Chapter 5 5.

In a room inside the Black Pack house, whispers of agreement and disagreement now fill the air.

The Betas from other packs invited by Ethan have left, but the rumors they brought with them have left an indelible mark.

Elda, Gamma, and one of her trusted advisors sat in a corner, listening to the conversations of several members of her pack, which was beginning to fall apart.

"I still can't believe it. Luna Gwen killed Darren? I've known her since she was a child. She was an orphan who was adopted by Sabian, our previous Alpha," whispered a senior member.

"Yes, she even became the unifier, the strong woman behind Alpha Ethan's depression at that time."

"I also can't believe that a good woman would poison and kill Darren."

"Didn't you hear Alpha Ethan? He said he saw it himself, that Gwen was in the same room as Darren when he died. She poisoned him with wolfsbane," replied another.

"Could it be that she held a grudge because Alpha left her? I heard Alpha returned to his first love..."

"Ah, but Luna Gwen is so gentle and kind! She would never do that! I'm sure something is wrong. Maybe she was framed," replied the first.

The conversation made Elda uneasy. She could feel a rift slowly spreading among the pack members.

Half of them were still loyal to the good memories of Gwendoline, while others had easily believed Ethan's narrative. There were also those who remained silent, but they knew something was wrong with it all.

Elda stood up, her feelings in turmoil. She was the Gamma, the Alpha's right-hand woman and advisor who had to maintain balance.

She couldn't let this division grow. As a descendant of healers, she could sense lies, and there was something very wrong with Ethan's story.

She looked for Ethan and found him in his study, staring at a map of the region. Ethan's face looked tense and tired, dark shadows visible under his eyes.

"Alpha, may I speak?" Elda called out, her voice calm but firm.

Ethan turned, his gaze cold. "What is it, Elda?"

"Right now, many members of the pack are arguing. About Darren's death. And about Luna Gwen," Elda replied, choosing her words carefully.

"We need clarity. The version of the story we heard... feels incomplete."

Ethan sighed. "What else do I need to explain? I found Gwendoline in the same room as Darren's body. There was a bottle of wolfsbane there. She said she was framed? But I'm sure it's all nonsense! She ran away, and that's proof of her guilt!"

"She may not have run away, Alpha," Elda corrected.

"But she had to leave because she was afraid, no one believed her. We all know she respected Darren very much. There's something missing and there's a timeline you're not telling us, Alpha."

Elda's instincts screamed. There were huge holes in Ethan's story. She knew Ethan was hiding something.

"Alpha," Elda urged, her voice louder. "For the sake of this pack's peace, I need to know the whole truth. What really happened that night? Why did you accuse him without strong evidence? Did you see it yourself when Gwen killed Darren?"

Ethan was silent. He looked at Elda, realizing that he couldn't lie to this woman. Elda was too sharp. She was one of the few people who could see the truth behind his mask.

"Fine," Ethan said finally, his voice sounding tired. "That night... I rejected Gwen."

Elda gasped. "You... rejected her? But why? Your bond was predestined by the Moon Goddess! Even the late Alpha Sabian brought you two together because he knew you would only fall into chaos if you weren't with her."

"I had to reject her because Marian is back, Elda!" Ethan replied, raising his voice. "She is my true mate! My first love! I will return to her!"

"That goes against the late Alpha Sabian's decision, Alpha!" Elda objected.

"You can't just forget about it. Your father chose Gwen for you because he knew that Gwen was the one who could stabilize you after Marian's departure. This will destroy the balance of nature."

"I can't go against my feelings, Elda! Marian is my destiny! And this is clear proof!" Ethan said, his voice changing to one of pride.

"She is pregnant with my child. Meanwhile, for the past three years, Gwen has been unable to give me an heir."

"Pregnant?" Elda whispered, her voice barely audible. The fact hit her like a blow.

"Yes. And I must take responsibility. Marian is my mate and she is carrying my child. I cannot just let my destiny pass me by."

"Alpha, how could you be so reckless? How could you make a decision without consulting the other advisors first?"

Elda looked at Ethan with disappointed eyes. She could no longer recognize the man in front of her. The man she once saw as fragile and lost had now turned into an arrogant and selfish figure.

This was all because of Marian's return, the destructive woman who Sabian had predicted would become the destroyer of this pack.

"Did Darren not prevent you from rejecting Luna Gwen at that time?"

Elda was very sure that Darren would not agree with the decision made by Alpha Ethan. Because that man had been given an important task by Sabian, that Darren would protect Ethan from Marian.

One thing still bothered Elda. Her sharp intuition told her that something was wrong with Ethan's story.

"Alpha, when did you first meet Marian? Wasn't she in the Red Shadow pack? Have you investigated why she was rejected by that Alpha pack?

This is strange, because Ethan did not investigate the whereabouts of Marian, who was kicked out and rejected by the Red Shadow...

"She was rejected by her husband because she... um, because she still loves me... so Damian was jealous! We first met a month ago..."

How could Marian be pregnant with Ethan's child? How could Marian get pregnant so quickly? In just one month? So, Ethan was having an affair with Marian?

And why did Gwendoline have to be removed? Many questions echoed in her mind. She couldn't let this strangeness continue.

Elda knew she had to find the truth. Not from Ethan's mouth, but in her own way. For the pack and for the justice that Gwendoline deserved, the woman who had become the true Luna in the hearts of many pack members. And the successor to the previous Alpha, Sabian Black!