Chapter 101

Phoenix

As I inform him that we want the alliance, Alpha Nathan's face lights up with satisfaction. "Perfect. Now, we can get down to business. But brace yourself, because this might change everything you think you know about your father."

I grit my teeth, bracing for whatever bombshell he's about to drop. "Go on."

Nathan leans forward, his voice dropping so low, I'm not even sure Luke will be able to hear him from where he's sitting a couple of tables away. But that's okay, I'll fill him in after. Right now, all I want is the truth no matter how much it stings.

"Like I said, your father isn't entirely guilty. He's being set up by someone above him. Everything you think you know is part of a bigger scheme. Someone's been working behind the scenes for years, pulling your father's strings like a goddamn puppet, making sure that if thing's go south, your father takes the fall. And if that doesn't work, they're coming after you next."

The words hit me hard, but I don't flinch. My face remains a cold mask of indifference, even if my mind is running a mile a minute.

Someone higher than him? Does he mean someone in the council? Could they really be involved?

"And your mother..." Nathan's tone softens, almost sympathetic now, like he's trying to prepare me for the worst. "Philip created a new super pill, one that could suppress a werewolf's wolf for twenty-four hours, allowing them to live as a human. Without Philip's knowledge, your mom was taking these experimental pills. She was in love with a human and wanted to leave your father for him. This was found in her diary, by the way. The night before she died...she must've taken more than she was supposed to and overdosed."

My world seems to stop spinning, and it feels like I can't fucking breathe anymore. No. That can't be fucking true.

My mom was cheating on him? I mean...it's not that huge of a surprise. My father was a giant asshole, but she was willing to turn herself human to be with this guy? To walk away from not only Philip, but me too?

I stay silent, allowing Nathan's words to sink in as I piece them all together.

"Certain members of a higher group found out about it," Nathan continues, his eyes locked on me. "They blackmailed him into taking the fall for them while they've been committing all sorts of vile shit in the shadows. That's why I believe Alpha King Derek and his wife were murdered. He dug a little too deep into something he wasn't supposed to, and they made sure he never got the chance to expose it."

Holy shit.

This...is a lot to take in.

That explains why the Council were so eager to make him Alpha King. He's been working for them this entire time. To think that at one point, I thought my father had his own brother murdered so he could become Alpha King...

Selene shifts slightly in my lap, her hand finding mine under the table, grounding me. I can feel her concern and confusion. Shit, that's exactly how I feel.

Suddenly, Nathan looks behind us, his gaze narrowing as he scans the faces around us. It's subtle, but I catch the flash of unease in his eyes.

"We need to go," he says suddenly, standing up so fast his chair scrapes against the floor. "Growlers' isn't safe anymore. I'll give you my number and we'll figure out a different meeting spot."

I give a slight nod to my uncle, and then to Greg and Ryder, who've been keeping watch from the corners of the building. They fall into step behind us as we make our way out of the club. Nathan leads the way, moving fast, like he's expecting us to be ambushed at any moment.

The hair on the back of my neck stands up, like someone is watching us, but I force myself to remain calm and collected. Whoever it is, I'll kill them before they even move close enough to touch my mate.

Once we reach the parking lot, I push for answers. "Who the hell did you see back there?" I demand.

Nathan's jaw clenches. "There was a woman with blonde hair. She was watching us, almost like a snake eyeing her prey. There's a possibility she works for the council."

"And she just magically showed up here?" I ask, my voice laced with suspicion.

Nathan shakes his head, his expression grim. "I don't know what the fuck is going on, but she wasn't close enough to hear our conversation. We need to start watching our backs. Especially you, Alpha Phoenix. You just became Alpha yesterday, and it already seems like they're keeping tabs on you."

He spares us one last glance before heading to his car, leaving the rest unsaid. Luke climbs into his own car as Selene and I hop on my bike. "We'll discuss this more tomorrow," my uncle says.

I fire up the engine, but before we leave, I catch sight of the woman Nathan mentioned. She's standing near the entrance of the bar, staring right at us. She looks to be in her early twenties, tall and thin with blonde hair. Her icy blue eyes give me the fucking creeps as gun the throttle and drive out of the parking lot as fast as I safely can.

My pulse races with the need to put distance between us and her. I take a side road, just in case she tries to follow us, but honestly, I doubt she even moved from that spot. She wanted us to know that she was watching, like a silent threat.

Once we're far enough away and close to our territory, I slow down.

"What are we going to do now?" Selene asks me telepathically.

"It looks like we're inviting our parents over for Sunday dinner tomorrow night. My father has a lot of fucking explaining to do, and I refuse to accept any more of his lies. That ends now."