Chapter 3 Suspicions (Rowan POV)

"Mr. Hale has requested to speak with Miss Ashford," the Headmaster said. "I'm allowing it, given the circumstances. Five minutes."

Professor Winters gave me a look that said be careful, then followed the Headmaster out. The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to see.

Declan stood by the door, hands in his pockets, studying me with that intense gaze that always made me feel like a specimen under glass. He was still wearing the same clothes from this morning, but he looked tired now, shadows under his eyes.

"Come to gloat?" I asked.

"I came to tell you something." He moved closer, lowering his voice. "The official story is that this is an isolated incident. A human who went feral during an incomplete Turning and killed someone. But I don't think that's what happened."

"You and Professor Winters are apparently the only ones."

"Tyler Morrison wasn't random." Declan pulled out his phone, showing me a photo. Tyler, alive, smiling at the camera with his arm around another student. "He was on the Concordance Committee—the group organizing the peace treaty renewal ceremony next month. Three packs in one location, all the Alphas together, for the first time in five years."

"I don't understand what that has to do with me."

"Someone's trying to destabilize the treaty. What better way than to have a human-turned-wolf murder a committee member right before the ceremony? It creates panic, suspicion, and gives the hawks in all three packs ammunition to argue that the peace isn't working." He put his phone away. "You're not the killer, Rowan. You're the weapon."

The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, sent a chill down my spine. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because whoever did this, whoever Turned you and framed you for murder, is in one of the three packs. And I intend to find them."

"Why do you care? You hate me, remember? You've made that crystal clear for three years."

Something shifted in his expression, pain, maybe, or regret. "I don't hate you. I never hated you."

"You have a really weird way of showing affection, then."

"I hated what you represented," he said quietly. "You look just like her, you know. Same dark hair, same sharp eyes, same stubborn set to your jaw. Every time I see you, I see my sister."

The air between us changed. I'd known Declan had a sister who died when he was younger—everyone at Thornhaven knew the story. Elena Hale, the brilliant Nightshade heir who'd gone rogue and been executed for killing a human girl seventeen years ago. It was pack legend, a cautionary tale about what happened when you broke the laws.

"I'm sorry about Elena," I said. "But I'm not her."

"I know. And that's what I'm trying to tell you, Elena didn't go rogue. She was trying to expose something, something big enough that someone wanted her silenced." He met my eyes. "You're not the first person this has happened to, Rowan. And if we don't figure out what's really going on, you won't be the last."

Before I could respond, the door opened again. But this time, it wasn't Professor Winters or the Headmaster.

It was Sage.

My best friend looked terrible, red-eyed, her blonde hair in a messy ponytail, still wearing her pajamas. She pushed past Declan and threw her arms around me.

"Oh my god, Rowan, are you okay? I heard what happened, and I tried to come earlier, but they wouldn't let me see you…" She pulled back, grabbing my hands. Her eyes widened when she saw the silver marks. "What is that?"

"It's a long story."

"They're saying you killed Tyler Morrison. They're saying you Turned and went feral." Her voice cracked. "Please tell me that's not true."

"I didn't kill anyone. I don't remember last night, but I know I didn't do that."

Sage looked between me and Declan, her expression hardening. "What's he doing here?"

"Trying to help, actually," I said.

"Help? Declan Hale doesn't help anyone unless there's something in it for him." Sage turned to face him fully. "What's your angle?"

"No angle. Just the truth." Declan's voice was cool, but I caught something underneath—frustration, maybe. "Rowan's being framed, and I'm going to prove it."

"Right. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with protecting your precious pack's reputation." Sage's eyes flashed amber, her wolf rising close to the surface. "Get out."

"Sage…" I started.

"Get. Out." She stepped between us, her body language aggressive in a way I'd never seen from her before. "You've done enough damage, Hale. Stay away from her."

For a moment, I thought Declan would argue. But he just looked at me, something unreadable in his expression, and nodded.

"I'll be back," he said. "And Rowan? Don't trust anyone. Not even people you think are your friends."

The look he gave Sage made it clear who he was talking about. Then he was gone, the door closing behind him with a metallic clang.

Sage whirled on me. "You can't seriously be listening to him. He's playing you."

"He told me things, Sage. Things that make sense."

"Of course they make sense, that's how good liars work." She sat down next to me, taking my hands again. "Listen to me. Whatever's happening, we'll figure it out together, okay? You and me, like always. You don't need Declan Hale."

I wanted to believe her. Sage had been my only real friend at Thornhaven since freshman year, the only person who didn't care that I was human, who included me in pack activities even when the others rolled their eyes. She'd vouched for me, stood up for me, made this place bearable.

But Declan's last words echoed in my head: Don't trust anyone.

"Sage," I said carefully, "what was in that drink you gave me last night?"

She blinked. "What? Just punch. Why?"

"Because I can't remember anything after drinking it. Eight hours, completely gone."

"That's... that's probably just the alcohol. You're not used to drinking."

"I had three sips."

Her hands tensed around mine, just for a second. "Are you accusing me of something?"

"I'm just trying to understand what happened."

Sage stood up abruptly, hurt flashing across her face. "I can't believe this. Your first day in trouble, and you're already doubting me? I'm your best friend, Rowan."

"I know, I just…"

"I need to go." She headed for the door, then paused. "You're not going to find answers by listening to Declan Hale's conspiracy theories."