The Luna’s Choice by Kat Silver

Chapter 83: Theo

I returned to the packhouse. I had tried to tell Ayla I was leaving but Mina said she wasn’t ready to talk to me yet. I let my rage and determination take over to cover the pain of her rejection. Ayla would come back to me. Once I found out who was responsible for this, we could start to heal. She’d come back to me.

She had to.

Jimmy was waiting for me in the lobby when I arrived back.

“The Alphas are in the conference hall, Alpha,” he said solemnly. “They’re… they’re waiting to be informed of the situation.”

“I’m sure they have heard that Ayla is in the hospital,” I said with more snark than I intended.

“Yes, they know something happened,” Jimmy confirmed as he followed me down the hall.

I went straight to the hall. I knew I looked terrible but I didn’t really care at the moment. As soon as I walked in the door, the room fell silent and all eyes were on me. I went straight to the podium.

“As I’m sure you have all heard,” I began without ceremony, “Luna Ayla was admitted to the hospital last night. Sometime last night, she was poisoned… with a large dose of wolfsbane.” The room erupted in whispers but I threw my hand up to silence them. “Gratefully, she has survived the ordeal. Thanks to her family’s immunity to wolfsbane. However…” My voice broke slightly and I had to compose myself before continuing. “However, the assassin was successful in taking our pup from us.”

My grip on the podium was so tight that the creak of the wood was the only sound heard in the silent room.

“As you all can understand, I will be requesting you all to answer some questions to clear your names of any suspicion,” I said, expecting to hear opposition but receiving none. “Also, while I appreciate your assistance in determining how to handle the Waar Pa k, if evidence proves that either Malcolm Neal or Charles Anderson were involved in this egregious attack on my family, they will be executed.”

I turned and walked out without another word. McCabe was already waiting outside with several officers ready to start taking statements. I nodded to him, then continued on to the security office, Jimmy in tow. There were two of the regular security guards at the monitors.

“I need all the footage from the cafeteria wing from yesterday afternoon to midnight,” I ordered. “Jimmy, get Annabelle here, too.”

believe she’s gone to the hospital, Alpha,”

call her back.”

“Yes, sir.” Jimmy replied.

was done, I took it from him

Jimmy came in with

this could have happened. I swear. I have

you to help us,” I

dining room. I need your eyes on this.

said shakily but with determination.

***

help that it hurt to watch Ayla with the other Lunas. She was so perfect. But I couldn’t get distracted by her. With Ayla immune to wolfsbane, I

something caught my

Or rather, someone.

rewound the video and

“Annabelle, is that John?”

laptop she had been using. “Yeah, he helps with special events

I looked at Jimmy.

since the night

wrong?” Annabelle asked. “What

Waar P ak,” I said, pressing

through the crowd. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but he did bring Ayla a drink. He was hovering close to her when he

it, too,” Jimmy said,

back farther, watching him up to the point he