Chapter 226

Chapter 76: Ayla We went down to the precinct together. Acting Sheriff McCabe greeted us immediately and took us to the cells where the two conspirators were being held.

“Malcolm hasn’t said anything,” McCabe said. “But Hawkins has been pretty verbal. I cleared the building before bringing him in.

Good thing, too. He was spewing some pretty serious allegations. I still don’t know who here would side with him. So that was the last thing we needed.”

“Nice work,” Theo said. “Keep that up. None of the officers are to deal with either of them.”

3. 3.

“Yes, Alpha.”

I was looking through the glass at the former sheriff. He seemed distraught, but whether that was simply because he was caught and facing a treason sentence, I couldn’t tell. I told Theo I wanted to speak with Hawkins alone. He compromised and insisted Maggie go in with me.

We stepped into the interrogation room and Hawkins looked up at me. I wasn’t sure how to read his reaction, but I doubt I was mistaken when I saw disdain mixed with his surprise. I took a seat in the chair across the table and looked him over.

“I’m sure it’s not necessary, but I’m going to introduce myself anyway,” I said. “My name is Ayla Garner, oldest daughter of Jack and Marie Garner. Although, I’m sure you know that wasn’t my father’s real name.” He remained quiet but shifted in his seat, confirming my statement. “I hear you have some 0.00%

kind of evidence against me and my intentions for this pack. Evidence that supposedly proves that I’m not only unfit to be Luna but unfit to live. I would like to know what that is.”

“We never planned to kill you,” Hawkins rushed.

I raised an eyebrow. “The scar on my side from being stabbed with a silver blade says otherwise. An act carried out by my own packmate. A packmate that, much like yourself, I had never met before. So, please, enlighten me on the terrible things I have apparently done to make people I’ve never met hate me so much.”

“It’s what you will do,” Hawkins said. “It’s what you’re capable of. I’ve seen proof of that.”

“And what am I capable of?”

“Lying, deceit,” Hawkins spat. “You use people. Take advantage of them. I’m the sherrif. I will never allow a common criminal to be my Luna.”

I had to fight to push back the rage that surged through my connection with Theo. I was sure someone was in there holding him back.

“Okay,” I replied. “So show me the evidence that was so damning you would risk your life?”

“Three years,” Hawkins stated. “Three years you worked with a loan shark, helping build his empire in this territory. You helped him gain from others misfortunes. And once you made your own fortune, you just walked away.”

The corner of my lip twitched in amusement but I didn’t say anything, but Hawkins continued.

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“I’m sure you neglected to tell Alpha Theo about your lucrative career. After that, it must have been easy for you to break your sister’s heart and take her mate from her. But let’s face it, we know you’re after every Alpha you can get your claws into. Just like the Sablemane Alpha. And once you have their loyalty, you’ll take over everything. Destroy our way of life.”

“Why does everyone believe I stole Theo from Kylee?” I said with exasperation. “You know situations like this happen all the time. Wolves date and their fated mates come along and end it. It’s not even that uncommon for it to happen within families. But so many of you refuse to believe the obvious, normal, truth.

“Either way,” I proceeded, “that’s all a lie.”

“So, your sister, the one you and so many others dote upon, is a liar?” Hawkins interjected.

I met his eyes, holding his gaze intently. “Yes,” I said firmly. “She lied. About a lot of things actually. Although” – I raised my hand “to be fair, there were some things she didn’t know about that meant she didn’t realize she was lying. But still, there were a lot of lies.”

–

Hawkins was shaking his head. “I looked into you,” he said. “I have surveillance footage from when you worked with Guillermo.”

“Oh, I did work for him,” I said. “As the manager of his legitimate business. And I did it as a deal to protect my mother and pay off her gambling debts. I was never knowingly involved with his illegal activities.”

“Oh please,” Hawkins spat. “Even if that was true, you knew he 48 12%

would find a way to use you.”

“And wouldn’t that make me his victim?” I pointed out. “Not his accomplice? You’re right. I’m not stupid. But sometimes we have to choose naivety to put food on the table. Begrudge me that all you want, but I will never regret what I did for my family.” I stood up, finished with the conversation, but I met his eyes one more time. “Oh, and yes, I did tell Theo. He knows everything.”

I left the cell, unsure about how I felt about this information I had received. Theo met me in the hall.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he grabbed my face.

“Are you?” I replied. “It felt like you were about to come through that glass.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

I placed a reassuring hand on his chest, but my brow was still furrowed as I thought about our conversation.

“What?”

“False or not, I still don’t understand how he could be so dedicated to the Waar Pak from that information alone,” I said. “He committed treason for this, but he still seems loyal.”

Theo sighed. “Hawkins is passionate about fighting corruption,” he informed me. “Always has been. If he believed you were working as a loan shark, he wouldn’t accept you in any position of power.”

My face creased with deeper concern. “Which means the Waar Pak isn’t just targeting groups with general rhetoric, 74.68%

they’re getting specific. Personal. They’re fighting with psychological warfare that we can’t predict.”

“That’s why we need to end this,” Theo said. “Now.”