Chapter 442
Four hundred and forty-four
Wesley POV
Having survived Meridian attacks for most of my life, I recognized the shadow of that dark magic immediately. But what I saw in Alexander was far worse.
When Meridian struck me, my wolf bore the brunt of the fever and corruption. Alexander’s rogue wolf wasn’t the main target here. His human body was actively deteriorating from the inside out.
After leaving the hospital, I drove Emma back to her place first and stayed until Anita returned before heading to my own house. By the time I walked upstairs into the bedroom, it was past midnight. Isabella was sitting up in bed, yawning, clearly struggling to stay awake for me.
She pulled her blanket off and got up to hug me, the softness of her skin and her lips making me forget what a hell of a day it had been.
“How is he p>
“Not good at all,” I said, as she helped unbutton my shirt. “Honestly, we don’t even need to wait for the final lab sheets to know it’s a Meridian attack p>
A look of genuine sorrow washed over her face.
“That’s awful p>
I nodded.
“Emma doesn’t need this kind of stress right now. She’s pregnant.” She paused, concerned. “Can Dr. Harry get it out p>
“He’s in charge of the case, and he told me straight up that it doesn’t look promising,” I replied. “Targeting human tissue directly is a slow execution. For it to reach this point, that poison or spell has been spreading inside him for months, maybe years p>
“What about Zachary’s family? Have you looked into their records p>
“I’m going through everything I can pull,” I said. “And I’m hoping Charlie will cooperate when the full reports hit the table p>
“Charlie’s ego is thoroughly bruised after what happened with Emma. Do you really think he’ll step up p>
“He’s angry, but if there’s anyone who hates Meridian as much as I do, it’s him. For Zachary’s sake, he’d better hope he isn’t involved p>
I shook my head, letting out a dry laugh. “I can’t believe I’m putting this much effort into defending a rogue p>
Isabella picked up my shirt. “I told you before. There’s something different about that rogue. I knew it the day he saved Maverick when he was taken. It’s not just luck p>
“Well, he’d better not die on us then,” I grunted, standing up to change. “There’s a limit to what medicine can do p>
“If you’re one hundred percent sure it’s Meridian, shouldn’t we contact Grandma Cassidy and Joanna p>
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“We need to confirm the exact source first,” I said. “Let’s see what the final blood panel says tomorrow p>
Early the next morning, Dr. Harry called.
“Wesley,” the doctor’s voice came through, heavy and tired. “The results are final. The Meridian markers are overwhelming p>
My chest tightened. “What else p>
“The imaging confirmed a foreign mass embedded deep in his chest tissue, pressing directly against his heart. It’s choking off his blood flow and vital energy. It isn’t a mere tumor or infection, Wesley. It’s dark physical residue from a targeted spell p>
“Damn it,” I muttered, pacing across my study. “Can you operate p>
“I’m not sure the patient can survive an extraction,” Dr. Harry said. “If he had come to me months ago, maybe. But the surrounding tissue is weakened beyond normal limits. I’ll do everything possible to keep him stable, but we need to prepare for anything p>
I hung up and stared at the desk. How was I supposed to tell Emma that her mate, the father of her child, was dying in a hospital bed?
That afternoon, I arrived at the regional council building for a private meeting convened by Alpha Kieran. The trial was supposed to start that day, but with Alexander incapacitated, the entire agenda had been thrown into
chaos.
I walked into the conference room. My dad was seated near the end of the table, and Charlie sat across from him. Alpha Kieran occupied the head seat, while Alpha Zachary looked like he was about to cut our heads off.
I laid the blood panel directly on the table. “The tests are back from Dr. Harry. Alexander is suffering from high levels of targeted suppressants and severe Meridian corruption embedded in his chest p>
Zachary spun around, his face flushing with rage. “This is absurd! Are you seriously bringing fabricated medical excuses for a rogue murderer p>
“It’s not fabricated, Zachary,” I said coldly, wondering why he was so worked up.
“We’ve known Alexander’s history for years!” Zachary snarled, slamming his palm onto the table. “How come nobody detected ‘Meridian’ until you dragged him out of my facility yesterday? He’s a rogue who raided my supply routes and burned my pack’s trucks! Now you’re whitewashing him while ignoring the fact that he murdered my father p>
Zachary turned toward my dad and Alpha Kieran, his voice cracking with panicked desperation. “He had direct ties to Desmond! Are we forgetting that? Wasn’t Desmond’s evil the reason Wesley killed him in the first place p>
A surge of annoyance shot through my chest. Mentioning Desmond was a cheap blow, and Zachary knew it. I hated being reminded of that kill, especially in a political debate, but I kept my face impassive.
