Chapter 55 Chapter 0055
•MASON•
For three days, Nadia and I barely exchanged a few words without them ending in an argument.
And for three days, I kept thinking about Cassandra and Noah’s theory that she was working with Jane to poison me.
It sounded absurd. I didn't know Cassandra well, but none of what Noah told me about her made sense. Even the cause of her banishment started to sound strange.
But then Nadia and her father could be right. There was no telling what she could do to get back at me and the pack for banishing her.
"Alpha," a scout said when he found me in the living room. "Beta Noah is here to see you."
I straightened up as Noah approached. He looked as if he had been in a hurry to get to the pack house.
"Alpha." He bowed his head slightly before sitting down across from me. "The elders and I talked about Jane and came to our conclusion."
I was surprised to hear about that because he never said anything. He never told me there would be a meeting to discuss Jane's case.
"Oh, is she innocent?"
"There's heavy evidence about her being involved with the previous Luna, Alpha," he answered, huffing. "Jane is guilty and not only are you in danger, but the entire pack is. The former Luna will always have an advantage against us if we keep Jane alive."
"What do you mean if we keep her alive?" I scoffed. "And what evidence have you found about her being involved with Cassandra?"
"Those texts, Alpha," he answered, leaning forward. "Those texts are enough evidence for us. We can't pretend as if she wasn't communicating with Cassandra this entire time about your death. And as your Beta, I won't risk her retaliating again and hurting you. We must do something."
"No," I shook my head. "We can't just reach such a verdict without proper evidence other than those texts which could be forged."
"She never denied them."
"Was she there in that meeting?"
He sighed before answering. "No, but the elders and I came to the conclusion that Jane should be executed. This pack can't afford to lose their Alpha. If we let her go and keep her alive, she might come after you again."
"No, there's no verdict on the case until I talk with her," I answered as I lifted my hand and called over the scout at the door.
When he came over, I told him to request Jane's presence for me. He nodded before leaving and closing the door behind him.
I didn't want to finalize such a hasty decision without talking to Jane.
Just as we were talking, Nadia appeared. She stood beside her father and looked at me.
"Did the Alpha tell you, Father, that he suspects me of killing him?" She asked, her voice low. "Did he tell you that he thinks I poured something in his coffee when I went to make it in the kitchen?"
'Oh, here we go again,' I thought as I shook my head and leaned back on the couch.
"No, ah—" he paused as he looked up at her and then at me. "The Alpha didn't tell me that he was suspecting you of anything, Luna. Perhaps he was mistaken."
"Those were not my exact words," I answered, realizing how she had been bothered by my words all this time. "The Luna simply misunderstood. I could never accuse my dear wife of trying to kill me, as my ex-wife did. But I'm sure it's not weird for me to ask questions because my sickness started with the coffee she gave me."
"The Luna would never endanger your life knowingly, Alpha," Noah replied. "Perhaps someone poured something into the Alpha’s coffee. But that doesn't mean the Luna had something to do with it."
I looked at her and wanted to believe that she had the purest intentions, but I couldn't wrap my mind around Jane and Cassandra being the ones who poisoned me.
It didn't sound right that Jane could have poisoned me through a mere coffee. I rarely drank coffee unless I needed a boost to stay awake and work.
Other than that, I wasn't a coffee person for someone to target to kill me through it. So, whoever poisoned the coffee that day, knew I would drink it.
And who knew, other than my dearest wife, Nadia?
"You're right, Noah," I replied, clearing my throat. "I shouldn't make such comments without thinking. The Luna is the most perfect woman in this pack." I smiled at her. "Come, sit beside me, Nadia."
"You're lucky I missed you," she answered, rolling her eyes. "Otherwise, I should still be mad at you for even thinking I could harm the love of my life."
I smiled at her and didn't answer.
After a few minutes, the front door opened, and Jane and Liam walked in. I couldn't even say anything before Liam's voice boomed in the room.
"When my fiancé told me she was being questioned by the Beta if she had poisoned the Alpha, I thought it was a joke. But hearing it now confirmed to me that the Alpha is no longer my friend!"
"Liam, I—"
"Jane and I have served you and this pack with diligence and transparency," he said after cutting me off. "We supported you in everything and never questioned your decisions. But Jane is my mate, and I won't let her name be dragged into the mud for standing for the truth, and then be blamed for something she never did!"
"I know how this looks and sounds, but I meant no harm when I called her here," I answered as I got up from the couch. Noah and Nadia also stood up. "I wanted to tell her that I believe her."
"No, Mason," Nadia chimed in. "We can't let her get away that easily. She poisoned you!" She snapped.
"Jane and I never set foot in this pack for months, and you know that," Liam answered. "She has also never been a friend to the former Luna, but her subject!"
"And that will be discussed in the council hall with your wife," Nadia sneered before she headed toward the corridor and left.