Chapter 117

I look over my shoulder at her at the same time that Vi and Cedar turn to look at her.
“What do you mean?” Vi asks.
Cedar growls.
“That’s why I killed that son of a bitch,” Cedar gets out between his clenched teeth, staring back at Kelly. “I saw what he did.” Cedar growls louder.
My wolf goes on alert with another Alpha nearby.
“What did you do, Kelly?” I ask lethally through clenched teeth. From my commanding tone, she can’t help but answer her Alpha. I rank much higher than her.
“Alpha... I–”
“Speak,” Vi yells at her, making her give up the crying face she was trying to make.
Cedar looks at my sister, but she doesn’t turn to him.
I stare at Kelly’s aura again, and this time, closer, I can clearly see her rogue-like aura. Like it happens when a pack member betrays their pack.
My chest rises and falls once like I’m waking up from death. “You.” Another breath, this one deeper. “You’ve been lying to me!” 
“Well done, idiot. You finally found out!” Kelly says. 
I sneer. With one swift movement, I grab her neck. “You have two seconds to speak before I start dismembering your body,” I promise, squeezing her neck. “Limb by limb, but only after I expel the wolf from your fucking body!”
“No!” Kelly’s eyes widen. I’m still her Alpha. She knows I can do it.
“Speak. Now.”
“You-You’re supposed to be with me! Choose me!” Kelly says, tears coming out of her eyes. I loosen my grip a little so she can talk more. “When my brother and I found out about your pack, we hadn’t planned everything yet. We only knew that you were a cursed Alpha. So we came here to seek shelter. But my main goal was to make you choose me as your chosen mate.” 
My eyes squirt with anger. It’s fucking true. I can see that. That’s why I let her continue talking. 
Kelly blinks hard, but a cruel smirk twists her lips. “When we found out Vi was traveling, we hatched a plan. Make her believe she was Jordan’s fated mate. It was flawless, really. Everything fell into place exactly as we intended. The moment Violet stepped into the pack, my brother took the potion, and just like that, she was convinced he was her fated mate.”  
Vi freezes, her breath catching in her throat. Little Dove moves closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist in an attempt at comfort. 
My fingers tighten around Kelly’s neck. “Go on,” I growl.  
Kelly’s grin widens. “Jordan had to use a heavy dose at first, but after you two marked each other in that same night, it became so much easier. You were so desperate for your fairy tale, so eager to believe, Violet. After that, all he needed was a small dose on the Full Moon to keep the illusion intact. Once he marked you, the bond was like a chosen mate’s bond. We didn’t worry, though. You wouldn’t know the difference. Since you hadn’t met your truly fated mate.” 
“No,” Vi whispers, her voice trembling with disbelief.  
*Fucking Jordan!*  
I should’ve killed him. All this time. Every lie, every manipulation. My grip tightens around Kelly’s throat as she starts to choke, her face turning a sickly shade of purple. I ease up just enough to let her breathe, but I don’t let go. 
“That’s why you bit his neck, isn’t it?” I ask Cedar, but my gaze remains on Kelly.
“Yes,” he says. “I could *scent* the potion’s smell coming from him and the mark on this beautiful woman’s neck.” I almost glare back at him. *That’s my sister!* “But besides the smell, I could *see* some strange color around the mark. Maybe only I could see it because of my family history since I suppose you and my nephew have missed it. But I could see it. Clear as day!” 
That might be why my Little Dove thought Vi had smelled different when her powers were coming out during the Black Moon Festival, I think to myself and Kral agrees with me.
“When I saw his mark on her perfect neck... I couldn’t control my wolf!” Cedar says. “I should have held back so I could kill him more slowly.”
“Oh, Jordan… Everything was almost working out,” Kelly cries. “After all our efforts. After everything we’ve done. We worked so hard! All you had to do, Alpha, was choose me as your chosen mate. But no! You had to want to break the curse instead! You broke it and then found out that this bitch was your fated mate.” 
Everyone growls. 
“Do you really think I would fucking choose you?” I ask with a mocking laugh. “Ah, Kelly! I didn’t choose you in all these years that you’ve lived here. You see? I only had to see my mate once, and I didn’t even want to look at your face again.” 
