The sickened luna’s last chance

Chapter 24

Alexander

I followed my Beta into my study, where a man was waiting for us. I recognized the man’immediately as one of the photographers from the press

conference.

“Alpha,” Gabriel said, gesturing to the man, “this guy says a couple came into his tabloid agency to leak the story. He saw them.”

I narrowed my eyes and folded my arms. “Is that so?”

The man nodded. “I–It’s true, Alpha,” he said, wringing his hands. “They came in and spoke to my boss. Well, I didn’t see them, but I did hear them speak.”

“And? Spit it out.”

The photographer fidgeted with his camera strap. “It was an older couple. A man and a woman.”

“An older couple?” I asked, straightening a little. “Did they give names?”

“No, sir. They were careful about that. But I remember what they sounded like.”

“Go on.”

The photographer hesitated. “Well, the man had a deep, gravelly voice. Like he used to smoke. And the woman’s voice was high–pitched, but she drew out her ‘s’s, sort of like a snake.”

I tilted my head slightly, exchanging a glance with Gabriel. The description was vague, but it sounded an awful lot like Sophia’s parents, John and Helen Oxford. Alpha and Luna of Moonshine pack.

John once had a smoking problem, and Helen did speak like that.

But it made no sense. The Oxfords and the pack they led, Moonshine, was a close friend of Ashclaw’s. I’d known John and Helen my entire life. They weren’t the type to do something like this, and even if they were, they had no reason for it in this case. Our packs were allies.

Unless…

Sophia allegedly wanted to break up my marriage to Ella. I always knew she had a crush on me, but perhaps it ran deeper than that.

What if her parents wanted us to get together? Moonshine was a distinguished pack, but they had fallen on hard times over the years. A marriage between our packs would benefit them, just as it had benefited Stormhollow.

to do some investigating on my

asked. “Any identifying

head. “No, Sir. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them myself. I just heard

a definitive answer. But it was enough to warrant bringing it

said.

photographer nodded and hurried

we were alone. “I want to investigate the site of

the clearing in the forest where the Spring Celebration had been. My lips were

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Chapter 24

the bonfire had sat

tongue over my lips as I surveyed the clearing where the Bynfira had been held fast day ago, i lingered there cherry blossoms and vanilla, sweet and intoxicating. I couldn’t get it out of my

That kiss.

her to grab my tie and pull me down to her like that, hadn’t expected the surge of desire that shot though më sh our lips met. For

wanted more. Each step I had taken away from Ella had felt like dragging myself through mud. He was furious with me, em now,

a chance her pack was involved in my parents‘ deaths. Besides, even if i did want to fall for her, she still wanted to divorce

grass was still trampled where the crowd had gathered, and the remnants of the bonfire sat in the center of the clearing, although it was nothing but

had to be evidence–evidence that would

one who had been my friend through thick and thin… could Sophia really

really that angry that I hadn’t attended the

about her parents? Why would they intentionally leak the contract to the press? None of it made any sense. Even if they wanted a union between Ashclaw and Moonshine, they

attack at the bonfire. He also said that she knew about the contract first, had approached him in the

Ella out of a hayloft. And as the days went on, I began to wonder more and more if Sophia

was nothing around the bonfire. I circled wider and

sunlight, half–buried in the dirt near where the rogue had first

silver chain, partially obscured by leaves and dirt. I brushed the debris away, and my heart sank as I recognized the delicate pearl pendant attached

Sophia’s necklace.

her sixteenth birthday, and

could be innocent explanations. Perhaps she’d lost it while fleeing from

I recalled that night perfectly; she had been standing near the bonfire when the rogue came. This was too far

off earlier in the day, before

yet, as I turned the pendant over in my hand, I noticed something else; there was dried blood on the clasp. And embedded