Harper pov
“Alessia, who do you think could have harmed the woman found in the sack?” I asked quietly as we sat in the garden, letting the fresh air fill our lungs.
“You already know, Harper. It’s Sarah.”
“I don’t trust her, Sarah. She’s capable of hurting anyone to protect her secrets. She said, playfully twisting her fingers, but I could tell she was serious.”
“No, I can’t accept that. Sarah can be irritating, but I can’t believe she would do something so extreme.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Alessia, you can’t honestly think Sarah is capable of that.” I leaned back against the wrought-iron bench, the cool metal contrasting with the warmth of the sunlit garden.
Alessia’s eyes narrowed, her stare intense. “You don’t know her like I do, Harper. She has a dark side. All that charm? Just a cover.” Her voice lowered to a whisper, filled with certainty.
I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “I’ve always seen Sarah as that tough queen. Annoying, sure, but violent? No way.” I stood up, pacing along the garden path, the gravel crunching underfoot.
Alessia watched me, her expression firm. “You’re blinded by your affection, Harper. Consider this: Sarah’s been acting oddly. Always vanishing at strange times, getting mysterious calls…” Her voice faded, leaving the implications hanging heavily.
I stopped, my thoughts racing. Alessia’s words resonated. Sarah had been acting strangely, but I had dismissed it as work stress or her divorce. Could there be something deeper?
“Alessia, while I acknowledge your theory, we need solid evidence,” I replied, settling back onto the bench.
Alessia’s grin was cunning. “Leave that to me. I’ve been looking into it. There’s something off about Sarah’s alibi from the night the woman was discovered.” She took out her phone and began scrolling through her notes. “I have a contact at the local police. They’ll share information… for a fee.”
I felt a rush of concern. “Alessia, what have you gotten into?”
She winked at me. “Just a bit of leverage, Harper. Don’t worry, I can handle it.” Her self-assurance was unsettling.
As we sat in the peaceful garden, a wave of anxiety washed over me. Was Alessia’s suspicion justified, or was she overanalyzing Sarah’s actions? I looked at Alessia, her resolve clear on her face.
“Alright,” I said, making up my mind. “Let’s dig deeper. But if we’re mistaken, Alessia…”
She smiled, mischief dancing in her eyes. “If we’re mistaken, I’ll owe you endless apologies. But if we’re right…” Her words faded, leaving a tense silence between us.
Our unexpected alliance was now official. We were on the verge of revealing secrets, and the truth would alter everything.
Does Alpha Ethan know about this? He would never believe us. Just as I struggle to believe it myself. The fact that Sarah is your brother’s childhood friend and lives with us makes me uneasy. I leaned forward, my hands tightly clasped.
Alessia’s smile faded, her demeanor shifting to seriousness. “Ethan? No, we can’t bring him into this. Not yet.” She leaned closer, her voice a mere whisper. “He’s too close to Sarah, too loyal. He’ll brush off our concerns, just like you did at first.”
I nodded, a knot tightening in my stomach. Ethan had known Sarah since they were kids. Their friendship was a key part of their family’s social life. The idea of Sarah being involved in something dark made me feel ill.
“I don’t know if I can keep this from him,” I confessed, my hands still clenched. “She’s living with us, Alessia. What if… what if she’s a threat?”
Alessia’s gaze held mine, fierce determination shining through. “That’s why we need to investigate discreetly. We can’t risk tipping her off until we have solid proof.”
I took a deep breath, preparing myself. “Alright, let’s proceed. But we must be cautious. If Sarah is involved, we have no idea what she might do.”
Alessia nodded, a hint of a smile returning. “I’ve already begun my research. I have some contacts who owe me. We’ll uncover the truth.”
As we sat there strategizing our next steps, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting elongated shadows over the garden. The temperature dropped, and I felt a chill, even with the summer evening’s warmth.
“Let’s head inside,” Alessia proposed, rising to her feet. “We have tasks to tackle.”
I followed her, my thoughts racing with various scenarios. Upon entering the house, I noticed Sarah in the kitchen, humming softly while preparing dinner. A knot formed in my stomach.
“Alessia,” I murmured, pulling on her sleeve. “What if we’re mistaken? What if Sarah is innocent?”
Alessia’s demeanor shifted, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Then we’ll apologize and move forward. But what if we’re right, Harper? What if Sarah is concealing something?”
I stole a glance at Sarah, who was now setting the table with a cheerful smile. My heart sank. Could I truly rely on my instincts?
As we joined Sarah in the kitchen, the tension was thick. Ethan entered, completely unaware of the underlying strain, and gave Sarah a friendly pat on the back.
“Hey, Sar, what’s cooking tonight?”
Sarah’s smile wavered briefly before she regained her composure. “Just pasta, Ethan. Your favorite.”
I shared a glance with Alessia. Our investigation was just beginning.
Dinner was filled with unspoken tension, with Alessia and me exchanging subtle looks every time Sarah spoke. Ethan, blissfully ignorant of the atmosphere, monopolized the conversation with tales of his recent business exploits.
As the night came to an end, Alessia excused herself, mentioning an early meeting the following day. I walked her to the door, grateful for the cool night air that offered a break from the oppressive mood inside.
“Let’s meet at the coffee shop tomorrow,” Alessia murmured, glancing around the dimly lit street. “I should have some details for you by then.”
I nodded, observing her fade into the darkness.
Inside, Ethan was absorbed in a sports match while Sarah tidied up the kitchen. I offered my assistance, my thoughts racing with potential outcomes.
“Thanks, Harper,” Sarah replied, her smile genuine. “You’re always so willing to help.”
I managed a smile, feeling a pang of guilt for my doubts. Yet, Alessia’s words echoed in my head: “What if we’re right?”
As I settled into bed, my phone vibrated with a text from Alessia:
She wasn’t staying at the pack house that night, giving me the opportunity to draw the curtain by myself.