Chapter 54

“Thalia, are you sure this is a good idea?” Kade asked for what felt like the hundredth time since Thalia had announced she wanted to travel to Greece.

The whole thing sounded like an awful idea but Kade had seen the resolute hardness in his mate’s eyes. She would not be able to move on from these until she saw the truth for herself. It didn’t matter that what she would find would potentially hurt her beyond repair. She had made up her mind and all Kade could do was be there for her.

Still, it didn’t hurt to try and get her to stop and think this through a little more.

The beta watched from his seat on the edge of their bed as Thalia packed a few essentials for her trip. Night had descended only an hour before but the air was still heavy with summer heat and the tiny flames hovering over several candles quivered whenever the warm breeze rolled in through the doors that led onto a balcony. Given everything she had been through, Thalia ought to be resting but she wouldn’t listen nor would she wait. The moment she had convinced Lucien to help her get to her old pack, she had been a flurry of energy.

“I have to know, Billy.” She finally came to a stop, large brown eyes settling on her male as she pushed a hand through her made of dark waves. “How can I move on if I never know the truth?”

It was more or less the same answer Kade was given every time he asked and despite Thalia looking tired, her determination wasn’t waning. Of course Kade wasn’t going to let her go on her own. He was going with Thalia whether she argued with him about it or not. He didn’t trust these people even if they were Thalia’s family. Hadn’t they not only sold the females of their pack like cattle but also helped Dante find Thalia again? It made his blood boil and he knew it would take everything in him not to tear the worthless snakes apart the moment he laid eyes on them.

“Billy.” The soft warmth of Thalia’s palms cradling his cheeks pulled Kade from the dark thoughts clouding his mind. “As soon as this is over, we will go back to your pack and we never have to think about any of this again.”

“Our pack.” Kade corrected her, his hand resting over the swell of her belly, leaning down to press a kiss to it through the delicate sundress. “Our home.”

“Our home.” Thalia agreed, fingers working their way through her mate’s chestnut tresses.

Kade smiled, looking up so his silvery eyes could meet with Thalia’s own pools of dark chocolate. “I love you. No matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you.”

“I know.” Thalia murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to Kade’s lips. “And I love you too.”

—

With it being the middle of summer, the air was scorching as the sun beat down from a cloudless blue sky. Somewhere in the distance, the sea crashed against the sandy coloured rocks at the base of the shallow cliffs and seabirds let out their calls as they swooped down over the white foam and azure water. The air not only felt the same but it tasted and smelt the same. The moment Thalia stepped out of the car she could taste the sea salt and savoury notes of wild thyme that was drying under the unforgiving sun. She could smell the sand and the hot earth while a chorus of crickets chirping tirelessly filled the air.

It seemed so little had changed and yet so much was new. The old buildings where the farmers had kept their machinery were still there but the grain silo looked relatively new. The olive trees seemed a bit bigger as well. As they drew closer to the homes of the pack members, Thalia saw the old temple that they used to provide offerings to the goddess; however it appeared to have had some modifications. But it was the pack house that seemed to have undergone the biggest change since Thalia had last seen it. Aside from the multitude of rather pricey looking cars, the facade and flashings had been repaired and it had undergone a paint job. It was far from the old villa style structure she was used to. If it wasn’t for the stain glass windows in the front, Thalia would have thought she was looking at the wrong place.

“We shouldn’t hang around for too long.” Lucien spoke up, eyes covered by designer sunglasses. “I suspect once our presence is known, our unwilling hosts won’t tolerate us being here for too long.”

“Where is everyone anyway?” Kade asked, glancing around the empty square.

“Probably resting or trying to keep cool.” Thalia replied. “If my family are around they will be in the pack house.”

"Well let's hope we aren't about to wake up a pack of wolves." Lucien muttered. "My men are at the ready if things go south and we need to get out quickly."

"I don't think it will come to that." Thalia shook her head, resting a hand on her belly.

Despite the Mediterranean heat, Thalia felt a chill run through her. She hadn't been able to shake the feeling of dread since Lucien and Kade had told her of their findings. Initially she had been desperate to believe they were wrong and it had all been a series of coincidences but now, that hope had all but died out. Now she was here to see for herself just how far her Pack's betrayal went.

