Chapter 60: Hard Truths

We sat in Cole's truck. Me, Cole, and the lawyer. Parked far from the station.

The lawyer's name was David Park. Sharp eyes behind glasses. He'd worked with Cole's pack for three years and knew about wolves.

That made things easier.

"Tell me everything," David said. "Start with James."

So I did. All of it.

Brian threatening James. The night they met. James dying. Claire admitting she set it up. Brian paying someone to make it look like an accident.

David wrote fast. Didn't react. Just took notes.

"And your mother's death?"

"She volunteered for a ritual. To save my life. She died willingly." I looked at my hands. "It was supernatural. No human explanation fits."

"What would forensics find?"

"She stabbed herself. In the chest. Her choice. Completely."

"So technically self inflicted."

"Yes. But I was there. Which connects me."

"And the ritual site? Evidence removed?"

"The Elder cleaned it after."

David wrote more. "Okay. Here's our problem. Collins has phone records, timestamps, and you at the scene. That's not proof. But it paints a picture."

"A picture that looks like murder," Cole said.

"Yes. So we need a different picture." David looked at me. "Your mother. Was she okay mentally in her last days?"

"She'd been through a lot. Family breakdown. Really bad stuff."

"So we argue she was unstable. Took her own life. You were there trying to help. Couldn't stop her."

"That's close to the truth actually."

"Good. Truth is always easier to sell." He tapped his pen. "James is harder. The original ruling was accidental. Collins reopened it. Which means new evidence. What new evidence could he have?"

"I don't know. Unless someone talked."

"Who knew the full story?"

"The pack. Claire. The Elder." I thought. "And Erica. She knows everything."

Cole's eyes got sharp. "Erica is in our cell right now."

"But she was free for weeks before we caught her. She could have talked to police. Told them just enough to reopen the case. Without exposing wolves."

"That's exactly what she would do," Cole said. "Hurt you using humans."

"So Collins probably got something from Erica or someone she contacted." David nodded. "Which means they know something. But not everything. If they knew everything, you'd already be charged."

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"We give Collins a story that satisfies him. One that explains both deaths without the supernatural stuff." David looked at me. "Your mother. Unstable woman. History of mental problems. Took her own life. You witnessed it. Couldn't save her."

"And James?"

"Brian killed him. We know this. Collins needs proof." David pulled out his phone. "Does anything exist? Physical evidence? Witnesses?"

"James's journal. He wrote that Brian threatened him. Wrote about their meeting that night."

"Where is the journal?"

"The Elder has it."

"I need it. Today." David typed a note. "Brian is dead. No trial. No confession. But we can still prove he did it. Takes the heat off you."

"Will that work?"

"If the evidence is strong enough." David looked at both of us. "This is manageable. But you need to be clean from now on. No more exploding motels. No more viral videos of things that can't be explained."

"We're working on that," Cole said.

"Work faster." David opened the door. "And Lita? Don't talk to Collins alone. Ever. Call me first."

"I will. Thank you."

He left. Got in his car. Drove off.

Cole and I sat quiet for a moment.

"James's journal," Cole said. "We need it today."

"I know. Call The Elder." I leaned back. "Cole?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm tired. I just want one day where nothing goes wrong. Is that too much?"

"No. But probably too much to expect right now." He smiled small. "When this is over, I promise you one normal day. No wolves. No police. Just us."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

My phone buzzed. Andres.

"Victoria is outside the gym. She brought lawyers and a camera crew. Doing an interview right now. Claiming you killed your mother for the money."

I showed Cole.

His voice went cold. "She's doing what?"

"Using the investigation against me. Smart actually." I rubbed my face. "If the press believes I killed my mother, Victoria controls the story. Gets the money. Gets sympathy."

"We need to stop this."

"Carefully. If we attack her publicly, we look guilty."

"So what do we do?"

"We let her talk. Let her make her claims. Then David hits her with the truth. About what she tried to do to me. About the money grab." I sat up. "She thinks she has power over me. But I have lawyers. Evidence. And a better story."

"The girl who survived everything."

"Exactly. Victoria is a rich woman grabbing her dead cousin's money. I'm the girl who escaped abuse. Lost her brother. Lost her mother. And is still standing."

Cole looked at me. "You've changed."

"Have I?"

"Three months ago you came in here scared and thin and hiding bruises. Now you're thinking three steps ahead in a media war." He smiled. "Real Luna."

"Don't get soft. We still have Victoria outside and a detective who thinks I'm a killer."

"Right." He started the truck. "Let's go."

We drove back. Victoria stood outside with lawyers and a camera crew.

She saw us pull up. Eyes on me. Ready.

"Here we go," I said.

"Together," Cole said.

We got out. Walked toward her. Side by side.

Victoria smiled. Cold. "Lita. Perfect timing. We were discussing your mother's death."

"Victoria." I kept my voice calm. "Be very careful about what you say next."

"Why? Are you threatening me? On camera?" She pointed at the crew. "Good. Let them see who you really are."

I smiled. Steady. Luna face.

"I'm not threatening you. I'm warning you. There's a difference." I stepped closer. "You don't know what I know. What I can prove. About you. About the will. About everything."

Victoria's smile flickered. Just for a second.

But I saw it.

She was scared.

Good.