MATILDA'S POV
My heart pounds as I slip out of Emal's room, a sense of urgency propelling my hasty exit. I had managed to get the vellum and I needed to process it in private. Stepping into the hallway, I try to compose myself, my thoughts racing. I have to figure out what Emal's connection to mother's room is and what he's keeping from me.
But as I round the corner, I'm met with an unexpected sight that stops me in my tracks. There, just outside the door, stands the Alpha, my father, a stern expression etched on his face. It's a coincidence that leaves me frozen in place.
For a moment, time seems to stand still. I meet my father's gaze, his eyes narrowing as he takes in my dishevelled appearance. I know he can sense something is amiss, that I've been up to something that I shouldn't have.