Chapter 86

Nathan POV

I sat across from The Star reporter as an aid attached a microphone to my tie.

And wondered if I’d lost my mind.

Why had I thought a live interview would be better than a press conference??

At a press conference I could have presented a carefully written statement, and had prepared talking points ready to deal with any questions.

Here I was completely at the mercy of the reporter. Though I had a few talking points ready, I’d have to think quick and answer on the fly. There would be very little time to think about or plan my answers.

But that was the point, wasn’t it?

I wanted the pack to see that I was being open, honest and transparent. That I was here to calm their fears and concerns, and I wasn’t trying to hide anything.

Even though I was.

I knew, sitting there watching the reporter review her notes, that I was going to have to be very careful to keep my secrets.

Because some things were just too private, or too embarrassing, to admit. Even to the pack.

My true relationship to Claire needed to stay private. And I wanted to hide the fact that Sabrina had actually attempted mind control on me if at all possible.

That was just too shameful to admit, to anyone. I could barely acknowledge it inside myself.

“Alright, Alpha. Are you ready?” the reporter asked.

I took a breath, carefully making my expression calm and confident. Then I nodded.

“Ok, here we go.”

She turned to look at one of the cameras set up around us, and gave her introduction. “This is Andrea Snow, coming to you live from the Silverfang pack with an exclusive interview with Alpha Nathan.

“Alpha, welcome. And thank you for agreeing to this interview.”

“Thank you for coming. I appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight,” I said.

She smiled, clearly ready to dig in. “And what a lot of record there is to straighten, isn’t there? This has been quite an eventful time in Silverfang pack.”

“It’s been an eventful time for the entire realm. The rogue attacks have caused a lot of concern and worry in every pack.”

My marketing team and I had agreed on several points to stick to as much as possible throughout the interview, and pulling attention back to the rogue attacks was one of them.

That way I could talk about how the actions of Sabrina and her allies had affected the entire realm, not just Silverfang.

“They have indeed, Alpha. And yet you were one of the Alphas who decreed that their pack would not be sending help of any sort to the Royal pack.

“A decree you have since suddenly cancelled. Why?”

I struggled not to shift in my seat. I’d known this question was coming, but it still made me uncomfortable.

Because I was still so ashamed of it.

But my people deserved the truth.

Or as much of it as I could give them.

“The truth, Andrea, is that it wasn’t my actual decree. It was one made in my name by the false princess Sabrina.”

Andrea raised her eyebrows. “Are you saying she made the decree in your name? How is that even possible, Alpha?”

“Sabrina initially came to Silverfang pack to act as an adviser on my campaign for Alpha President. A campaign I fully intend to continue running, by the way,” I added.

The attacks on the Royal territory had delayed everyone’s campaign, pushing back the election date. While I wasn’t happy about why it happened, I was grateful for the delay, and the chance to get my campaign back on track.

“I thought, since I previously knew the false princess, that I could trust her to act as a trusted adviser.

“But that trust was betrayed.”

I felt my expression grow harder, my voice grow firmer. Thinking of how Sabrina had betrayed me - and through me, the entire pack - still caused a sharp rage to ignite inside me.

“So you’re claiming Princess Sabrina issued orders, in your name, without your knowledge? How is that possible, Alpha Nathan?”

I frowned at her wording. “The false princess was able to issue orders in my name because I was ill at the time. An illness caused by poison she gave me.”

A look of shock crossed the reporter’s face, and I could hear gasps from several of the crew also standing in the room.

“You were poisoned??”

“Yes. And it was only through the dedicated efforts of my Beta and the Duchess Catherine that Sabrina’s efforts to isolate and poison me were discovered, and foiled.

“It was Sabrina’s plan to slowly take over the Silverfang pack, and use the members as an invading force to take over the Royal throne.”

Another set of gasps, another look of shock on the reporter’s face. But her eyes were gleaming with delight - she was getting far more from this interview than she must have anticipated.

I could sense her hunger for more information, and knew I’d have to be on guard.

“These are very…alarming accusations you’re making toward Princess Sabrina. Do you have proof of what you’re claiming?”

Again, she used Sabrina’s fake title. Was she doing it on purpose, to annoy me?

It was working.

“The false princess’ actions are proof enough. Silverfang knows I wouldn’t refuse aid to another pack if I was in my right mind.

And the further revelations at the so-called ‘cooperation ceremony’ Sabrina organized are even more proof of her devious nature.”

“Yes, we need to discuss that as well: Just how did you come to find the supposed lab report showing Sabrina to be a ‘false’ princess, Alpha Nathan?”

“From the Royal Alpha himself!” I said, before I could pull my emotions back in.

I’d expected the interview to include a fair amount of digging for information. I hadn’t expected her to needle me quite so much.

“The Royal Alpha’s Beta has reported that his Alpha initiated a lab report checking Sabrina’s DNA after growing suspicious of her behavior and her actions.

“And the report confirms that he had good reason for that suspicion: Sabrina is not in fact his daughter.”

“And you were with his other daughter, the Princess Claire, when you discovered this?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I faltered, blinking. “Why what?”

“Why were you with Princess Claire?”

“Because…”

Because as soon as I found out about the attacks on the Royal pack, she was the first thing I thought of her.

Because I’d needed to see with my own eyes that she was alive, and safe.

Because she was my mate.

None of which I could say.

“Because when I had recovered enough from the poison Sabrina gave me, my first move was to go to the Royal pack myself. To see what the damage really was.”

“And you just happened to encounter Princess Claire while you were there?”

“Yes,” I said carefully, wondering if the reporter was laying a trap I couldn’t see. “She was traveling between mobile clinics, and we met at one of them.

“This was when my enforcers learned from a captured rogue that there was a plan to assassinate the Royal Alpha.”

“Hmm. How convenient. Tell me, Alpha Nathan, what is your true relationship to Princess Claire?”

“My true…I don’t understand the question. Everyone knows she was raised as a member of the Silverfang pack. I met her when she began working at our clinic here.”

“And that’s the first time you met her? A hidden royal princess, with miraculous healing powers, was living in your pack her entire life, and you never knew it?”

My jaw clenched. What was she trying to do here?

“To my understanding, her abilities only emerged when she came to the clinic. I had no knowledge of her before that.”

The reporter nodded, made an addition to her notes.

“Well, that about wraps it up for today. Alpha Nathan, I want to thank you for meeting with me today. It’s truly been a pleasure.

Oh - one last question.”

Too late I realized this might be the trap she’d been laying all along. I could only wait, helpless, and hope I could handle whatever she threw at me.

But there was no way I could have prepared myself for what she said next.

“Alpha Nathan, what do you have to say about the… ‘false’ princess’ pregnancy - and the rumor that you are the father??”