Chapter 438
Four hundred and forty
Emma POV
“Breathe, Emma,” Isabella said, kneeling beside my chair, her eyes scanning my face. “You aren’t going into heat. You’re already pregnant, so biologically, you can’t. You’re just overwhelmed. Take a deep breath and calm down before you hurt yourself p>
I forced air into my lungs, my chest shuddering. Beside the couch, Anita had moved over to my mother, pulling her into a hug while Mom wept silently.
“It’s going to be okay, Aunt Nadia,” Anita said softly, rubbing her back.
“The worst has already happened,” Uncle Cameron said. “We can’t undo the baby. All we can do now is make sure Emma is taken care of p>
He looked down at me, the concern growing and the annoyance fading. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll formally apply for your clinical appointments. We’re cutting your workload at the pack center by half, and your meals will need to be monitored p>
Luna Lisa nodded in agreement. “We also need to run a full blood panel to check for Meridian poisoning.” 1
My heart skipped a violent beat.
I knew about Meridian poisoning. Uncle Cameron had been targeted years ago, and Wesley had barely survived a severe case of it, saved only by his mate bond and a family willing to tear the world apart for him.
The mere mention of it made me afraid.
Wesley looked around the room. “Let’s give Emma and her parents some space to talk p>
They all filed out. As Uncle Cameron walked past my mom, he leaned down and murmured, ” Take it easy on her, Nadia. Screaming isn’t going to change what’s already done p>
The door clicked shut behind them, leaving only me and my parents in the room.
The silence was sharp. My mother sat up, her eyes red and swollen, while my father stood near the mantel, his hands clenched at his sides. He was clearly fighting to keep his rage contained.
“I’m sorry,” I choked out, tears burning my eyes afresh. “I’m so, so sorry, Dad. Mom. I never meant to bring disgrace upon this family p>
“It isn’t about the disgrace, Emma,” my father said, his voice strained. “It’s about your safety and the future of that child inside you p>
Mom wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
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“Were you planning to run away with him p>
“No!” I shook my head. “At first, I wanted to sever the bond, but it was too late. I was terrified of how you’d react, and I was still prejudiced against rogues myself. He didn’t even want anything to do with me, and when I found out I was pregnant, he was already locked up p>
I looked between them, desperately needing them to see that I hadn’t just thrown my life away on a whim.
“I’m not being reckless, Mom. Alexander is innocent. I just need you all to help me make sure his trial is transparent so he isn’t murdered in that cell p>
“You talk as if you truly know him,” my dad muttered, shaking his head bitterly. “A man you’ve known for barely a fraction of your life p>
I kept my mouth shut. I wasn’t going to stand here and argue away their valid fears.
Mom moved across the rug. She sank onto the couch beside me and pulled me into a fierce hug.
“You should have just told me, Emma,” she sobbed into my shoulder. “You should have come to me from the start p>
I wrapped my arms around her, burying my face in her neck as tears spilled over my cheeks. I hadn’t realized how desperately I needed my parents’ comfort until this exact second. The pregnancy hormones seemed to amplify every raw emotion, stripping away my usual
composure.
My dad let out a heavy breath and walked over, sitting on my other side. He reached out and pulled me into his arms.
“You’re an adult, Emma,” my father said against my hair, his voice thick with sadness.” There’s a limit to how much we can dictate your life, and we can’t force your choices. But don’t you ever expect me to fold my arms and watch you walk straight into danger just because you’re grown. I’m still your father p>
After nearly an hour of talking, the heaviness in my chest eased enough for us to step back out into the main living room.
The moment we opened the door, harsh shouting echoed down the hallway. Wesley and Charlie were standing near the staircase, locked in an argument.
“I am not calling Zachary!” Charlie snapped, his face flushed red with rage. “You’re the Alpha, Wesley! Your father was an Alpha, and my father is the regional head! Why the hell should I be the one begging Zachary for updates on a filthy rogue p>
“Zachary is your friend, Charlie!” Wesley barked back. “Nobody is asking you to beg for the rogue’s release. Just call him and verify his status so Emma can stop spiraling. It takes two minutes p>
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Mom sighed quietly. “Charlie is hurt, and honestly, who can blame him? What man wants to lose the woman he loves to a rogue?” 1
Charlie caught sight of us emerging from the hall, his eyes burning with resentment as he gesticulated wildly.
“This is going to bring absolute shame on all of us! Instead of covering up her mess, you’re all pampering her and dancing to her whims! Every pack in every region is going to laugh when they find out the Alpha’s niece got knocked up by a rogue p>
A few weeks ago, Charlie’s anger would have terrified me. Now? I didn’t care. He was the absolute least of my worries. If he refused to help, I still had Wesley, my father, and Uncle Cameron.
