Julian's POV
I stared at the two men standing before me, their eyes wide with fear yet defiant. My wolf was agitated, unsure of what to believe.
"You're saying Natalie approached you? Not the other way around?" I questioned, studying their faces for any sign of deception.
The taller one nodded vigorously. "Yes, Alpha. She was at the bar all night, moving from man to man."
"She told us she was lonely," the shorter one added. "Said her mate was neglecting her."
My jaw clenched. This didn't sound like the Natalie I knew. The woman who'd been my childhood friend wouldn't behave this way.
"Alpha," Daniel Reed, my Beta, stepped forward. His voice was low, meant only for my ears. "Their scents are... ambiguous. I can't detect deceit, but—"
A piercing scream cut through our conversation, coming from one of the private rooms in the back of the restaurant. Natalie's scream.
