Marked Twice by the Alpha King

"So where's this supposed evidence?" Jackson piped up suddenly, drawing every eye in the room. "All I'm hearing is theories. Where's the beef?"

Smooth move-making himself look like the rational one while painting me as some crusader with an agenda.

"Funny you should ask. I pulled out what Tyler dug up last night-a small silver container scratched all to hell with pack symbols. When I cracked it open, the metallic tang of old blood hit the air.

You could've heard a pin drop as the elders crowded in for a look, eyebrows shooting up.

"This was buried half a mile from where Carter died," I said, tilting it so they could peek inside. "Got two different sets of claw marks on it, and neither matches William."

I ran my thumb over the gouges, giving them all a good look. "This has Shadow Creek written all over it-but it's not your garden-variety potion. It's the souped-up version made for Alphas. Gives you a hell of a power boost, but turns your brain to mush-makes you fly off the handle at nothing."

The room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees as the elders started trading looks that said more than words ever could.

"Someone slipped this to Carter, then used his rage episode to set the whole thing up,” I continued. “William wasn't the killer-he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The blood spray shows he was trying to stop it, not make it happen."

"It's not a smoking gun pointing at our killer, but it blows a hole in your death sentence," I pressed on. "William was just some poor bastard who saw something he shouldn't have."

"Made him the perfect fall guy," I added. "The evidence says he got a raw deal."

Chairman Drake turned the container over in his hands, his tough-guy act cracking around the edges. "This complicates things," he admitted, frowning. "But William still kept his mouth shut and got mixed up in this mess."

"Not saying he's walking away clean," I conceded. "But you don't put a wolf down unless you're damn sure. Keep him locked up while we dig deeper, but take execution off the table."

The elders huddled up with their eyes, having one of those silent conversations where nobody wants to be the first to back down. Finally, Drake cracked.

"In light of what Alpha King Morgan's brought to the table," he forced the words out like they hurt, "we'll hold off on William's execution. He stays locked up until we get to the bottom of this."

"My team's joining the investigation," I added, making it crystal clear this wasn't up for debate. "And fix his cell situation-lose the silver restraints and get him some basic care. Guy looks like death warmed over."

Drake's face went sour, but he gave a stiff nod. "Consider it done."

As everything wrapped up, Jackson glided over like we were old buddies. "Alpha King Morgan," his voice smooth as butter, "you've got my complete backing on reopening this case. Finding the truth matters above all else, wherever it leads."

His face was the picture of sincerity, but his eyes were dead as stones. Behind that perfect mask, wheels were turning,

"Truth's a funny thing, Jackson," I said, watching him closely. "Tends to hide in the places people don't want you looking."

His smile never faltered-picture perfect. "Couldn't agree more. Justice is all any of us want."

Outside, Tyler fell in step beside me, voice low: "That was one hell of an act he put on."

"Yeah, I muttered, eyes forward. "When someone tries that hard to look clean, you can bet they're dirty somewhere. Keep digging-and watch our backs." Chapter Comments

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