Chapter Forty-One: Simon's POV
She tried to meet my gaze, tried to summon what little pride she had left. But she couldn't withstand an Alpha's command. Her shoulders slumped, her breathing became rapid and chaotic.
"It was just supposed to scare her," her voice was low. "Just supposed to make her understand she didn't belong in our world. Staying by your side would only put her in danger. I swear, I didn't mean for things to go this far. Those warriors... I didn't tell them to actually hurt her, just to make her know she wasn't safe."
"And the silver bullet?" I asked, the fury burning in my chest. "Was that just to scare her too?"
Isabella's hands twisted on her knees. "I panicked. She killed them, Simon. The way she moved, I'd never seen that kind of speed, they couldn't touch her. I thought she'd kill me next, I just... I just reacted instinctively."
"She's lying," Knox growled in my mind, with obvious contempt. "She brought silver ammunition with her. From the beginning she was prepared to eliminate Carol completely, and now she's playing victim."
I knew he was right.
But Isabella's confession alone wasn't enough. I needed to know the full picture, needed to figure out who else was involved and what they were really planning.
"The wolves you hired aren't cheap. They couldn't have found you on their own. Someone connected you, someone who knows how to contact rogues willing to take this kind of job. Who was it?" I said.
She shook her head, genuine confusion on her face. "I don't know. Three weeks ago, they found me. The leader said they'd heard I might need help dealing with some trouble, that they specialized in making trouble disappear. I gave them Carol's schedule, told them when she'd be vulnerable, paid half upfront, promised the rest after completion. They never said who sent them or how they found me."
This was the line I'd been waiting for, but it still sent a chill down my spine.
Someone knew Carol's schedule inside and out.
Someone understood Isabella was a chess piece that could be used.
And someone could mobilize trained warriors willing to cross into my territory for money.
"The silver bullets?" I shifted direction. "Where did you get them?"
"My father's vault," she admitted, her voice very low. "He keeps some weapons in case negotiations fail and the pack needs them. I took the gun and a box of silver ammunition the night before. I thought he wouldn't notice—he hasn't been down there in months."
"He didn't ask why you wanted to learn shooting?" I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear her say it.
"I told him I wanted to protect myself," she said, with a bitter laugh. "That if I was going to be an Alpha's wife, I should know how to handle weapons. He thought it showed initiative."
I stepped back, creating distance. Isabella was just a pawn. The question was who was behind this, and what they hoped to gain from Carol's death.
"The Andreas family," Knox said. "They've been testing boundaries, courting other families. If they could sabotage the alliance with the Carters and eliminate Carol, your position would be severely damaged."
I didn't respond, but turned toward the door. "Leon," I said.
"Get Marcus, tell him I need information on every rogue pack operating within five hundred miles of Seattle. Names, territories, known associates. If someone's been recruiting warriors for unsanctioned hits, I want to know who they are and who's paying them."
"Yes, Alpha," Leon replied, his footsteps already receding down the corridor.
I turned my attention back to Isabella.
She was beginning to realize her current situation. She thought Carol was an easy target, thought her human appearance hid no real threat.
She had lost spectacularly. Now she would have to bear the consequences. And I intended to make those consequences a warning to others—anyone who dared to target what was mine.
"You'll stay here until your father comes for you." I said.
Her tears streamed down her cheeks. But I had no sympathy for her. She made her choices, she would bear the consequences.
Just as I had to bear the fact that I brought this threat to Carol by letting this engagement drag on too long.
The next afternoon, Robert Carter arrived.
From my study window, I watched him emerge from a black SUV, flanked by two senior Betas from his family.
Samuel greeted him with the standard courtesy he showed visiting Alphas. This old Beta had served my family, served my predecessor and witnessed the bloody challenge that put me in power. He knew better than most how quickly civilization could give way to savagery when pack honor was threatened.
"Alpha Volkov," Carter entered the study, his voice maintaining just the right amount of respect—not submissive enough to seem weak, but without any hardness. "Thank you for taking the time to see me."
"I didn't agree to see you." I said. "You requested to come, I agreed. But I just didn't want you making a scene at my gates. Don't misunderstand, Carter."
The words were like a soft nail, which Carter swallowed. He was good at this, a practiced political animal. Even if a flash of annoyance crossed his eyes, it was quickly suppressed. "Of course, Alpha. I know what my daughter did has embarrassed both families. I've come to apologize in person. Whatever recompense you deem necessary, I'll provide."
"Recompense?" I repeated. "Your daughter attempted to murder my person. She privately hired rogue warriors to illegally cross my territory and called them to do dirty work. She shot my person with silver bullets. You think recompense will settle this?"
"Isabella is young and foolish. She acted out of jealousy, not real intent to harm. I'm not trying to make excuses for her, but consider—Carol's position by your side, plus our impending wedding, made her very insecure." He paused, weighing his next words. "I've brought some terms that I believe can compensate for her wrongdoing and preserve the alliance between our families."
He pulled out a dark leather folder from his briefcase and placed it on my desk.
I read through those pages and looked up at him.
"A formal non-aggression treaty witnessed by the Council, enforceable under Council law." I read aloud, skepticism in my tone. "Controlling interest in two of your family's weapons factories. And a sum of money sufficient to support my entire pack for three years." I looked up at his eyes. "You're willing to give up this much—seems you're really afraid of what I might do."
"I'm a pragmatist, Alpha," Carter's voice carried a hint of sincerity. "What my daughter did leaves me no room to retreat. If I don't make adequate recompense, you'd be fully justified in initiating a blood war or seizing my territory. I want neither outcome. This way, everyone gets closure. You get compensation, and I can preserve my family's standing in pack politics."
This was a calculated surrender, the kind of move that preserved the appearance of power while ceding actual control. And I found myself grudgingly respecting the skill with which he'd constructed it. Carter was a survivor, someone who understood that sometimes the only way to win was to lose gracefully. He'd clearly spent the hours since Isabella's capture carefully crafting terms that would satisfy my honor while sparing his family from complete destruction.
"And Isabella?" My voice cooled. "What guarantee can you give that she won't try this again? When things cool down, when the shame doesn't feel so strong anymore."
"She'll be confined to the estate," Carter replied quickly. "No leaving, no involvement in any pack affairs. I know my daughter crossed a line. She's alive only because of your mercy. I'm not asking you to forgive her. I'm asking you to let me punish her in my own way."
I weighed Carter's words, my mind still filled with images of Carol lying on that warehouse floor. The anger remained. I wanted to refuse him.
But in this situation, accepting his concessions was more valuable than creating an enemy.
"I accept your terms." My voice was heavy. "But listen carefully, Carter. The alliance ends here. Business as usual, nothing else. The marriage is off, pack interests no longer merge. Your family isn't trustworthy."
Relief spread across his face. "Thank you, Alpha." His voice was hoarse. "I know the damage that's been done—"
I interrupted him, "Leon will see you out."
He left without another word, his Betas following behind him.
The documents remained on the desk, representing a family's surrender.
I should have felt satisfied, but my heart held only exhaustion and an indescribable unease.