One Year To Burn

Chapter 9

Denzel’s POV

Alesha’s words struck me like a blow, shocking but disturbingly logical. For the first time, her desperation made sense. It explained why she had been clinging to Jalisa, begging her to intervene. If this were true, my rage would know no bounds. She had thrown my entire pack into chaos. For three exhausting days, nothing had functioned as it should. I had missed meetings, training sessions, everything. And the news of the supposed pregnancy loss had torn through the pack like wildfire, leaving grief and unrest in its wake.

For Jalisa’s sake, I prayed Alesha was lying.

But then again, Alesha had already attempted to destroy Venessa someone she had no legitimate reason to hate. Only Jalisa knew Venessa was my fated. Only Jalisa. I had told her myself.

There was a very real chance Alesha was telling the truth.

“Speak,” I commanded, fixing Alesha with a hard stare. Terror filled her eyes.

“You’ll allow her to tell more lies?” Jalisa snapped, trying to stop me.

I turned on her sharply. “Just moments ago, you said you believed her. Why the sudden change?”

Jalisa fell silent.

This could no longer be handled behind closed doors. It had become a public spectacle, and the pack deserved the truth.

Still kneeling, Alesha wiped at her tears with shaking hands.

“Luna Jalisa told me she wanted Venessa gone,” she began. “She asked for my help. I came up with the idea of framing her for a small theft something that would make you send her away. But that wasn’t enough for the Luna. She wanted something worse.”

A hush fell over the crowd.

“She wanted the girl dead,” Alesha continued. “She never told me why, and I didn’t dare ask. I was told to plant the necklace in Venessa’s room early in the morning, while everyone was on duty. Then I was to assign Venessa to clean your room so it would appear she stole it.”

My fists clenched.

“We didn’t expect you to be there,” Alesha said quickly. “That was when you usually trained in the gardens with your officers. Luna knew that even if the necklace was found in Venessa’s room, you wouldn’t execute her. So she decided to fake a pregnancy.”

Gasps rippled through the pack.

“I’m a midwife,” Alesha went on, her voice cracking. “My word would be trusted. We knew that if the theft caused the loss of a child, it would stop being a theft case and become treason. I didn’t agree with it but she is my Luna. I swore an oath to serve.”

She bowed her head. “She was also the one who wanted Venessa stripped naked humiliated so that when the necklace was found beneath her bed, she would be dragged to the cells exposed.”

My blood ran cold.

“Please, Alpha,” Alesha pleaded. “I was just a tool. If you doubt me, bring in a real physician. Test her. She’s only on her normal cycle.”

The crowd erupted in shocked murmurs.

And I knew.

I believed her.

Every word fit. Every piece aligned. Jalisa had been relentless about blaming Venessa the last person to clean our room. She hadn’t needed to explain her motive to Alesha. I knew it already.

Venessa was my fated.

I had rejected the bond to remain loyal to my wife. I didn’t love Jalisa, but I respected her. I honored our union. I had chosen commitment over destiny.

So why would she do this?

I looked at my wife. She couldn’t meet my gaze.

That was answer enough.

“Release her,” I ordered the guard, turning away before my fury could consume me. Shame and rage coiled tight in my chest. Venessa had done nothing wrong and Jalisa had been willing to kill her.

Sending Venessa to another pack might be safer… but the thought tore at me.

You will not send our mate away, Nigel growled inside my head.

I didn’t argue. I didn’t have the strength or the desire to let her go.

I stalked back to my quarters. It was still early, breakfast hours away, but the idea of food made me sick. I poured myself a shot of whiskey and swallowed it hard.

Then Jalisa walked in.

A growl ripped from my chest.

“How dare you?” I roared. “How dare you humiliate us like that? The pack will never take you seriously again. You played with their emotions why?”

She broke down, tears spilling as she sank to sit at the foot of the bed.

“You were ready to let an innocent woman die to protect your lies,” I continued coldly. “How heartless can you be, Jalisa? Loyalty and respect take years to earn and seconds to lose. You’ve lost both. Did you see their faces?”

She sobbed.

“I had to do something,” she cried. “I see the way you look at her. I saw how upset you were when Rayon admired her. I know you care for her.”

Her voice shook. “I can’t sit by and watch your fated take you from me. Our s*x life has been terrible since she arrived. When you touch me, you’re rough like you’re trying to get something out of your system. And I know what that something is. It’s her.”

She looked at me desperately. “How do you expect me to feel?”

I growled low in my throat.

“She rejected me,” I snapped. “And I accepted it. You were there. She is not a threat to you.”

Jalisa shook her head. “She is, Denzel. She’s beautiful. Everyone likes her. She could replace me and you don’t want to send her away.”

Nigel snarled inside me.

“Don’t ask me to send her away,” I said, my voice deadly calm. “I’ve already sacrificed enough. She is my fated, and I accepted her rejection to spare you pain. I won’t condemn her knowing Lycans are hunting her. You heard how she arrived here.”

I took a step closer.

“There are no rogue Lycans. They wanted her dead and they succeeded in killing her mother. I may never claim her, but I will protect her. The Goddess tied her to me for a reason.”

Nigel’s voice bled through mine because the truth burned too deeply to deny.

“At my expense?” Jalisa whispered. “What would my father say?”

I laughed short, sharp, and bitter.

For the first time, I realized just how little that threat meant anymore.