“Zachary, calm down,” Alpha Kieran said, holding up a hand. “Nobody here is accusing you of anything. But Alexander is your half-brother, and he was held in your prison intake until yesterday. These medical facts raise natural questions, and going on the defensive doesn’t help your standing p>
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Zachary bit back whatever insult he was about to spit out, clearly remembering that Kieran was the regional Alpha who held ultimate authority over his territory. He forced himself to sit down.
“We cannot proceed with a trial while the accused is in critical condition,” Kieran continued. “Furthermore, to ensure justice is served transparently, I intend to summon every key witness connected to the day Alpha Edward died. They will testify under neutral oversight, free from any duress p>
I leaned toward Alpha Kieran, lowering my voice so only he could hear. “If you want the full truth about Edward’s death, you need Kobe. He was Edward’s personal royal guard, and he’s currently languishing in Zachary’s prison cells p>
Kieran nodded, catching my drift immediately.
Pulling a prisoner out of another Alpha’s jail without notice would be an open insult to pack sovereignty, but bringing it under a formal regional mandate changed the rules.
“Alpha Zachary,” Kieran announced. “In light of these findings, the regional council is issuing an immediate legal subpoena for the transfer of one of your senior prisoners, Kobe, who was your father’s royal guard. He will be brought before the council as a primary witness p>
Zachary POV
Hearing Kobe’s name roll off Alpha Kieran’s tongue felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water down my back.
My chest tightened, but I kept my face still. Kobe was supposed to be a memory, forgotten in the lowest levels of the prison.
I was ten years old when my father died, and I still remembered coming home from a brief weekend trip to find the house swarming with mourners. My mother had thrown her arms around me, weeping hysterically, telling me through broken sobs that my father was dead, murdered by Alexander and his treacherous conspirators.
Kobe had been my father’s royal guard. He was supposed to protect him. Instead, my mother explained, Kobe was a traitor who worked for an enemy Alpha, encouraging Alexander’s madness and helping him execute the strike. My mother ensured Kobe never got a public trial. She said public hearings only gave traitors a stage to sow division and conspire with enemies. Standard pack protocol for high-level treason was clear: lock them away in the deepest cells to rot indefinitely.
Fifteen years had passed. I hadn’t even thought about Kobe in a decade, and I had assumed the man had died. And now the regional council was subpoenaing him.
“I have nothing to hide,” I said, my voice remarkably steady. I looked Alpha Kieran dead in the eye. “If the council believes a traitor from fifteen years ago can shed light on Alexander’s crimes, so be it p>
Inside, my mind was racing, trying to make sense of the sudden shift. Alexander had killed my father, and I would die on that hill. Sure, as I grew older, I noticed tiny inconsistencies in old reports, but my mother had built this pack on strength and sacrifice. Questioning her legacy was out of the question. She loved me, she protected me, and everything she did was to secure my rightful place as Alpha.
Once the meeting adjourned, I caught Charlie by the arm before he could walk out with the others and steered
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him toward a private corner of the hallway.
“I’m deeply disappointed in Alpha Kieran’s judgment,” I said, leaning in so the passing guards wouldn’t hear p>
I never saw him as someone who could be manipulated by a rogue’s pathetic excuses. Charlie, please, you need to talk to him p>
“Zachary, take a breath p>
“How can I take a breath?” I demanded, keeping my voice low but sharp. “It feels like everyone is actively conspiring against me! They’re treating Alexander like a victim and treating me like the criminal. They brought in his medical reports, and now they’re digging up old prisoners p>
Charlie placed a hand on my shoulder. “Hey. I know you’re innocent. You know you’re innocent. If your hands are clean, there is literally nothing to worry about. Let them dig and pull every file they want. When the truth comes out, your name will be completely cleared p>
“What if they corner me?” I asked. “What if they bring up falsified claims? It’s two against one in there, Charlie.
“It’s not two against one,” Charlie replied calmly. “You have your own people. The witnesses who are still alive from that time can testify against Alexander. The evidence of his rogue raids is real. You don’t have anything to fear p>
I let out a long breath and patted his arm. “Thank you, Charlie. I’m so glad I have a real friend on my side through this nightmare p>
Instead of agreeing, Charlie looked uncomfortable.
