Chapter 25
ADRIANâS POV
I was jealous- I wouldnât deny it, I couldnât think of another word to describe what I felt apart from sheer jealousy.
The meeting concluded and my gaze remained on the both of them who was this Gabe to her? âMentorâ He had said but as I looked at how comfortable she was around him. I felt something tug at my heartstrings. Their bond was certainly strong and I couldnât help but wonder is there was more to their relationship than met the eye. Could Tessa really have gotten a second chance mate? The thought alone dampened my spirits.
âPlease explain what poison you think was used, Gabeâ An elder asked loudly snapping me out of my daze.
1 licked my lips and tried to concentrate â Ciselle wasnât also concentrating, I could feel her piercing gaze on me, no doubt still annoyed at my words at her earlier but donât blame me, she deserved it.
Gabe stepped forward and I was watching his every move.
âWhen I arrived here and Tessa told me everything. I went to have a look at the deceasedâ¦â He paused and looked up and muttered âGoddess, rest his soulâ before he continued. âI believe, based on my analysis that is⦠he was poisoned with Gloom
I raised a brow and leaned back on the large throne chair
âEducate us. Youâre a medic but weâre not so please do tell us, what is this gloomâ I said trying to mask the spite I felt towards
him.
If he noticed my anger towards him, he didnât care as he kept on speaking just slightly nodding to acknowledge me.
âGloom is a flower native to woods on the outskirts of this pack saw a few when I was coming here and this flower is rarely used due to itâs quick acting lethality. Itâs fast working and kills for sure. Based on the symptoms he showed as explained by Tessa, I think that was the flower used to end his lifeâ He paused again and muttered âGoddess, rest his soulâ for the second,
time.
Giselle lips twisted into a visible snarl.
âAnd who, pray tellâ Giselle interjected unable to contain her poisonous curiousity, âwould have access to such lethal flower?â
Gabe looked at her, his eyes shimmering with something I couldnât quite understand.
His lips curved into a grim, sad smile. âThat, that is what we want to find outâ He concluded.
I rubbed at the stubble on my chin.
âGabe Heartwood, Iâve noticed that you muttered something like a mantra to yourself twice now, what is that?â I asked curiously.
He wasnât expecting that with the look on his face.
âItâs something I always do when someone was wrongfully murdered, itâs a prayer offered to the Luna goddess to grant him peace with herâ He said curtly.
âOhhâ I found myself saying.
My eyes darted to Tessa and to my surprise, she was staring at me but it wasnât one with warmth, it was devoid of any emotion, I looked away, I had a job to find the murderer and I was going to do it. Tessa blamed herself, I knew that much but I wanted to ease away the guilt by punishing the real killer.
I shifted in my seat and looked at Tessa.
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âMedic Tessa, please come-forwardâ I said.
She gave a curt nod and stepped out in front of everyone.
âWho was the last person in the med bay, perhaps the person had seen someone leave?â I asked.
She straightened up, a determined look on her pretty face and forgive me but I wasnât even fully focused on what she was saying how could I? She was staring at me and I felt shivers run down my skin with her intense gaze.
â⦠left the medâ¦â She paused and gave me a scowl seemingly aware that I wasnât paying utmost attention.
I bit my lip flustered if anyone else noticed but it seemed everyone except me was paying rapt attention to her.
âI had left the med bay to attend to something briefly and when got back, Will was coming out of the med bayâ Tessa turned to look at Will with a scowl still etched on her face. âShortly after Will left the med bay, Thomas had the attackâ She ended.
I looked at will, there were ripples of murmurs in the crowd as everyone turned to look at Will who hadnât moved an inch.
âWill!â I said gruffly. âStep forwardâ.
Will bowed and stepped forward beside Tessa.
âYes, Alphaâ He said respectfully.
I frowned with suspicion.
âWould you like to explain what had happened in the med bay?â I asked.
Will gave a rueful smile.
âIt would be my pleasure. I had simply gone to check on the patients. As a medic, I couldnât do without seeing their states. I just went to have a peek and make sure they were alrightâ He said simply.
Something didnât feel right.
âYou were the last person to be in the med bay, were you not?â I asked.
He gave a small nod like he was thinking of something.
âAs a matter of fact, I wasnât. Sentinel Thomas had a fiancee, I had spotted her sneaking out of the Med bay when I got the He said and though I found his explanation weird, there actually seemed to be a sense of sincerity in his voice.
I looked at the sentinel to my right.
âGet me Sentinel Thomas fiancee here nowâ I said in a hard tone- the case was getting interesting.
We were all waiting, Will and Tessa had gone back to their original positions and my eyes were fixed on Tessa and Gabe who were discussing privately in a corner. My eyebrows furrowed what was he saying? She had a worried expression on her face.