“Enough, Charlie,” Alpha Kieran said. He turned toward Uncle Cameron and Wesley. “Nobody under trial gets executed or tortured in an Alpha prison. If there really was an attempt on Alexander’s life while in custody, then he has grounds for a formal inquiry p>
Alpha Kieran pulled out his phone and dialed a number on speakerphone.
The line rang three times before a smooth, overly polite voice picked up. “Alpha Kieran! An absolute honor to hear from you this evening p>
“Alpha Zachary, apologies for calling this late, but I received some rather disturbing rumors regarding Alexander, the rogue in your custody, Word reached my desk that an assassination attempt was made on him inside your holding cell p>
A silence hung on the line for a second before Zachary let out a forced laugh.
“Alpha, I assure you, that is completely impossible. Iron Wells is under my strict personal oversight. No one touches a prisoner under my watch without my command p>
Alpha Kieran glanced up at me, raising an eyebrow as if to say, See?
I shook my head frantically. I didn’t trust a single word coming out of Zachary’s mouth.
Thankfully, Alpha Kieran seemed to pick up on my distress.
“Glad to hear it, Zachary. Still, given the severity of this case, I want to ensure absolute transparency. I’d like a formal physical check conducted on the inmate to verify his health.
“Of course,” Zachary answered smoothly. “I can personally inspect his cell first thing tomorrow morning and send you the report p>
“There’s no need to put yourself out,” Alpha Kieran cut in smoothly. “Wesley will be heading down to Iron Wells tomorrow to conduct the physical check himself p>
My hand flew to my mouth, a gasp of relief escaping my throat. Tears welled in my eyes again.
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“Well… the doors are always open to Alpha Wesley,” Zachary said, his tone dipping. “Though if I may speak freely, Alpha Kieran, I suggest Wesley keep tight reins on his family. His cousin tried to use his title as a decoy to sneak into my facility. I’m not sure what kind of game she’s playing with this rogue, but it’s causing quite a stir p>
“We are fully aware of her actions, Zachary,” Alpha Kieran said, cutting off the smear attempt. “Wesley will arrive tomorrow morning. Have the prisoner ready p>
“Understood p>
The line clicked dead.
Charlie whirled on his heel and stormed out the front doors, slamming them so hard the glass rattled. Luna Lisa hurried after him, calling out, “Charlie! Wait!” but he didn’t stop.
Isabella spoke, breaking the silence.
“I know how rogues are viewed in our society. But a person can be terrible to the world and still carry good in them. Alexander saved my son’s life when he had no reason to. I’m not trying to erase his past, but he deserves a fair trial. If you all could give me a chance when I arrived here as a complete stranger, you can at least look into his case properly p>
Alpha Kieran folded his arms. “Nobody is above the law, and nobody is buying my judgment. If Alexander was truly assaulted in that cell, I will personally strip Zachary of his authority over this case and transfer the entire trial directly to the regional high council p>
Luna Susan gave my shoulder a gentle pat before gathering her coat. “We’ll take our leave now,
she said. They left, leaving a heavy silence behind.
Now that it was just my family remaining in the room, I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
“There’s something else,” I said quietly. “Alexander’s father’s former royal guard, a man named Kobe, is being held in that same prison. He’s been locked away for fifteen years. He witnessed everything the night Alpha Edward was killed. He can testify that Alexander was heavily drugged before the attack even happened p>
My father, Wesley, and Uncle Cameron exchanged looks.
“Emma,” Uncle Cameron sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “In the eyes of the law, a rogue’s testimony holds almost no weight. Anyone in a prison cell can spin a story to save their own skin or help a cellmate p>
“He isn’t lying!” I insisted.
“We will let justice take its proper course,” Cameron replied firmly. “Wesley will inspect the cell tomorrow p>
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I turned to Wesley, my eyes desperate. “Can I come with you tomorrow? Please p>
Wesley frowned, shaking his head. “Absolutely not. Do you think I’m going to go down there and lie to you about what I see? I’m already risking my standing with Charlie and the regional council just by forcing this inspection p>
“Please, Wesley,” I begged, taking a step toward him. “I just need to see him with my own eyes. Just for a minute p>
My mother let out a horrified gasp from the sofa, staring at me as if I’d lost my mind.
“Emma! You want to go into a prison to see a rogue p>
“Let her go, Wesley,” Luna Lisa said. “If she doesn’t see him, she’s going to stress herself into a hospital bed p>
Wesley looked between his mother and my desperate face, letting out a defeated sigh.
“Fine,” Wesley grunted.
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