instant, I made a swift decision to forget about the crush. Upon returning to Gad, I made it a


    point to trouble my mother about getting me contacts, feigning the excuse of poor eyesight. The


    optometrist saw through my ruse but kindly obliged, prescribing me contact lenses. Everyone assumed


    they were for medical purposes, but in reality, they were purely a fashion choice—a way to give people


    one less thing to gossip about.


    I loved the boldness of my heavy eyeliner; it made my eyes stand out, and I could never bring myself to


    regret it. I refused to apologise for being intelligent or foring across as unfriendly. Whether or not


    they wereughing about me, I didn’t bother to find out. I retreated into myself, focusing on my own


    journey, and let go of that foolish crush.


    “Hey, I noticed you were talking to Liam earlier. Why did he refuse to join us?” Jewels asked as she sat


    beside me.


    I reminded her of the situation with Sophia and how Liam was struggling to cope. She nodded in


    understanding.


    “Yeah, he’s really going through a tough time. He hasn’t taken it well at all. You should have seen him


    that day; he was absolutely devastated. He’s convinced that she’s being held captive on some remote


    ind. Hopefully, our investigation in Grizlo will shed some light on the situation,” she said with a


    hopeful smile, and I couldn’t help but reciprocate.


    “I thought maybe he got upset and left because he seemed so fixated on you during dinner,” she said,


    her curiosity evident in her gaze. I hoped she wasn’t trying to insinuate something because I was sure I


    wasn’t Liam’s type.


    “I guess my eyeliner captured his attention,” I teased, and we shared augh.


    “Everyone finds it fascinating, and you really know how to rock it,” sheplimented my artistic skills.


    “It does look even better with your natural eye colour, though. I wish you didn’t have to wear those


    lenses. You look just as beautiful as Aunty Amelia,” she added, causing a slight blush to tint my


    cheeks. I never saw myself in that light, so herpliment was truly heartwarming.


    “By the way, congrattions,” she said to me, and I nodded. Our graduation had been rtively low-


    key due to the specialised sses we attended.


    “Thank you, Jewels. So, what are your ns now?” I asked her, genuinely curious. She shrugged in


    response.


    “I’m thinking of starting a business and maybe finding Mr Right to settle down with,” she replied with a


    hint of yfulness, causing me tough.


    “And what about you?” she inquired, turning the question back to me.


    “I’ll likely join my father’s ranks,” I responded, and she gasped in surprise.


    “But you’re royalty!” she eximed, and I chuckled.


    “So are you,” I replied, reminding her of her own noble lineage. She nodded in acknowledgement.


    “Well, let’s see how our work in Grizlo unfolds. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your fated mate or meet


    someone along the way, settle down, and explore other possibilities,” she teased, and I nodded,


    considering the possibilities.


    Suddenly, I remembered the questions I had about Mike. Since Liam wasn’t present, I figured I could


    approach Marvin, who was engrossed in a conversation with La. However, seeing their deep


    engagement, I realised it would be impolite to interrupt. I looked around, hoping to find someone else to


    talk to, but aside from Jewels, who seemed uninformed, there wasn’t anyone readily avable. I would


    likely have to wait until tomorrow to speak with Liam about Sophia and Mike.


    Sebastien’s announcement caught my attention, drawing me back to the present. It seemed we had


    been summoned to the lounge, likely concerning the Grizlo assignment since it appeared that most of


    us would be involved in it.


    We all paused our activities and made our way to the lounge as a group. I followed behind, taking my


    ce as thest person to arrive. Liam was already present, and there was an air of tension in the


    room that I couldn’t quiteprehend. Uncle Leo appeared displeased, which only added to my


    confusion.


    “I’m sure you’re all aware of the Maguire case,” Uncle Leo began, his voice carrying authority. “The


    incident involving the man whomitted Familicide,” he rified, and several of us nodded in


    recognition.


