Chapter 105
FAYE
The silence stretched for so long I thought Alexander wasn’t going to answer me at all. He sat there with his hands resting loosely on the wheel, his jaw set, his eyes fixed on the empty stretch of road ahead.
I turned toward him, trying to steady my voice. “Why would Maya be involved in something like that? Spying? Setting me up? She has no reason to do that to me p>
It felt wrong even saying it out loud. Maya had been one of the only pack members who didn’t treat me with open contempt from the start. She smiled when she saw me, brought things to my room without being asked, and tried–at least in little ways–to make me feel less like an intruder. To imagine her standing on the other side of the knife that had cut my purse strap…it made my stomach knot in protest.
Alexander finally turned his head, his gaze landing on me. His expression softened, but there was something else beneath it, too. “Maya may not have anything to gain directly from all this chaos,” he said slowly, “but Gerald might. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that he never dirties his own hands when he can use someone else’s p>
I frowned, shaking my head. “Gerald p>
“Yes.” His tone was clipped, certain. “I can’t say for sure yet what he’s really trying to achieve, but I’d bet everything I have that he’s involved somehow. And Maya…she could very well be his way in. His pawn. Especially since you seem to trust her so much p>
I sat back against the seat, baffled. “But why would Maya help him? She’s just a servant in the house. What could Gerald possibly have over her p>
Alexander gave me a look that made my breath catch. It wasn’t anger, not exactly–more like disbelief, as though he couldn’t understand how I didn’t already know.
“Why not?” he said at last, his voice low, almost casual. “Gerald is her father. That should be reason enough p>
For a moment I thought I misheard him. My lips parted, but no sound came out. “Her…her what?” I had to ask, even though I was fully aware that he didn’t enjoy dragging conversations. He was the one who brought it up so he had to be ready to satisfy my curiosity too.
“Her father,” Alexander repeated, eyes back on the road, as though the words were nothing shocking at all. “You really didn’t know p>
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I stared at him, stunned. “No. I–I never asked about her family. She never said anything either. I just…” My voice trailed off. How could I have missed something like that?
Claim
The pieces slid into place with a sickening click. Gerald, the elder who had practically salivated over the chance to condemn me in front of everyone, the one who had pressed for my arrest before Alexander even walked in… and Maya, the quiet girl who always happened to be around at the right moments, who had free access to my room whenever she pleased.
If she was his daughter, then Alexander’s suspicions weren’t far–fetched at all.
I remembered the gleam in Gerald’s eyes yesterday, the eagerness in his voice when he announced my guilt as though he had been waiting for that moment his entire life. If it hadn’t been for Alexander’s timely return, I was certain Gerald would have passed judgment the same day–and execution might have followed before I even had a chance to defend myself.
A shiver ran down my spine.
If Maya truly was his daughter, then perhaps Alexander was right. Perhaps the girl I’d tried to believe in was never truly on my side at all.
My thoughts tangled into knots until I barely noticed how quiet I’d grown. I must have been staring blankly out the window because Alexander’s voice cut through my haze gently.
“Don’t lose yourself in it, Faye,” he said. “I’ll get to the bottom of this. And when I do, you won’t have anything to worry about p>
I looked at him, searching his face. There was no hesitation in his eyes, no trace of doubt. He meant every word.
Still, I couldn’t hold back the question that burned at the edge of my tongue. “But I’ll be facing trial, won’t I p>
He looked away. Just briefly, but I caught it. His silence was heavier than any words.
Then, finally, he nodded. “Yes. Unless I uncover the truth first. If I can prove who was responsible, the entire case collapses. You’ll be vindicated p>
I let out a laugh, hollow and humorless. The idea of me being vindicated seemed almost absurd. “Vindicated? I can’t even walk down the hallway without everyone whispering. They already see me as guilty. How do you erase that p>
His hand moved before I could think, reaching across the console to cover mine. My breath hitched at the contact. I doubt if I’ll ever get used to his touch.
“Look at me,” he said.
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I hesitated, then obeyed. His eyes locked on mine p>
“Trust me, Faye. You are my responsibility, and I will protect you–at all costs p>
Claim
Something inside me cracked wide open. Not from fear. Not from the weight of suspicion or the judgement of the pack. But from his words, from the raw conviction in his voice.
My heart thundered in my chest, pounding so hard I was afraid he might hear it. After everything with Jason…after all the lies, the betrayal, the wound I swore would never heal…I hadn’t thought my heart could beat like this for anyone ever again.
And yet, here I was.
I swallowed hard, fighting the sting in my eyes. I didn’t want to cry in front of him again.
But Nova’s voice stirred suddenly in the back of my mind, sly and bright as always.
“You know it’ll be easier if you just….” Nova started.
Heat rushed up my neck and into my cheeks as I cut her off fast. “Nova,” I hissed inwardly, mortified. “Shut up p>
“I’m just saying…” Nova added.
I buried my face briefly in my hand, suddenly wishing I could sink into the seat and disappear before she actually embarrassed me.
Alexander’s chuckle broke the tension. A low, warm sound. He didn’t comment on Nova’s interruption, though of course he’d heard her. Instead, he only shook his head with a faint smile tugging at his lips, as if he found my embarrassment amusing.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t hear anything,” he said lightly, shifting gears as he started the car again.
I rolled my eyes. “Can we actually go get something to eat, please?” I was very hungry at this point, I barely ate anything yesterday.
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