“She had everything I wanted, and she didn’t even take advantage of it! She didn’t want to be marked immediately. She doesn’t deserve you! She deserved everything I did to her! Don’t you see?” Kelly looks at me furiously, pleading. 
“What the fuck do you mean?” 
She gives me a wicked smile. “Imagine my surprise when I smell my own fated mate on a slut with a friend of mine, a rogue who owns a company. And then, when I went after him where the slut said he would be, and found him in the kitchen, almost killed by you, Alicent.”
“W-Was Logan your fated mate?” Little Dove asks her. She tries to take a step forward, but Vi holds her back.
“Yes,” she answers, her voice dripping with contempt. “I saved his life. I healed him. And what did that pathetic waste of flesh do? He kidnapped you. But even that—even *that*—Logan couldn’t get right. His one job was to kill you, and he couldn’t even manage that.” 
She tries to shake her head, but my grip tightens, holding her in place. 
“I thought I’d be paired with a fated mate as powerful as I am, but no. Instead, I got shackled to a worthless human. But then Violet let it slip that Alicent was your fated mate. I called Logan immediately. I ordered him to kill her before you could convince her to mark her, and I told him if he killed his ex-wife, I’d claim him as my mate.” Kelly’s grin widens. “Instead of letting herself be marked immediately and thanked the Moon Goddess for the big blessing—a blessing I wanted so much—she took her time. Alicent didn’t want your bond right away like she should. She made you wait, made you work for it. That made things much easier for me, but Logan? That incompetent fool decided to *play* with her instead of killing her right away! I thought once she was dead, you’d finally choose me. But she survived, and everything fell apart, and we no longer had supplies from the witch, so Jordan and I planned one last move. A final strike. This time, the pack would be Jordan’s after your death. Blackmoon would all be ours!”
“That’s why I came,” Cedar says, his voice low and steady. “When I found out why she’d gathered nearly all of Razor’s rogues, I snapped. I couldn’t let it happen. Not after Peter discovered the week before that Allie had left Summerville and was in Blackmoon. Kelly and Jordan were planning to kill my sister here. I couldn’t allow that. So Peter and I took everyone left in the North down. We slaughtered every last one of them.”
“Even Razor?”
“That motherfucker was the first one I killed!” Cedar speaks without hesitation.
“Where’s Peter?” Little Dove asks. “I have a lot to thank him for being by your side all these years.”
“After Razor killed his mother and his little sister, Poppy, he ended up not caring so much whether he lived or died in the fight... He ended up dying.”
“Wait. Poppy?” My gaze meets Vi’s as she looks at me. “That’s the little girl’s name?”
“Yes, the witch’s little daughter,” Cedar confirms my fear.
“So you’re friends with the son of that disgusting witch?” I ask with hatred through my teeth, squeezing Kelly’s neck but glaring at him.
“No. I am not. I was Peter’s best friend,” Cedar says angrily. “I would never be an ally of that witch. But Peter was always on my side. He wanted to get out of there to take care of Poppy since he was locked there because of his mother.”
‘Fuck,’ Vi mindlinked. ‘This isn’t the best time for you to mention our last encounter with the witch, Ian.’
I fucking agree! “So they’re all dead?” I ask for reassurance. “The witch and the kid.”
“Yes. Razor killed the witch and sent rogues to kill Poppy before we could get there. Not even her little body was found. Peter ended up dying in the battle.” Cedar’s lips press together in a thin line. “One thing I know for sure. None of them were left alive. I made sure they were all dead before I came after Jordan and Kelly, before these assholes could kill my sister.” He looks to the side at my Little Dove. “I told you, Allie. I would find you. I told you I was right behind you and that I would protect you.” 
My mate cries silent tears. I think he’s not telling a third of the whole story, but what he confessed is enough. He’s been protecting my most precious person all this time. I wish I had found them sooner, so they wouldn’t have to go through all of this. 
Cedar goes on, “I didn’t know the rest though,” he says, this time looking at my sister. “Otherwise, I would have killed Jordan and Kelly long ago.” 