    “Well, Prince Liam is determined to save his girlfriend, Sophia. He believes that she and her mother are


    being held captive by dangerous individuals who are using them as leverage to manipte Mike. It


    may sound farfetched, but it’s a usible theory. While this isn’t directly our business, Liam has made it


    our concern. In times of need, we stand united. And as your parents, we hope that you will do the


    same.”


    Uncle Leo’s words resonated, and I realised that there was a select group being chosen to work on this


    case. While all of us might end up going to Grizlo, as it was likely the destination, only those directly


    involved in the investigation would have an active role.


    The prospect of being excluded weighed on me, knowing that Liam would likely prefer to have Luis or


    ine join him rather than me. I had been eagerly looking forward to going to Grizlo and being part of


    the investigation, but if the decisiony with Liam, I knew he wouldn’t choose me.


    Lord Vino interrupted the silence by clearing his throat andmanding our attention. He spoke with a


    measured tone.


    “When you go to Grizlo, your primary task is to investigate and observe. If the situation esctes to


    confrontation, you are not to engage. Instead, report back to us, and we will take it from there. While


    we would like to assist Liam in rescuing his friend and her mother, we are not willing to put our children


    in harm’s way.”


    His words hung in the air, and my gaze instinctively turned to Liam, searching for any sign or reaction.


    Liam appeared visibly uneasy, and I empathised with his position. If anything were to go wrong, he


    would likely shoulder the me. However, our families were tightly connected, and it was inconceivable


    to leave the Volkovs to tackle this alone. Our bond required us to stand together, regardless of the risks


    involved.


    My attention shifted to Queen Tamia, and her distress was evident. The weight of the situation,


    combined with the uncertainty surrounding it, made it even more challenging. If there was a way for our


    parents to handle it themselves, they would have done so. Unfortunately, their roles and positions didn’t


    allow for such direct intervention.


    “My beta will dispatch his team tomorrow to check the ports of Kaizen and Braile, conducting inquiries


    discreetly. We cannot simply storm into people’s homes and conduct searches unless there is a clear


    and urgent need or a state of emergency is dered on those inds. At present, the best approach


    will be to circte their pictures and offer rewards for any valuable information,” Uncle Leo exined.


    His pragmatic approach acknowledged the limitations they faced, and it seemed like the most suitable


    course of action for the time being.


    “The active team in Grizlo will consist of,” Lord David began, capturing our full attention.


    “Justin, as the temporary Alpha, Liam as the temporary Beta, Marvin as the temporary Gamma, Oliver


    as the temporary Delta, and Noah as the Epsilon. Josephine, Sebastien, and Charlotte, the three of


    you will work closely with them and assist in the investigation. The rest of you will join them in Grizlo


    after four months once they have settled into their respective roles. It’s essential that all of you


    coborate closely and uncover the truth behind what went wrong. Head Alpha Christian Zakharov has


    provided some documents for you to review.”


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    As Lord David spoke, his gaze settled on me, and I felt a surge of both pride and pressure.


    “Josephine, you possess exceptional intellect, and thus, you will lead the investigation. I would like you,


    Noah, and Sebastien to employ your brilliant minds to analyse the documents provided by the Alpha


    and develop theories. Report your findings to your respective Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon.


    In more serious cases, report directly to me,” he instructed, and I nodded in acknowledgement.


    ncing towards my parents, I could sense their approval of the assigned roles. I couldn’t help but feel


    a mix of excitement and anticipation, particrly knowing that Uncle Max and his family would be


    visiting soon. I hoped we wouldn’t be required to depart before their arrival.


    As I shifted my gaze towards Liam, it became clear that he was visibly ufortable with the fact that I


    was assigned to his team. I could sense his disapproval, but something within me urged me not to let it


    affect me. Regardless of his feelings, I knew that I had a role to fulfill and that I was capable of


    contributing to the investigation. It was unfortunate for him if he didn’t like the arrangement, but he


    would simply have toe to terms with it.