“Just say what’s on your heart, Liza. You’ll do great.”
I nodded and took my seat at the desk, blinking as the lights flared to life and the camera turned on.
Nico whispered. “Okay, in three, two, one…”
61
TY
“It’s time.” Dad gestured for us to follow him downstairs to the movie room where one of the house staff had already turned the projector on and tuned in to the local news station.
We’d spent the past hour discussing how we thought the general public would react to the statements Dad and Liza had made. Everyone agreed that they couldn’t have done any better.
Liza was tired, not just because I’d fucked her like she’d never been fucked before, but because the mental strain of speaking directly to strangers about the pain she’d experienced in her life had exhausted her.
The house staff had been generous, bringing us drinks and food whenever we requested it, even though some of their shifts had ended hours ago. We had the best people working for us, and I made a mental note to make it up to them once this whole ordeal was over. They’d each get a nice bonus along with extra paid vacation time.
We walked solemnly to the movie room, Liza clinging to my arm, and her parents following close behind. They’d been silent all throughout Liza’s statement, but once Liza had spoken abouther past and the kindness of her parents for taking her in, they’d become emotional, and with good reason. Trying to protect their daughter had put them under an immense amount of stress.
We got situated in our seats, anxious to see how the public would react to the recordings.
The news anchor began the broadcast with a brief introduction, then Dad’s face appeared on the screen.
“Dominic Keller, alpha of the Keller pack, has come forward this evening with a statement regarding the video that has circulated on televisions and computer screens over the past twenty-four hours.”
I watched as Dad recited the words that had been carefully crafted by Nico and a team of lawyers, expressing his feelings and stance about the current situation with Castro.
He denied all allegations about slaughtering an entire pack, stating that the Keller pack would never be involved in such a violent act. “We are pleased to announce that the video has been officially debunked with proof that it was altered. I want to apologize to our pack members and the general public for the confusion this video caused. Rest assured that this type of misinformation will not be taken lightly as we seek to hunt down the man who’s responsible for this upheaval in our peaceful community.”
I shuddered at his lies and took Liza’s hand. This was hard for her, yet she sat stoically, staring at the screen with so much damn resolve it made me want to ravage her again.
Her grip on my hand was unrelenting, and I brushed a kiss on her forehead. “You’ve got this,” I whispered. “I’m so fucking proud of you.”
Liza smiled weakly before turning her attention back to the screen.
There was a brief pause after Dad’s statement before the anchorwoman appeared on the screen again. “You just heardfrom Dominic Keller as he claimed to not be involved in the deaths of hundreds of men, women, and children. Though our sources have been unable to identify the slaughtered pack, many have questioned if they did, truly, exist. Here now, with another statement that sheds more light on the situation, is Liza Mims, mate of Ty Keller, the Keller pack’s alpha-in-waiting.
The screen faded to black, and then Liza’s beautiful face filled up the screen. A heavy breath left her nose as the video began.
My pride in her became fierce as I watched her sit regally behind my father’s desk, staring straight into the camera. She didn’t look nervous at all. In fact, she looked badass, ready to take Castro fucking down.
Liza looked so confident and at ease, as if she was meant to be in a place of power, whether as a mob princess or as his queen. This was her destiny, I was certain of it.
Liza stared into the screen. “Good evening. My name is Liza Mims, and I was born to Josef and Portia Wylde. My father was the alpha of the Wylde pack, and my mother was his biggest supporter, leading the pack with grace and elegance.” She paused and cleared her throat. “My parents loved and adored me, and I had the most wonderful childhood anyone could ask for. I never wanted for anything, and that included their time and attention, even though they were both extremely busy.”
The camera slowly zoomed in at the perfect moment so the viewer could see the sincerity in Liza’s eyes. “I was born an omega. Though my parents did their best to protect me from the world, they knew that there would be people who wanted to hurt me. Despite their best efforts, my parents were killed by a boy who wanted me to himself. That boy is now a man named Castro Neal.”
Liza’s eyes widened, and the muscles around her lips tightened. She stared into the camera as if speaking directlyto Castro, daring him to try and control her ever again. She continued her speech, giving Castro a bigfuck you.
“Castro used to go by the name Stone Black. My earliest memories are of Stone watching and following me. He wanted my affections all to himself, so he harassed any children who attempted to be my friend. I almost always found myself playing with him, but even then, he dominated me, hardly letting me lift a finger. He would push me on the swing or bring my dolls and lay them out in the order I wanted them. It was as if he wanted me to see him as the most important person in my life. And for a while, it worked. I asked to play with Stone and begged my parents to let him come over.”
She sighed and pushed her shoulders back, sitting up even straighter than before. “Stone was obsessed with me. As he grew older, he pulled other boys from me and beat them to a pulp for so much as looking in my direction. Of course, being a four-year-old girl, I didn’t recognize him for the monster he truly was. His obsession culminated in him murdering his own parents and then mine. Stone—Castro—wanted to be the center of my universe. The truth is that my pack was taken from me, and they were slaughtered not because of the Keller pack, but because Castro leaked my existence. My pack was murdered in an attempt to get me.”
Liza paused again, shifting almost imperceptibly in her seat. It was only because I knew her like the back of my hand that I was able to recognize the signs of her nervousness. To everyone else in the room, her composure and self-assurance shone through, not even a shred of nerves evident in her voice.
She continued. “The Keller pack did come to aid in the massacre of my pack, but the ones responsible for their murders are still unknown. Dominic Keller and his team took me in when I was found roaming in the woods. I had run away after witnessing Castro murder my parents, and I was terrified.The Keller pack saved me.” Tears threatened to spill down her cheeks, but Liza took a deep breath and finished her speech with a boldness that sent chills down my spine.
“If it weren’t for the Keller pack, I would probably be dead. Instead, I was given the chance to be a part of this wonderful community. My adoptive parents, Scott and Rory Mims, loved me as if I was their own. It’s because of their love and devotion that I am the woman I am today.” Liza briefly glanced in her parents’ direction, swallowing hard.
