Chapter 7: The Rogue's Confession

The sound of breaking glass echoed through the house.

Everyone looked toward the second floor.

Ella had locked herself inside her bedroom.

No one moved to comfort her.

Not this time.

Ryan stood frozen where he was, his heart pounding inside his chest.

Only yesterday, he would have rushed upstairs without a second thought.

Today, he couldn't stop thinking about my final phone call.

"Ryan... I'm dying..."

Those desperate words refused to leave his mind.

Detective Marcus slipped his notebook back into his coat.

"Captain Ryan," he said calmly.

"Pack Security has transported the three rogue wolves to headquarters."

"One of them has requested to speak immediately."

"He claims he knows who arranged the attack."

Dad's face turned pale.

"Can we come?"

Marcus nodded.

"The Alpha has authorized immediate questioning."

"But I must warn you..."

"What you're about to hear may be difficult."

An hour later, everyone arrived at the Pack Security headquarters.

The atmosphere inside was cold and tense.

Warriors stood guard outside the interrogation room.

Behind the reinforced glass sat one of the captured rogues.

His face was bruised from the arrest.

Silver restraints bound both his wrists.

Even so, he wore a crooked smile.

"So..." he sneered as Ryan entered.

"You're the famous mate."

Ryan ignored the insult.

"Why did you kill Sophie?"

The rogue laughed.

"Kill?"

"That wasn't the plan."

"She fought harder than we expected."

Ryan's fists clenched.

"Answer the question."

"Who sent you?"

The rogue leaned back casually.

"Before I answer..."

"I want immunity from execution."

Marcus folded his arms.

"That decision belongs to the Alpha."

"Tell us the truth first."

The rogue looked around the room before shrugging.

"Fine."

"A young she-wolf contacted our pack about three weeks ago."

"She offered us fifty thousand dollars."

Mom gasped.

"For what?"

"To scare Sophie."

"Ruin her award ceremony."

"Embarrass her."

"She said she wanted Sophie to disappear for a while."

Ryan frowned.

"Disappear?"

"Not die?"

"No."

"Death wasn't part of the deal."

"Things got out of control when she fought back."

"She smashed her head against the table during the struggle."

"We panicked and ran."

The room fell silent.

Dad's voice shook.

"Who hired you?"

The rogue smiled.

"You already know her."

"She said her name was Ella."

Everything stopped.

Mom stared blankly.

"No..."

"You're lying..."

The rogue shrugged.

"Believe whatever you want."

"She even gave us a spare key to your house."

"Said everyone would be busy celebrating her graduation."

"No one would notice."

Ryan felt the blood drain from his face.

His knees nearly gave out.

"No..." he whispered.

"Ella wouldn't..."

"Wouldn't what?"

The rogue interrupted.

"She hated Sophie."

"She said Sophie always stole attention from her."

"She wanted her gone."

"Not forever... just long enough to miss the ceremony."

"That's what she told us."

"But when things went wrong..."

"She told us never to contact her again."

Marcus placed several photographs on the table.

"Do you recognize these?"

The rogue nodded immediately.

"That's her."

"Same girl."

"Met her twice."

"Once to collect the key..."

"And once to receive half the payment."

Ryan looked at the surveillance photographs.

There was Ella.

Standing beside an abandoned warehouse.

Handing an envelope to the rogue.

The timestamp read two days before my death.

His breathing became uneven.

"It's real..."

"It's actually real..."

Conner covered his face.

"Why...?"

"Why would Ella do something like this?"

The rogue answered without hesitation.

"Jealousy."

"That's all."

"She couldn't stand everyone praising Sophie."

"She kept saying Sophie always ruined everything."

"Said the family loved Sophie more."

I almost laughed.

Loved me more?

If only she knew how badly I had wished that were true.

Marcus switched off the recorder.

"That's enough for today."

"Escort the prisoner back to his cell."

As guards led the rogue away, he looked back at Ryan.

"One more thing."

"Your mate begged for you until her very last breath."

"She kept saying..."

"Ryan will come."

"Ryan always protects me."

"She believed in you."

The prison door slammed shut.

Ryan collapsed into the nearest chair.

His shoulders shook violently.

For several minutes...

No one spoke.

The Alpha slowly entered the interrogation room.

"The evidence is overwhelming," he said gravely.

"We'll issue a warrant for Ella Carter's arrest immediately."

"Charges include conspiracy, unlawful cooperation with rogue wolves, and indirect responsibility for Sophie's death."

Mom burst into tears.

"Not both of my daughters..."

"Please..."

"There has to be some mistake..."

The Alpha looked at her with quiet disappointment.

"Mrs. Carter..."

"The greatest mistake was ignoring the daughter who begged you for help."

"Now one daughter is dead..."

"And the other will stand trial."

At that moment, an officer rushed into the room.

"Alpha!"

"Ella Carter is gone!"

"She escaped through the back entrance of the house before officers arrived with the arrest warrant."

Marcus's eyes narrowed.

"Seal every border."

"No one leaves Pack territory."

"Find her."

Standing beside Ryan's broken figure, I watched panic spread through the headquarters.

Ella had finally realized the truth.

Her lies were over.

And now...

She was running.