CHAPTER THREE

ALPHA JERRY

The crowd's fury was a palpable thing, a hot, suffocating air that pressed in on her from all sides. They were a single, venomous entity, their accusations a constant hum of hatred. And there she was, at the center of it all, a fragile, silver-haired girl who looked as if she had just dropped from the moon. I had never seen such innocent beauty in my life. She was the one they all accused of my brother’s death, but I couldn't bring myself to believe it.

I knew I was in a complicated position. Sasha was out there waiting for me to return to her, but a promise I had made to her felt distant now. "I am sorry, Sasha," I whispered to myself, "but I have to find out the truth about my brother’s killer, and to do that, I must get close to his widow, the suspect." My logical mind told me this was a necessary step. My heart, however, was already betraying me. I tried to convince myself that I wasn't falling for her—no, I couldn't be. I would publicly reject her if I confirmed she killed Max.

I stepped forward, the weight of the moment settling on me. It was a tragedy that had unfolded on my return; instead of a reunion with my dear brother, I was greeted with his death. My heart was broken, and now, it was a war between my duty and my instincts. How could they condemn this girl so quickly? Henry and Eveline had been so fast to point the finger, but when I asked for his medical records or an autopsy, no one could provide a shred of proof. "He was so careless with his health," Henry had shrugged. But without knowing about his blood pressure, his heart condition, or his sugar levels, their accusations were baseless. Eveline even claimed that Lara’s "evil wolf" had killed him, just as it had killed their parents—a ridiculous assertion that I completely dismissed.

I would not let them kill this young girl. "Stop right there," my voice cut through the mob's noise like a whip. The field went silent. "What makes you so certain she is responsible for Max's death?" I questioned the multitude, my eyes scanning their angry faces. It was a pathetic display of mob justice. "No one can prove she killed him. And as long as Max cannot speak for himself, his widow is free of all accusations." Henry grabbed my arm, but I ignored him. I looked at the young woman on the ground, and a shiver ran down my spine. I saw her innocence in her eyes. "Unchain her and remove the tape," I commanded. Instantly, the crowd obeyed.

"You cannot set her free just like that!" Eveline cried out.

"Why do you think your sister is capable of killing her own husband?" I demanded. She responded with shocking boldness, "Because she didn’t want to marry him. But Max loved her, so I forced her to marry him against her will." Her motive was now clear, but still, it was not the evidence I needed to condemn her. "Alpha Jerry, she is responsible for his death and should be punished," she insisted. It was plausible, but I still needed stronger proof. The truth was, Lara might be my fated mate, but I would burn her alive if she were proven guilty.

Lara never took her eyes off me, and in her gaze, I saw fear laced with gratitude. "Thank you, sir," she said softly before turning to walk away. "Shouldn’t she remain in the pit until proven guilty or innocent?" Eveline sneered, her hatred so profound it chilled me. "I can’t spend a night in that house with her," she spat. I couldn’t understand how a sister could be so cruel. Was Lara truly that evil? "Stop there, Lara," I commanded. She froze. "You will stay here," I declared pointing at the pit.

"But you all have fourteen days to present any proof. If not, she will be freed, and all rights will be given to her as my brother’s widow."

I didn't care what Henry or Eveline thought of my judgment.

And then she smiled. A small, radiant smile that brought an unexpected warmth to my heart. I wished I could do more, but this was all I could do right now. I believe she is innocent, but as my mother always said, "No one should be trusted." She is my mate, and while my every instinct screams to be with her, our love is a forbidden one.

That night, sleep was impossible. Her face, her grateful smile, the fears in her eyes—it all replayed in my mind. What if she really did kill my brother? Then my gaze fell upon Max’s picture on the wall. He was smiling at me. It was as if he approved. "Maybe the verdict I passed today impressed him," I thought. "Maybe I did the right thing. Maybe she is innocent."

The next day, I woke to a bright, hopeful morning. I drew the curtains and began to truly observe the house. Max had completely modernized the interior, a reflection of his high taste. I was still shocked that Lara had refused to marry him, a royal, but that stubbornness only made me want her more. As I walked through the house, I stumbled upon a sack hidden in a corner. Out of curiosity, I opened it. Inside were women's clothes. Lara's clothes. She had packed them as if she were planning to run.

A cold surge of anger and betrayal washed over me. I stormed out and hurried to the pit. "Open this pit and bring her out," I commanded. Holding the sack up to her face, I snarled, "I found this hidden with your clothes. Why did you have to put your clothes away?"

Instead of answering, she passed out.