Jaxton
“You deceitful individual!” “I growl, forcefully pushing Rocco against the vehicle. “You were aware, all along, that that mongrel was my brother, yet you remained silent.”
Within seconds, Rocco has restrained me against the automobile, my arms secured behind my back, the ageing hound yet possessing greater strength than I do.
I silently promise retribution as he forcefully strikes my head against the car door. I’ll get you back for this soon enough.
“You are not entitled to question me, insignificant one,” he derides. “I was adhering to my directives.” His identification was restricted to those with a need to know. You and Nellie were not required to be informed.
“He sexually assaulted my mother!” I snarl in response, trying to extricate my arms from his grasp.
“Your mother is a deceitful prostitute,” Rocco states in a subdued growl. The surveillance cameras at her office confirm this.
“What?” I enquire, suppressing the want to engage in combat.
“I said,” he whispers with a snicker. Your mother is promiscuous. She attempted to seduce Jadi, and when he declined, she accused him of r**e.
“You are unequivocally lying,” I retort, as Rocco chuckles at my response and tightens his hold on my hands.
“I hope so,” Korbin retches. “Stepmother and stepson?” That possesses the characteristics of an inferior adult film.
Rocco growls at his son, while my gut twists in revulsion. I am forcibly placed in the rear of the vehicle while Rocco initiates a phone call, the audible discontent of my father’s voice resonating intensely, sending chills down my spine.
As we drive back to the Redwood Pack to regroup, my mother’s instructions echo in my thoughts.
Eliminate him.
Is it truly worthwhile at this moment? I contemplate. He refused to return?
Do you believe Father will accept a negative response? Abel, my wolf, derides. Our tenure as heirs is limited. Father has safeguarded Jadi for years, although he has never concealed you. Confront the reality. We have consistently served as a deception, a superfluous puppet for the true Alpha. We were never intended to be the Alpha of Scarlett Haven.
I mutter a denial to myself. No. I am Alpha, and no silent dog will usurp that from me.
John
“The Blue Sky wolves are departing, Father,” Matt declares, ending the call. “We are prepared to relocate.”
I exhaled in relief and signalled to the driver to proceed north towards River Moon. The metropolis of San Francisco is buzzing with life, thousands of individuals racing around without a clue that we exist among them. It must be pleasant to be entirely unaware of our existence, our issues, and our conflicts.
Quinn plants a kiss on my face and leans her head against my shoulder. I did not originally plan to include her, yet she is acutely aware that she is my vulnerability and that I would prefer death over denying her anything within my capacity.
She taps my chin thrice, as she consistently does when I am anxious.
I tenderly kiss her forehead, glancing up to observe my son observing us through the rearview mirror. His lips curl into a knowing smirk, accompanied by a soft chuckle.
Quinn may not be his biological mother, yet he cherishes her and the positive impact she has had on our lives. I was not consistently a devoted husband or a nurturing father, and I recognise his gratitude towards her for facilitating that transformation. He would sacrifice his life to safeguard her if the trip does not proceed as intended.
“It’ll be okay,” she murmurs, nuzzling up to me. “I promise we’ll come out on the other side in one piece.”
Unbeknownst to her, our lives are on the verge of irrevocable transformation, as I am poised to conclude this conflict after nearly three decades.
Ricky
Jadi is remarkably silent at dinner, his thoughts presumably still unsettled by the events of this afternoon.
Upon entering the office earlier today, Josie’s voice resonated in my mind, cautioning me to disregard anything the guests claimed, particularly the young Alpha named Jaxton.
“He is deceitful,” she murmured, inundating my thoughts with a grotesque image of a lady trying to entice Jadi but ultimately failing and alleging that he assaulted her. She subsequently revealed his torment inflicted by his brother.
Although it was an overwhelming amount of information to assimilate, I was confident in my companion’s innocence prior to Josie’s disclosure of the events.
Jadi would never inflict harm upon anyone. He is a somebody who has witnessed the darker aspects of humanity and has endured repeated rejections. Notwithstanding his suffering, he remains devoid of cruelty. He is benevolent and tolerant, affectionate and supportive, resilient and attractive. He is a man deserving of my efforts, and I shall advocate for him until the conclusion.
Melina appears to perceive his anxiety and endeavours to communicate through sign language, but he declines her efforts with a shake of his head, choosing to internalise his emotional agony. It infuriates me to consider that his former Gamma would attempt to reintegrate him into that dreadful pack after witnessing his prolonged suffering in silence. How audacious of him to enter River Moon and attempt to manipulate him into combat?
“Mother, why is Father melancholic?” Bray murmurs to me while he consumes the final morsel of his pastelitos (Rowanan turnovers).
“He experienced a particularly challenging day,” I respond, brushing aside his hair and kissing his forehead. “He merely requires some solitude.”
Bray cleans his hands and observes Jadi, who appears absorbed in contemplation while he absentmindedly picks at his food. Bray silently rises from his chair, standing on his toes as he approaches my companion, halting just before his chair and placing his chin on the armrest.