Minutes later, the door was pushed open and the sentinels dragged in a beautiful lady in a flowery gown. She was pushed down to her knees in the presence of everyone and I raised my hands to signal them to leave her alone.
Everywhere went silent with a hush.
âWhat is your name?â I asked, my voice kid
She looked up at me with dark soulful eyes from where she knel
âPamelaâ She said.
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I nodded, my eyes quickly darting to Tessa who was biting on her nails nervously.
Pamela, Iâm sure youâve been informed of the death of your husband to beâ I said
She looked down and refused to speak.
âSpeak girl!â An elder said gruffly.
âQuiet!â I said looking at the elder. She seemed scared and nervous, it was no good to make her more nervous.
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âPamela. I hope you understand youâre a suspect and you should answer the question if you donât want to be suspected of murdering himâ I said in a soothing tone to which Giselle scoffed silently beside me.
She looked up with a start at my words with tears beginning to stream out her already puffy eyes.
âYou canât!â She shrieked getting up, her face with rage and guilt. âYou canât blame me. I did nothing! I did nothing wrong! 1 just wanted to help!!â She shouted her voice echoing with her cries.
I stood up at once alarmed- what did she mean she was trying to help?
âPamelaâ 1 shouted. She flinched at the hardness of my voice and her wails subsided into so bs
I was breathing heavily and everyone was wearing a confused look on their face.
âPamela calm down and explain what you mean to usâ I urged her as I say back down
She whimpered softly and wiped her red face.
âI was heartbroken when I heard that Thomas was down with the deadly plague, they wouldnât let me see himâ she paused choking back on a s ob. âThen yesterday I was home due to the lockdown when I received a parcel from someone and a flower, the letter said the flower would help Thomas, I wasnât. I thought it would so I came back to the palace and I snuck into the med bay during breakfast and forced a piece of the flower into his mouth and left. I SWEAR, I THOUGHT HE WOULD GET BETTERâ She said, the intensity of her s obs increasing
What exactly was happening in this pack?
âWho. Pamela, try to remember who gave you that parcelâ I said, my voice low
She sca ttered her blonde hair in frustration.
âI donât know! I donât know! It was slid under my door and there was no name attached to itâ she said.
Tessa stepped from where she stood, her legs wobbling as she went to Pamela.
I held my breath wondering what she would do â Reprimand Pamela? Blame her? Hit her for making her Ignorance cost a
No, Tessa simply went to Pamela, stared at her for a second and pulled her into a hug. Pamela broke down and wept in Tessaâs arms while Tessa patted her head, comforting her while crying also.
I looked away trying to blink away the tears forming in the corner of my eyes.
An elder stepped up and bowed to me
âAlpha Adrian, what is to be done to the girl?â He asked.
Tessa glared at the elder
âShe canât be punished, she did nothing wrong, she was simply manipulated by someone and we have to find that someone not blame it on Pamelaâ She said still patting Pamelaâs head
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Giselle laughed out loud startling me.
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âWow! So we should carry on looking for the person who sent her a letter when she was the one who killed him? She was clearly gullible enough to believe such an obvious lieâ Giselle spat out.
I was having a head ache already when Giselle let Pamela go and took a few steps closer to the high place where Giselle and I sat, her eyes hard and angry as she stared at Giselle.
âDonât you f ucking blame it on her! If you were the one who was in the face of a crisis like that with a loved one. I know youâd also be gullible enough to believe everything they tell you that may be able to save that personâ Her voice was low, calculating and full with authority.
Giselle looked away angrily and said nothing else.
I couldnât think of the right judgement for Pamela. Forgive her? Or teach her a tiny lesson?
Another Elder came forward and bowed.
âPamela hereâ¦â he croaked pointing a frail finger to Pamela who was curled into a ball on the ground, oblivious to what was happening around her. I felt my heart ache, the guilt was eating away at her, it was enough punishment already.
âPamela is in no way innocent. Ignorance is a crime and itâs one sheâs guilty of, I believe that the search for the mastermind should go on but Pamela is not to be ruled out as an accomplice. I suggest that she is banished to avoid another mistake like this from her againâ He said
Tessa eyeâs darkened notably and she took a step back.
âI will not allow that!â She said.
The elder looked at her with a scowl.
âIâm afraid you have no say here in this matter, the Alpha has the final say.â He said.
Tessa looked at everyone angrily. No one was against banishing Pamela, Gabe moved closer to Tessa.
âI also think that Pamela should be deemed as innocent Gabe said siding with Tessa.
The elder turned to look at me. I looked at Tessa who was staring at me, desperation in her eyes.
I hated situations like this where I had to choose. Now I could either side with my pack elders or I could choose to side with Tessa and Gabe.
But it wasnât about the people on each side but about which decision seemed right.
I took a last look at Pamela and cleared my throat.
âPamela⦠will not be held accountable and that is final!â
SEND GIFT
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