Chapter 66 Viral Scandal
NATHAN'S POV
Lisa stood frozen in Adrian's jacket and I watched the memory play across her face. The way her eyes unfocused, the way her breathing changed. Then she remembered, I could see it in the way her hands started shaking.
"I remember," Lisa whispered. "Flashes. Ryan's hands. His mouth. The mate bond singing between us like it was alive again." She looked at Ryan with something desperate in her eyes. "Then I woke up alone. I thought it was a dream or the pain medication was making me hallucinate."
Adrian's voice was controlled but I heard the edge underneath. "You slept with him?"
"I don't know," Lisa said and her voice broke. "I was drugged and injured. I barely remember my own name from that night."
Oh, Lisa.
Ryan stepped forward and his face was pale. "There is one way to find out. Take a real test not whatever Sophia sent. A legitimate medical test that we can trust."
Before Lisa could respond I crashed through the trees with my phone in my hand. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. "Lisa, you need to see this. It is everywhere, on Pack social media,
the news networks. Everywhere."
I showed her the screen and watched her face drain of color. The video was grainy but clear enough. Shot through a bedroom window three weeks ago. Lisa and Ryan tangled together in sheets. Her face turned toward the camera for just a moment. His hand in her hair. The intimacy was undeniable. The caption made me sick.
"Moonstone Alpha's secret relationship with her Beta while courting Alpha Adrian? And now pregnant with unknown paternity? What happened to silver wolf honor? #PackScandal #SilverWolfFalls"
The video had fifty thousand views in an hour. The comments were vicious. They were calling Lisa corrupt, unfit to lead and disgraceful. A whore. A liar. Every cruel word people could think of was there in black and white for the world to see.
"Sophia filmed us," Ryan said and his voice was weak. "She had cameras or someone watching. For weeks."
Adrian's legal mind kicked in immediately. "You can sue for privacy violation. This is illegal recording of intimate acts without consent. We can bury her in court."
Lisa laughed but there was no humor in it. "It does not matter. The damage has been done. Every pack in the region has seen this. The Council will use it as more evidence that I am unfit to lead. That silver wolves are unstable and dangerous."
"Then we do damage control," I said quickly. "Issue a statement. Hold a press conference. Explain the circumstances."
"No." Lisa's voice was firm. "I am done performing for people who want me to fail. I'm done apologizing for being me. For having feelings and making mistakes and being something other than perfect."
She looked at Adrian and something cracked in her face. "I am sorry you had to find out this way."
Adrian's face was unreadable. "Are you in love with Ryan?"
The question hung in the air like a blade waiting to fall. I watched Lisa look at Ryan and something passed between them. The mate bond maybe or just history and pain and the weight of everything they had been through together.
"I do not know," Lisa admitted. "I do not know what I feel anymore except exhausted, angry and trapped."
Adrian's jaw tightened and I saw him make a decision. "Then figure it out. Because I cannot be second choice, Lisa. I will not compete with a mate bond that is half dead but will not fully die."
He turned and walked away. He just left her standing there wrapped in his jacket with tears streaming down her face. Ryan moved toward her but she held up a hand to stop him.
"I need space," she said quietly.
I guided her back through the rear entrance to avoid the stares I knew would be waiting in the main corridors. Pack members whispered as we passed. Some looked sympathetic while Most looked judgmental. Her reputation was being shredded in real time and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
We reached her quarters and I helped her inside. She sat on the edge of her bed still wearing Adrian's jacket and stared at nothing. The silence stretched between us heavy and suffocating.
"You should take a real test," I said gently. "Know for sure what you are dealing with."
Lisa's voice was barely audible. "What if I am pregnant and do not even know whose it is?"
I squeezed her shoulder trying to offer comfort I did not feel. "Deal with one crisis at a time. But you need to make decisions soon about Ryan and Adrian. About Marcus Krane's challenge. You cannot keep running from choices."
"Will you stay tonight?" Lisa asked suddenly and looked up at me with vulnerable eyes. "Not romantically. I just do not want to be alone."
My heart broke but I meant what I said in my quarters earlier. She needed space to figure out what she wanted without me clouding her judgment. "Call Emma instead. Whatever she did she is still your best friend."
"Emma betrayed me," Lisa said softly.
"She made a mistake," I countered. "There is a difference between betrayal and poor judgment. Emma loves you, she always has."
Lisa looked like she wanted to argue but did not have the energy. I moved toward the door and opened it to find Daniel standing there with a FedEx envelope in his hands. His expression was serious and concerned.
"It came overnight from Western Pack," Daniel said. "Marked urgent."
Lisa took the envelope with shaking hands. She opened it slowly and pulled out an unused pregnancy test strip. There was a note attached in Adrian's handwriting. Lisa read it aloud with tears threatening to spill over.
"I believe in facts not rumors. Take this test and send me the results. Whatever they say we will figure it out together. Unlike some people I do not run when things get complicated. A."
Lisa stared at the items in her hands for a long moment. The pregnancy test trip, the note and the weight of everything that had happened in the last few hours.