CHAPTER 43

Adrian's POV

The rumors spread like sickness, tainting every corner of the pack. Wherever I went, I could hear the whispers.

"Did you hear about Isla and Stefan?"

"What a pair of adulterers!"

"I always knew Isla had something to do with it."

"Isla is probably just using Stefan."

 And the rumors only get murkier and more brutal.

It made my blood boil. I couldn’t stop the jealousy that gnawed at me, either. Why Stefan? Why did she have to choose him? She was responsible for this ugly situation by doing this.

But there was this part of me that felt a deeper rage. No matter how angry I was at her, no matter how confused I felt about her choices... Hearing those disgusting whispers about Isla was more than I could stand. A voice inside me kept nagging that she didn't deserve such hatred.

I gritted my teeth as I stormed towards my office, my mind reeling, my heart restless.

A message came through just then. My father, the Alpha, was coming for an update. Of course, word would have already reached him, given the stir it had caused.

But when he came, he wasn't alone. Robert was accompanying him closely. When they entered the room, I faltered for a moment, unsure how to proceed. Robert was Elara and Isla’s father. He was still mourning the loss of one daughter, and now facing the possibility that the other was involved in something far worse. What was he even supposed to do in a situation like this?

But I pushed my hesitation aside. I had a job to do.

"Father," I greeted, keeping my voice steady, "Robert."

Robert looked pale, grief weighing heavily on him. His eyes met mine briefly, but I couldn’t read his expression. I didn’t know if he was here as a father or as a beta.

"Why did you charge Stefan for the double murder? Do you have enough evidence before taking him to jail?" The alpha didn't waste time and charged. He was always like that, too straightforward and stubborn. He wouldn't spare me, even if I was his son.

I laid out the evidence I had collected - the flower order slip, the possibility of the involvement of Mandrake, and how the two had planned to elope.

But when they weren't convinced and wanted stronger evidence, I asked for Chloe to give testimony.

When she entered, her hands were trembling slightly, but she did as I asked. Chloe was nervous, as anyone would be. But her words were clear when she repeated her statement exactly regarding Stefan and Isla.

When she left, Robert’s face remained impassive. But I could see the turmoil in his eyes. The evidence was damning, and I knew what had to be done. However, my father had this unreadable expression, making me wonder what he was thinking.

"What do you suggest?" my father asked, his voice calm, though I could sense the undercurrent of tension. He wanted a solution, and so did I.

"Stefan should be banished," I said without hesitation, my gaze unwavering. "He is a threat to the pack. The evidence might not be ironclad, but it’s enough to show that he’s been hiding something. And he is dealing with something as dreadful as Mandrake. We can’t afford to take any more risks, especially after two deaths in a row."

My father frowned, shaking his head. "What? The evidence isn’t enough to prove his guilt definitively. Stefan’s parents sacrificed their lives for this pack, Adrian. I find it hard to believe their son would betray everything they stood for."

I frowned in disbelief. How could this be his judgment? My father valued loyalty, and the legacy of Stefan’s parents weighed heavily on him. But he shouldn't let that blind us to the danger Stefan posed.

"Father," I pressed, "sacrifices don’t guarantee loyalty. Maybe he wanted revenge. Stefan had crossed a line. We can’t ignore the signs."

Silence hung between us for a moment before I turned to Robert, my voice softer but no less resolute. "What’s your opinion, Robert?"

Robert blinked, clearly startled by the question. His eyes flickered between me and my father, confusion too evident behind his grim expression. I could tell he didn’t know what to believe anymore. On one hand, he was still grieving Elara’s death. He wanted justice for her more than anything. But on the other hand, he couldn't bring himself to believe that Isla could do something like that, despite his doubts about her involvement in all of this.

"I... I don’t know," he mumbled, his voice breaking.

I frowned, stepping closer.

"Isla wouldn't have done it. But Stefan..." His voice was barely a whisper, hesitation too evident in his eyes. He couldn’t even bring himself to say more, his words choking in his throat. I had never seen him falter like this before.

Just when I was planning to push the matter harder, one of my men entered the room, his demeanor full of urgency. "Sir, Stefan wants to speak with you."

My heart raced, hope radiating in my eyes. Had he finally cracked? Was he ready to confess? I stood, casting one last glance at my father and Robert before heading to confront Stefan.

When I entered the room, Stefan stood there, hands behind his back. He looked too calm and composed for someone caught between a whirlwind of accusations of murder, conspiracy, and treason. I scoffed, shaking my head. I wasn’t in the mood for games.

"Ready to confess?" I asked, my tone sharp and biting.

But instead of the confession I expected, Stefan's reply caught me completely off guard. "No, I told you I didn't do it. I am not here to confess. I am here to ask for something else."

I furrowed my brows, a little pissed and a little curious. "And what would that be?"

"I want to leave the Black Mountain Pack voluntarily."

I blinked, taken aback. "You want to run?" My voice dripped with disdain.

"No," Stefan said, meeting my gaze evenly. "I would leave willingly if you can promise me Isla can be left alone."

My lip curled in disdain as I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes at him. "Now you want to play a hero?"

Stefan’s eyes darkened, and I could see the determination there. "If I go, the rumors will stop. The pack will move on. You will get what you want. Isla’s life goes back to normal."

"And what if I deny it?" I asked, just curious.

His gaze didn’t waver, though I could see his eyes flicker with the faintest glint of desperation. "Because I know what this pack is like. I know what they will do to her if this keeps up. You and I both know she doesn’t deserve that."

"Then you should confess your crime if you care about her so much." I laughed bitterly.

"You think I care what happens to me? No. But I care about her. So I am willing to leave if you will spare her." He said firmly.

I sneered, stepping closer to him. "What makes you think you have the right to ask me to spare her?"

I could feel the frustration bubbling over, the jealousy, the anger, the sheer confusion of it all. Stefan was willing to sacrifice everything for Isla, and part of me hated him for it. Because no matter how much I tried to push her away, to refuse this bond between us... No matter how much I convinced myself that I was angry with her...

The truth was... I couldn’t stop caring either.

“Leave,” I said, but not without warning him, “But don’t even dare to think to take Isla with you.”