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I could hear her heart race as I confessed my secret. Her eyes were blazing with fury.
“After the relationship between the pack and coven weakened, we would systematically attack the witches and make it look like the pack was fighting back to keep Brady as the next Alpha. The goal there was to have the witches fight back and turn the city into a war zone between wolves and witches.”
“It would never have worked,” she growled. “My parents have a contingency plan in case one of us was injured. There are agreements in place. The pack and coven have never relied solely on being split between my brother and me.”
“I know that now. And it doesn’t matter because the plan is off. I ended it the moment I realized that you were my mate. With or without my father’s blessing, I accepted you and put the thoughts of revenge behind me.”
“Revenge for what?” Liberty asked with fury. “I never did anything to you, to your father, or any of the rogues. What revenge could you have possibly accomplished through me?”
I shook my head. “It wasn’t you.”
“So, my parents? Your father wanted revenge. Why? Because they took back what was theirs before Ono Chios and his sister came in and stole it? Before they killed my grandparents to take it? They made my father an orphan at a very young age. How does that make any sense?”
“Because your parents killed my mother,” I answered. My heart was pounding now. I could feel the blood thrumming in my ears as I revealed my bloodline for the first time to my mate. “My mother was Maria Chios, sister to Ono and acting Luna of the Chios pack. She and my father were fated mates, but she never allowed him to mark her. They kept their mateship a secret and when I was born, they lied about who my mother was to protect me until I was named heir to Ono.” I watched her face as I revealed all this. She crossed her arms over her chest, and her eyes narrowed on me.
“So, why should I believe that the plan is over? Why should I believe that you and your father no longer want to seek vengeance against my parents through me for your mother’s death? A death, I might add, that came when she tried to kill my mother while pregnant with me.”
“I swear to you, Liberty, the plan is truly done. I swear on my life. I told my father today that you are my mate. I told him that I couldn’t kill you and you and your family are now my family. The cycle of killing for control over this pack ends with us. I won’t fight you. I won’t stand in your way as you assume your rightful alpha position. I’ll swear my allegiance to you and serve as a Luna, not as a co-alpha. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it.”
I can see in her eyes that she wants to believe me. Her arms loosen in front of her chest, and she takes a slight step toward me. I’m hopeful as I watch her that she will forgive me and see all I’ve done since we met…all that I have turned my back on for her and our future together.
She tucked some of her hair behind her ears, while her other hand toyed with the hem of her shirt. I could see in her eyes that she was mulling over everything I had said…all that I had promised. I would keep those promises. I wouldn’t do anything to harm the bond we now shared. I’d do anything for her to be happy with me at her side.
Just as she was about to respond, alarms sounded throughout the packhouse. We both froze in place as warriors called for help outside the window. I rushed to look out and see what was going on; the blood drained from my body at the sight that greeted me.
My father sat on a hill with Minerva at his side, while Tristan led a group of rogues to attack the packhouse. Minerva’s magic shielded them from initial attacks all the way to the gate, where women and children were rushing to the safety of the house.
I stared in disbelief. I had never considered the possibility of my father taking back his word. He has sworn to come for my child someday, and I had hoped to have the time to convince him to accept my mate and her family before any child was ever born. Yet, here he was, going back on to his word. He had sent me back with the belief that he would leave us alone. He tricked me intoletting my guard down, and now the pack was here to pay the price.
“This can’t be,” I gasped. “He declared himself done. According to him, he wouldn’t come after us. He was sending everyone who wanted to come here to live. Why?”
Liberty came to my side and looked out the window. With a shake of her head, she turned away and back to the door. “He still wants vengeance. The question remains if you do too or not.”
With those last words, she left me alone in our room. I rushed to the door after her, but chaos had erupted in the packhouse. Women and children rushed to the safety of the ballroom as guards and warriors escorted them. They stood protectively around the doorways and into the room.
Many of the warriors had made their way into the passageways that had once been unknown to the pack before Orion had returned. While they had been empty and seemed unused when I had snuck into the packhouse before, it was clear that they used them in cases such as this.
I looked around desperately for Liberty in the crowded hall as I made my way to the front door with the other warriors ready to fight. However, my purpose was solely focused on promoting peace. I still held hope that the rogues who had stayed behind would come around to giving up the fight.
They had sworn an oath of loyalty to my mother and uncle. I couldn’t imagine why they wouldn’t do the same for me, the last of their bloodline. As I moved along, I searched for Liberty still. I refused to leave her in the fray of battle on her own, no matter how strong I knew her to be.
“Xander!” Keith called out. I turned to see him, and the others rushed to my side. They had stuck close to the shadows and avoided battle as they came. There was fear and confusion on their faces that surely matched my own. “We tried to get here as fast as possible. Your dad locked everyone up who went against him at the bar. We didn’t know what was happening. He set fire to the place with all of us inside. He called all of us traitors.”
I gaped at my friend as I noticed the scent of smoke clinging to their hair and clothes. “Was anyone hurt?” I demanded.
Rory shook her head. “No, we got everyone out before it went up in flames and came here. The others are in the forest, hiding, but we saw the fighting and hurried over to lend a hand.”
I looked around at the fighting surrounding us; a knot formed in my stomach. I couldn’t believe everyone here would have agreed to kill off their own family and friends like this. Especially not the children who had wanted to come with us to the pack.
“Does everyone know what my dad did?” I asked.
Keith shook his head. “I can’t be sure, but I don’t think so. I could hear your dad ordering almost everyone into the forest. That was when I came out and caught him just as he locked the bar up.”
We dodged a rogue as he was thrown near our feet and turned to see the pack warrior charging our way. I quickly dove into his path with my arms up in surrender for him to stop.
“I’ll handle him! Help the women and children!” I ordered, hoping he would listen to me.
The warrior snorted at my command but ultimately turned away and ran to another pair in battle. I turned to the fallen rogue and squatted beside him as Rory kneeled and treated his wounds.
