Chapter 170

I signed off from the interview and let out a huge breath, slumping down in my chair behind me. “I’m glad that’s over with,” I said.

“Me too,” Charles agreed. “What do you say we order in tonight instead of having to cook?”

“I’d say that sounds amazing.”

Things moved quickly after my interview. Later that night, Anthony Bellweather issued a retraction—or at least a statement. It wasn’t an apology. He never admitted to any wrongdoing but did admit that he may have released the story before confirming all of the facts first.

Anthony’s half-assed attempt at an apology wasn’t going to cut it as far as I was concerned. It was clear from our research that he had steamrolled one person after another. This wasn’t an accident. This was a pattern, and I intended to call him out for it.

So I went back to the one place where I knew I could always find dirt on him or anyone else causing problems: the dark web.

I wondered as I sat and typed on the bed if Anthony Bellweather even knew about the dark web or knew how to access it. I couldn’t imagine somebody who did that much reporting, not knowing about it. But I doubted he had any influence there, especially after I typed his name into one of the search engines and found numerous threads devoted to people airing their grievances against him.

Now, I just needed to get in touch with some of my contacts and start putting together information that would take him down. When I shut my laptop and joined Charles for dinner, he poked half-heartedly at his lasagna.

David and Theo were in their apartment. But Charles still spoke in a low tone. “I told you Anthony Bellweather was evil,” he said.

“I’m beginning to agree with you,” I replied. “but I’m glad that I have more proof now than just—”

“My own personal experiences?” Charles interrupted.

I reached across the table and gripped his hand. “That’s not at all what I’m not saying. I’m not trying to belittle your experience. I’m just saying once can be an accident. But he’s done this over and over again. It’s not a mistake. He’s just a bad man.”

“Do you finally think he’s the one who had you drugged?” Charles pressed.

“It wouldn’t surprise me,” I said. “There’s just one detail that continues to bother me.”

“And what would that be?” Charles asked.

“Well, what would Anthony Bellweather have to gain by hurting me? I know you said that he wrote the articles that broke your family and toppled your father’s place at the top of the alphas. That action makes sense to me because, as an alpha, Anthony and his family would gain from that despicable thought it was. But what does he have to gain by making me look horrible? It’s not like I’m your wife. We haven’t even announced…”

I looked down at my ring finger and wiggled it to indicate the engagement that we hadn’t announced. “So all this photo smearing does is make you look like you chose a promiscuous girlfriend. And it was easy enough to get evidence that we were drugged. So then, when we came out with the truth, you actually look better because you look like the victim. And people feel sorry for victims.”

I took a deep breath to collect my thoughts. “I’m rambling a bit. I just mean that if he was going for your businesses, this photo attack against Theo and me doesn’t make any sense.”

“Maybe you hurt him in some other way?” Charles speculated. He took a bite of his lasagna and slowly chewed while thinking.

“It’s just not the usual attack on my character,” I said. “I’m so used to everyone condescending to me because I’m scentless to so many people that to turn around and have my moral character attacked is unsettling. I don’t know how to deal with it.”

I paused, my nose wrinkling. “You know, come to think of it, here’s an interesting thought that I haven’t voiced out loud. I’ve thought of this before but kept forgetting to ask you about it because it seems like so much has been happening. But have you noticed that no one here in Packhaven seems to comment on my lack of scent? It was such a big thing when we were back in Lustrum.”

I rubbed my face, put my elbows on the table, and rested my face in my hands. “I just don’t understand. I feel like there are so many pieces floating around, and if I could just find the fit, it would all make sense. I just can’t imagine that all these events and anomalies are unconnected. And yet, I can’t see how they fit together.”

Charles nodded. “The scent thing is interesting. I’ll give it some thought because you’re right. It does seem people here have been oddly silent about it. As for the odd assortment of pieces that just don’t quite fit, I understand what you mean. So what are you trying to get at, big picture?”

I shrugged my shoulders and picked up my fork again, poking at my own lasagna. “I’m just saying that it still seems to me like there should be somebody else behind Anthony Bellweather. I feel like there just isn’t enough gain for him in smearing my reputation, especially if I can’t even see the connection. If I can’t see the connection, then how can something that I’ve done hurt him?”

I scrunched my face, trying to force deep thoughts and connections. “Did he seem to be sweating?”

“Huh?” Charles asked in utter confusion.

“When you helped conduct the interviews with the other alphas, did Anthony Bellweather carry the same sort of assumed guilt as the others? Or did he seem to have a bit of a pass?”

Charles said, “No, guilt wasn’t the impression I got at all during the interview we did with him. It was almost too easy. The interviewers definitely gave him a free pass. They asked him a few softball questions and sent him on his way.”

Charles made a show of gagging. “But Anthony is a bit of a darling for the alpha community, at least in our dealings with the Alpha King and the major government players. So, at the time of the interview, I wrote his easy questions off. It’s just that now I’m thinking maybe you’re right. Maybe there is somebody more powerful behind him pulling the strings. Still…”

“Exactly,” I said. “It seems like there’s somebody more powerful backing him or calling the shots or something.”

“He’s undoubtedly got either got some sort of a benefactor or maybe somebody offering him protection,” Charles said.

“If he’s really as bad as many people and you say, then it makes sense to me that he would need somebody powerful to make sure that he didn’t land in hot water. Or his career of ruining others would have ended long ago.”

I stopped with my fork halfway to my mouth. “Oh, my goddess! What if it’s…” I lowered my voice even further, “the king?” I whispered.

“The very first day that I was on the job at the Palace Press, they made it abundantly clear that we represent the king and the king’s interests,” I said. “And that he kind of has the final say on what does and doesn’t get published. What if it’s more than that? What if Anthony is like the king’s personal reporter? What if he does the king’s dirty work? And in return, gets immunity?”

“That is a disturbing thought,” I murmured. “And it’s not something that I looked for when I went on the dark web. I think I need to review everything and look for connections to the king.”

“Absolutely not,” Charles ordered. “What you’re talking about could be interpreted as treason. To go against the king is as good as suicide. I won’t lose you.”

“You might have me, but if things continue as they are, what kind of life are we really going to have?”