Chapter 246

Chapter 246
Augustin's POV

Charles Richards' words echoed in my mind. Isabelle was gone. We'd let her walk right out, and now she was in the wind with her unborn child, a child that wasn't Matthew's, but belonged to someone in my own family. Someone working against me.

We should have kept her here, Fenris growled inside my head, his anger matching my own.

The law prevented us, I reminded my wolf, though the justification felt hollow now.

Laws can be changed. You've proven that today.

He was right. I'd just been granted unprecedented power by the vote, but it had come too late to stop Isabelle from escaping.

The bitterest pill to swallow was my own misplaced mercy. I'd treated Isabelle with kid gloves because I thought she carried Matthew's child. Now it was clear that Isabelle had played us all, manipulating our decency against us.

We were too kind, Fenris snarled. She deserved no mercy.

I stopped pacing and braced my hands against the cool metal table. The truth was, I'd failed. As Alpha King, I should have seen through her deception. Now a traitor was loose, carrying the child of someone in my family.

My jaw clenched so tight it ached. I would find her. I would find them both. And when I did, there would be no more mercy.

I returned to Charles' cell, my expression controlled despite the rage simmering beneath the surface. Matthew followed silently behind me, his grief and anger radiating from him in waves.

Charles sat on the edge of his cot, silver chains binding his wrists. Despite his situation, a small smirk played at the corners of his mouth.

"You seem pleased with yourself," I observed coldly.

He shrugged. "Not particularly. Just appreciating the irony."

I pulled up a chair and sat directly across from him. "I have a proposal for you, Charles. Cooperation for a reduced sentence."

His eyebrows raised slightly. "Reduced from execution to what? Life in a silver cell?"

"Something like that," I confirmed. "In exchange for everything you know about your daughter's lover and their supporters."

Charles leaned back against the wall, chains clinking softly. His smile faded, replaced by something harder, more resolved.

"I'll pass," he said simply.

Matthew stepped forward. "You'd rather die than give us information?"

Charles turned his gaze to Matthew, and for the first time, I saw genuine emotion in his eyes, something like pity.

"I have nothing left to live for," he said quietly. "My daughter has betrayed me. My niece is probably dead by now. I killed my mate with my own hands." He looked back at me. "Death would be a mercy."

I studied him carefully. "Then why tell us anything at all? Why reveal that Isabelle was working against us?"

"Because I want you to know what you're up against," he replied. "This isn't just about power or territory. It's about changing the entire world. Remaking it."

"Where would she go?" I pressed. "Isabelle. Where would she run?"

Charles was silent for a long moment. "If I were you," he finally said, "I'd send people to Taravis Island. She won't be there, but you might find something interesting."

"What's on Taravis Island?" Matthew demanded.

"Clues," Charles replied cryptically. "Traces. They've been using it as a meeting place for years."

I leaned forward. "They? Who else is involved?"

"More than you think. Less than they believe." Charles closed his eyes. "You know what you need to do, Alpha King. Find Isabelle. Find Helena's bastard. Find the ones supporting them."

Helena's bastard. The words sent a chill down my spine. So the rumors were true, Helena Holbrooke had a child with my father.

As we left Charles' cell, my mind was already forming plans. I would find them all, and I would end this threat once and for all.

The car hummed softly as we made our way back to Levenston Manor. Night had fallen, shrouding the landscape in darkness that matched our moods. Matthew sat beside me, staring out the window, his face a mask of misery and rage.

"I asked Juno to shift," he suddenly said, his voice hollow. "When your soldiers came to take her as tribute, I asked her to shift and fight so Isabelle could hide."

I glanced at him.

"I thought I was protecting my mate and unborn child," he continued, a bitter laugh escaping him. "I was willing to let Juno risk her life for that... that..."

He couldn't finish, his hands clenching into fists on his knees.

"You didn't know," I said quietly.

"I indirectly asked Juno to risk her life for Isabelle," he whispered, anguish lacing every word. "For a woman who was fucking someone else, who was carrying another man's child, who was using me to bring down everything I built."

His breathing grew ragged, and I could smell the salt of unshed tears mingling with his rage.

"I gave up everything for her," he said, voice rising. "I rejected my true Luna, I let her go to you, I destroyed our bond, all because I thought Isabelle was carrying my child!" He slammed his fist against the car door, the sound like a gunshot in the confined space.

