That she was willing to tell her version of the story was something no doubt Alaric and his lieutenants were relieved with. Jack his best friend, along with Alaric had had trouble believing the story the alphas told the pack that she had lured Alex into a trap and then murdered him in cold blood. It didn't make sense still it pissed him off deeply as there was no denying she had killed him. His father always stood by the story and most of the pack believed it. Jack thought there were some elements of truth to it but they weren't getting the full story and there had been bits of information here and there while his father was in a drunken stupor but nothing more and he always blamed the alcohol for his words...though his mother had always told him words spoken drunk can be truths you fiercely wanted to hide. What she meant seemed a little clearer now.<br/><br/>However, this was strange. He had been told Alex was lured there except she was saying that she suspected it was him that was panicked and on his way to their hideout and getaway...come to think of it he had lost his phone that day and had remembered telling Jack about it who shared a look of curiosity with Alaric as she spoke. Even the rest of his lieutenants were quite intrigued with the story.<br/><br/>Then his eyes went wide as he nearly faltered from where he stood. He knew Roxie had never been the dishonest sort and even if she tried he could always tell when she did. And right now all of his senses were telling him that she was being truthful and sincere. Which made him even more puzzled. The group all looked at each other as if it was an absolute puzzle that was asked of them and they all seemed equal measures worried, curious and even bits of anger. Jack was the first to break the silence. Almost forgetting the fact they were with company.<br/><br/>"He was always jealous of you. Especially of you with her. Also explains a lot of the questions that had us puzzled for years. Why there always seemed to be a level of secrecy to it. " he said as Alaric nodded. "Explains why my phone was missing that day and was only given to me the next day with remnants of blood on it. Why my father forbade me from going to see where it happened or even conduct an autopsy on him because he was sure of the cause..." he said as he looked back to Roxie this time it would have been a look she most definitely had seen before. One Alaric typically only had shown her. It was a look of sadness and remorse that she had gone through that and how he was feeling the need to be closer to her. The pull he had felt when she entered was growing stronger with each word she spoke.<br/><br/>The lieutenants which were his best friends and most trusted confidants were all dumb founded. Alaric sighed. "That must have been a traumatic night for you Rox. Difficult to even just speak and relive in your mind I'm sure. For that I'm sorry. Seems there has been either a manipulation or plot of deceit surrounding the event. For my pack as a whole was told a far different story when were all gathered in the ballroom of the manor.<br/><br/>We were told that you lured my brother out and then in a power move to seize control of the city or out of rage, there were many theories and none of them really made sense even if the evidence was clear or clearly manipulated. That you murdered him in cold blood and planned to go after me next. " He said as he looked to Jack. Who seemed to immediately get what he was thinking. "Are you sure about this? We came like this for a reason. I'll stand with you whatever you choose but you know the risk we were told." He said and Alaric shook his head. "Or fed in the hopes that we'd believe it." He said a little angry. He hadn't noticed that he had used his nickname for Roxie where as Alex often derided her calling her Roxanne only Alaric had called her Rox. "Since you've been truthful and you were also lied to like we were there's something you should know Rox. About that night that horrible awful night. You might not even believe me but where do I even start?" He paused clearly looking puzzled and almost worried.<br/><br/>"Here goes...That night while it may have been Alarics phone. It was not Alaric who showed up. It was Alex...He was the one you killed. I'm Alaric, I lost my phone that day and when I got it back it had blood on it and seemed to have somehow lost all conversation data and history. I thought it had been damaged and quickly got a new one but it never made any sense. Every thing didnt make sense. For why you'd attack my brother. I mean he was an aggressive sort but even that seems like something he wouldn't do." He said as Jack interrupted quickly. "Alaric, remember the sheer insisting there was something off about that day? She had never been wrong before and yet that day she had said foul magics were at work. Of course your father dismissed them as nonsense and then she had suddenly passed in the night. Adding validity to your fathers claims that she was delirious." He said as Alaric nodded. "That's right. I wasn't even allowed to inspect her either. And if Rox says she only cut his neck I believe her. But it doesn't explain why his body was so mangled and torn to shreds." He said as one of the other Lieiutenants Deacon spoke "Actually it kind of does. She said she expected you. She would have known it wasn't you if he weren't wearing your clothes. Kind of like you're wearing Alex's old clothes now."<br/><br/>Alaric groaned. "What the hell is happening. This seems way too damn complex to be just someone out for revenge. This was carefully thought out meticulously, planned to every detail. That was most definitely not Alex's skill set. Nor my fathers really." He said as he turned back to Roxie. "Was there anything that felt off for you besides what happened that night? Maybe the drinks at ellie's? Anything? It could...." he said as he stopped dead in his words and then quickly looked out as the hairs on his arms rose. Jack knowing that Alaric's superior hunter like senses had picked up something. "Alaric what is it?"<br/><br/>Alaric glared "Whatever it is it's not good and it's coming this way....GET DOWN." he yelled and instinctively went towards Roxie to shield her as a loud explosion rocked the church. Dust and rubble fell as the sound of fire erupted.