Chapter 58

(Isabella’s POV)

“What are you doing in my territory, Layla?”

“Now, now, Isabella, there’s no need to feel inferior to me.”

I laugh. “We aren’t in danger of that.”

“We should be friends. After all, we do have much in common.”

I cross my arms over my chest and raise my eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Well, for starters, we clearly have the same taste in men.”

I growl. “Get the hell out of my territory or my Gammas will carry you out in small pieces.”

People stop to stare.

Layla jumps back as though I shoved her and begins her next sentence with what I can only describe as theatrical grace. “Did you all hear that! This witch-werewolf is unstable! She’s threatened me with violence!”

I roll my eyes at her, but can’t help but notice the murmurs that surround us.

She smirks and turns on her heel to leave.

I feel my wolf inside my mind, clawing to shift. She may be winning, but then Ariana grabs my arm and begins walking back toward the pack house. “We need to talk, Alpha,” she whispers.

“Okay,” I say as I stop short once she’s dragged me inside my office. “What’s up?”

“You need to avoid Layla.”

“She needs to get out of our territory. She’s not a pack member, Ariana.”

“Isabella, she’s spreading negative rumors about you being a witch-werewolf hybrid across the region. She’s trying to get enough ammunition to get you imprisoned or even executed.”

“So, what am I supposed to do? Just lie down and take it?”

I have always tried to look on the positive side, but damn, it seems like every time things start turning around for me, something else happens.

A voice clears from behind us. I turn around to find Jesse leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his chest.

My eyes narrow at the sight of him. I can feel my wolf’s snarl from deep inside my mind.

“I deserve the glare, Isabella, and a lot worse. I understand that you won’t believe me, but I want to help.”

“You could help her by hauling your psycho tramp ex the hell outta here,” Ariana says.

“Spoken like a true protective Beta, Ariana. Impressive.”

I roll my eyes so hard I nearly get dizzy. “What’s your game here, Jesse?”

“No game, Isabella. Listen, you have every right to resent me, hell…to hate me. I realize how wrong I’ve been. I don’t want to see you get hurt in all this backlash.”

(Santiago’s POV)

“Alpha, here is the contact information for all the major news outlets you asked me for. May I ask what this is for? Levi asks while handing me a file folder.

“I’m working on trying to resolve the public backlash for Bella. Every outlet is reporting on this. And while she’s safe for now, that likely won’t last if we don’t find permanent solutions.”

“How do you intend to resolve it?”

“By staying calm, but acting quickly, showing that she’s not a threat, and by being completely honest. If the press thinks she’s hiding shit, they will crucify her.”

Elias, Jesse, and Layla are after her. If the packs continue to think of her as a witch, there’d be too many possible attackers.

After sending off the press releases, I go to the old mines under Isabella’s territory. There must be something here that we missed.

After hours of digging, I hear a familiar woman’s voice behind me. “You seem to be a man on a mission. Finding what you’re looking for?”

I whip around and bow my head in submission, “Elder Evelyn. I’m just looking for something that might help Alpha Isabella.”

“By the moon goddess, my boy, you are covered in soot and dirt. How long have you been down here?”

“Honestly, ma’am, I’m not even sure,” I say, throwing my hands up in the air. “It’s been a waste of time.”

“You’re an Alpha, child, and while I appreciate the respect, please look up at me.”

I slowly raise my eyes to meet her gaze. Even as an older woman, she’s beautiful. Her hair is a mix of white and silver, pulled back in a tight bun, with dark gray eyes and high cheekbones.

I fight a smile at the realization that this woman is wearing a long dress and a hooded cloak with high-heeled dress shoes down here in the mines.

“I retrieved something from down here not too long ago, Santiago. You see, I became aware of Jesse and Elder Elias’ partnership, then of Elder Timeran’s interest. From what I understand, Timeran has been neutralized?”

I nod.

She continues, “Good, one less to worry with. Jesse has threatened Ariana’s life. She is unaware. This is why her parents shared information with him. It’s the only way they can be sure an assassination attempt isn’t made on her life.”

My eyes widen, and a growl escapes me.

She cocks her head curiously. “I didn’t imagine that information would cause you to react this way.”

“In getting to know Isabella, I have come to value a friendship with Ariana. She is one of the kindest, most cheerful people I have ever met. I also believe my Beta is particularly fond of her. If I had known sooner, I would have offered protective custody.”

She nods. “You can’t have them stay in your territory, not yet. That might tip off our enemies before we can get the upper hand. First, we must clear up the public backlash; otherwise, multiple wolves may come after both Isabella and Ariana. Then we need to resolve this power play at the source.”

I nod in agreement. “I can place Singer undercover and assign Levi to stay with Ariana. They haven’t gone public, but I suspect…”

She smiles. “Ah, yes…I wondered that as well. Yes, those are agreeable precautions. Meanwhile,” she says, handing me a packet, “this may help to calm the media attention down.”

I quickly stand up, reading through the newspaper clippings. “Yes, yes…this could help. I will submit this anonymously to a contact I have with the news. Thank you, Elder Evelyn.”

I rush past her and stop, turn, and ask. “May I escort you home first?”

“No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”

I nod and turn to go.

“Alpha Santiago,” she says.

I turn back around.

“Moving forward, just call me Evie.”

I can’t help but smile at her as I nod. “Thank you, Evie.”

After dropping the packet off with the leading media outlet for our region, WNFA—Werewolf News For All, I stop by Caladrius Moon to check on Bella.

She, Ariana, and Levi are sitting in the living room watching the news. I smile as my friend, Nadine, opens with the night’s lead story.

Tonight’s top story: Caladrius Moon Pack Alpha, Isabella Costa, daughter of former Alpha Andrew and Shannen Costa, has been confirmed as a hybrid werewolf-witch. Up to this point, her birth origin has been merely speculation; however, WNFA has received black and white evidence from an anonymous source confirming that Luna Shannen Costa was a full-blooded witch. Many younger werewolves may not remember the great werewolf pandemic that emerged just a couple of years before Alpha Isabella’s birth, however…

Nadine’s eyes tear up as she looks up from the paper and into the camera before continuing:

Those who are a little older may remember the many wolves we lost to disease that year. Luna Shannen’s magical gift was healing. She donated her own blood, which was harvested and used to treat ill wolves. Her blood was used to isolate the healing properties and create a synthetic version that would go on to become the active ingredient in the inoculation series that all pups receive early in life as part of preventive care.

She clears her throat before continuing.

If it were not for Luna Shannen, this reporter would have died. You see, my mother was pregnant with me when she fell ill, but was successfully treated, and I was one of the first pups to receive the vaccine. Thank you, Alpha Isabella, for continuing to lead your pack with grace and compassion just as your parents did before you.

This is Nadine Bailey, for WNFA, wishing you all a good night.

Bella holds her head, clearly lost in mind links with her pack. After about an hour, she looks up to me and runs over. “Every member of my pack has mind-linked me and apologized for their behavior. They thanked me for being their Alpha. Can you believe this?”

From the corner of the room, we hear: “You’re welcome, Isabella. I am so glad that my plan helped.”

We turn to the voice of the rat among us.

Bella speaks first. “Jesse, you did this?”

Before the rat can even answer, Ariana steps in front of Bella. “No way in hell he is the one who did this.”

Bella takes Ariana’s hand and gently squeezes it. “Ariana, he has been saying he wanted to help me. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt.”