Chapter 46: Brutus's Betrayal Revealed

Emma kissed Dex goodbye for the day. He looked down at her, his hands holding her head. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“You have a pack to run, my Alpha.”
He laughed. “Yes. I know.”
“I’ll be here when you get home. I promise,” Emma said.
He pulled her into a hug, then walked out the door. She watched him as Leyton appeared out of the woods.
“You okay, Leyton?” Dex asked.
“I need to talk to Emma.”
Dex shot Emma a look, then climbed into his truck. Emma had never seen Leyton look so unhappy. She went to her and wrapped her in her arms. “Oh, Leyton.”
Leyton sobbed and Emma let her. She couldn't imagine what had happened to make Leyton this upset. She would wait until Leyton could talk; right now she was ugly crying and her breathing was stuttering.
Emma led Leyton to the porch steps and they sat down. Leyton’s crying had finally subsided, but the tears still rolled down her face. Emma wiped them with her sleeve. “Okay. Tell me what's wrong.”
“Brutus.”
“Okay. What did he do?” Emma asked, thinking he’d done some buttheaded thing that male wolves do.
They open their mouths and do not think about what they are saying. Even Dex once in a while could just say something that Emma couldn’t believe came out of his mouth.
“He betrayed you.”
Emma wasn’t sure if she’d heard her friend correctly. “How did he betray me?”
“And me.”
“Start from the beginning,” Emma said.
Leyton took a moment to gather herself. Her breathing slowed and she was able to speak. “Remember when you were kidnapped?”
“Of course,” Emma said.
“It was Brutus that told Lucien’s henchmen where you were.”
Emma let that information flow over her. So many questions popped into her head. “Are you sure?”
“He confessed it to me this morning. I ran out before I learned anything more because I was so upset.”
Did Dex know about this? He must have and kept it from Emma. She’d deal with him later. “He came to you and told you this?”
“Yes.”
Well props to Brutus for admitting it, but that had happened weeks ago. Why did he come clean now? The only person who could answer her questions was Brutus, but she had to get Leyton calmed down first. “Were you discussing something else? I’m trying to understand the situation.”
“He blurted it out.”
Of course, he did. His guilt had gotten the best of him. Emma sighed. “Okay. I should talk to him.”
“No. I don’t know if I can stay with him, Emma.”
“He’s your mate.”
“I know, but he could have gotten you killed.”
“Yes, but we don’t know his reasons”
Emma wasn’t sure she could give Brutus the benefit of the doubt, but she’d listen to him.
“I can’t think of any reason to do that, Emma,” Leyton said.
“He’d loyal to Dex so maybe that had something to do with it. I won’t know until I talk to him.”
And talk to Dex and find out why he didn’t say anything to her. Emma made a cup of tea for Leyton and left her on the porch.
Emma arrived at Brutus and Leyton’s house as Brutus was climbing into his truck. He stopped. “Do you know where Leyton is?”
“She’s at my house. Very upset with you.”
Brutus rubbed his eyes. “I know. I didn’t mean to tell her that way.”
“Then why did you?”
“To assuage my own guilt.”
His honesty at that moment was refreshing, but Emma needed to know more. “Why did you do it? I mean, the original betrayal.”
Brutus closed the door to his truck and leaned against it as if he carried the weight of the world. “Dex and I have been friends for a long time.”
“I know that. We have history here.”
“I didn’t want to see him hurt again.”
“So you thought Lucien kidnapping me would solve that?”
“I didn’t know he was going to kidnap you. I underestimated Lucien. I’m sorry, Emma. I just thought he’d come and convince you to go home with him. If I’d known his plans I never would have agreed to help him.”
“Lucien lied to you.”
Pain crossed Brutus’s face. “He did and I didn’t ask enough questions.”
“Dex knew about this?”
“Don’t be mad at him. I think he kept it to himself to protect me. I’ve had to earn back his trust and I still don’t think I have it. I haven’t been in touch with Lucien at all. I told him to get lost, I won’t help him again.”
Emma studied him. She’d never seen him less cocky and more unsure of himself. He was clearly wracked with guilt. “You don’t have any contact with Lucien? Not since then?”
“No, Emma. Please believe me. I made a dumb mistake. Dex should have banned me from the pack, but our friendship probably kept him from doing that.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“I forgive you, Brutus. I’ll see if I can get Leyton to do the same.”
Brutus let out a loud breath. “Oh, Emma. Thank you.”
Emma left him to get to work. Leyton was next on her list. She was still on the porch when Emma returned. She shifted back to human form and sat down beside her.
“What did he say?”
“That he’s sorry.”
“You’ve forgiven him?” Leyton asked.
“He seems remorseful, Leyton. Besides. he’s Dex’s Beta and his oldest friend.”
“Dex knew?”
“Yeah, and I have to deal with that idiot next.” Emma turned to Leyton. “Give it some time. Forgive him. You only have one mate.”
Leyton sniffed and nodded. “If you can then I can. Can I stay here for a little bit?”
“As long as you like. I do have to go deal with Dex.”
“Go ahead. I’ll be here when you get back.”
When I arrived at Dex’s office he had a meeting going on. I stood in the doorway. He looked up. “I’m busy here.”
“I think your meeting can wait.”
Dex rose. “Emma?”
The group must have felt the tension between them because they shuffled out. Emma closed the door when they were gone. “Were you ever going to tell me about Brutus’s betrayal?”
Dex rose and rubbed a hand down his face. “How did you find out?”
“Doesn’t matter. I know and you didn’t tell me.”
Dex sat back down as if his legs couldn’t hold him. “I’m sorry, Emma. Yes, I knew about it.”
She continued to stare at him.
“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
She stalked to where he sat. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
She stood by him, her face near his. “Don’t decide what I should know or what I shouldn't know.”
Dex swallowed visibly. “Yes. You’re right.”
Emma stared at him for a moment longer. “I’m your Luna. Good, bad, whatever. I need to know it all.”
Dex nodded. “Yes, Emma. You’re right. I should have never kept that from you. I—”
She put up her hand. “I don’t want to hear excuses.”
“Do you want me to banish him from the pack?” Dex asked.
“No. I’ve forgiven him.”
“Do I get the same? Forgiveness?”
He looked at her like a puppy who wanted a treat. How could she stay mad at him? “You’re forgiven, Dex. Don’t do it again.”
He put up his hands in surrender. “Never. I promise, Emma.”
She kissed him. “I’ll let you get back to your meeting.”
“I think you scared them off. You’re a fierce, Luna.”
She leaned in closer, but she had a smile on her face. “Yes. Remember that.”