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“In a sense,” I said, taking my seat across from him.
“You were successful then? The future Rigel Alpha is dead?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly.”
Anger bubbled in his gaze as his eyes narrowed at me. “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means I came up with a new plan,” I rushed out. “One more fitting, given the history.”
“Killing Rigel and that bitch witch’s offspring is fitting for the history between our families. They killed your mother! Did you forget that? And your uncle and his beta!”
“They hid their mate bond with a potion, making it harder for Mom to realize what she was dealing with. They made it look so fake and tricked her into believing that the witch was only helping Rigel avenge their families.”
“What is your point?” Father asked, his interest finally piqued.
I raised my chin, finalizing the lie in my head. “I will pretend to be their daughter’s mate. My plan is to deceive everyone and gain entry into their family, becoming the next alpha’s mate and taking over as the pack’s next alpha without them suspecting a thing. They’ll be handing the pack right back to a Chios Alpha with no choice.”
“What if the girl rejects you?” Dad asked with a smug grin.
“I’ve already marked her. Hard to reject after the mark takes its effect on a person.”
His eyes lit up, admiration like I have never seen before glimmered in his gaze as he looked me up and down.
“How did you manage to do that? The little slut opens her legs up to any random wolf who strolls into her room?”
A growl slipped out at the name my father used, my teeth clamping down on my tongue quickly to hold myself back. With Father glaring at me for my outburst, I swallowed before responding.
“I already had the potion. I found a witch on the outskirts of town when I got the idea.” Father watched me closely as I continued to lie.
“Good. It’s a smart idea. Not one I would have considered, but I would certainly enjoy seeing the look on their faces as you reveal who you truly are. Make it so that they coronate you quickly as alpha. Then, as soon as it’s announced, you can rip out her throat in front of her family, and we will descend on the pack right there in the ballroom, just as they had done to us all those years ago.”
I fought the blood from draining from my face at the idea of my mate being killed. I knew that eventually, I would need to convince my father not to kill them. Until then, I would first need to turn the rogues to my side. Not all of them wanted bloodshed. Most only followed Father because he revealed to them who I was.
They missed their friends and families, who had chosen loyalty to the Rigel over the Chios line. They didn’t wish for bloodshed the way Dad did; they only wanted to go back home. I would start with them first.
“Go upstairs to Minerva. See that she gets you as strong a potion as you need to convince that girl to mark you as well. They won’t let you become the next alpha without her mark,” Father commanded with a flick of his wrist toward the stairs.
“Yes, Father,” I replied, standing at the booth and making my way to the stairs.
Cheri appeared at my side as I took the first step. “So? What’s going on? Are we going back home?”
I scoffed at the way she said home, as if she had any memory of the place. She was only two when we left. I was older and barely had memories of that place as a home. The strongest of memories was just that night, huddled with the other children as the earth shook beneath our feet, just catching the last glimpse of my mother as she chased the witch from the room.
“Not yet,” I answered.
“Then when?” Cheri asked, a whine in her voice.
“Do you want more bloodshed?” I asked, my voice low in hopes of my father not hearing.
Cheri looked confused. “What do you mean?”
“Would you only go back if I killed the next alpha? Or would you go back if there was a promise of returning peacefully?”
Cheri laughed sardonically. “The Rigel pack will not let us just come back peacefully, Xander.”
“How do you know?” I asked.
“Because your dad said they won’t. They only let us leave unharmed, because it would have turned the entire pack against them if they hadn’t. If we come near the packhouse, though, they will kill us on sight. There is no peaceful return.”