“Everything was about to change!” Kelly says angrily. “Blackmoon was going to be all ours—”
“Kelly, you are expelled from Blackmoon.” I cut her off and seal her fate, making her turn into a rogue before she dies. “From now on, you are no longer part of my pack.”
The stench of rogue hits my nostrils immediately. “Nooo! You destroyed everything! Jordan was supposed to kill you. Ahhhh—” She screams as Vi punches her in the face.
“You bitch!” Vi punches her harder again.
I let go of her neck and hold my fated mate so she doesn’t end up getting hurt. Then I put her behind me and hold Vi from behind to get her away from Kelly, or else, my sister will end up killing the bitch.
“I hate you!” Vi screams at her, kicking her feet as I drag her out of Kelly’s cell. Little Dove and Cedar come out next.
“Vi, calm the fuck down,” I say, shaking her shoulders. 
“I can’t believe they did this to me. To us!” Vi lets out a hateful scream as we hear Kelly laughing inside the cell, even with the door closed.
“Lucian, lock the door. No one gets in or out without my permission,” I command. “I’m not in a rush to do what I have planned for her.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Vi, we need to talk,” I say, but my sister tries to get out of my arms, and I release her. 
Vi seems stuck in thought for a moment as if a thousand things are going through her mind as she stands still, but out of nowhere, she seems to grab a train of thought and says, “I want to be alone, Ian.”
Her eyes flick toward Cedar for the briefest moment before she shifts, her form dissolving into the sleek, silver-gray fur of a wolf with a white fur patch on her forehead. In an instant, she’s gone, darting from the dungeons and not even bothering with the tearing red dress that she had said earlier was her favorite. It lies forgotten, a discarded memory in her wake.

🐺 🐺 🐺
***Alicent***

A cup of tea has warmed my hands before I sit curled in my favorite chair in the living room. My eyes are closed, but I’m not sleeping. After everything that happened in the dungeons, everything I found out, Maggie gave me tea to calm down and Ethan went to check on his dad. There are too many things to deal with after the attack. 
Before closing my eyes, I search for Cedar nearby, but he is nowhere to be seen. He must have gone after Vi. It’s still crazy that Vi is his fated mate. Surreal. Yet, now that feeling of familiarity that Vi told me seems to make perfect sense.
Although I hear the sound of someone approaching, I don’t open my eyes. I remain quiet with my head in the armchair. Then I hear the two of them talking, which makes my heart feel calmer for having them close to me.
But I lay still, listening to them talk in almost soft voices on the couch next to me. 
“Pops... do you think I am a monster?” Az asks. 
“Who said that?”
“No one... I just had a nightmare about my, uh, Logan calling me that.” I can hear the slight tremor in my son’s words. 
My heart aches, and I just barely hold back tears. I didn’t know Az thought about that, but it makes sense now. Logan did call him a monster before we fled. 
I wonder why my son has never said anything to me about it. Maybe he was worried I wouldn’t understand because I am a... human? 
Either way, my skin itches to jump to his defense, to tell him that of course he isn’t a monster! He’s far from that! But he doesn’t want the answer from me. 
Az wants it from Ethan. 
I hold my breath as I wait for Ethan’s answer. 
Werewolf or not, I’d cut him if he hurt our son.  
“Why would you consider what someone so stupid said?” he says quickly. 
“Because… because sometimes I think he’s right. Because I should have protected my mother from him better. I was a monster. To *her*.” 
“Az, you’re a child. Don’t ever repeat that again.” Ethan’s voice is stern. “Logan manipulated you. He turned you against your mother. This isn’t your fault. It’s all his. You aren’t a monster. You are my son. After everything you went through, I just admire you. Your bravery and loyalty. You should be proud of what you have done after you found out the truth about him.” 
“Really?” 
“Yes. You have been looking up to your mom, right? And I know she’s protected you and cared for you.” Ethan’s voice has gone firm, and my heart pounds as my eyes prick with tears.
“Mom is the best person I know.” I can hear the slight smile in Az’s voice.
