113

113
Isla’s POV

“We will leave you to talk. I will find Jameson and be back shortly.” Celeste's words resonated in my ears as she left the room, leaving us to grapple with the weight of the situation. My heart pounded with relief that Sasha had returned and trepidation over what her absence might signify.

I turned my gaze back towards Sasha, concern etched across my face. "Sasha, where have you been? We were worried about you. What's going on?" I asked, my voice reflecting relief at her return and a sense of urgency to understand her absence.

Sasha's gaze met mine, and her expression mirrored the weight of her words. "I apologise for my disappearance, Luna Isla," she began, her voice filled with seriousness. "I had to investigate some crucial information regarding the warlock."

My brows furrowed with curiosity and concern. "What did you find out?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sasha took a deep breath, her eyes briefly glancing at my mother before focusing on me again. "It seems there is more to this warlock than we initially thought," she revealed. "He has ties within our pack, including someone who may be supporting him from within."

Shock rippled through the room, and I instinctively looked towards my mother, realising the intensity of her gaze towards Sasha. "What do you mean, someone from within?" I questioned, my voice tinged with apprehension. Sasha hesitated, clearly choosing her words carefully. "It's someone who knows our pack, someone who understands our strengths and weaknesses," she explained. "I don't have all the details yet, but I wanted to bring this information to you as soon as possible."

Alpha Leon, who had been silently observing the scene, spoke up. "We will need to conduct a thorough investigation within our pack, Luna Isla," he said, his voice firm. "The safety of our pack and the future alpha depends on it."

My mother's gaze still held a mixture of suspicion and concern as she directed her attention towards Sasha. "Do you have any leads on who it might be?" she asked, her voice sharp.

Sasha nodded, her expression sombre. "I have some leads that I want to follow, but I will need the pack's support and assistance. We must handle this with caution for the sake of our future."

My mother scoffed. “I think that is you, Sasha. You have some explaining to do. Perhaps you are the one tied to this warlock.”

A hushed gasp filled the room as my mother's accusation hung like poison. The atmosphere grew tense, and all eyes turned towards Sasha, who stood with a mixture of shock and hurt etched on her face.

“Sasha?" I whispered, my voice a mix of disbelief and uncertainty.

“Is it true? Are you involved with the warlock?"Aaron roared as he handed our baby back to me. He looked furious as he stood before Sasha.

Beta Nigel stood helpless to the accusations against his mate. Sasha's eyes welled up with tears, her voice quivering with disbelief and betrayal.

“Alpha Aaron and Luna Isla, you have to believe me. I would never betray our pack or our future alpha," she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation. "I've been investigating the warlock to protect all of you, not to align myself with him."

Alpha Leon stepped forward, his voice laced with authority and concern. "Calm down, everyone. Accusations won't get us anywhere," he stated firmly. "Let's allow Sasha to explain herself fully before we jump to conclusions."

Sasha took a deep breath, attempting to steady herself amidst the heavy tension in the room.

She glanced at my mother, her gaze filled with hurt. "I understand your suspicions, Esmeralda.” she began, her voice shaky. “But I swear on my loyalty to this pack, I am innocent."

My mother crossed her arms, skepticism etched across her face. "Then explain yourself, Sasha. Why were you investigating the warlock without informing anyone? Why did you keep this from us?"

Sasha's voice cracked as she spoke, her words laden with vulnerability. "I didn't inform anyone because I needed to gather evidence to ensure my suspicions were founded. I didn't want to accuse anyone, especially within our pack, falsely. I knew that if I was wrong, it could cause chaos and mistrust."She paused, taking a moment to compose herself before continuing. "But I understand now that the silence only bred more suspicion. I apologise for not sharing what I knew sooner, but please believe me when I say that I intended to protect all of you, not to deceive."

“I don't think right now is the time for all this.” Alpha Leon interrupted, placing a hand up to show he wanted silence. “Our Luna has just given birth, and I do not wish for my grandson's first day of life to be portrayed by this.” Alpha Leon raised his eyebrows, clearly not impressed by all this.

“My father is correct. Nigel, please escort your mate from this room. We can talk this over later.” Aaron's voice cut through the room, his tone demanding. All eyes turned towards him, their curiosity piqued by his sudden instruction. Nigel, the beta of the pack, glanced at Aaron, a flicker of concern crossing his face before he nodded in acknowledgement.

"Understood, Alpha Aaron," Nigel responded, his voice steady and loyal. "Sasha, please come with me."

As Sasha reluctantly followed Nigel out of the room, a heavy silence settled among us. Questions remained unanswered, doubts lingered in the air, and the shadow of suspicion still loomed over our pack.

“Let us not allow this incident to taint the joy of this day," Aaron commanded. "We must focus on cherishing the arrival of our newest pack member and honouring Luna Isla's strength in bringing new life into our world. Our Luna deserves some respect and some time to rest. Father, let's discuss matters in the office while Isla and the baby get some rest.”

“Yes, we shall do so.” Alpha Leon agreed as my mother also said goodbye to me.

“I will check on you later, my dear daughter.” my mother leaned over to kiss me, and I smiled warmly as she left the room with Alpha Leon.

“Isla, I love you very much, but you must let me deal with things right now. Please rest up.” Aaron sighed as he tucked the covers over me.

As I watched baby Luke sleeping peacefully in the crib, a surge of love and protectiveness filled my heart. His tiny chest rose and fell with each gentle breath, a reminder of the precious life we had brought into this world. It was at this moment that I realised the significance of Aaron's words.

I needed to prioritise rest and recovery, not just for my well-being but for the sake of my son as well. Taking a deep breath, I nodded in agreement with Aaron's suggestion. "Yes, I think that would be best," I replied, my voice filled with exhaustion. "I trust that you will handle matters with care, Aaron."

Aaron approached the crib, placing a soft kiss on baby Luke's forehead. "Rest well, Isla," he whispered, his voice filled with tenderness. "I will ensure that everything is taken care of."

With a final glance at our newborn son, I reluctantly sank back into the bed, surrendering to the fatigue that threatened to overtake me. The day's events had taken a toll on my body, but the love and support surrounding me provided a comforting blanket of strength.

As I closed my eyes, I allowed myself to be consumed by a state of restful oblivion, knowing that in Aaron's capable hands, our pack would navigate the challenges ahead. For now, it was time to surrender to the healing embrace of sleep and trust that when I awoke, the shadows would be closer to being unmasked.