Jesse growled. Each of his pack mates spat a curse.
“It was days before they found Jenny. The rain had washed away any scents, but everyone suspected it was her ex-boyfriend. He didn’t deny it, even seemed smug about it. Just before the Alpha executed him, he said that four other boys had taken part in the rape, but he wouldn’t give any names. Paranoia took over, and everyone started pointing fingers. A lot of the boys were accused, but they all denied having any part in what happened to Jenny.”
“Hector was one of the boys who was accused,” Eli guessed.
“Yes. He was an odd boy, apparently. Exceptionally smart. One person described him as a typical problem child, but others said he was quiet and kept to himself. Being half human meant he stood out from the others, and many teased him for it.”
Being different probably made Hector an easy scapegoat, but Jesse didn’t believe that meant he was automatically innocent.
“Anyway, his parents stepped down from their role as Alphas,” continued Garth. “No explanation was given, but I suspect they may have lost the trust of the pack since their son was one of the accused. Or maybe they didn’t feel they could protect a pack that turned on their child. I can only speculate.”
“And then they left the pack?” asked Nick.
“Not straightaway. Thad became a heavy drinker, and Adriane seemed very depressed and became somewhat of a recluse—wouldn’t eat with the others, wouldn’t socialize, wouldn’t attend meetings. No one cared because no one trusted each other anymore; the pack soon broke down and the families went their separate ways.”
Nick’s brow creased. “No one here is an original Trantham wolf?”
“The elders of the pack, whose mates were buried on the land, remained here so that they could be buried beside them,” replied Garth. “But they’ve all passed on since then.”
A muscle in Eli’s cheek ticked. “So there’s no one in the pack we could talk to who might know more?”
Garth shook his head. “Sorry.”
“Do you have any idea where Hector’s parents are?” Nick asked him.
“No, I’m afraid not. I really am sorry that I can’t be of more help. I don’t agree with Hector’s actions. All I can do is offer my support in the event that you have to go up against him.”
Rising, Nick nodded in thanks. “I appreciate you sharing what you know.”
Soon after, Nick led the way as they left the pack house and returned to their all-terrain vehicle. Inside, he said, “That didn’t go as well as I’d hoped. But I suppose it could have been worse. He might not have known anything.”
Switching on the engine, Eli spoke. “If Hector was falsely accused, it could have bred a rage against shifters that needs venting. His parents stepped down and his pack fell apart. He lost his life, in some ways.”
“I know from Derren what it’s like to be falsely accused of such a crime,” said Nick. “It can definitely eat at a person and give him some dark demons. But surely Hector would have sought vengeance against his old pack if they had really wronged him.”
Zander sank deeper into the seat. “What’s pissing me off is that we still don’t have anything we can use against Hector. There are allegations but no proof. And there’s no sense in searching for proof unless we know for sure he was guilty, or we’d just be wasting our time.”
Nick leaned his head back. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: we’ve got to talk to his parents.”
Scrubbing a hand over his jaw, Jesse said, “I think the only person who knows the full story is Hector. If they do know more than he’s comfortable with, he could have killed them.” Which would mean they were chasing ghosts.
It was shortly before dinner when they arrived at their territory. Nick waited until after they had eaten and the pups were in bed before he held a meeting in the living area, where he relayed what Garth had told him. After plenty of speculation over whether or not Hector was guilty of the awful crime he’d been accused of, the pack dispersed and everyone went home.
In bed, Jesse took his mate hard and fast, seeking an oblivion that would let him escape the anger and frustration. For a while, it subsided. But only for a while. And so he lay there, staring up at the stars through the ceiling window.
Dancing her fingertips over his chest, Harley asked, “You all right?”
“Just frustrated that we have more questions than answers. I’d like to say that if Hector was really wrongly persecuted, I’d feel bad for him. But the truth is that I can’t feel bad for someone who’s trying to take our home. For me, nothing will justify that.”
“Of course it wouldn’t,” Harley assured him. She didn’t like seeing him so morose and pessimistic. “You know what I wonder?”
“What, baby?”
“Why he bothered offering to buy your territory when he could have just hit Nick with the blackmail material from the start.”
“He probably anticipated that Nick would refuse. This is a game to Hector—one he gets a perverse joy from. And if he’s so perverse, maybe he wasn’t falsely accused. That’s why we need to talk to his parents. I’ve been thinking . . . it’s possible that they didn’t give him up. Maybe he left them willingly. His father allegedly became an alcoholic. Living with an addict is no easy ride,” he added bitterly.
Harley propped her chin on his chest. “How bad did Mia get after I left?”