“Then be proud of who you are, son.” 
“Okay, Pops.” 
“Say it.” 
“What?” 
“Say that you aren’t a monster.” 
Az stirs, and I imagine he puffs out his pre-teen chest. “I’m not a monster.” 
“Good,” he says softly. 
I shift slightly and open my eyes. 
Ethan casts a quick glance at me, then focuses again on Az. “Now tell me who this is.” He pokes a finger at Liz’s missing eye. “This is Liz.” Az arranges his legs so she sits on his lap. “Mom gave her to me years ago.” 
“A doll?” 
“I looked at this doll, and I liked it immediately. Mom doesn’t know, but I know that she fought with Dad so that I could keep this doll. Liz was always by my side... A friend I could hug when I was sad, mad, or scared.” 
“Ah,” Ethan says. “Has Liz helped you when you’ve been mad, sad, or scared?” 
“Yes,” Az answers. “But I don’t need her now. I gave it to Lily. I’m a big boy. I don’t feel scared anymore.” 
“Of course.” Ethan’s tone is serious, and it makes my heart swell. “I think that was very nice of your mom to give Liz to you.” 
“She always takes care of me.” 
“I know, son,” Ethan responds with unbelievable patience as if the earlier attack on the pack never happened.
“Before we got here, we didn’t have a lot,” Az says. “Mom always gave me the best food, the best clothes, the best bed spot, and never let Logan hurt me.” 
Ethan doesn’t answer right away, and when he does, his voice is strained, eyes dark. “She’s a good mother.” 
“The best.” Az pats Liz on the head and picks at a loose strand at a seam on the doll’s skirt. Finally, Ethan’s gaze swings to me and holds for a little bit. “Son, go eat something before sleep. I can hear the monster in your belly. Maggie is still in the kitchen.”
“Okay, Pops.”
Az darts to the kitchen with Liz in his hand as I blink at Ethan, sitting up. “Hi.”
“He’ll soon recognize when you’re asleep or not,” Ethan says with a smile. Then he pats his leg. “Come here.”
I immediately go and kiss him. When I try to stand up, he stops me. “Ethan! I have to help Maggie,” I say against his mouth.
Ethan grunts. “Dad wants me in my office.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes. I hope we can clean all this mess before sunrise.”
I kiss him again and rise before he can’t stop me. But I’m sure I’m just able to do that because he lets me. 
As soon as I turn, though, he slaps my ass and I glare back at him over my shoulder, shaking my head. But when I look forward, I’m smiling.

🐺 🐺 🐺
***Alpha Ethan***

By the time I drag myself up to the third floor, my body is screaming at me to just collapse already. There’s less than an hour left until sunrise. Mom and Dad called it a night about thirty minutes ago after helping Josh and me clean up the mess from the attack. 
Christine, though? She fought like a true Gamma. The second I wake up later, my first order is to give her that rank. She’s earned it ten times over. 
I haven’t laid eyes on my sister since she shifted earlier, but I can sense her presence in the pack. She’s here, even if she’s keeping her distance.  
Cedar dropped a few more bombshells about Razor’s pack, and wouldn’t you know it? Those three northern rogues I took out to track down the witch—Mac, Mick, and Mason—were on Razor’s payroll, too. I don’t doubt Cedar’s intel, but it’s hard to ignore how tangled our lives have become. Like fate’s playing some twisted game, setting us up for either greatness or disaster.  
Destined for everything to go right or everything to go wrong.
I shake my head, forcing my legs to move faster, taking the stairs two at a time. Where is my Little Dove? The question lingers in my mind as I move down the hallway toward our room. 
Will she start calling it *hers* too like me? 
Will she accept my mark? 
I feel her familiar presence following close behind me. I can’t deny, after everything I’ve discovered about her, being part witch, even if just a small part... It’s still something that left me uneasy. It unsettles me, but I trust her.  
I trust what we share, the bond between us. 
That’s enough. 
I pause, taking a deep breath. I’m about to turn to wait for my Little Dove. She’s still climbing the stairs, but before I do it, Lucian mindlinks me.
‘Alpha, it’s Kelly...’