“Hello? His voice was groggy with sleep.
‘Matthew,‘ I said simply,
There was a brief silence. “Juno?‘ His voice was suddenly alert, with a slight tremor. “Is that you?
“Yes. I need your help with something.”
Anything, he replied immediately. “Whatever you need.”
“Is Isabelle with you?” I asked cautiously.
“No, I just stepped out of the hotel suite. What do you need help with?”
I heard rustling in the background, guessing he was moving farther away to ensure privacy.
Matthew, I need to ask you something. Who gave you the idea of forming an alliance with Fang against Augustin?”
“Quinn, of course.”
I know that. But who put that idea in Quinn’s head? Who suggested it to him?”
There was a pause. “You wouldn’t be asking if you didn’t already have
a
“I think it was Charles,” I said bluntly.
theory.”
Matthew was quiet for so long I thought we’d lost the connection. “Matthew?”
“I’m here,” he finally said. “You think Charles would do that to his own daughter?”
“I don’t think this was about his daughter. I think Isabelle was just a tool for him.” I tried to keep my voice gentle, aware of how this might hurt him. “You know I’d never say anything against her personally.”
“I know, you saved hers,” Matthew replied softly. ‘I haven’t forgotten that, Juno. I know you would never… I know you love Augustin, and I remember how you surrendered yourself to Clifflands to save both of us.”
His words touched something raw within me, but I pushed forward. “Isabelle told me herself that Charles threatened her to lie about things. I think he used her to spy on you, to manipulate you through your bond with her. The problems started happening right after she moved in, and she visited her father too frequently.”
“You think she knew what she was doing?” Matthew asked, his voice strained.
“No, I don’t.” I paused, gathering my thoughts. “Matthew, I believe Charles is part of an organization that recruited alphas from Forestvale. In return, they promised to restore his honor and make him the leader of Forestvale again. He needed Isabelle because she’s your fated mate.”
“But why would-”
Before Matthew could finish his question, Augustin reached over and took the phone from my hand. I sighed and let him have it.
“Matthew,” Augustin said, “I need you and Kieran to come to the manor tomorrow. It’s urgent. This is bigger than I thought. They’re not just after after you and Kieran too.”
hey’re
He paused, listening.
“Can you come without telling your mate?” Another pause. ‘Good. We’ll expect you in the morning. We need to move quickly.”
Augustin ended the call and handed the phone back to me. I immediately called Matthew back.
1/2
Chapter 246
“Matthew? I said when he answered.
Is what he said true? Matthew asked.
“Yes. It’s worse than any of us imagined, and I believe Charles is part of it.” I hesitated before continuing. But please, Matthew, don’t do anything to
Isabelle.”
There was silence on the other end, and I knew Matthew was battling with his emotions. I had to make him see reason.
“Please, think of your baby. Isabelle may not know what her father is doing.”
I’ll try,” he finally said, his voice tight with controlled rage.
“Promise me, Matthew. Promise me you won’t hurt her.”
“I promise I’ll try to control myself,” he said after a moment. “Goodnight, Juno.”
After ending the call, Augustin pulled me into his arms. “Everything Charles did,” he whispered, “breaking up your family for these stupid schemes… it breaks my heart, even though I’m grateful for how it brought us together.”
That was when the dam broke. Tears streamed down my face as years of suppressed pain surfaced. I remembered Matthew on his knees, begging for forgiveness. His desperate attempts to make things right. His weakness not in his love for me, but in his emotional strength.
And now, to discover it had all been orchestrated by Charles… that my pain, my heartbreak, my loss had been part of someone’s political scheme…
Fury rose within me, hot and vengeful. This wasn’t just about politics anymore. This was personal between Charles and me.
I sobbed in Augustin’s arms, trying to regain control of my emotions.
As if reading my thoughts, Augustin held me tighter. “We’ll make this right,” he promised. “All of it.”
I nodded against his chest, grateful to the Moon Goddess for giving me a second chance at love with this extraordinary man.
But another thought struck me, who was comforting Matthew right now? He had just discovered the same devastating truth, and he was alone with it.
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