Chapter 17 #2
"Ryker was right. The patterns are clear." Marcus's voice carried the certainty of someone who'd already made up his mind. "The incidents started after the witches arrived. The disturbances are getting worse. And now the Plunge is at risk because we're too soft to do what needs doing."
Murmurs of agreement whispered from the corners, making Ryker wince.
"Exile them." Another voice spoke up, younger, harder. "Finish what Ryker started. They were trouble from the moment they set foot on this island."
Finish what Ryker started.
The words twisted in his gut. He looked around the room.
At Marcus's righteous certainty. At the younger wolves nodding along.
At the fear hardening into cruelty. He saw his own handiwork everywhere.
These weren't independent conclusions. This was his poison spreading through the pack, his accusations given weight because he was trusted, his evidence treated as fact because he'd presented it like that.
He'd done this. Every wolf calling for exile was echoing words he'd put in their mouths. And if Willow and her witches were driven off the island, that would be on him too.
More voices piled on, building momentum. His wolf pressed against his ribs, agitated, and for once they were in agreement. This had to stop and he was the only one who could.
He remembered Willow's face at that meeting. The moment she'd realized what he was doing. The way something behind her eyes had gone dark and still.
The woman he loved.
The thought made his heart skip a beat. He'd known it somewhere underneath all the denial.
Had known it since that night in her cabin when she'd looked at him like he was worth everything to her.
But he'd never let himself name it until this moment, standing in a room full of wolves using his words to destroy her.
He pushed off the wall and stepped forward, the room going quiet.
Everyone was waiting for him to pile on, to drive the final nail.
"The evidence I presented was circumstantial. Incomplete."
His voice carried through the sudden silence and he forced himself to hold steady even as his wolf paced inside him.
"I found magical traces where I asked her to investigate.
I found patterns that fit the narrative I wanted to believe.
" He let that land. "I let personal fear cloud my judgment.
I saw something in Willow that reminded me of someone else, and I convinced myself I was protecting the pack when I was just protecting myself. "
Murmurs erupted around him and glances were exchanged.
"I was wrong."
The words hung in the air as the entire room went silent again.
"The witches aren't behind this. I don't know what's causing the incidents, but I know it's not them." He met the eyes of the wolves pushing hardest. "Whatever I said before, disregard it. That was my fear talking, not evidence."
Cal gave him a slow nod from across the room. Gray's expression was unreadable, but his posture eased. Damien watched from near the stills, sharp eyes taking it all in.
Others were less convinced. Marcus's jaw had gone tight.
"This is a rather sudden change of mind." Marcus's voice cut through the murmurs. "Yesterday you were certain. Today you're recanting. What changed overnight?"
Everything. And nothing he could explain.
"I was wrong," he said again. "That's all that matters."
Voices exploded as the two sides began fighting.
Damien stepped forward, and the room went quiet again. When an Alpha spoke, his voice carried the weight of someone who expected to be obeyed.
"You've heard what Ryker had to say, and I tend to agree.
The evidence was circumstantial from the start.
" His gaze swept the room, landing briefly on Marcus.
"As far as I’m concerned, we made an agreement with the sanctuary witches, and we intend to honor it.
Unless someone has actual evidence to present otherwise, this discussion is officially closed. "
No one spoke.
"However, the investigation will continue, and the security team stays on high alert throughout the festival.
Sawyer, I want extra patrols near the north shore.
Gray, coordinate with the vendors on emergency protocols for the Plunge.
" Damien's jaw tightened before turning his gaze back to Ryker.
"We've got three days to figure out what's actually causing these incidents.
I suggest we focus on that instead of chasing shadows. "
The meeting broke up after that, wolves dispersing with their assignments. He slipped out the side door before anyone could corner him with questions he couldn't answer.
It wasn't enough. But it was a start and the only move he could make.
Willow hadn't been at the meeting. She'd hear about it secondhand, probably from Lily or Faith.
And when she did, would it make a difference?
Words were the currency he'd already devalued.
Every promise he'd made, every soft thing he'd whispered in the dark, had been followed by cruelty in the light.
His wolf whined, pressing against his ribs, still reaching for her. Still finding nothing.
He shoved the wolf’s instincts out of his head.
There were three days until the Polar Plunge, the island's biggest event, and he had a lot of work to do. Damien’s words had been clear.
Incidents were still happening and the real threat still unknown, he'd cleared Willow’s name as much as he could, but that didn't solve the actual problem. Something was still out there.
And in the meantime, Gray's words echoed in his head. You help the witches when they need it. You defend them when someone talks shit. You show up and do the work without expecting anything in return.
He turned the poker chip in his hand and clicked it against his thumbnail.
He'd taken the first step. And tomorrow he'd take another one. That was his only option. For now.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and started the long walk home.