A few minutes later, Hudson returned. He nodded to his brother.
“They were in floral arrangements on six of the tables. The ones nearest the dance floor.” He reported, “I’m having them removed now.”
I looked between the two brothers with confusion.
“Can someone please explain what’s going on?” I said finally, feeling the panic rising in my voice, “Please.”
Gideon walked up the path towards me and grabbed my arm, pulling me along behind him as we headed back towards the Gala. Still, he said nothing to me.
His face from where I marched at his side was set in stern lines. He seemed angry.
When we entered back into the ceremony hall the dance floor was empty and the lights had been turned back up to full brightness. Confused wolves stood in groups around the hall, talking in hushed voices. The music was turned off.
Gideon stepped forward and the room hushed instantly.
It was so quiet, I could hear my heart thudding in my chest.
“Tonight, someone tried to poison your Alpha.” Gideon’s voice was harsh and rough. He gestured with one hand and at his signal, warrior wolves stepped into the doorways and barred the exits.
“No one will leave here until I find out who did it.” His gaze swept the room and the wolves of Nightwolf stared back. Most appeared confused, some angry.
A long moment passed.
“If you confess, it will go better for you. Who placed angelica in the flower arrangements around the dance floor?” Gideon growled.
My mouth fell open. Wasn’t that the flower that Madelyn had told me was traditional at these events? The one I hadn’t found on my invoices but which was in the arrangements?
As if on cue, Jessica stepped out of the crowd and pointed directly at me.
“It was the new Luna, Alpha.” Her stare was malicious and her voice triumphant. “She was in charge of the flowers.”
“She tried to kill you!”
Avery’s POV
“First she attacked a pack member, now she tried to kill our Alpha!” Jessica accused, “I question her ability to be Luna!”
Conversation swelled in the ceremony hall as the pack erupted into commentary.
Jessica stood, spotlighted on the dance floor, enjoying the chaos she had caused. She looked stunning as always, her long hair tousled and piled high on her head over a shimmering red sheath dress.
She smirked at me as I stood next to Gideon.
Thoughts were racing through my mind. I would never intentionally harm Gideon!
I could see eyes turning in my direction. I could hear the whispers from the pack, questioning each other if what Jessica had said could be true.
“Could the new Luna really have done this?”
“She is from Silvermoon after all, and we’re very nearly at war with them.”
“I knew she couldn’t be trusted!”
Some seemed to believe Jessica, but I noticed that there were a few who were eying her suspiciously as well.
“She has seemed nice actually.”
“Well of course she would pretend to be normal.”
“Maybe someone else will confess…”
The pack was divided. I needed to say something, or I would be painted as a traitor.
Although my hands were shaking, I clasped them tightly in front of me and stepped forward onto the dance floor to face Jessica. I did my best to keep my head high, and my voice calm.
“It is true that I was put in charge of the floral decorations for the Gala.” I admitted, “The Old Luna tasked me with this, and I followed her instructions. When I arrived today, I noticed that the flowers had been changed, and when I questioned it, I was told that angelica was traditional at these events.”
I turned to Gideon, my face twisted with genuine concern, “But I had no idea that it could act as a poison instead of an aphrodisiac like I was told. I should have questioned the substitution more rigorously. I accept whatever punishment you wish to give.” I bowed my head, “My Alpha.”
Silence swept over the hall. I did my best to appear both contrite and concerned.
Secretly, I was furious.
Now the discrepancies on the invoices made sense. Someone had ordered another set of flowers and substituted them in for the ones I had requested.
Staring at Jessica across the floor, I had a pretty good idea by whom.
The murmur of voices swelled at my statement, but after a long moment Gideon stepped forward and raised his hand and silence fell again.
“The Luna is technically correct. Angelica is a flower often used in other packs to celebrate mating. But here in Nightwolf we no longer use it because of the harmful effect it can have on some members of our bloodline”
There were whispers of “Demonblood.” in the crowd at this.
His gaze swept over me.
“However, this knowledge has been kept secret to only a few over the years, because of the risk it holds for our pack.” Gideon continued, “And I do not believe the new Luna would have access to that knowledge.”
He crossed his arms and stared at me, then at Jessica, who blanched slightly under his gaze.
“Therefore, I will be thoroughly investigating who would have that knowledge.’
Anna, the cook I had befriended, stepped forward from the crowd.
“My Alpha, I can confirm that there was a duplicate invoice that was submitted to the florist without the Luna’s knowledge. We had discussed the discrepancy together, but neither of us knew what to make of it.” She hung her head, “I should have tried more diligently to track down the mistake.’
I couldn’t bear seeing Anna take the blame. I stepped over to her and took her hand.
“Anna was only trying to help me. She alerted me that there appeared to be a duplicate order, and I meant to report it to the Old Luna, but I forgot. I’m sorry.” I said quickly.
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