Chapter 54

— Sienna’s POV —

Within the hour, Asher and I had made it to Nightfall, passing through a very quiet Nightwind on the way.

The silence in my pack made me nervous, because I still hadn’t been able to do a headcount. That would come soon.

Nightfall was a completely different scene, with most of the pack members bustling around, wondering where their Alpha was. Most of them were already gathered in the main square, confused at the sight of Asher and I strolling in.

“Sienna, do you know where Julian is?” Someone called out, but I ignored them, wanting to announce everything at once.

“Is he dead?” another person yelled from nearby.

“If everyone could gather around!” Asher shouted out, his voice reaching to the edges of the pack, some people emerging from their tents and cabins in the back.

Once the square was packed with everyone — though I didn’t know if it really was everyone — I stepped up, waving.

“Hi everyone,” I called out, willing my voice to stay strong and steady. “I know you’re probably all confused, and I’m here to clarify a few things.”

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” A man at the back of the crowd asked, interrupting me.

“To answer that honestly, we don’t know.” My words were clipped, whispers running through the crowd.

“What we do know is that it’s more likely that Julian was kidnapped by the rogues, among others we’ve yet to identify.” Asher spoke up, realizing I needed a moment to compose myself.

“During Julian’s absence, Lucius has asked me to step in and help tend to things around here.” I held my breath as soon as the words were out, watching the way the crowd reacted.

It wasn’t as bad as I expected. A low murmur rippled across them, and many of the people nodded, while a select few scowled.

“I’d like to conduct a headcount, and for that I’ll need your help. I’d also like to take some statements — only by those willing — about Julian.” The truth was, I wanted to hear what they really thought of him to start building the case against him.

Nothing except cold, hard, undeniable proof would convince the Elder’s, and statements from Julian’s own pack were the perfect start.

“I thought he just took off,” a woman in the middle of the crowd called out, and others around her laughed.

“Yeah, the man lost all his marbles,” someone to her left said, and I jumped on the opportunity to broach the topic.

“That’s something I’d like to discuss with some of you. I’m well aware of Julian’s…deteriorating state of mind.” It was all I could do not to smile.

“Why are you the one who takes over while he’s away?” A grumpy man in the back asked bitterly. It was bound to happen — some people wouldn’t be pleased with me being there.

“Lucius made the decision,” Asher responded for me, which I didn’t think looked the best. I needed to stand up for myself here, to prove to these people that I could lead them while Julian was gone.

There will always be people who don’t agree, my mind whispered, and it was right. I couldn’t convince everyone.

“I’m glad he’s not here,” a woman in the front muttered, and I could just barely hear her.

“What makes you feel that way?” I focused my attention on her, and she looked a bit startled by it.

“Like you said, deteriorating mind,” she shrugged, but I could tell it went deeper than that.

“We can talk,” I smiled, noticing the way she looked relieved that I wasn’t pressing the matter. “I’m going to set up a tent here and I’d like everyone to check in so I can take names and determine who else is missing.”

“And if you know of anyone missing, whether it’s family or friends or even just an acquaintance, please tell us.” Asher’s voice was so much more comforting than mine, so many of the women of all ages already ogling him.

At least we were presenting a convincing unified front.

Little did they know it was all lie after lie after lie.

The crowd stayed gathered in the main circle while Asher and I moved to a nearby tent, the Beta’s graciously stepping up to help. Only one of them seemed to be annoyed at my presence.

Better one than all of them.

Asher and I sat down at a little table in a tent at the edge of the gathering area, ready to take names and statements as people wanted to give them.

The Beta’s handed us a list of every resident in the pack, and at first, everyone filtered in, giving only their name and nothing more. It seemed like most people in the pack were present so far.

And then the tone drastically shifted.

A woman came in, tears streaming down her face, claiming her children, both around my age, had been missing since the attack.

My heart ached for her, the fear and panic nearly paralyzing her.

“Julian never prioritized things like this,” she whispered, like she were afraid he’d somehow hear. My eyebrows shot up at her statement.

“Could you elaborate on that?” My voice was gentle, because she was extremely fragile, and I didn’t want to push her cracking facade any further.

“He used to.” The words began to tumble from her, having ben bottled up for a while. “But lately, he stopped caring about anything important. He never checked up on us, never worried for the sick.”

I could see Asher wince, because even though this was a win for us to hear, it was painful to think of residents being neglected. I’d hoped Julian hadn’t become that lazy, but it was becoming clear that he had.

He didn’t deserve his place as Alpha, and these people of Nightfall were going to be the ones to prove that.

“Thank you for telling me this,” I said softly, reaching out to squeeze her frail, wrinkled hand. She squeezed it back so tight, tears welling in her eyes.

“Help me find my babies,” she begged hoarsely, and I couldn’t stop the tears that quickly pricked at my own eyes.

“I promise I will.” I stood up, hugging her tightly before she excused herself from the tent, her sobs echoing back to us as she hurried away.

Before I could even process that moment with her, a man stepped in, a solemn look on his face. He gave his name — Gryphon — and then took a slow breath.

My muscles tensed.

“Julian took my wife without consent, and then threatened our status here if we ever said anything. I’m glad he’s been taken.” The relief on this mans face was monumental. It was obvious he’d been holding this in for a while, and he had a right to be glad Julian wasn’t here.

“I —” I was disgusted, truthfully, but not surprised. Julian had always been the kind of man to take what he wanted, when he wanted it, without any care for if it was right. “I’m so sorry.”

“He’s not a good man, and I don’t think he should be leading. In fact, he should be locked up for life.” The mans fists clenched, the muscles in his jaw flexing.

“We agree,” I murmured, nodding with him. “We’re taking statements for that very reason. Thank you for yours, and I promise things will be changing.”

After that, the statements kept pouring in, one after the other, all kinds of horror stories of Julian’s poor leadership and lack of control. Over half of Nightfall had negative things to say, and I would only keep that list growing until every untold story of him was out.

The plan was slowly falling into place.