Damien's gaze finally met hers. He shifted uncomfortably, like he was trying to find the right words but struggling to get them out. "It's about everything that happened with Detective Fred, Heather, and how we got everything cleared up."
Anne frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I thought we were lucky that Fred dropped the charges and helped clear Heather's name."
Damien's jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, staring at the floor. "It wasn't just luck. I... I asked Fred to lie. I used my position as the future Alpha to... influence him. He's a werewolf, Anne, and he's bound to follow Alpha commands. I told him to fake the evidence and arrest Heather so that you would agree to come with me."
Anne's breath caught in her throat. She stared at him, her mind reeling as the weight of his words sank in. "Wait, you manipulated the whole thing? You made Fred lie about the investigation?"
