Levi’s POV
The second-to-last person bowed and was dismissed, declared innocent. The next was called in, and the moment he stepped inside, my brow furrowed. Of course, I recognized him immediately. Nathaniel, our old classmate from high school. But it wasn’t just that. I remembered clearly how we dealt with him when he started hanging around Olivia, wanting to get close to her for reasons we didn’t trust.
I exchanged glances with my brothers. From their expressions, they recognized him too. It had been a long time since we last saw him, despite him still living in the pack.k.
Nathaniel respectfully bowed to us before the person operating the lie detector asked him to take the seat. He took the seat across from us and held my gaze. My frown deepened as I wondered if he was the one who actually forged those letters... did he do that to get back at us for what we did to him?
"It is confirmed that you can mimic handwriting," Lennox said, going straight to the point.
"Yes," Nathaniel answered without hesitation.
Louis growled. "So tell us, were you the one who forged those letters and sent them to us?"
Nathaniel narrowed his eyes. "What letters are you talking about?" he asked, sounding confused, but I didn’t believe him. Out of all the people we had questioned, he was the one with the strongest motive to turn us against Olivia.
Lennox pulled one of the forged letters from the table and held it out. "Look closely. Did you write this? Or help someone write this?"
Nathaniel leaned forward slightly, his gaze flicking to the letter Lennox held out. His brow creased as he studied it, but there was no recognition in his eyes.
"I didn’t write that," he said simply. "I didn’t help anyone write it either."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "But you can mimic handwriting. You just said so yourself."
"Yes," he admitted with a calm voice. "I’m an artist. I’ve trained myself to copy strokes, lines, styles—but that’s for art, not forgery. Not lies. I’d never use my skill to tear someone down."
Louis scoffed. "You expect us to believe that? After everything?"
Nathaniel blinked, confused. "After everything?"
I leaned forward, my jaw tight. "You liked Olivia. You wanted to get close to her. We warned you to stay away, and suddenly, someone sends us forged letters to destroy our bond with her. You’re telling me that’s a coincidence?"
His lips parted, like he wanted to defend himself, but for a moment, he said nothing. That silence made my stomach twist.
"I’m not that kind of person," he said finally, his tone firmer now. "Yeah, I wanted to be her friend. I liked her. But I accepted it when she chose you three. I moved on. I didn’t do this."
"Then who did?" Lennox snapped. "Because someone out there wanted us to hate her. Someone used your kind of skill."
Nathaniel shook his head slowly. "I don’t know. But I swear, it wasn’t me. I would never hurt Olivia, or anyone like that. I’m not holding a grudge, Alpha Levi. Not against you, and definitely not against her."
I looked at my brothers again. Louis’s fists were clenched. Lennox’s jaw ticked in frustration.
He sounded sincere—but that’s what made it worse.
He sounded too convincing.
Too clean.
Too practiced.
"I don’t believe you," I muttered, standing up.
Nathaniel stood too, but didn’t raise his voice. "Believe whatever you want. I told the truth."
"Maybe this is your way of getting back at us," Louis growled. "You couldn’t have her, so you made sure we lost her too."
His face tensed. "No," he said through gritted teeth. "I wouldn’t destroy someone’s life over jealousy. I don’t know who forged those letters, but it wasn’t me."
Lennox stepped forward slightly, his eyes cold. "We’ll find out. And if you’re lying—"
"I’m not," Nathaniel cut in. "I may not be your friend, but I’m not your enemy either."
I watched him closely, but no guilt flickered in his eyes. Still, my gut refused to let it go.
Nathaniel’s jaw tensed slightly as he looked at the letter again.
"When was this sent?" he asked.
"Four years ago," Lennox replied without hesitation.
Nathaniel’s brows rose. "Four years..." he repeated, thinking. Then he looked at us again. "Why isn’t Silas here?"
I blinked. "Silas?"
"Yes," he said, more firmly now. "Did you question him?"
Louis frowned, confused. "We don’t remember anyone named Silas."
Nathaniel scoffed under his breath and leaned back. "Wow. Of course, you wouldn’t. You men dealt with him the moment he got too close to Olivia."
I frowned, and something familiar tugged at the back of my mind. Silas... that name.
Lennox tilted his head, his expression darkening. "Wait. That brown-haired boy who always had a sketchpad?"
"Yes," Nathaniel said immediately. "The one you hunted down just because Olivia talked to him after classes. He was head over heels for her, and you three threatened him never to go near her."
"I remember now," Louis muttered. "Stubborn brat."
Nathaniel gave a dry chuckle. "He could mimic handwriting better than anyone I’ve ever met. Even better than me."
My blood ran cold.
Lennox turned to Dustin, who had been standing near the wall like a silent guard dog. "Why wasn’t Silas called in for questioning?"
Dustin frowned and opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Nathaniel answered flatly.
"Because Silas left the pack three years ago."
We all turned to him sharply.
"What?" I asked, stunned.
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