Chapter 40 - Gossip or truth?

Alpha Shane sat at his desk, his expression a storm of anger and determination. He had just learned from Leo about Delta Marlon’s mysterious blood incompatibility with Trixie, and it had set off a cascade of suspicions and plans. He was resolute; the truth had to come out, no matter the cost.
“Leo,” Alpha Shane began, his voice tight with suppressed rage, “if we find out who Trixie’s real father is, both she and her mother Lucille will need to lower their status. They will have to separate from Delta Marlon. The pack cannot afford to have secrets and lies at its core.”
Leo, standing respectfully by the desk, nodded. “I understand, Alpha Shane.”
A sudden thought struck Leo, and he hesitated before speaking. “Actually, Alpha, there’s something else. I recall hearing a gossip a while back...”
Alpha Shane’s eyes narrowed. “What gossip, Leo? Don’t hold back now.”
Leo took a deep breath, knowing the weight of his next words. “There was a rumor about Lucille having an affair with a rogue werewolf outside the pack. It was whispered about but never confirmed.”
Alpha Shane’s face darkened, his eyes blazing with fury. “If that is true, then maybe that rogue is Trixie’s real father. And if Lucille has been involved with a rogue, she could very well be a spy and a traitor to the pack. This could mean they have allies among the rogues, which puts us all in danger.”
Leo nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “What do you want me to do, Alpha?”
Alpha Shane leaned forward, his fingers drumming on the desk. “I want every man in the pack, aged forty and above, to give a blood sample. We will test those samples against Trixie’s blood. If no one in our pack is compatible, then the gossip is true, and Trixie is the daughter of a rogue. If that’s the case, Lucille and Trixie must be expelled from the pack immediately.”
Leo nodded again, his expression serious. “I’ll handle it discreetly, Alpha. We can’t afford to let this information cause panic before we have concrete evidence.”
“Good,” Alpha Shane said, his voice a low growl. “This needs to be done swiftly and quietly. We need to protect the pack from any potential threats, internal or external.”
Leo left the office with a sense of purpose, aware of the delicate task ahead of him. He began by visiting the pack’s healer, Doctor Barnes, to arrange for the collection and testing of blood samples. The doctor, aware of the seriousness of the situation, agreed to keep everything confidential.
“Make sure to handle the samples carefully,” Leo instructed. “We can’t have any mistakes. Alpha Shane is counting on us to uncover the truth.”
Doctor Barnes nodded, his face grim. “I’ll take care of it, Leo. We’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Leo then moved on to inform the older men in the pack, carefully framing the request as a routine health check to avoid arousing suspicion. Most of them complied without question, trusting in their alpha’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Alpha Shane continued to gather more information about Lucille’s past. He called in Greta, the elderly former servant who had provided the initial lead about Lucille’s secret meetings with a mysterious man.
“Greta,” Alpha Shane said, his tone softer than usual to put her at ease, “tell me more about what you remember regarding Lucille and this rogue werewolf.”
Greta, her hands trembling slightly, recounted her memories. “Lucille was always very careful, but I noticed things. Late-night meetings, whispered conversations. The man was tall, with dark hair. He had an air of danger about him. Lucille seemed... different when he was around. More nervous, but also more alive.”
Alpha Shane listened intently, piecing together the fragments of the puzzle. “Did you ever hear anything specific about their conversations? Anything that might give us more clues?”
Greta shook her head. “They were always very discreet. But I always felt there was more to their relationship than just a casual affair. It seemed... significant.”
Alpha Shane nodded, thanking Greta for her help. Every piece of information was valuable, and he was determined to uncover the truth, no matter how deeply it was buried.
As the days passed, Leo continued to collect the blood samples and ensured they were tested promptly. The results started coming in, and one by one, they showed no matches with Trixie’s blood. The evidence was mounting, pointing towards the uncomfortable truth that Trixie’s father was indeed an outsider, likely a rogue.
One evening, Leo returned to Alpha Shane’s office, his expression serious and determined. “Alpha Shane, the results are almost conclusive. None of the samples from our pack match Trixie’s blood. It seems the gossip was right. Trixie is not Delta Marlon’s daughter.”
Alpha Shane’s eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and resolve. “This confirms our suspicions. Lucille and Trixie have deceived us all. They must be confronted and dealt with accordingly.”
Leo nodded, knowing the confrontation would be challenging but necessary. “How do you want to handle this, Alpha?”
Alpha Shane stood, his powerful presence filling the room. “We will call a meeting with Lucille and Trixie. They deserve a chance to explain themselves, but they must also face the consequences of their actions. The pack’s safety and unity are paramount.”
Leo arranged the meeting, ensuring it was done discreetly to avoid unnecessary attention. Lucille and Trixie were summoned to Alpha Shane’s office, both looking anxious and uneasy.
Alpha Shane’s gaze was steely as he addressed them. “Lucille, Trixie, we have discovered some troubling truths. We know that Trixie is not Delta Marlon’s daughter. We also know about the affair with the rogue werewolf. You both have deceived this pack.”
Lucille’s face paled, and Trixie’s eyes widened in fear. “Alpha Shane, please, let us explain,” Lucille pleaded.
Alpha Shane held up a hand, silencing her. “You will have your chance to speak. But know this: your actions have endangered the pack. We need to understand the full extent of your betrayal.”