My smile faded. “Come on. Don’t tell me you’re falling for their tricks, too p>
“I have a mind of my own, Zachary,” Charlie said quietly, stepping back. “I’m on the side of the truth. That’s all.
11
Before I could reply, Charlie turned and walked down the corridor, leaving me alone in the hallway.
By the time I returned home, the sun had set. I skipped my usual rounds and went straight to the dining room. I sat alone at the table, picking aimlessly at a plate of vegetables, but my stomach was in knots.
The doors swung open, and my wife, Mina, walked in.
She looked immaculate as always, her dark hair pinned back, her doctor’s white coat replaced by an evening dress.
“Is the rogue dead?” she asked coldly.
“No. He is still alive. In fact, the trial was delayed because Alpha Kieran is beginning to have doubts about Alexander killing my father, and he wants to bring the royal guard in to testify p>
Before I could say more, Mina snatched my dinner plate off the table and smashed it onto the hard tile floor.
CRASH.
Porcelain shattered into dozens of sharp pieces, food scattering across the floor. I leaped out of my chair in
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shock.
“What are you doing?!” I yelled, looking at the mess, then at her face. “Why are you overreacting like this? I didn’t kill my father! I have nothing to hide p>
“You careless fool!” Mina hissed.
“Kobe was locked away years ago!” I snapped, trying to defend myself. “How was I supposed to know Kieran would subpoena a rotting traitor p>
“Because you don’t think!” Mina yelled. “I always have to tell you what to do! Don’t you know how manipulative people like Wesley and Kieran are? Now they’re going to stack fabricated claims against us! They are building a case to drag your name through the mud p>
The anger drained out of me, replaced by guilt.
Mina was right. She was always trying to protect our family’s standing, just like my mother used to. I reached out, trying to grab her hands to placate her.
“Mina, I’m sorry,” I said softly. “I was caught off guard at the meeting. But regardless, my hands are clean. Alexander is the murderer p>
Mina pulled her hands away.
“If we want our defense to hold, we need a stronger fortification, one that requires human blood. Your useless wife Veronica must be used,” Mina said casually.
My heart pounded violently. “What do you mean, ‘use’ her p>
“You heard me p>
“Mina, no! I don’t want her dead! She’s my son’s mother. You said Alexander was the only one who needed to die! I am not spilling anyone else’s blood p>
Mina stared at me for a moment before bursting out laughing. “Look at you. Acting like a saint p>
“I’m not acting p>
“Shut up!” she snapped, grabbing me by the collar of my shirt. “When Alexander was locked in your prison, sitting in the palm of your hand, you couldn’t even do a neat job of getting rid of him! Now you want to sit here and play righteous? You want to preach fake morality to me p>
I opened my mouth to argue, but the intense glare in her eyes silenced me.
“You will do whatever I say,” Mina commanded softly. “Repeat after me. You will follow my plan p>
“I… I will follow your plan,” I mumbled, my head nodding almost on instinct.
Mina released my collar and patted my cheek softly. “Good boy. Remember who you are, Zachary. Remember your mother. She was a great woman, a brilliant Luna, and she deserves all the respect and love in the world, even in her grave. I was a beneficiary of her wisdom. If you think I will stand by and let everything your mother built go down the drain because of your incompetence, you’d better think again p>
She stepped back. “We are fighting this to the end. Not only will Alexander die, but your reputation will remain
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untainted p>
I rubbed my forehead, trying to clear the haze in my brain. “What about the royal guard p>
“It’s already too late to touch him,” Mina replied, turning her back on me to look out the window. “Tampering with his life inside the prison right now would raise too much suspicion with Kieran’s council watching. Let him talk. He can say whatever he wants. He has zero physical evidence. A disgraced, convicted traitor babbling accusations after fifteen years in a dungeon carries no weight in court. Words mean nothing without proof, Zachary. We will handle him when the time is right p>
She turned back to face me, her lips curling into a smile. “Now, clean up this mess and pull yourself together p>
“But the maids p>
“I said clean it yourself. Now. And that’s the least of the cleaning you will do this weekend p>
The implication of her words hung in the air. I felt a sudden gust of wind even though the windows were sealed. That night, while Mina was beating Veronica, all I could picture was Mina ordering me to clean up the mess
afterward.
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