"If I find that bitch, I'll destroy her," he growled, his eyes glowing with wolf fury.

Fenris stirred restlessly within me. He's losing control.

"Keep it together, Matthew," I said firmly. "Rage clouds judgment, and we need clear heads right now."

"How can you be so fucking calm?" he demanded.

"Because I'm focusing on what comes next," I replied evenly. "We'll find Isabelle. We'll find her lover. And we'll dismantle their entire network. But we'll do it methodically, not in a blind rage."

Matthew took several deep breaths, visibly struggling to regain control.

"Stay with us at the manor tonight," I offered. "Tomorrow we'll send a team to Taravis Island."

He nodded once, jaw tight, eyes still burning with suppressed fury. I understood his pain all too well, the special anguish of betrayal by someone you trusted completely.

We arrived at Levenston Manor after midnight. Most of the household was asleep, the grand entryway dimly lit by wall sconces. I sent Matthew to one of the guest rooms, watching with concern as he trudged up the stairs, shoulders slumped with the weight of his shattered world.

As I headed toward my own chambers, I spotted Kieran sitting alone in the small library, nursing a glass of amber liquid.

"You're up late," I observed, entering the room and closing the door behind me.

He looked up, his expression troubled. "Couldn't sleep."

I poured myself a finger of whiskey and sat across from him. "Something on your mind?"

Kieran swirled his drink, watching the liquid catch the firelight. "Cassandra and I have been seeing each other for the past week," he admitted. "She's been staying in my hotel room."

"I see," I said.

"I don't know if she's with them," Kieran continued, staring into his glass. "Maybe she's just using me for information."

"What makes you say that?"

"She left suddenly after overhearing a conversation between your father and Patrick—her brother. Nathanael threatened to kill her." He looked up at me. "At least, that's what she told me."

I considered this new information.

"Just watch your back," I said. "And if she contacts you again, let me know. She might have valuable information."

Kieran nodded, setting his empty glass down. "What happened with Charles Richards? Did you get anything useful?"

I filled him in on Charles' cryptic comments about Taravis Island and Helena's alleged child with my father.

"Fuck," Kieran muttered. "This gets more twisted by the day."

"Indeed," I agreed grimly. "Get some rest. Tomorrow will be busy."

I quietly entered our bedroom, half-expecting Berry to be awake and waiting for news. Instead, I found her curled on her side, fast asleep. The soft glow from the bathroom light spilled across her features, highlighting the gentle curve of her cheek and the vibrant red of her hair spread across the pillow.

My heart clenched at the sight of her. She looked so peaceful, one hand resting protectively over her growing belly. I didn't have the heart to wake her with the troubling news about Isabelle.

Let her sleep, Fenris agreed. She needs the rest.

I headed to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and stepping into the shower. As hot water cascaded over my tense muscles, I tried to make sense of everything we'd learned. Isabelle pregnant with a Levenston's child. Helena's secret son. A conspiracy that reached into my own family.

Tomorrow, I would need to question the Holbrooke family. Sebastian might not know anything, but his father had been close to Helena. There might be records, letters, something to indicate who Helena's child was and where they might be now.

After my shower, I dried off and pulled on a pair of sleep pants. I picked up my phone, hesitating only briefly before calling Bryloch.

"My King," he answered immediately, despite the late hour. "Is everything alright?"

"I need you to assemble a team," I said quietly, moving to the balcony and closing the door behind me to avoid disturbing Berry. "Send them to Taravis Island first thing tomorrow. Charles Richards suggested we might find information about Isabelle and her allies there."

"Understood," Bryloch replied. "Anything specific we're looking for?"

"Any evidence of meetings, documents, names," I said. "And Bryloch... this stays between us for now. I don't want word getting back to whoever's working against us."

"Of course. I'll handle it personally."

After ending the call, I returned to the bedroom. Berry had shifted in her sleep, the covers tangled around her legs. I carefully adjusted them, smoothing them over her form.

As if sensing my presence, her eyes fluttered open. "You're back," she murmured sleepily.

I sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I am. I didn't mean to wake you."

She pushed herself up to sitting, instantly more alert. "What happened? Did Charles tell you anything?"

I took her hand in mine, bracing myself to share the disturbing revelations about Isabelle. Berry had shown compassion to the woman, believing her to be a victim like herself. Learning the truth would hurt her, but she deserved to know everything.

"Berry," I began carefully, "there's something you need to know about Isabelle..."