Chapter 34: Need To Talk To Her

-Rhys-

We were gathered in Rogan’s office, just thinking it all over. The rogue had only spoken in the beginning. He had not given us much. He was very strong, and a hard one to crack, but we would crack him, there was no doubt. We just needed more time. Sadly, I was a bit distracted. I knew I needed an answer from Nova tomorrow, and then either my entire world would be crushed or I would be the happiest man alive. I just couldn’t say what she would choose, but she had to choose … that I knew.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and I was confused when Serena came in. She didn’t need to knock or let Rogan tell her to come in. Even he seemed confused when he saw her. Something was up with her.

“What’s going on, beautiful?” Rogan asked.

Serena glanced at me, and I feared the worst. I stood up from the couch I was sitting on, looking at Serena scared.

“Nova?” I asked concerned.

“It’s …”

“Serena, what is going on?” I asked.

“Please calm down,” she said.

“Why? What has happened? Did she leave already?” I asked.

“Leave?” Rogan asked.

I just shook my head, as he looked at me.

“After,” I told him as I turned to Serena. “Tell me!”

“Not until you calm down.”

“Just answer me!” I said.

“No! She didn’t leave, now calm down!” she told me.

I let out a breath of relief and finally sat down on the couch again. Everyone in the room was watching us intensely, but I did not care. As long as my mate had not run away, I was glad.

“What do you mean ‘leave’?” Rogan asked.

“She had plans to leave before I got home,” I said.

“What?!”

“That is not what we should think about right now!” Serena interrupted.

“I thought you were going to make her yours,” Rogan said, continuing the conversation.

“I was!”

“But?”

“She apparently didn’t agree,” I said.

“Apparently?!”

“We had made an agreement to do it when I got back, but she had lied to me. She was going to leave from the beginning, so now I have given her a choice. She needs to decide if she wants to be here or out there.”

“I think she has already chosen,” Rogan said angrily.

“Guys!” Serena shouted, and we all turned to her. “It is not about that!”

“Then what is it about?” Rogan asked.

“I know who the rogue is.”

“Who?!” everyone asked.

Now we were all interested, and we all focused intensely on Serena, but she looked at me, and she looked so damn … sad? I was not sure. Maybe guilty?

“What?” I asked.

“It’s her brother.”

Everyone turned silent. I couldn’t even hear anyone breathing. It was like time stood still …

“What?” I whispered.

“I stayed behind. I had a feeling I had to. Nova, she … she tried to …”

“Stop,” I said and held up my hand.

“Rhys …”

“She wouldn’t …” I just said.

“But she did. She tried helping him escape, and I caught her. She told me who he is, and he is her brother. One of them,” she told me.

“One of them?” Rogan asked.

Serena nodded.

“And they are the ones behind all the attacks,” she told me.

“No …”

“Rhys …”

I looked at her and shook my head.

“It’s not true,” I whispered.

“I am so sorry, but she finally admitted it. It is why she tried to leave. She needed to go back, because if you knew the truth … if we all did, then …”

“We would kill her for it,” I finished.

Serena nodded.

“Yes …”

“Where is she now?” Rogan asked.

“In the cell with her brother,” Serena said.

“I need to go talk to her,” I said and stood up.

“Rhys, hold on,” Serena said.

“Why?”

“Because there is more.”

“More?!” I asked, scared.

She nodded.

“You remember what Nova told us about her parents?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Pack members killing them.”

I nodded again, but I already knew where this was going.

“It was yours and Rogan’s parents who killed hers. She and her brothers are the children of the ones leading the pack before them,” she told me.

I shook my head, unable to take all of this information in. It was too much …

“You can’t be serious,” I heard Rogan whisper.

“I’m sorry,” Serena said.

“No …” I whispered.

“Rhys, take some time …”

“Some time?! That is my fucking mate down there with her crazy brother!” I said. “She isn’t like them.”

“Are you sure?” Rogan asked.

“What?”

I turned to my friend, who had turned so damn cold now.

“Are you sure?” he repeated.

“Are you seriously asking me that?”

He nodded.

“She has already told you who she would choose, so are you sure she is so different?” he asked.

I couldn’t believe he was asking me this, and in some way, I also could. I knew why he was doubting everything now. She had shown him where her loyalty was lying, but Nova was *my* mate, and I couldn’t just believe she had betrayed me like that. I needed to talk to her.

“I am going to see her,” I said.

“Rhys!” Rogan called.

“Don’t try and stop me!”

No one luckily did, and I quickly walked downstairs, ready to have a serious chat with my mate.