"How dare you accuse our Alpha of such a heinous crime?" Gamma Maverick stepped forward, trying to defend me from the Alpha of Crescent Moon.
Beta Negan also stepped forward, although he remained silent, his gaze lingering intensely on the Alpha of Crescent Moon.
However, before things could escalate, I called them back. "It's fine. Stand back." I ordered.
Maverick glanced at me reluctantly but eventually stepped away from the Alpha of Crescent Moon.
I didn't want things to escalate beyond this because I understood the older Alpha's plight.
He was in his mid-fifties and had probably been with his Luna for decades. It was understandable that he would want to find answers for her abrupt death.
"Alpha Caleb, you have to calm down." Elder Gita placed a palm in front of the Alpha, who was already growling at my Gamma and Beta like he was about to pounce on them.
A battle between wolves of our level would be catastrophic and unnecessary.
"With all due respect, Elder Gita, but how do you expect me to calm down?" Caleb snarled, glaring at the spiritual leader now. "How sure am I that you aren't in on this conspiracy? Blue Moon does have a history of conquering other packs."
I couldn't take the stain on my pack's name anymore.
Stepping forward, I sized up the Alpha. "That was centuries ago, Caleb. And I'm nothing like my forefathers, you of all people should know this."
The Alpha of Crescent Moon didn't say anything, instead staring at me intensely with clenched jaws.
Just then, the wife of the high-class wolf from my pack, who was also a victim, spoke up, her voice cracking from all the sobbing. "What if the true killer is still out there? What if this was their plan all along, to cause a rift between our alliance?"
That was a wise thought process. But it still left the question of WHO the culprit was unanswered.
Turning my gaze to Elder Gita, I decided to test my luck. "Could the moon goddess reveal who the killer is?"
Unfortunately, she shook her head with a wry smile. "Things don't work like that, Alpha. She's the one who revealed the inner workings of the poison. The culprit will have to be found out by us."
Ugh, more of this cryptid bullshit!
Alpha Caleb scoffed, waving his hand with a defeated look. "This is a waste of time."
He signaled the two guards from his pack who stood behind him to carry his wife's body, his expression still as stoic as ever, even though his eyes were watery like he was about to cry.
But if he did want to do that, he did a good job of hiding it as they lifted his wife off the ground, carrying her out of the hall.
After watching the guards leave with his Luna's body, he turned to me. "It's clear as day that the culprit is a member of this pack. You have a lot of work to do as Alpha, boy. I fear this might just be the beginning."
Did he just call me 'boy'?
I stood my ground even though he stared deep into my eyes, his expression harder than stone.
Eventually, he left, leaving the rest of us alone to deal with our mess.
"My condolences, Madame Roswell." The Delta, Asher, bowed slightly in front of the noble woman who lost her husband. He then turned his gaze to me. "Do you permit us to leave, Alpha?"
I glanced around at the other members of my council. They all looked exhausted from the unnecessarily long night.
Sighing, I waved my hand dismissively. "You're free to go. We'll make preparations for the departure of Sir Roswell."
As soon as I said that, Madame Roswell's gentle sobs turned into full-on wails as she collapsed to the ground, caressing her husband's dead body.
The sight was pitiful to watch, but I pulled myself to pat her on the head, promising her that the culprit would be found before I walked out of the hall.
I needed to find Phoebe.
As I stepped out into the cool evening breeze which felt rather chilling on such a bloody night, I witnessed Alpha Caleb and his guards carrying his wife's body into a car.
It was going to be a hassle traveling from this city to his city with her corpse, especially with mundane troubles like human law enforcement.
But I was sure he'd figure something out.
"Alpha Kaene?" Elder Gita called me from behind, forcing me to turn back. "How are you feeling?"
Was that even a real question?
Chuckling dryly, I placed my hands into my pocket before I spoke. "Honestly, Elder Gita, I feel helpless. And it's so... Aggravating."
I glanced again at the Elder woman who had a wry smile on her face. "You have to be stronger now more than ever, Alpha Kaene. Just like Alpha Caleb said, I doubt this will be the last of the trials this pack will be faced with moving forward."
My heart tensed up once I heard that.
It was one thing hearing such from another Alpha who was bitter about his wife's death. But it was another thing hearing it from the pack's spiritual leader.
"Is there anything I need to know, Elder Gita? What does the moon goddess tell you?" I queried, trying hard to hide the worry in my voice.
However, she merely held on to her staff as she stepped forward with strong strides for her age before turning her gaze back to me. "Not everything or everyone is as they seem, Alpha."
She didn't bother elaborating further, walking away and leaving me with my thoughts.
If I was decoding her words correctly, I shouldn't put my trust in the people or things around me and should be on high alert.
But if I couldn't trust the people around me... Who, then, could I trust?
Sighing, I straightened my posture before heading to my car, hoping Phoebe had gotten to the mansion already.
I needed to unwind.