Chapter 235 235

Chapter 235 235
Nova's POV

The color drained from Zayn's face. "But Eli said—"
"Eli is repeating the lies Lucas tells to save his own skin." Caden's voice was flat. "And you were stupid enough to believe them without question.”
I watched Zayn's expression shift, doubt creeping in where certainty had been. He glanced at me briefly, then away, like he couldn't quite meet my eyes anymore.
"How many others believe this version?" Caden asked.
"We all did, all fifteen of us." Zayn's voice had gotten smaller. "Eli was very convincing."
"I'm sure he was. That's how manipulation works." Caden pushed off the desk. "This friend of yours. Eli Webb. When did he first approach you?"
"Shortly after the Strongvale’s attack," Zayn shifted in his chair. "A bunch of us guys from Shadowcrest and Blue ridge had gone out to town and…we got into a fight with some dudes from another pack who were making fun of us for what happened. Afterwards, I guess I just vented to Eli."
"And you told him plenty, I'm guessing."
"I told him a lot of us weren't happy about it. That we thought she was bad for you, bad for the pack." Zayn's voice was barely above a whisper now. "He said Alpha Lucas felt the same way. That he wanted to help you even though you'd cut him off."
"Help me." Caden's laugh was bitter. "Is that what he called it?"
"He said Alpha Lucas still cared about you. That he wanted you to be strong again, not weakened by someone who'd already hurt you once."
I felt my stomach turn over. This was the story being told about me. Not just that I didn't belong, but that I was actively harmful. A weakness that needed to be removed.
"So you agreed to help," Caden said.
Zayn lowered his head in regret. " I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Caden’s expression didn't brook sympathy and I knew he was still pissed from earlier.
“By hurting a woman whose only crime was to walk away from a situation that caused her pain?” That's what you call the right thing?"
"I swear I thought we were just gonna rattle her a bit," Zayn's shoulders sagged. "Eli made it sound simple. Like we were just removing an obstacle."
"An obstacle," I repeated quietly, unable to keep the words in.
Zayn flinched but didn't look at me.
"Did you meet Lucas directly?" Caden asked.
"No. Only Eli . He said Alpha Lucas was out of the country, laying low. But that the money and resources were coming from him."
"And the other wolves in your little group. How many of them knew about Eli?"
"They didn't." Zayn's voice was barely audible. "Most of them just knew I was looking into options. That we might find a way to convince you she didn't belong here. I kept the Eli part to myself."
"How considerate." Caden's voice was ice. "So these other wolves. They share your views about Nova, but they didn't know you were actively working with Blueridge pack to have her killed."
"It wasn't supposed to be killing." Zayn looked up, desperation creeping into his voice. "Eli said they just wanted to scare her off. Make her leave on her own."
"And you believed that too." Caden shook his head. "You really are that naive."
Zayn said nothing.
"The names of these friends of yours," Caden said. "All of them. I want every single name."
"Alpha, please. They were just talking. They didn't do anything."
"The names, Zayn. Don't make me ask again."
Zayn's jaw worked for a long moment. Then, slowly, he started talking.
I listened as he rattled off names. Some I recognized from seeing them around the estate. Others were completely unfamiliar. Young wolves, most of them. Warriors or in training. None of them high-ranking pack members. Just young men who'd decided I was the problem.
When Zayn finished, the silence in the room felt heavy.
"Do you have anything you want to ask him?" Caden's question pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked at Zayn, at this young wolf who'd hated me enough to work with my enemy, and tried to find words.
"Did you ever think about your mother?" I asked finally. "About what this would do to her?"
Zayn's face crumpled and he looked anguished.
I nodded slowly. There wasn't anything else to say.
Caden pressed a button on his desk. "Jake."
The door opened immediately.
"Take him to the holding cells. Post a guard and instruct them no visitors unless I allow it."
"Yes, Alpha." Jake stepped forward and hauled Zayn to his feet.
Zayn didn't resist. As Jake led him toward the door, he stopped and looked back at Caden. "Alpha, please. My mother. She knew nothing about any of this. She's completely loyal to you and to Nova. Don't punish her for what I did."
Caden's expression didn't soften. "You should have thought about protecting your mother before now. That was your one responsibility to her and you failed."
Zayn's face went pale. "Alpha—"
"Take him out," Caden said to Jake.
The door closed behind them.
The silence that followed was heavy. I stared at the closed door for a moment before turning to Caden.
"What are you going to do about Lydia?"
He looked at me, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "Give her time off. She's already heartbroken over what her son did. Punishing her further would be cruel." He paused. "But I'll warn her about being more careful with sensitive information in the future."
I nodded, relief washing through me. "Good. She doesn't deserve to lose her job over this."
"No, she doesn't."
The silence settled again, but this time it felt different. Heavier somehow, weighted with everything we'd just learned. I wrapped my arms around myself, the full impact of Zayn's words finally hitting me.
My throat tightened. "All those lies about me. About Lucas. About how I supposedly acted stuck-up and distant when they were the ones who shut me out." I looked down at my hands. "How many others believe the same things? How many more are out there who think I destroyed your friendship over false accusations? That I don't belong here?"
"Nova—"
"Maybe they're right." The words came out before I could stop them. "Maybe my being here causes more trouble than it's worth. Maybe—"
"Stop." Caden crossed the space between us, his hands coming up to frame my face. His eyes were intense, stormy gray boring into mine. "You belong here. With me."
My breath caught.
"And if you choose it," he continued, his voice rough but certain, "as my Luna and partner again.”