Be yourbeit
Walking out of the interrogation room, I felt as though an invisible weight had settled on my shoulders. My mind was a storm of thoughts, all crashing into one another, making it impossible to think clearly.
The Omega’s words echoed relentlessly in my mind.
“I saw Evelyn enter Elder Alyosha’s chambers that night.”
I still struggled to believe it. Evelyn–gentle, kind Evelyn–was capable of murder?
But I needed to know the truth.
I searched for her, my movements brisk, my patience thin. The longer I let this uncertainty linger, the more restless my wolf became. He prowled inside my mind, his instincts flaring with unease.
Finally, I found her.
She was outside in the courtyard, bathed in the soft glow of the evening lanterns, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders in effortless waves. She turned at the sound of my approaching footsteps, her face lighting up.
“Dominic,” she greeted me softly, her voice as sweet as honey. “You’ve been busy all day. I was starting to think you were avoiding me.”
She smiled, tilting her head slightly, as if trying to read my expression. “Do you want to go inside? Maybe have a drink together? You look exhausted.”
I stared at her for a moment.
Was it really possible?
Was she truly capable of killing someone?
The woman standing before me had once thrown herself into harm’s way to protect me. She had been my salvation, my closest companion.
But if that was true, why did my gut twist every time I thought about the night of Alyosha’s death?
I didn’t have time for small talk. I needed answers.
Without wasting another second, I cut through her words.
“Evelyn,” I said, my voice firm. “Do you know anything about Elder Alyosha’s death?”
Her expression faltered–just for a moment–but it was enough for me to catch it.
She recovered quickly, letting out a soft chuckle. “Dominic, why are you asking me that? I already told you what I know.” She reached out, her fingers grazing my forearm. “Let’s not talk about something so unpleasant.”
I didn’t move. My muscles tensed under her touch, but I kept my eyes locked onto hers.
I wasn’t going to let her change the subject.
“Did you visit Elder Alyosha after Olivia left his chambers?” I asked, more directly this time.
A sharp intake of breath. Her shoulders stiffened slightly.
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Chapter 20
Then, without warning. Evelyn broke down into sobs.
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1 didn’t mean to she cried, covering her face with her hands. “Tominic, I swear I didn’t mean for any of this to happen!”
My heart clenched.
No matter what she had done, seeing her like this–so small, so broken–stirred something inside me.
I reached for her shoulders gently. “Evelyn,” I said, lowering my voice, “just tell me the truth. What happened that night? You know you can tell me anything and I won’t judge you.”
She sniffled, looking up at me with tear–filled eyes.
1… I went to see him, she admitted shakily. “I needed to know the truth about the Phoenix Mark. About Olivia’s mark and why everything changed the moment she got it. I thought… I thought if Alyosha could explain it, then maybe I could finally understand why the Goddess chose her instead of me. And how Olivia got that mark when I also have one.”
I stayed silent, listening.
Evelyn swallowed hard, her hands trembling. “But… he got upset with me. He told me I was meddling with things I didn’t understand, that I had no right to question fate. But Dominic, I needed to know! How could I let all this slide so easily, when I could see what this fate was doing to us, to Olivia and to the pack.”
Her voice cracked, desperation thick in her tone.
“So I pressed him for answers, I begged him to tell me the truth. She hesitated, her breath shaky. “And then… he got angry. His eyes turned dark. He lunged at me, Dominic. I–I didn’t know what to do! I was scared!”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“He attacked me, and I–I defended myself! It was an accident! I didn’t want to kill him, I swear, Dominic. You know me, right? You know that I could never kill anyone, but what I did was simply out of impulse.”
My chest tightened as I took in her words.
Evelyn, killing Alyosha? Out of fear?
It sounded believable. Alyosha had been a powerful elder, fiercely protective of the pack’s traditions. If Evelyn had truly provoked him, maybe… maybe he had lost his temper. Maybe she had only done what she had to in order to survive.
Guilt crept into my chest.
I had accused Olivia. I had thrown her into the dungeons and forced her to suffer for something she never did.
But I also couldn’t ignore the guilt weighing on me for pressuring Evelyn.
She had only been searching for answers, she was only doing all this to help me and the pack in a way.
And after everything Olivia had done to her, Olivia owed her.
The pain Olivia endured was nothing but penance for the suffering Evelyn had been through.
As Alpha, it was my responsibility to make a fair decision.
And now, I had to decide whether Evelyn deserved punishment
I clenched my jaw, my hands falling to my sides. “Evelyn,” I said slowly, “this was an accident. You don’t need to feel guilty about it. I’ll take care of everything.”
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Food Ban Teb S
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be the tash qolar ether. I kad fity. This wilmain between us. You will not say anything to anyone, and will she care of the meet
She side, and I reciprew sted.
As Thing as I was bere, she didn’t have to worry about anything.
Vismediary miullinked Jaw and James.
Meet me in pay office Now
one would touch her or question her as long as I was here.
Minutes later, they arrived. The moment they stepped inside, Jason’s eyes were sharp with suspicion, and James…
James looked furious.
I wasted no time. The investigation is over, I announced. Tve found the truth.”
Jason frowned. “And?”
I inhaled deeply. “It was an accident. No one is guilty–neither Olivia nor Evelyn. That’s what we will announce to the pack.”
James clenched his fists at his sides. “Are you serious?” His voice was low, dangerous.
I met his glare evenly. “Yes, I am. After weighing everything, whatever happened with Elder Alyosha was because of his own emotions. He tried to attack first, and we have rules regarding self–defense in this pack. So, this is my decision as Alpha. It is
final
His jaw tightened, his eyes burning with something close to hatred.
But I ignored it.
The matter was settled.
After the meeting, I found myself wandering aimlessly until my feet carried me to where she was.
Outside Olivia’s room.
I didn’t know why I was here.
I had no reason to be here.
And yet, just sensing her presence on the other side of the door made my chest feel unbearably tight.
Guilt pressed down on me, heavier than I had ever known.
I wasn’t sure if it was okay to see her and face her.
“Coward,” my wolf scoffed, his voice dripping with disgust. “You’re too afraid to see what you’ve done to her.”
I clenched my jaw. “Shut up.”
But before I could turn away, I heard something.
A second voice.
James.
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Chapter 20
He was inside her room
Rage erupted in my veins.
I threw the door open-
And then I froze after what I saw.
.12.2
12:05 voin here
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