"Thalia?"

The familiar female voice was like music to Thalia's ears and her heart leapt into her mouth as emotions swelled. Her espresso brown eyes were on the middle-aged woman in a split second before widening as she took in the sight of her mother. She looked a little older but five years would do that. Nonetheless, her mother stood in front of her, both of them unable to believe what they were seeing.

"Mama." Thalia gasped, stepping forward at the same time as her mother did.

"Oh my sweet little girl!" The older woman wept when they embraced, her hands cupping Thalia's cheeks. "I thought the goddess had cursed up and I would never see you again!"

"I know mama, but I'm right here." Thalia smiled. "Yeah is papa and the others?"

"They're inside." The woman replied, glancing at the two men behind Thalia before she seemed to realise her little girl was heavily pregnant. "You're pregnant! Who is the father? Is it that Dante man?"

Thalia's expression dropped like a stone and she felt Kade tense through the mate-bond. Realisation began to sink to the pit of her stomach as she looked at her mother, the matriarch's eyes glittering with unshed tears. Her mother had no clue what implications her question had. That was a small amount of relief seeing that her mother wasn't a part of some dark plan but at the same time, it has been the last bit of evidence Thalia needed to see that she had been betrayed by her own blood.

"Helena! Get away from her!"

Alpha Castor appeared like a dark and ominous cloud. Thalia could feel him trying to force his dominance onto them all to make them submit but Kade and Lucien alone countered the suffocating aura.

"Castor, what on earth do you mean? It's our daughter!" Helena looked at her mate with confusion.

"I said get away from her." The older man growled, ripping mother and daughter apart from each other and forcing Helena behind him. "You shouldn't be here!"

"Why? Because you sold her out to Dante Connaught?" Kade replied, his tone dark and dangerous. "We know you helped him hunt her down just like how we know you sold her to the rogues for your own greed."

"What?" Helen gasped. "That can't be true! Castor, tell him!"

"It's true mama." Thalia spoke up, her hands clenched into fists as her gaze turned cold. "I didn't really believe it myself until you mentioned Dante. Now I know the truth. Tell me, papa, were my brothers involved in your betrayal? What about your beta? Or all the parents of the other girls you threw away like trash?"

"I did what I had to do to protect the pack." Castor replied, his hard eyes glaring at the three guests. "We were on the verge of bankruptcy! The price of olive oil was dropping every year and just wasn't enough to sustain us. We could have lost the land! Then we were given an offer. If we let the rogue take the girls then we would get enough money to clear our debts and ten some. However, they wanted you. I didn't want to do it but I had no choice!"

"So you just sold me like property and let some man take us?"

"We waited until night of the first harvest as the mother's wouldn't be too worried if their daughters were to fall asleep early. They'd chalk it up to working the harvest." Castor replied. "We drugged your drinks and then waited until you all fell asleep. Everyone was too occupied by the party to notice us taking you to a truck that had been waiting for you."

"Oh goddess, what did you do?" Helena wailed, pulling away from her mate in disgust and heartbreak. "You sold our females into slavery? How could you do such a thing!"

"Who else helped you?" It was Lucien's turn to speak up, his tone threatening as he stepped forward.

"I won't tell you." Castor snapped back. "As Alpha of this pack I take full and sole responsibility for what happened."

"Your honour is far too late to save face." Thalia growled, eyes flashing with rage. "I can't believe I am related to a monster like you. For years I dreamt of making my way back to my family but now, I never want to see you again. You're dead to me."

Thalia ignored her mother's pleas and cries as she turned away, making her way back towards the car.

"Thalia, wait." Kade was quick to catch up with the heartbroken she-wolf. His hand wrapped around her wrist gently, coaxing to look at him. "Your mother shouldn't suffer because of what your father did. Your father needs to pay but you know in your heart that punishing the whole pack for the wrongs of their Alpha isn't justice."

"Then what do you suggest?" Thalia raised an eyebrow, her anger like a tsunami.

"Let me make some calls." Kade suggested. "Find out what the protocols are for this type of thing."

"Sure. Go for it if that makes you happy." Thalia snarled, pulling away. "But the whole damn place can go to hell for all I care."