“Good evening,” I began, clearing my throat nervously. “I’m sure many of you are wondering why I’ve called this special meeting. The truth is, we have some important matters to discuss.” I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts. “As you all know, Cecily Banks was found deceased a few days ago in her home. I have reviewed the coroner’s report, and after performing a thorough investigation, it has come to light that Cecily had been working with Castro.”
Whispers and murmurs erupted from the crowd.
“Castro manipulated Cecily into doing his bidding, and when he no longer had a use for her, he poisoned her. It is imperative that we remain vigilant and united against this enemy who seeks to divide and conquer our pack.”
The murmurs from the crowd grew louder, a cacophony of disbelief, anger, and confusion as they wondered why Cecily would work with someone like Castro. My gaze shifted to theback of the crowd where Mr. and Mrs. Banks stood, their shoulders slumped, eyes cast downward.
I held up my hands, trying to quiet the crowd. “At this time, we do not believe Cecily was working with anyone else within the pack. I don’t want to turn this into a witch hunt against pack members. Our primary focus now should be on the fact that Castro is a threat and will stop at nothing to achieve his aims. He’s cunning, manipulative, and ruthless. Please,” I implored, turning my gaze onto each of the faces gathered as I spoke, “I urge any of you, if you are approached by him or suspect that someone may be working with him, come to me immediately. I ask for your trust in these challenging times.”
A few raised their hands, wanting to voice their concerns regarding my investigation into Cecily, disbelief in her turning against her pack, though there were just as many who stood up pointing out how jealous she’d been when I chose Liza to be my mate, and how they were unsurprised by her treachery.
“Ty,” came a voice that silenced the rest. Mrs. Reid, a high-ranking elderly pack member, stood up from her seat. “Don’t you see the truth here? Cecily is not at fault. She was but a pawn. Liza brought all this trouble to our front door! It’s her fault Castro turned and murdered one of our own. Liza is to blame.”
I clenched my fists, anger boiling within me at the accusation against my mate. My protective instincts flared, and I was about to defend her when Liza stepped forward, her expression calm and determined.
“Let me handle this, Ty,” Liza whispered before she took her place at the podium. Before I could say another word, she adjusted the microphone and addressed the pack.
70
LIZA
Istood before the angry and confused pack members, allowing them to see the outwardly calm and collected mate of their alpha. On the inside, though, I was a fucking bundle of nerves. My heart raced, but that didn’t matter. I had to push through my anxiety. I locked my knees so no one would know I was trembling like a leaf. This was something I had to do. There was no way I could let Ty speak up for me, not this time. If I did, I would lose any respect the pack had for me. I was the queen of this castle now, and this was my opportunity to show them I was not only a dependable mate to their alpha, but also someone who wouldn’t take shit from any of them.
“If I can have your attention.” I stood, staring out at the crowd staring back at me and tried to find the courage to address their concerns. “I understand that there is much confusion and anger among you, and I want you all to know that I hear you.”
My mind raced as I desperately searched for the perfect words. I wanted to strike a delicate balance between honesty and diplomacy. It was quite a challenge. I’d never actively sought Castro’s attention, but his unwavering fixation on me had completely disrupted our once-harmonious pack, causingdivision and chaos. I had to remind myself that his actions were beyond my control. I just needed to find the right way to express this without shifting blame. What I sought was genuine understanding and resolution.
“Castro has caused all of us great pain. He aided in the murder of my family, my pack, and, though I’ve been blessed—adopted into a wonderful family, accepted by you all into the Keller pack—the wound still cuts deep within me.” I paused for a moment, my voice cracking slightly when I thought of my lost loved ones. “His obsession with me has nothing to do with who I am or what I have done. It’s important for us all to remember that I am not the enemy here. Castro is the enemy.”
Their eyes bored into me, searching for any hint of weakness or insincerity, but I stood tall and refused to back down. I kept my head up, willing them to hear the truth in my words. “I can’t control another person’s actions any more than any of you can. And though I understand your frustrations and the need to point fingers, the only one to blame is Castro.”
I gathered my thoughts, looking into the eyes of my fellow pack members. The gravity of the situation was a heavy weight in the air as I reminded them of the impending danger. “It’s common knowledge that Castro is a force to be reckoned with and a man with evil intentions. He has already proven he can turn one of our own against us without setting foot in town. Then once he had no more need for her, he callously killed her in a horrible, painful manner. Let us not allow him to succeed anymore. The strength of our pack’s unity is of paramount importance at this critical moment. We need to rise above the chaos he has unleashed, stand shoulder to shoulder, and defend one another. Our collective resilience will be the shield against which Castro’s evil cannot prevail.”
The murmurs among the crowd seemed to die down a little, but I wasn’t naïve. They were still skeptical. I couldn’t blamethem. If I struggled to believe that everything happening was because of one man’s twisted obsession with me, how could I expect them to?
“Please,” I implored. “Please try to understand that my only goal is the safety and wellbeing of our pack. I want nothing more than to stand beside Ty and help lead us all into a better future, but we can only do that if we stay united and focus on the real threat: Castro. He’s a dangerous man, and we need to protect one another from him.”
When I finished my speech, relief washed over me. I had spoken my truth, and now it was up to them to decide whether or not they would accept it. In their eyes, there was a multitude of emotions. Some still held on to their anger, while others seemed to be weighing my words carefully. My hands trembled from the rush of adrenaline, but I was convinced I had done the right thing by speaking up for myself.
“Thank you all for listening,” I murmured, nodding at them before stepping back and allowing Ty to take center stage once more. I sensed his pride in me as he kissed my cheek, grabbing my hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. His support gave me strength.
“We have listened to your concerns, and we will continue to do everything in our power to keep this pack safe from harm.” Ty’s words were strong and commanding. “Now, let’s move forward together and show Castro that he cannot break our bond.”
The meeting dispersed, and I mingled with the pack, wanting to make sure they were seen and heard, but also to allow them to see I would not be cowed. It was strange being in a position of power when I was so used to staying under the radar, but I didn’t want to let Ty down, or let the Keller family name down.
“Your speech was very brave,” one of the younger pack members told me, her eyes full of admiration. “I don’t think I’dever be able to stand in front of all these people and speak as candidly as you did. I’m glad you’re our alpha’s mate.”
“Thank you.” My cheeks flushed with pride and a bit of embarrassment. “I just want what’s best for all of us, and I hope that came across in my words.”
I continued to make my way through the crowd, making myself available, answering questions when asked, and the tension in the air slowly dissipated. While not everyone was won over by my speech, many seemed more open to accepting me as their leader.
But that acceptance was short-lived when one of the elder pack members approached, red-faced and fists clenched at his sides. His eyes locked on mine, and he carried an air of violence like he intended to strike me and do physical harm. He stopped just inches from my face, his breath hot on my skin as he practically spat his words at me. “I’m not one who will be so easily swayed by your charms,” he growled, disdain dripping from every word.
I held my hands up in a placating gesture. “I wasn’t trying to charm anyone. I was just speaking the truth.”
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “You’re nothing but an opportunist. Despite what you say, actions carry more weight than words in my book. No matter what you say, I’ll never see you as the lady of this pack. You’re just a little girl playing dress up, nothing more.”
My stomach clenched, but I managed to keep my composure. It was a heavy blow to my ego, though I refused to let him see how much that had affected me. I wouldn’t give him the damn satisfaction, fucking asshole.
