Chapter 130 PLEA FOR JUSTICE
Edeline
With a smile, I glanced back at them and nodded. It was remarkable how quickly these wolves had come to see me not just as another member, but as their future leader. In just a few months, I had gone from being a mere wolf among them to their rightful luna.
I made my way up the stairs, each step driven by the urgency of the situation. I needed to reach the office where my dad was waiting. There was so much to handle—numerous secrets to keep track of, a long list of tasks to complete, and the pressing matter of my meeting with Darius.
I had to inform him about what had transpired. I also needed to duplicate the key and return the original to William discreetly. Navigating tomorrow would be challenging, especially now that Luna was aware of the situation with my half-brother. It was all so complicated, and I felt a deep pang of guilt about it all. I also had to update my dad on what Darius had revealed to me.
As I rounded the corner and climbed the second set of wooden stairs, I pushed open the office door to find my dad seated behind William’s desk, deeply engrossed in sorting through a stack of paperwork. His dark hair was disheveled, sticking up in various directions, a sign of his frustration or deep concentration.
With a quick flick of my hand, I brushed a strand of chestnut hair from my face. I tapped lightly on the door frame before swinging it open with determination, clearing my throat to announce my presence.
“Hey there,” I greeted him softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. I took a seat in the comfortable chair in front of Alpha William’s desk.
Dad looked up, his gentle green eyes meeting mine. His stern expression softened into a warm smile. “Hello, darling. How are you doing?” His concern was evident, and I could sense his unease.
“I’m good, Dad,” I replied, letting my smile widen.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to broach the topic. “Dad…” I lowered my gaze to the floor, trying to avoid his eyes. “I... I had a conversation with Darius and—”
“You did what!?” Dad’s voice raised in shock. “Edeline, Darius was about to—”
“I understand, Dad, but you’re not grasping the full picture,” I interjected, looking up to meet his pained gaze. Grief was etched into his handsome features.
“Darius was poisoned, Dad,” I continued, my voice steady despite the urgency I felt. “He told me everything, even the details that made him uncomfortable. Tatiana began secretly poisoning him by adding something to his tea. Ever since Anita arrived, she took control. I plan to retrieve the teabags with the harmful herbs from his room to clear his name. I believe in him, Dad. You should see him now… He’s finally free of the poison and returning to his old self! Please, trust me on this.” My eyes were filled with desperation as I implored him.
He sighed deeply, wearily rubbing his face before meeting my eyes with a gentle but troubled expression. “Edeline, I trust you… I do. However, we must acknowledge the actions and their consequences. I found that journal entry…” His voice faltered slightly. “It’s clear that Darius poses a threat to your safety, and both Percival and I are determined to ensure he faces the consequences for what he has done. I’m sorry, but William is aware of this and has accepted it. No matter what mysterious influence he might have been under, he continued to act the way he did… He nearly destroyed you.” Tears welled up in his eyes, and I felt a wave of sadness wash over me, my own eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“Please,” I said, my voice trembling. “Not today, Dad. I can’t comply with that request. It seems the journal entry doesn’t reflect his true self, considering the circumstances he was under. So, what’s the latest on the investigation into Anita? She is the one responsible for all this!”
Dad shook his head, a hint of sadness lingering in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Edeline. There’s nothing more I can do at this point. The wolves conducting the investigation have found the evidence needed to implicate Anita. However, we’re choosing to wait until after the Alpha test to avoid alarming her and making her take drastic measures. We need her to believe we suspect Tatiana so that she will confess. If she doesn’t… that’s when we’ll reveal the evidence. But right now, the evidence only links her to Mirabelle’s poisoning. We’re still unclear about how she came into possession of the tainted tea.”
My frustration reached a boiling point. “Darius is fully aware of the situation! Mirabelle received the tea from him and passed it on to me. Anita had handed it to him while he was being poisoned. I made it clear to Darius that I needed the tea for my heat. He was too ashamed to give it to me directly, so he gave it to Mirabelle instead. Dad, Darius admitted he wasn’t sure about his own actions, considering Anita’s strong animosity towards me. He said he would never willingly give me something from her. He claimed she was serving him cocktails and that he was acting out of character! Please, make sure he is tested! You have to help him!” My voice was filled with desperation as I pounded the table, hoping to convey the urgency of my concerns.
“Percival is determined to continue his efforts until Darius is no longer chained up. He’ll keep pushing until Darius has no choice but to face his challengers. Even if Darius is confined for a month and whipped as punishment, once he is released, Nixx, Percival, and others will step up to challenge him, leading to his defeat. He will die because of something he never caused, Dad!” I cried out, my frustration and fear spilling over as I continued to hit the table, pleading for my father to take my concerns seriously.