Chapter 142 SHATTERED LOYALTIES
Edeline
It was a sight that was hard to look away from. Here was an Alpha, reclining in front of a wall, the fresh blood dripping down from him. Behind him lay the body of Ben. Tatiana was in a state of panic, kneeling beside her father’s body, while Anita’s cries filled the air. Her arms flailed in the silver cuffs, tears streaming down her face and falling onto the wooden table.
Anita and Ben had found solace in one another. Their main concern for Tatiana’s future had contributed to their complicated family dynamic.
The room was still. I was completely absorbed by the unfolding scene. Mom sought refuge behind Dad, who shielded her with care. Annabel was in the same position as William. Nixx and Percival stood in shock, their mouths open in disbelief. I leaned casually against the wall, observing quietly. I could not ignore Conor’s gaze, his mischievous smile revealing his satisfaction.
“Well.” He sighed, placing his hands on the table and giving me a measured look. “You were correct, my dear wolf. I am grateful to you for helping me see the reality.”
My heart began to race. This was the moment I had been anticipating—the moment when everyone would learn about Tatiana. Surprisingly, I found myself feeling a pang of sympathy for her. I could only imagine the pain she must have felt upon reading the letter and discovering the truth about her origins, a story of a mate bond and betrayal, much like Nixx’s. Yet, we still did not have the full picture of Anita’s role in trapping my mate.
I was not accustomed to witnessing such a tragic scene. It was a horrifying massacre. Our pack had always been known for our peaceful nature, and this was anything but peaceful.
I glanced at William. He gave me a quick nod, signaling his understanding of the next steps. It was the plan we had all agreed upon.
Alpha William cleared his throat with a casual air, wiping blood from his cheek with a careless swipe. “No matter how she is not yours… or whoever she may be… We still need to address the fact that she is carrying my son’s child. It seems that Tatiana is the one responsible for trapping my son into this pregnancy, now that we know she is not of Alpha blood. She has a close working relationship with Anita. She would have knowledge of herbal treatments and poisons…”
“Catching him?” Tatiana's voice was sharp and high-pitched, as she spoke up with frustration, her words clearly pointing to Anita’s involvement.
She shot a defiant glance at Anita, who sat with her mouth still taped, her eyes flickering with a mix of fear and defiance. William gently removed the tape from her mouth, allowing her the freedom to speak.
Conor approached Anita, leaning over her from behind her chair. Her tears had stopped, leaving streaks on her cheeks. Her expression was flat, lifeless, stripped of emotion.
“Hey, Anita?” Conor’s voice was soft and almost mocking, a quiet murmur that contrasted sharply with the blood-stained chaos around him. “Got something on your mind?”
Anita looked up at Tatiana, her gaze defiant. “No. I am not sure what you are referring to.” Her voice was cold, as though she were preparing for a punishment she had resigned herself to.
Conor’s expression turned to one of contempt. “Alright then…” His voice dripped with disdain. “You will both suffer.” He forcefully pushed the back of her head, then returned to his seat in front of the blood-stained walls and the lifeless body of Ben.
Everyone seemed unfazed by the violent scene, except for the women. Their distress was palpable against the backdrop of the otherwise composed wolves.
William sighed deeply. “We still need to discuss the consequences for Tatiana’s actions in trapping my son and poisoning the Oracle.” He met Conor’s gaze while occasionally glancing at Anita.
“Punishment?” Tatiana’s voice was laced with disbelief. “What are the charges?” She looked over at Anita, whose usual indifference had returned, her eyes blank and unreadable.
Conor leaned back in his seat, lost in thought. The lifeless body behind him seemed to slip from his mind as he pondered. He pressed his lips together, then spoke. “Do as you please with her.” His voice was dismissive. “She is no longer my problem.” He let out a mocking laugh, his gaze turning to Tatiana with a sneer.
I could not help but wonder why William did not mention the poisoning of Darius. It was clear that Darius could not have done all of that alone. My father was supposed to inform him, but he had avoided me, fully aware of the questions in my eyes.
“Alright then,” William said with a relaxed tone as he pulled a paper bag from under the table and placed it casually on the surface between us. “Here is the evidence we gathered during the investigation.” He glanced over at Anita before reaching into the bag and pulling out a plastic container. Inside was Red Lockheed, dried and hanging. “This is the poison found in the tea that Mirabelle drank. She’s the one we believe was targeted.” William’s voice was steady, but his eyes revealed a hint of something darker as he continued, “I gave it to my youngest son to deliver.” The implication was clear: he was shifting all the blame onto Tatiana, hoping to elicit a confession or some answers from Anita.
Tatiana’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at William. “No!” she said, her voice trembling. “I did not do that!” The denial was desperate, almost pleading.
William then pulled out a leather-bound journal. “And here,” he said nonchalantly, “is my son Darius’s journal. It details how Tatiana supposedly coerced him into assisting her. We have additional evidence suggesting that Tatiana may have poisoned some of the pack members, with one dose meant to be fatal. Mirabelle ended up drinking the poisoned tea by mistake.” He placed the items in front of Conor, who looked down at them with an indifferent shrug.
I was about to get up from my chair to place the teabags I had found in Darius’s room on the table when Conor abruptly cut me off.