Last night, I had an unexpected visitor – Ivy, the Alpha's sister. Initially, I was taken aback as the Alpha had ventured out with around a hundred warriors to find her. I hesitated to let her in, thinking she might be a ghost, but she persisted.
"Moon, are you trying to drive me away from your house? Do you remember who stood by you when you lost your parents in the war?" Ivy's words struck a chord with me.
It was Ivy and Iris who had been there for me three years ago during a brutal pack attack. Ivy had saved my life, though I still didn't know how.
"Ivy, news of your disappearance has spread. Alpha Zion and a hundred warriors, along with Alpha Zach, are searching for you in the woods," I informed her.
She glanced around and then quipped, "Just let me in, and I'll explain everything to you." As the Alpha's sister, I couldn't refuse her request, especially when a concern weighed on my heart.
"Why not go to the pack house? There are plenty of servants there," I suggested. She smiled, but it was a bitter smile.
"I went there but couldn't find Madai, and I'm bored. Trust me, I will leave before you know it."
If she had gone to the pack house, wouldn't the whole pack have heard by now? Since I knew where Beta Madai and his mate were, I informed her.
"Beta Madai is at the small house near the pack house."
"I already know that," she said, leaving me stunned. I was at a loss for words and let her in. She sat on my late father's favorite recliner.
"I will get you some tea," I offered. She didn't respond but stopped me before I could reach the kitchen.
"Annabelle killed my sister Iris, yet she lives in the small house. Mom and dad never let anyone there, including us, but Zion allowed the murderer to stay. What should we do about her?"
Her question caught me off guard, revealing her reluctance to be at the pack house and the small house. But which Annabelle was she referring to?
"Two new members were recently introduced to the tribe, Aphia and Bella. Which of these two is Annabelle?"
Ivy chuckled, though pain was evident in her eyes. "Annabelle must be Bella. No matter how she tries to hide it, she's a murderer."
It was unbelievable, but the fact that Alpha Zion was out there searching for her indicated his concern for her.
"Ivy, regardless of the circumstances, I cannot condone your actions. Our Alpha is out there worried and searching for you, yet here you are."
She smiled wryly. "I missed him a lot and wanted to come see him without informing Zach, but when I got close to the pack, I heard the rumors and decided to make things difficult for him. This is the only way to get him away from Annabelle, and she must die, but you have to help me," she said pleadingly. I saw no wrong in going against a murderer.
"Whatever, Ivy, I'm here for you."
She smiled and laid out her plans. Simply put, I was supposed to inform some troublesome tribe members through a mindlink about what Bella had done, then we could set her up.
With Alpha Zion's pack members attacking each other and him frowning upon it, it was our only way to make him hate Annabelle. But something disturbed me.
"Alpha Zion cares about her. Do you think he will believe me?"
"Trust me, Moon, anyone who goes against a tribe member is harshly dealt with, and penalties include banishment. As soon as that happens, Zach will find Annabelle and finish off what he started. She has to die for what she did to Iris."
Agreeing with her, I flawlessly executed the plan and noticed in Alpha Zion's eyes that he was falling for it, except for one thing I despised: cameras. If Alpha Zion had not returned so early, we could have finished her off before anything like this happened.
"Start talking," Alpha Zion said wearily. I felt sorry for him, but with my fate hanging in the balance, I confessed everything to him, seeing the anger in his eyes.
"Ivy," he muttered, his fingers clenching. "She should have confronted me instead of resorting to such cheap tactics."
"I'm sorry, Alpha Zion, but you can't punish me for trying to protect the pack," I hinted, hoping for his forgiveness. However, his anger burned deep.
"You defied my orders and almost killed an innocent she-wolf. If I hadn't intervened, the consequences would have been dire. It's time for you all to decide on a punishment, and I suggest banishment. You can join Zach's tribe for all I care," Alpha Zion's stern voice echoed through the clearing.
His words struck a chord in my heart, filling me with sorrow. I never intended to betray him. "Bella, I'm truly sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" I pleaded, hoping for redemption.
Despite the trust the Alpha placed in her, he had never let us down since assuming his role. Apart from his escapades with sex workers and manipulating Alpha Zach's weaknesses to secure his position, Alpha Zion had proven to be a strong and capable leader.
Bella's expression softened, hinting at forgiveness, but Alpha Zion intervened before she could respond.
"Bella does not have the authority to decide. You defied my orders, and now you must face the consequences. Go fetch Iris," he commanded, his tone unwavering.
Before he could finish, Iris's voice boomed from the shadows. "Zion, I'm here. And if you don't release her, I will not hesitate to inform Zach about her presence here," she threatened, her words laced with defiance.
Pain was evident in Alpha Zion's eyes as he gazed at Ivy. "What do you think Zach will do? You left without telling him, so you don't really care about him."
Ivy's gaze shifted, but the next moment, it was filled with loathing. "I hate Zach for marking her. It's no wonder he couldn't mark Kari. That's why I left without telling him. I wanted you both to suffer the consequences of losing both sisters. So now, these are my conditions: relieve them of their punishment, and I won't tell Zach about her. Secondly, choose between her and me," Ivy declared. I could see the helplessness in Alpha Zion's eyes.
This was the worst time to be the Alpha of the Luna Echoes Tribe.