Chapter 185

Amber’s POV

I sat in the supervisor’s office, bouncing my leg nervously as he looked over the results of my toxicology report. I already knew the answer, given my symptoms, but if I had any doubts, the look on his face would have cleared those away.

“You have indeed been poisoned for a second time,” the supervisor said. “We’ve determined the amount of wolfsbane has increased overall, faster than your body can expel it.”

So I was in danger of experiencing even more side effects then.

Could Tony really have done this?

I had no reason to doubt Alice’s word that he had been there and he and I had talked. And that could have explained why I always felt so uncertain around him, despite how he had saved Julian’s life.

But he had saved Julian’s life, so that needed consideration too. As much as I wanted to accuse him, I couldn’t do that without disrespecting him and the noble deed he had done.

If he was responsible, I had to be more subtle about finding that out.

“Perhaps you could ask Alpha Julian to assign you a bodyguard as he has done for Gloria,” the supervisor said.

Thinking of Gloria helped pull me from my own tumultuous thoughts. “How is she?” I asked.

“Doing better,” the supervisor said. “We checked her reports this morning, and the wolfsbane in her system is finally going down.”

So she hadn’t been poisoned last night, thank the Gods. Likely that meant that the enforcers Julian had assigned as her bodyguards were doing their duty. Their presence must have scared the poisoner away.

“With the toxins in her system diminishing, she might wake up soon,” I said. “Maybe she can tell us who is doing this to us.”

“It’s possible,” the supervisor said. “But we must also consider the side effects she will be facing. She has been exposed to the wolfsbane for who knows how long. While we are doing everything we can to help cleanse her of it, you know it will be an uphill battle for her, especially given her age.”

“I don’t know her that well,” I said, “But if she is anything like Julian, then she is not someone who just gives up, regardless of age. If we give her the best chance that we can, I think she will be determined enough – if not outward strongly enough – to survive this.”

“I hope you are right,” the supervisor said. “This kind of crime is disgusting. And whoever the culprit is, whatever their reasoning for this is, it will not be enough to save them from the Alpha’s judgement.”

I knew he was right. Even if it turned out to be Tony, Julian would have no mercy for someone who tried to hurt, and potentially kill, his mother and me. Julian was a patient man but he was still a strong Alpha. He would protect his pack and those in it, and that included Gloria and me.

I just hoped what was happening now, with the newly released leaked audio of our private conversation, that his reputation would remain intact.

Whoever was doing this wanted to weaken him, and I didn’t understand why.

Could the leaked audio be connected to the poisonings? And if so, for what purpose?

Julian’s POV

After leaving the enforcers to deal with their find, as well as with orders to search the rest of the house, looking for more, I hurried to the hospital to speak with Amber. We needed to talk, to get on the same page, and coordinate our next moves.

When I arrived, I fully intended to seek out Amber, but after stopping to say hi to Alice and learning from Aunt Kathy that Amber rushed into the back offices, I decided to talk to Alice first.

Since no one else was currently in with Mom, I took Alice’s hand and led her there. “Why don’t we go check up on Grandma?”

“Okay,” Alice replied.

As we walked across the waiting room, I felt the eyes of the rest of my family following us. I could feel their annoyance and knew they were as frustrated with me as the rest of the pack must have been.

Everyone was annoyed that I could break Alpha principals and traditions and choose to love my family more than my pack.

I hoped Alice was immune to their stares, but from the way she clung to my hand and stepped closer to me, I knew that was not the case.

After nodding to the enforcer guarding the door to Mom’s room, I said to the one guarding within it, “You can leave us for now. But stay close. When we leave this room, we will need you right back in here to protect my mother.”

“Yes, Alpha,” the enforcer said and stepped out of the room to join the other. He closed the door behind him.

I led Alice over to my mom, where we looked at her sleeping.

“Hi, Grandma,” Alice said, greeting her like she would if she was awake.

I waited a moment, for Alice to get comfortable in the chair at Mom’s bedside. Then I asked her, “Alice, remember how you told us Uncle Tony didn’t like that painting with the meadow and the horses?”

Alice nodded.

“How did you know that he didn’t like it? Did he tell you so?”

“Yeah,” Alice said. “When you and Mom were in the kitchen. Cousin Tony took the picture off the wall and was looking at it.” She thought a minute more. “Penny wondered why, cause he only likes stuff that costs a lot of money…”

Gods, she had a good memory, and I was grateful for it. So Tony not only looked at the painting but had taken it off the wall and was looking at it. If he was indeed guilty of this, how bold he must have been to handle it in front of Alice, Penny, and Aunt Kathy! Like he would never be caught!

Tony had saved my life, and I couldn’t discard that. But it seemed as if the signs were pointing to him, at least as someone I needed to talk to. Perhaps we could do so privately. Maybe then, if he was responsible, he might feel more inclined to tell me so.

I just couldn’t fathom why he would want to leak this conversation.

And Harold at the news station had said that a woman had delivered the leaked audio. Could Tony have an accomplice? I had been so eager to blame Olivia, but…

Could Tony and Olivia be working together?

No, that seemed too far a stretch. Yes, he had contacted Olivia before, but he had explained that away. The way he talked made it sound like he was ready to cut her out of his life at my urging.

But there was definitely something going on here. Someone had put that recording device in my house, and someone had leaked the audio to the press.

Until I knew for sure who could have done it, everyone remained a suspect, and every theory was a possibility.

Tony’s POV

I exited the car and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Looking up at the news station building, I was pleased to see my contact at the door, already holding open the door.

“There you are, Tony,” Harold said. “It’s almost time for your interview.”

I grinned, ready for my time in the spotlight.